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

Original poster

How to stop Siamese kitten from biting and scratching me

37 replies

Imherenowandthen · 27/03/2022 08:37

I've a 12 week old siamese kitten, most of the time he's adorable, but first thing in the morning and at bedtime he goes crazy and has started leaping at my legs whilst I'm walking around or at my head/face when I'm in bed. He's not aggressive, he's just playing, but he does hurt me and I'm worried he'll scratch my face. I'm not sure how to teach him it's not acceptable. I've had a siamese before, I know they're a handful, but my last one was slightly older and not as wild.

He has lots of toys and I play with him throughout the day, throwing his toys for him to fetch etc. I don't encourage him to play with my hands.

I'm just not sure how to discourage this behaviour. Should I hiss at him like a cat would? Say no?

I didn't sleep well last night and he's just almost reduced me to tears this morning, obsessed with jumping on my head in bed Blush

OP posts:
123feraverto · 27/03/2022 08:56

My girl was like this, she's nearly 8 now.

She's still unpredictable and frequently bites people she considers strangers in her home.

We had her spayed and tried the feliway plug ins

The only thing that really calmed her was when we moved house and she could go outside. She never goes far and comes back in fairly quickly.

We were really worried about what she would be like when we had babies but she has really surprised us

She will still give playful nips and defend her space by hissing and biting

Perseverance in telling him no and not engaging with him when he's biting
Treats when he's playing nicely without biting
Neutering if he's not already

(Can we have a pic)

Fluffycloudland77 · 27/03/2022 10:35

Fishing rod style toys or something he can kick. You have to give them something more fun than biting mom. Biting us is so much fun though!

Floralnomad · 28/03/2022 10:15

My adult son has 2 Siamese kittens and that is the answer - get 2 and they fight each other .

Easterbunnyiswindowshopping · 28/03/2022 10:31

Get another dkitten?

Beamur · 28/03/2022 11:48

Don't let him sleep in with you until he's older? I have orientals and they didn't get the run of the house until they were about 6 months old. I shut them in a safe room overnight. I have a pair though so they play rough with each other!

Fluffycloudland77 · 28/03/2022 12:41

Not sure I could cope with two meezers. Worse than kids.

soddingkitten · 28/03/2022 12:47

Sodding was a bit rough at the start. I found squealing or yelping in pain when he overdid it was really effective. He quickly learned to use soft paws, but he wasn’t a biter.

Floralnomad · 28/03/2022 20:47

Ours are 17 weeks and they sleep with ds , the other night one of them woke him up at 3am by sitting on the bedside table and swiping him round the face . I’m not really a cat person but they are absolutely gorgeous.

Original poster
Imherenowandthen · 30/03/2022 08:32

Sorry for the delayed reply, my phone has been playing up.

Thanks for all the comments. Financially another kitten is out of the question. We do have lots and lots of toys, most of the time I stuff one of the toys between his paws when he's play fighting me, it's the early mornings that I can't cope with, because I'm half asleep and he seems to think it's a game when I'm half under the duvet, I'm terrified he'll scratch my face or my eye.

I tried shutting him out, but he just cries. With any other kitten I probably would ignore this, but he's a siamese, very loud and VERY persistent.

I have been trying to act like a cat would, so either making a sound like I'm hurt or hissing at him, I've tapped at him gently too, obviously not to hurt him, but trying to imitate a mother cat.

The only thing that stops him first thing in the morning is feeding him immediately. He then calms down afterwards.

OP posts:
Original poster
Imherenowandthen · 30/03/2022 08:33

Photo as requested Grin

How to stop Siamese kitten from biting and scratching me
OP posts:
NellesVilla · 30/03/2022 08:35

He’s absolutely gorgeous, OP!

Has he got plenty of places to scratch/scratching posts etc? Can he go outside on a lead with you soon?

Beamur · 30/03/2022 08:37

He's gorgeous.
He's also training you to get up and feed him 😂
I am familiar with how noisy and persistent they can be. My current girls are much quieter and I actually miss the yowling.
Another kitten doesn't have to be a Siamese, or are you just mindful of ongoing costs x2 which is fair enough..

Original poster
Imherenowandthen · 30/03/2022 08:39

He's got a scratching post and a scratching mat. Feliway plug in also, because I have an adult moggy too, it helped them settle when the kitten first arrived.

He's just had his second vaccination, so I'm going to buy a harness and take him out soon. I'm not letting him out on his own. Maybe in the garden with me in the summer. I'll see. I'd love one of those cat enclosures, but just can't afford it and I'm not at all diy handy!

