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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

Tonight I am feeling like a terrible kitten mum

21 replies

Northernlurker · 26/04/2023 21:56

So this morning was really good, last night older cat came and lay by me when kitten was chilling on me and although he assumed she was there to play and biffed her, it was a very encouraging sign. Both cats were in good form this morning. Then whilst we were getting dressed dh heard kitten crying very loudly and found him wrapped up in a rucksack strap - round his neck! We had to cut him out and he seems fine but obviously we were very upset and it's kicked my anxiety about the situation up a gear. Anyway I manned up and we had some lovely play and so on this evening. Until about forty minutes ago when I'm sitting on the sofa and he will do nothing but pounce on me and bite my hands. This has been an evening pattern but it seems to be getting worse. I obviously won't let him do that. I tried to distract him and put him in his room by himself for a bit but when I got him out again it was just as bad. Even if I keep my hands dead still under a blanket so not visible he still locates and bites. It's actually really upsetting. I don't know what to do. I desperately wanted another car and I know they need to play but I didn't expect to be constantly bitten. He came from a rescue with an experienced fosterer. Age isn't 100%clear but probs about 9 weeks. I'm starting to wonder if there's something wrong with him? He's so beautiful and we have a lovely cat focused home for him but I can't be bitten to pieces like this. How can I get him to chill out a bit?

OP posts:

Beamur · 26/04/2023 21:59

What are you playing with? Wand toys?
Hands under a blanket are inviting being found..

Original poster

Northernlurker · 26/04/2023 22:04

We've got a fishing wand but he was defo a bit bored with that tonight. He's got several balls, fish etc to throw around. A crinkle sack. A tunnel. A round thing with the balls in it. It's just if you leave hands out he goes for them. Slowly hide them and ditto!

OP posts:

Justnocricket · 26/04/2023 22:05

Can you wear old gardening gloves until he grows up a bit? If your hands are protected and stop/moving reacting he may lose interest.

CatDoesNotApprove · 26/04/2023 22:32

Distract with a toy. And anything hidden under a cover is a major trigger for cats, it's their instinct, so don't do that

Original poster

Northernlurker · 26/04/2023 22:40

I have tried distracting him but he prefers my hands!

OP posts:

Original poster

Northernlurker · 26/04/2023 22:42

And I have tried keeping them still but that's not really possible when he bites. I could wear gloves but that won't stop him biting.

OP posts:

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 26/04/2023 22:44

He's just playing with you, though I know it's painful.

I would look at getting him some interactive toys to play and chase.

Wolfiefan · 26/04/2023 22:45

Kittens do that. My tortie pair went through a stage of attacking anyone who went past. A laser toy was great to redirect them.

CatsTheWayToDoIt · 26/04/2023 22:45

Hello! My kittens did this but because there were two of them they would squeal and whack each other when the bites got too much. I think that taught them to tone it down. However within a couple of months they stopped doing it anyway, all part of growing up.

MedievalNun · 26/04/2023 22:49

All of our cats have gone through this to some extent. First lady that I hand reared did for a bit then lost interest; rescue male was an absolute s*d for months - hands, legs, ankles - bitten and scratched to shreds. Next girl was daddy's darling and never raised so much as a single claw but the silver Bengal was another terror until around 6 months and will still grab hands (& feet!) at age 7, although not for so long.

All of these cats had lots of toys and playtime and all, apart from needing to bottle feed the first, were raised the same way.

I would wear some nice thick gardening gloves for now, remove her claws / teeth every time she bites or scratches and make sure you clean them thoroughly. She should (hopefully) grow out of it, especially once the other cat feels settled enough to play with her.

Original poster

Northernlurker · 27/04/2023 07:13

Our other cat is doing really well with it. You're all right. I just need to give it more time and look out for the warning signs.

OP posts:

Blamethecat57 · 27/04/2023 07:41

Try a laser pointer.
Completely exhausting for the kitten and no obvious hand involvement.
I am very strict with out kitten. As soon as he bites/claws hands then we move away.
He is getting it...but it's been a slow process. Especially as kids think it's great fun to wrestle with him🙄

Allergictoironing · 27/04/2023 07:55

You could maybe try hissing at him, the way another cat would if they are unhappy? This worked with my new boy when he started snatching his chicked from my hand rather than taking it gently, a couple of times hissing when he snatched and he stopped.

lljkk · 27/04/2023 08:07

he's teething.... !!

Just play with him under blanket or with gloves.
Sorry I'm thick but don't understand the problem.
His play & prey drives are extremely high. Normal for very young cats.

One of my adult cats still likes a little (soft) nibble. It's not a problem to us. She also licks a lot which is funny, I've never been licked so much by a cat. Her tongue is pure sharp sandpaper so not nice on bare skin.

FannyFifer · 27/04/2023 08:52

Is this not just what kittens do, certainly any cat I've had did this.
Our cat at the minute is nearly 3 & still loves stalking DD round the house & leaping on her. Another cat we had was obsessed with feet, pouncing & biting them.

SittingOnTheChair · 27/04/2023 09:17

Hiss at him.

This is what kittens do. He will grow out of it.

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 27/04/2023 09:34

I've just been through this with my kitten and my hands were torn to shreds. I also couldn’t distract him no matter how hard I tried.

He suddenly stopped, by himself, after a couple of weeks. I'd stop beating yourself up and ride it out.

With my older cat that isn't a fan of the kitten, I bought some Dreamies and give her some whenever she's near the kitten. My plan is for her to associate him with nice things. Don't know if it'll work but you could try with me!

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 27/04/2023 10:33

This is why it's recommended that kittens go in pairs - so that they get all their energy out playing with each other and not with you!

DancedByTheLightOfTheMoon · 27/04/2023 10:45

One kitten is always going to be hard work.
I currently have 3 and they are beyond happy.
Entertain themselves and leave my eldest cat alone. They play lovely together, groom one another and sleep all huddled up together. Eldest kitten has just turned one, youngest pair are 9 months old. Eldest sadly lost his sibling, but has bonded extremely well with younger kittens.

Original poster

Northernlurker · 27/04/2023 13:49

Thanks all. @HeyDemonsItsYaGirl that's good to know, I am trying likewise although tbh my older cat is doing mostly pretty well with him. She's ok in the same space, sits and watches him and is starting to play with him a bit. Although that mostly looks like him being fascinated by her and her tolerating him until she needs to biff him.

OP posts:

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 27/04/2023 14:55

Hands are the best toys. Every kitten knows it.

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