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

New kitten jumping on me

36 replies

recess123 · 28/06/2020 00:35

We have a new kitten, 11 weeks old and male. Few issues with loose stools which has me cleaning poo everywhere all the time.. never changed a nappy and strong smells get to me so this is a mammoth task for me but hey ho all part of the package.

But for the past few days he keeps treating me like I'm pretty. Literally hunting stance, wide eyed ready to pounce. And has pounced many times. And it really hurts!! I've tried diverting attention with a toy/game, not making eye contact, walking away, nothing seems to work. Does anyone have any advice? I'm feeling slightly at the end of my tether. I try not to react at all but oh my god it hurts so much!!!

He keeps climbing my legs, jumping on me all the time, digging his claws right in. But for some reason only to me and not DH.

What can I do? We're clipping his nails tomorrow so it may hurt less but any advice of what I can do around the actual jumping? Must admit I had a little cry today thinking this is always going to be like this, sounds stupid I know but I'm the one whose at home the most so always a target!

OP posts:
recess123 · 28/06/2020 00:35

Treating me like prey! Not pretty Confused

OP posts:
MiddlesexGirl · 28/06/2020 00:41

Loose stools could be due to change in diet. Try to feed him what he had before you got him and only change very gradually to anything different.

I personally enjoyed being climbed over. But if you dont like it then gently put him down every time he does this and play with him on the floor instead.

Surprised he would need claws clipping at this age. Mine have never had their claws clipped (they're adults now) and although they can sometimes hurt a little if they get kneady it's quite easy to stop them doing it.

Rembrandt · 28/06/2020 00:56

I really wouldn't clip his nails.

The behaviour you describe is normal for a young kitten. Mine used to lie in wait for me and then leap halfway up my leg, with those little needle claws digging in as he slid all the way down.

Bare legs were always a kitten-magnet, so I'd wear jeans or trousers where possible. The target in our house was usually whoever was responsible for feeding the cat. The 'bringer of food' was the default 'bringer of entertainment' - and pouncing was my cat's idea of entertainment.

They do eventually grow out of it. 11 weeks old is still very young.

Gingaaarghpussy · 28/06/2020 01:06

Pffft! My cat is 9 and still treats me like prey. I hope you have better luck than me. 😁

Sparticuscaticus · 28/06/2020 01:09

He's a kitten, this is what they do. Practice staking and catching... He's playing . It's all very cute. He'll grow out of it within about a year or so. You have the whole climbing curtains, hiding in the Xmas tree and scratching your table legs/ sofa sides/ carpets by doors stuff to go yet!! Try to enjoy it! They get up to mischief.

Also the biting your feet if you stick them out from under the duvet phase (which is years..!)

I don't know about the loose stools, sounds like a diet disagreeing with him thing . But cat poo does not smell like baby or child poo. It (cat poo) is far more offensive smelling! Being able to change nappy won't help you with that!!

ElleL · 28/06/2020 01:10

Aww don't get upset hon! You're not a 'target' for him, he's just playing. It's lovely that he feels so comfortable and safe with you to play on you like that. You just need to let him know what is and isn't ok that's all.

Use your voice. Don't just distract/divert. Calm but firm, low soft voice...tell him noooo! Hold out your hand in a stop sign. If he's already climbing up you, take him off you put him on the floor, look him straight in the eye and say noooo, holding out the 'stop' hand near them. Be consistent. Choose what you will and won't let him do, the pattern you set now will shape his adulthood. (not to say adult cats can't be trained to behave better but it's a lot harder.) He'll soon get the hang of what he is and isn't allowed to do. It might take a while but he'll get it. But you need to let him know what is and isn't ok.

Someone we knew thought it was cute when their kitten played at attacking their feet under the covers in bed... cut to it being an adult cat doing the same thing and they were more than annoyed - and scratched to bits!

You just gotta train them that's all. Like I said, be consistent. Tell them what they Can do too. So when he does stop, change your tone, be upbeat & happy and tell him he's a good boy. Lots of praise & enthusiasm & strokes etc (esp around the face & chin).

When he's playing with appropriate things, again, use your voice. The happy upbeat excited approval tone.

This way they gradually learn what is and isn't ok just from listening to you.

Clipping his pins will definitely help with the pain! But it won't address the behaviour.

