New Kitten - doesn’t seem to like our son

[FiestyCherry]

We have had a our new kitten (male) for a week now, he is 9 weeks old and has settled in, eating fine and happily using litter tray, he will sit on mine and husbands lap and let us stroke him...but anytime our son (8) goes near him the kitten scratches him or if our son is sat on the sofa the kitten will jump up and scratch him - doesn’t do this to me or husband.

Son hasn’t been left alone with kitten so I know son hasnt done anything to kitten to cause this reaction.

Anything I can do to stop him attcaking son as soon as he sees him..

Ok, a 9 week old kitten is a baby. What you describe as scratching is more likely playing - if you watch a litter of kittens, they play fight each other a lot at that age and learn about boundaries (one will scream and run away if it gets too rough etc). Your son probably moves differently than you as adults do and the kitten is responding to that.

Where did you get the kitten from, was he well socialised and brought up indoors?

Hi OP. I agree with what viccat says. My advice would also be to let your son feed the kitten. Most cats are very food orientated, and your DS being the source of food might change the dynamic. Supervise your DS at first, and maybe have a chart so he knows when and how much, and can tick it off. Get your kitten a tall scratching post too (about £20 - one an adult cat could fully stretch out on if using - the small ones are useless IMO).

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.