OP posts:
Original poster
Imherenowandthen · 30/03/2022 08:43

@Beamur

He's gorgeous. He's also training you to get up and feed him 😂 I am familiar with how noisy and persistent they can be. My current girls are much quieter and I actually miss the yowling. Another kitten doesn't have to be a Siamese, or are you just mindful of ongoing costs x2 which is fair enough..
Yes, the ongoing costs and also I have an adult moggy who is not stepping up to the mark regarding playing with him! Grin

He most definitely has me trained to get up. It's unbearable first thing! But after eating he washes himself and calms down.

I love the sound of siamese. But not when it's constant sad crying because they're shut out Sad

OP posts:
Beamur · 30/03/2022 09:00

One of my current cats is possibly the most perfect cat ever for night time etiquette. She very occasionally comes to bed with me, but usually has first sleep in DD's bedroom on a radiator hammock. Creeps in with me about 3 or 4, doesn't wake me up, I just wake up and she's snuggled up next to me. Gets up when I see DD off to school has some breakfast and then is ready for a snooze. I'm having a sneaky back to bed to read/MN for an hour and she's fast asleep...
My previous boy shouted at me until I woke up (3am is a popular time) or patted my eyes.

Original poster
Imherenowandthen · 30/03/2022 09:12

😂 patting your eyes ... lovely!

Now he's been fed, he's being lovely, laid next to my other cat at the foot of the bed, washing himself. Food is the answer Grin .. isn't it always?

OP posts:
Original poster
Imherenowandthen · 13/04/2022 16:43

This is not getting any better. I have toys to distract him, I try to push them into his claws and mouth when he scratches or bites but it doesn’t help.

OP posts:
helpfulperson · 13/04/2022 16:58

I have a wonderful vision of a PP telling their cat to use 'soft paws'. I'm guilty of talking to my cats like they have any idea what I'm saying or indeed care.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 13/04/2022 17:01

I know you say you couldn't afford it but this is why so many people recommend getting kittens in pairs - they really do benefit from having a playmate.

Siamese are a pretty intense breed and they're very needy and vocal - have you tried buying him some interactive toys to play with? A laser pen or one of those robotic mice he can chase around a track etc?

Original poster
Imherenowandthen · 13/04/2022 21:51

I’ve got a laser pointer, not a robotic mouse though. He has got a lot of toys though, I throw them for him and he brings some of them back for me to throw again! I don’t think he’s bored, I play with him a lot. He just gets carried away at bedtime and first thing in the morning.

OP posts:
Original poster
Imherenowandthen · 13/04/2022 21:53

I realise that having another kitten would be good for him, but it’s the vet costs that worry me. Plus finding another kitten now, as all his litter have gone to new homes.

OP posts:
XDownwiththissortofthingX · 13/04/2022 22:02

I had a male Tuxey who used to do this to my partner at bed times. It started when he was a kitten, continued through adolescence, and he was still doing it a 10y.o. and beyond. The fact I used to kill myself laughing at the stalking and attacking of feet didn't help, but Ex didn't stand up to him so he just continued to be a bully and get away with it. He never really tried it with me, but when he did occasionally do the ears back "I'm gonna batter you" thing, I found grabbing him gently around the chest and putting him on his back, roughing his belly a bit , immediately thwarted his violent intent. Showing them you are frightened or cowering just eggs playful tomcats on. Stand up to him and give him back as good as he dishes out, and I think he'll get the hint eventually. You sometimes need to show them who is boss, but obviously I'm not suggesting you punish him, just show that if he wants to be rough, you are bigger and stronger and can give him what for if you choose.

Good luck. They really can be wee shites sometimes Grin

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 14/04/2022 01:14

Awwwww is that his angry face😂 or is he smiling.

Original poster
Imherenowandthen · 14/04/2022 10:53

@Awwlookatmybabyspider

Awwwww is that his angry face😂 or is he smiling.
He was talking to me Grin
OP posts:
Original poster
Imherenowandthen · 14/04/2022 10:55

@XDownwiththissortofthingX

I had a male Tuxey who used to do this to my partner at bed times. It started when he was a kitten, continued through adolescence, and he was still doing it a 10y.o. and beyond. The fact I used to kill myself laughing at the stalking and attacking of feet didn't help, but Ex didn't stand up to him so he just continued to be a bully and get away with it. He never really tried it with me, but when he did occasionally do the ears back "I'm gonna batter you" thing, I found grabbing him gently around the chest and putting him on his back, roughing his belly a bit , immediately thwarted his violent intent. Showing them you are frightened or cowering just eggs playful tomcats on. Stand up to him and give him back as good as he dishes out, and I think he'll get the hint eventually. You sometimes need to show them who is boss, but obviously I'm not suggesting you punish him, just show that if he wants to be rough, you are bigger and stronger and can give him what for if you choose.

Good luck. They really can be wee shites sometimes Grin

Thanks, good to know it’s not just me! I’ve had many cats over the years, none this bad. I’ve tried bopping his nose gently, blowing on his face, hissing at him, pushing him over but it all seems part of the game to him.
OP posts:
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