Bitey/scratchy kitten (little bastard!!)

[Mandalalorianna]

My cute little boy is 11 weeks old. He's mostly adorable but christ when he bites or scratches, it's bloody painful! Is this a phase? Will he grow out of it? Do I discipline him somehow to stop? (probably not!!) I've got chunks of skin missing from my arms and hands!

It's a phrase he'll grow out of it.

Yes it’s a phase, have you had him castrated yet? It really helped with our boy. I wanted to get dh done but he wasn’t up for it.

It is a phase and he will grow out of it but also remember you’re his mum right now. He wouldn’t get away with it from his mum for long, so be a cat mum. Put up with it for a bit and then just move him away or slow your movements to be less ‘fun’. A very light finger bop on the nose is also effective.

All that’s said, shredded hands and legs are all part of the deal with kittens.

@Fluffycloudland77 vet said I could get him cfjoped about January, he's too little yet. But will definitely be getting him done ASAP!
@Crikeyblimey

Chopped!

@crikeyblimey the mum cat would definitely not put up with it and wallop him! Obviously I won't wallop him but I am moving him away when he hurts. I may try the gentle bop on the nose too.

Distract him with a toy, human hands should never be used in discipline. It’s not his fault your not furry like his siblings.

You can hiss at him too if nothing else works. Kittens are bitey little fuckers.

Will he let you just trim the tips of his claws?

This is why I always recommend getting kittens in pairs, then they play fight each other. The only time I had a single kitten my arms and hands were so scratched up that the seamstress measuring me for a bridesmaid dress commented that I was either also a seamstress or I had a new kitten! Any chance you can get another one, same age?

It will only be a couple of months and then you will miss it! My latest kitten was much more aggressive to my children than me- try and redirect it towards them!! (Mine are teens )

Kittens are socialised into playing without hurting by having other kittens to play with and learning from experience that claws hurt and evoke retaliation. If your kitten has no siblings to help with that then you do have to be a substitute and there is nothing wrong with a gentle bop on the nose dealt immediately after being hurt. You can't reason with or explain to a kitten.

My cat used to do this and wise posters on here advised me to hiss at her whenever she bit or scratched me. It worked - surprisingly quickly.

@Fluffycloudland77

Yes it’s a phase, have you had him castrated yet? It really helped with our boy. I wanted to get dh done but he wasn’t up for it.

Haha!

Sounds bonkers but wide eyes and loud hiss, it works!

Ha they don't always grow out of it despite doing all the above. I will be minding my own business and suddenly get attacked. Its still painful. My cats 6.
Its only ever me she attacks even though we have 3 other people living here. No idea why.

Sorry I do hope it's a phase for you op.

It's a phase. He wants to play!!!!!! Keep a toy next to you to redirect energy and to help teach that hands are not toys. Those toys on a string and stick are great. Worked with ours. Watch his ears and tail. As soon as he signals the change from sweet to crazy, grab the toy!

Ours still needs the toy!

When smallest boy was small and wild I got him a couple of dog toys that were bigger than him, he could kick them and all sorts, saved my hands!