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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.

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:
DrMadelineMaxwell · 28/06/2020 17:15

Strangely, something none of my cats liked was if you licked your hand and held it out in a stop motion. They would sniff and back away so we trained the kids to do that if the cat was getting too feisty when playing and it mostly worked.

Wolfiefan · 28/06/2020 17:20

@DrMadelineMaxwell how on earth did you discover that?? Grin

recess123 · 28/06/2020 17:33

We have all the previously mentioned. Fish on a stick, feather wands, laser pointer. But when he decides I'm his prey, nothing distracts him. Or it distracts him for 10 seconds before he's back at me. And it isn't just playful gnawing.. it's full on attack!

It's whenever I walk in the room at the moment, or whenever he sees me. I say no, he just changes track from my hands to my feet to my face!

OP posts:
Bigsighall · 28/06/2020 17:42

Get another kitten 😁

TroysMammy · 28/06/2020 17:43

Aw he's lovely. Does the fluffster have a name?

Haribo has just turned one and doesn't like being told no. He attacks my legs if I've turfed him out of a room. He's not a nasty cat and we call him soft paws during play but No is a red rag to him.

We do play "the game". It involves me peeping around a corner on my hands and knees and him slowly sneaking towards me, usually on the stairs. However he doesn't use his claws when jumping at me. We also play peep bo when he's in the bath and I'm on the toilet Grin.

At the moment the game is "I'm coming to get you" as he skids around the house.

Pelleas · 28/06/2020 17:45

Ooh, he's adorable!

dementedpixie · 28/06/2020 18:02

This is why 2 is good. They learn from each other when they are being too rough. Have you had him for long? May have benefitted from being with mum/siblings for a bit longer to learn from them

DrMadelineMaxwell · 28/06/2020 22:34

@Wolfiefan I have no idea! We first found it out with our very first kitten 20 years ago. DH did it first and it was very funny to see the kitten wrinkle up his nose and stop play-attacking at the time. We've done it with previous cats and found the same, they just don't like it.

cosmo30 · 28/06/2020 22:45

They are little monkeys! Mine just turned 1 and still likes to pounce but he's massive now so it's scary lol.
He has calmed down a lot though so it will get better.
Them massive pupils are due to excitement I think I read, and also ours always only went for me not my partner!

LynetteScavo · 28/06/2020 22:54

I've only had two kittens together and at that age they seemed to just play fight and sleep. I think you'll need spend lots of time playing with him.

When my cats have jumped on me I've screeched Blush and they got the message. DH however suffers in silence and he's still treated like a tree by one of our cats. I think you have to let your kitten know if you don't like being jumped on.

Ludo19 · 28/06/2020 22:55

Don't stare at him....regardless of what others have said. Cats hate that and it scares and intimidates them!!

He sounds like he's finding his feet and is still timid. No need to raise your voice either yelling at him will scare him further and may make his behaviour worse.

A firm no or a high pitched mew will work as when kittens rough play, if hurt, they let out a loud meow. That will let him know to stop being so rough.

He's gorgeous and you sound like a fab caretaker of this bundle!!

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