bitey kitten

[DietTissues]

I bloody love my new kitten, he's the actual best but sometimes he gets too playful and gets super bitey to the point he leaves marks.

I know it's normal for kittens to play fight and he has two types of bite, playful bitey then licky then almost aggressive. I push him off but he comes back for more. It's as if he's possessed. I've tried shouting and putting him in another room but he doesn't seem to get the message. Although this morning I put him out and he looked like he was sulking which could be a breakthrough?

What can I do about this? I don't know if it is relevant but when we picked him up we were told in advance he was 8 weeks, then when we got him they said he was 7 weeks and 3 days.

He's so loving though, he grooms DP beard and will always come to snuggle on me and lick my face and that makes it all worth it, but is what I described as normal?

[RubbishMantra]

Has he got any wand/fishing rod type toys? That stops the association between play and biting fingers. Also Kong Kickeroo toys are good, for when they want to practice disembowelling

But yes, kittens are bitey little buggers, so the less "rough housing" with your hand, the better. They really are like football hooligans. But with needle sharp teeth.

When I got my first kitten, there was nothing like the variety of cat toys that there is on the market now. I bought a Winnie the Pooh hand puppet. Poor Winnie got completely mullered.

[DietTissues]

Hi, yes we do have toys one on a stick he particularly likes but keeps running off with it and hiding it round the house so I bought a few more. He's also got loads of toys scattered about the place I'm wondering if it's too much choice for him especially as he has the one favourite.

How long does this biting phase go on? I can't get too mad at him as he's just so bloody cute even when he does launch himself at me and climb up my back while I'm trying to cook!

[TroysMammy]

Where's the photo?

[RubbishMantra]

Re. Toys, you could try one of these. They have LOADS of different attachments, so it's like lots of toys all in one. Though if you do buy him one of these, ensure to put it away in a cupboard after play, to avoid him getting the string wrapped around himself, and possible strangulation.

When I adopted Little Monsieur, he would climb up my back. A sharp, loud "OUCH" seemed to make him realise what he was doing was painful, and he quickly stopped.

Biting phase, how long does it go on for? Depends on how firm you are in tone of voice. Once they realise they're hurting you, they usually stop.

[DietTissues]

Sorry Troysmummy this is him asleep last night

[DietTissues]

Oh god I didn't think about strangulation! I got him a toy which is the same as his favour stick one but without the string. I'm going to put it away every night now! I feel like a terrible cat mum now

[DietTissues]

Also, this is him 8 weeks and 14 weeks!

[TroysMammy]

Oooo a tabby and white. He's bloody beautiful.

[DietTissues]

Thanks, he's the best! You can't see it in this pic but he's got a lovely pretty face.

He's got a gender identity crisis at the moment because we were told he was a girl and was called Poppy for a while. He's now called Marlow

[Fluffycloudland77]

They grow out of it after neutering, that calms them right down.

It's practice for hunting, ordinarily they'd do it their litter mates.

He's a handsome boy.

[RubbishMantra]

Aaww Tissues, he's bloody gorgeous.

And I hang my head in shame if I made you feel like a terrible cat mum. You're clearly a good cat mum,

[CancelTheCheque]

Our cat had a terrible bitey phase as a kitten and would draw blood. Only thing that worked was shutting him out of the room for 5 minutes or until yelling ceased. He hated being away from us. Broke my heart but worked a treat, he's great with people now. Try not to yell as it scares them and I find they don't twig that the punishment is related to the action as fast. A firm no does help though. My cat now knows by tone of voice when I'm serious (he's quite mischievous).

[iloveeverykindofcat]

Oh yeah, all healthy kittens are like this.

The only cure is another kitten to work it off with

[cozietoesie]

Cute he may be but harden your heart. You're the Top Cat so keep on putting him out for bad behaviour - and for a decent time as well. (No 30 second exclusions before you give in because of 'pitiful' squawks. Firm treatment.)

(But play lots of games with him when he's inside the room.)

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

I second the firmness and the redirection through play - otherwise he won't grow out of it even if neutered (I say this as an owner of a fully grown, neutered rescue boy who still likes to take chunks out of bare flesh. Presumably no one taught him in early life this did not please his humans.)

[cozietoesie]

Seniorboy used to bite my mother, actually, but she was given to saying 'Bad Boy' in a tone of voice which really said 'Who's Mummy's bestest bestest then?'

Things were different when he came to live with me. (And he's been quite happy about it.)

[LAmusic]

The best thing to do is have a little water pistol/spray and when he starts biting you, spray him with it and say no firmly. DO NOT push him off because then he thinks you're joining the fun, if need be walk out of the room for 5 mins