With cats, if they are genuinely in proper angry attack mode (your little boy sounds like he's just being a normal bouncy kitten trying to play with you. Their play includes practicing hunting and pouncing lol) If you feel threatened you can use a 'staring out' strategy to assert dominance. This is what they do to each other. Be aware they may sometimes pounce on you if they feel angry enough to take you on! But this won't be an issue with a kitten! Hold their eye contact and don't break it until they do. Keep it longer still, they will look back! Keep that stare (It can take quite some time) until they soften their eyes, they may do this with long blinks, looking away, turning their head away or walking away. But keep your eyes firmly on theirs until they do. I do this with the neighbours cats when they're being bulshy in my garden lol. It tells them you are boss! It's a good technique to use on your kitty every so often, when he goes too far with regards to a more aggressive play. Or... if he gets too angry with you when you're clipping his pins ;-)

The rest of the time. Give him tons of cuddles and brushing sessions and use the positive voice then too. It all feeds into letting him know and get familiar with good things and bad things.

Regarding the loose stools... Ours has always had a funny tummy bless her. We found James Wellbeloved food to be very well tolerated by her. On the expensive side but it definitely beats cleaning poop!

Enjoy your bundle of fuzz, it'll all be ok, you'll see ;-)

mylittlesandwich · 28/06/2020 01:13

If his diet hasn't changed then give the vet a call. Loose stools all over the house is not normal. Cats are normally very clean animals. As far as pouncing the only thing that ever had any success was me squealing loudly when she did it. Apparently that's what their littler mates would do if they'd taken play too far. I would consider getting another kitten so they can play with each other and not you.

Tavannach · 28/06/2020 01:17

It's unusual for a kitten not to be using his litter tray, if that's what you mean.
With the treating you as prey, stay still, say 'No', disentangle him and give him something else to play with. Basically, stay boring and he'll find something more interesting to do. It's important to teach this because it's annoying in a kitten but really painful with an adult cat.

ElleL · 28/06/2020 01:25

ps... if you train him now he won't be biting your feet when you stick them out of the duvet!!! ;-)

I'm sure you already know, but when clipping the claws only take the very tips, look for the pink bit in the middle and stay welllll away from that! That is the blood supply!
There's no problem with clipping cat's claws if you do it properly. All ours have had theirs done over the years. Vet approved. It's not good for them or you, or your clothes or furniture if they get too long. He's far too young to be going outside to blunt them down naturally. It's good to get him used to having it done while he's young too.
Best time to do it is when he's exceedingly sleepy! If he's properly out for the count like they do at that age you may even be able to get it done without him noticing too much ;-)

ElleL · 28/06/2020 01:32

@mylittlesandwich

If his diet hasn't changed then give the vet a call. Loose stools all over the house is not normal. Cats are normally very clean animals. As far as pouncing the only thing that ever had any success was me squealing loudly when she did it. Apparently that's what their littler mates would do if they'd taken play too far. I would consider getting another kitten so they can play with each other and not you.
True, I forgot our girl first came to us with a nasty tummy bug that needed a few vet trips and antibiotics. It sensitised her tummy but Wellbeloved is great for her, she goes runny again if we give her too much of anything else.

Some chicken boiled and given with the water it's cooked in is a good extra supplemental food and a good way to get some extra water into them to replenish them when they have the runs. They also find it extremely delicious!

recess123 · 28/06/2020 01:41

Thank you everyone.

Re his food I've spoken to the vets and he has now been on James Wellbeloved for a few days now. Lady we got him from had him on adult food and it's been a bit of a palaver but hopefully getting there with that. Even if I am constantly cleaning poo off the carpet!

I don't mind being climbed over, it's the digging of the nails and the biting which really hurts. I wore a hoody and jogging bottoms around the house (yes in yesterday's heat!) just to make it hurt a little less as day before I had bare arms and legs and it was unbearable!

I think I just got a little down as it's relentless. He's still very timid. Vet said she was taken aback at how scared and petrified he was of her. Understandably so, only got him a week ago. He still gets frightened when I stand up suddenly or sometimes even walk in the room and runs next to the fridge to hide.

Most times as soon as I walk in the room he comes over purring. Before he would purr and we would have nice cuddles. Now he purrs, rolls over on to his belly for a few seconds next to me and then goes in straight for the attack!

Today was pure hunting mode, jaw chattering ready for the attack! I think if I hadn't moved he would have got my face. But then he meows the second I leave the room!

