New kitten's claws!

[caitlinohara]

Picked up our new kitten yesterday and he is lovely. Very friendly and confident, which is great. He's only 8 weeks old so still has a lot to learn. Main issue we are having is that he doesn't seem able to keep his claws in when he walks or sits on our lap. He can retract them, so it's not anything physical. He is being played with a lot and he is not scratching out of boredom or aggression, he just constantly puts out his claws as if he can't help himself, and they are SHARP! Dh and I already have 2 pairs of ruined jeans and it's only been a day! I also don't want the kids to be put off by it so I'd like to teach him not to if possible, any suggestions?

[Rachcakes]

It's part of being a kitten, I think. Ozzy gets his claws out to play, so I get the fishing rod toy out to let him scratch that.
Other than that I don't know what to suggest.

[RubbishMantra]

Little M used to this, when I was on the loo. He'd leap onto my lap to get to the sink, and the back claws came out as he launched himself from lap to sink. A few sharp OUCHes, and he's very careful now.

I think their claws come out when excited, like an inbuilt reaction. But with enough sharp 'ouch'es, they realise they're hurting you.

He used to leap onto my back when he was a kitten. V painful!

[caitlinohara]

Yes, he's not deliberately scratching. He just flexes and unflexes his front paws constantly when he's happy, and walks across you with them out as well. He is awesome though

[Chewbecca]

Many years ago when I last got a kitten, the owner clipped her claws prior to us taking her home.
Not sure how normal this practice is but it didn't seem to cause any issues and solved the problem.

[caitlinohara]

That's worth a thought, I will ask the vet when he goes in to be microchipped, thanks