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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

New kitten advice

24 replies

VittysCardigan · 31/12/2019 11:41

I know the rules so will attach pics. This is Commander Sam Vimes. He is 11 weeks. He is a very confident kitten with no signs of nervousness from day 1. I have been without a cat for 4 years so decided it was time for another. He is obviously very playful but is there a way i can stop him from biting me when he's playing? I say no & put him on the floor but he just springs straight back up! He has really lifted me in the 2 weeks he has been with me even if he seems made of fur & razor blades :)

OP posts:

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 31/12/2019 11:47

I'm afraid you have an archetypal kitten. If you can't cope I'll take him off your hands for you .

But being serious - I don't think there is a lot you can do about kittens biting - I've always had two at a time so they bite each other more than me.

Original poster

VittysCardigan · 31/12/2019 11:50

I thought as much I am already in his thrall and have given up hope of unsnagged clothes & scratch free limbs for the forseeable. Wearing of tights or any hope of doing crochet have also been banished.

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Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 31/12/2019 11:56

Well he's gorgeous so he deserves to get away with it .

ScreamingValalalalahLalalalah · 31/12/2019 12:00

The best thing to do is disengage completely the moment you feel his teeth. Don't say 'no' or tell him off - just break off all contact and leave it for at least 10 minutes before resuming. That will teach him the lesson that the attention and fun stops if he bites.

Original poster

VittysCardigan · 31/12/2019 12:01

He is indeed very handsome.

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Original poster

VittysCardigan · 31/12/2019 12:02

Thank you screaming i will give that a try

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Booboostwo · 31/12/2019 12:11

Aw he’s gorgeous! I don’t have any help sorry, I also get two kittens at a time so they can bite each other!

Allinadaystwerk · 31/12/2019 12:15

No advice.. I would just like to have him. He is adorable.
Sorry he bites you

Wolfiefan · 31/12/2019 12:16

Can you get some toys on string or elastic? That way he can attack something away from you!

Original poster

VittysCardigan · 31/12/2019 12:23

wolfie i have spent a small fortune on toys, not to mention all the boxes, ribbons, bags & wrapping from Christmas. It seems that i am his favourite plaything such is the life of a cat slave

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iklboo · 31/12/2019 12:26

He's adorable and I love his name! When we first got our two we spent the first few weeks looking like we'd escaped a jungle of thorns.

Papergirl1968 · 31/12/2019 12:27

Super cute!
Love that photo of him hanging off your slipper

Wolfiefan · 31/12/2019 12:48

Haha. Enjoy!!

confusedyoungthing · 31/12/2019 12:59

Oh my, what an adorable little baby!!
I know you've already mentioned you have some toys for him but fishing rod style toys are ideal, maybe also a catnip kicker or something he can really get his teeth/claws into (although perhaps catnip isn't a good idea 😂). He will grow out of it though, maybe not completely but he will calm down with time 😊

Original poster

VittysCardigan · 31/12/2019 13:07

Currently trying to tidy up whilst he tears around like a mad thing and pounces on my slippers

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iklboo · 31/12/2019 13:12

THESE are meant to be amazing for kitties.

Mum2b2020 · 31/12/2019 13:13

We had a small water spray bottle that we used when our kittens were misbehaving. They quickly learnt to stop so we didnt have to use it long

Mammatino · 31/12/2019 13:20

My kitten is about a month further on from yours. The first few weeks he was a little pig, on the second week he was introduced to Steve McQueen, my ten year old main coone. He studiously ignored "Teddy Bear Bonkers" for a week, then got sick of his gorgeous plume of a tail being attacked. So he whacked him one back. No more claws since then. You can borrow Steve if you like. We also just started shutting the kitten in a room alone for ten minutes time out when he got too much. My husband gets really cross with the kitten and is trying to train him like a puppy, we just laugh at him... So does Teddy. Good luck, he's gorgeous.

penberrh · 31/12/2019 15:20

He'll be better once he gets his pom-poms done and starts going outside (if he's going to be an outside cat).

I found squeaking and hissing was a bit more effective than shouting no (which was my instinctive reaction).

Everything I read on it said to ignore the behaviour so they associate biting with fun stopping (as PPs have said).

Mainly though, I think it's a case of waiting it out.

He's beautiful!

penberrh · 31/12/2019 15:22

And play with him lots and lots and lots and lots with some kine of rod toy to wear him out.

Fluffycloudland77 · 31/12/2019 15:50

Have you got a kitten sized soft toy he can bite instead? He’s so beautiful 😊

BadEyeBri · 31/12/2019 16:14

You need another kitten. Right now. Then they can scrab at each other and you'll have double the cuddles. But stop before you get to 7. My cat addiction has got a tad out of control this year.
He's gorgeous

Supersimkin2 · 31/12/2019 18:17

Bedsocks. 24/7.

He's lush.

GenuineKlatchianPottery · 31/12/2019 18:49

Wellies
Seriously, His Grace is gorgeous, I find throwing a blanket over my feet when I sit down helps, and a handy water spray when I’m doing anything else.

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