Just got me wondering if there was something I had done wrong in the last few days which has made his behaviour change towards me slightly but maybe he is just becoming more comfortable with me.

I've had a kitten before when I was younger but obviously my parents did all this and I just reaped the rewards of cuddles. I'd never realised how hard this beginning stage could be!

I thought clipping kittens nails was normal, is it not? My parents used to do their cats once a month I had planned with DH to do his tomorrow as I don't think I could do it by myself!

OP posts:
Tavannach · 28/06/2020 01:51

Also, when I say he'll find something else to do you will have to help provide that. So, a dangler is good- our 12 week old kitten loves a circuit that goes up and over the back of the sofa. Pipecleaners are a favourite, sharp ends folded in, tied up and hung from door handles, and scrunched up silver paper balls about 3 cms in diameter. Boxes are good as well.

Tavannach · 28/06/2020 01:58

I keep thinking of more. A soft toy to battle. Ours has a rabbit, which is only slightly smaller than her.

ElleL · 28/06/2020 01:59

Clipping claws has always been normal in our family too. Though it does seem to be quite a polarising subject for some reason, though I have no idea why - vets do it!!

Definitely be very firm if he attacks you. Use the stare out method as much as you need to. Try to catch his eye with it when you sense him leading up to it.
It doesn't sound like you've done anything wrong! He's just finding his feet, practicing different natural instinctive strategy modes and pushing the boundaries with you to see where they are. Sounds like he's building up a little more confidence. Pretty much the 'teenage' stage lol. Don't forget being a boy he'll be dealing with those hormones at some point before needing his op. We've always had girls, but I've heard boys can get a bit more bulshy and annoyed in behaviour with their hormones in the lead up to their ops. Apparently that settles afterwards.

maybelou · 28/06/2020 02:00

oh our kitten is the same, bloody menace. One thing we do with ours is to made a LOUD noise of hurt when he gets you - that's what another cat would do if the play was too rough so he should understand when you yelp that it means he's hurt you and he's playing too hard.

He's still a baby learning boundaries, it hurts SO bad I know but it's not malicious, it's just that they play a lot more roughly than us 😂 We have a 11wk old kitten and the way he plays with our 1yo cat puts me on edge they're so rough with each other but it's how they play, they're a lot tougher than us.

recess123 · 28/06/2020 06:42

Thanks guys. Just been down to have a little play with him.. he did try as soon as I went in really. A few seconds purr, run towards me, roll over and straight for feet. I was firm, loved him away, directed him to a toy. This time it worked! He did try coming many more times but I yelled a few times and kept the eye contact a few other tones. So I think that's the first time round a success. I'll see what the rest of the day holds!

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 28/06/2020 09:29

Has he got enough toys to kick with his back legs? You cannot play with them enough at this age.

dementedpixie · 28/06/2020 09:34

this is why it's good to get 2 kittens - they then fight with each other instead! Have never trimmed my cat's nails but they go outdoors now and need then for climbing

Rembrandt · 28/06/2020 12:12

Now he purrs, rolls over on to his belly for a few seconds next to me and then goes in straight for the attack!

That's a classic cat trap. :o They lure you in with the fluffiness so that you lower your guard and then bam!

It really does get better. For a while I even resorted to a collar with a bell on so that I'd have at least some warning that a small fluffy ninja was going to come flying out from the shadows with claws at the ready. The collar lasted 2 days before he bit it off...

TroysMammy · 28/06/2020 14:05

Scrolled through this thread for a kitten photo. It's the rules on The Litter Tray and I can't believe regular Litter Tray posters haven't pointed this out to you. Smile

recess123 · 28/06/2020 17:09

Sorry! Here is the little ball of fluff

New kitten jumping on me
OP posts:
recess123 · 28/06/2020 17:10

He literally just bum shuffled and came straight for my face, not gonna lie I screamed! I walked away, he did the lying down eyes narrowed and came straight for my feet! It's relentless

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 28/06/2020 17:13

Have you got a cat tree or scratching post you can distract him with? Kittens can be wee shite bags at times. I have jeans with wee pulled bits on them where they used to climb up my legs

Wolfiefan · 28/06/2020 17:14

Yep. That’s what kittens do. They are exhausting! Laser pointer? (Careful with that one!) scrunched up paper tossed like a ball. Feather on a stick.

dementedpixie · 28/06/2020 17:15

Also used to like the cat tunnel we bought. Good to hide in when you're trying to brush them or apply flea treatment!

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