Help please with kitten biting and scratching

[Secretdebt]

In need of help desperately as we don't know what to do. We have two adult cats both adopted by us when they were adults and who are very gentle and never hurt us. In October we got a kitten. (4-5 months old) from Cats Protection who said that she was suitable for young children (we have 3yo DS) and other cats.

We noticed that she was particularly scratchy and bitey from the word go but we put it down to her being young and we focused on being firm with her and ignoring her if she bit/scratched. However as she gets older she is getting worse. She will cling to your hand and arm with her claws plunged in and it is almost impossible to get her off (she doesn't do this to DS thankfully).

My hands have been covered in scratches for months now and are constantly stinging with pain (photo attached). When you go to stroke her you never know what will happen. She can however be beautifully affectionate and snuggle up with you.

She does not get on with our two older cats either. With the eldest she will launch at her and sink her teeth in. The middle one is constantly boxing her.

We love her very much but we want her to have a good life and of course to protect our older two and DS. Is this something that could be fixed or should we be asking Cats Protection to find her a new home? I have never rehomed a cat before and it feels so so wrong to be even considering it. If it was just my hands suffering I would put up with it but I am worried about my other cats especially as one is shy.

Has anyone had any success in past with this?

This is normal kitten behaviour. Would it be possible for you to get another kitten of the same age?

I'm afraid I have a 4 year old cat like this and she hasn't improved much. She's spayed and is free to come and go as she pleases. She's so naughty that I have to put her in the spare room when the DCs have friends to play.

If she came from a rescue, chances are she might not have been properly socialised early on as a small kitten. Rescue shelter staff simply don't have the time to devote to it. Also, her mother may have been feral or semi-feral. How long had she been at the shelter before you adopted her, and did they give any history at all?

Whereabouts on her body do you stroke her? A lot of cats will instinctively attack if you stroke their belly - because they are lying down it is a defensive thing, they can't help it. Some of them flop down and roll over, inviting a belly rub... and then strike.

Does she rub her head on your hand if you hold it still, and let her walk over to you?

I'm wondering whether you need to stop stroking completely for a short while, and then introduce a very soft brush attached to a short stick, so an attack won't hurt you, and stroke her with that till she gets used to it.

My senior adopted cat loves to snuggle up, but try and pick her up or stroke her at your peril, so we don't. We let her approach. She's a biter, we've had her 3 years, and she hasn't tried to bite for a while now, but I wouldn't ever push my luck. I seriously respect her boundaries!!