Kitten playfighting

[Holowiwi]

Hi

So I decided to take in a stray kitten after I found his mother dead in my garden (by a fox) I am not used to having pets so no clue why I decided to take this one on.

Anyway I have taken it to the vet got rid of the fleas etc he is very healthy and energetic however whenever I stroke him he starts playfighting with mock bites and scratches he doesn't break the skin but will this be trouble for the future?

[jwww]

Completely normal behaviour! Make sure kitty has lots of toys and a scratching post. But yes this is completely normal and a good sign of development!

[PersianCatLady]

It sounds like you have a totally normal happy little kitten there.

[Rachcakes]

Yep, my little Ozzy does this. I bought him a new scratched he could roll around with, even sprayed it with catnip. He'd still rather scrap with my hand.

[GraciesMansion]

Play with toys, rather than your hands. It's not great for them to learn that hands are playthings to be scratched and bitten.

[icandoscience]

Yes perfectly normal, when they are little they easily get overstimulated by being stroked and start playfighting!

Ideally try and start to deflect his energy towards 'fishing rod' type toys which keep your hands nice and clear of little teeth and claws. DP and I didn't do this enough - Dkitty is now 2 years old and fully grown so the whole playfighting-with-hands thing is a lot less cute than it used to be...

[Holowiwi]

Okay thanks for the tips I will get some toys so he doesn't see my hands as rival number 1 would be nice to stroke him without starting a mock battle

[Holowiwi]

Really like playing peek a boo though it's quite funny seeing him try to sneak up on me when I am not looking.

[Rachcakes]

I bought a crinkly tunnel for mine yesterday from Pets at Home. Five quid well spent. He loves it!

[Hs2Issue]

15 years ago I taught Dcat not to play fight with my hands. DH didn't and still gets savagely attacked - though in a loving way and she purrs throughout.

[jwww]

Laser pointers are great for tiring them out, the cheap £1 ones are fine, and the fishing rod type toys are good. The circles/tracks with balls and bit in them are also quite good.