Ragdoll kitten nipping

Moonwatcher1234 · 2023-12-19T22:33:12+00:00

hi all, thanks so much for all your excellent advice so far for this kitten novice - I was hoping to draw on your wisdom again. kitten is now 16 weeks old and 90 per cent of the time v placid save for the zoomies which is fine. He’s started nipping my husband, sometimes repeatedly and trying to bat at his hands. This happens in the evenings. He gets played with loads, given lots of hugs and attention during the day and I don’t know why he’s doing it or to handle it. We just say no calmly and move him to the next room to chill out and learn that if he does this, he won’t get attention. second kitten not an option but I really want to understand why. Wish I could read his mind!

margotrose · 19/12/2023 22:38

He wants to play with you. Kittens have so much energy and need a lot of interaction.

Original poster

Moonwatcher1234 · 19/12/2023 22:40

margotrose · 19/12/2023 22:38

He wants to play with you. Kittens have so much energy and need a lot of interaction.

Thanks - you’ve been super helpful before as well. Question - how do we deal with it to try and prevent him from doing it?

OP posts:

margotrose · 19/12/2023 22:44

Does he have lots of toys he can play with by himself? I would invest in those if possible - and try not to play with your hands, use things like flirt poles so he learns that hands aren't for biting 😂

I have to say though, my oldest is nearly nine and still bites my hands when he wants to play 🙈

Dotcheck · 19/12/2023 22:45

Mine is a full grown cat and she bites when she wants pets/ snuggles/ food.
It is juvenile behaviour designed to fulfil their needs

Original poster

Moonwatcher1234 · 19/12/2023 22:49

Thanks. I don’t know if this is controversial but any thoughts on neutering at 4 months? He’s not aggressive and is actually so lovely but I’m worried about him becoming aggressive as he reaches maturity. Local vet says 6 months is right but online suggests 4 months is optimal?

OP posts:

margotrose · 19/12/2023 22:58

You can neuter as young as four months but many vets won't do it until six in my experience.

Mine was neutered at about five months and he was absolutely fine. Not sure it changed his behaviour though!

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 19/12/2023 22:59

Neutering isn’t a massive procedure but I’d still wait as most vets will give a general anaesthetic, a lot for a kitten’s body to cope with.

If he’s not biting hard then I’d say you’re reacting in the right way - with most animals positive reinforcement when they do something right and neutral/ignoring for unwanted behaviour work really well. If you shout at him or even jerk away he’ll get frightened or maybe think you’re part of the game. We have a Bengal with boundless energy and whenever she accidentally catches hold of me instead of her toy, I freeze and we pause the game until she’s worked out what’s happened (she’s not very bright but not a deliberate biter of people, just chairs, cardboard boxes, the stairs etc etc). Our previous Bengal was a deliberate biter and large and aggressive with it. The behaviour was entrenched when he adopted us but fighting back (when I say large, he was HUGE) also never helped with him, he’d generally get in one pounce and stalk off to swallow a rabbit whole or something.

Original poster

Moonwatcher1234 · 19/12/2023 23:09

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 19/12/2023 22:59

Neutering isn’t a massive procedure but I’d still wait as most vets will give a general anaesthetic, a lot for a kitten’s body to cope with.

If he’s not biting hard then I’d say you’re reacting in the right way - with most animals positive reinforcement when they do something right and neutral/ignoring for unwanted behaviour work really well. If you shout at him or even jerk away he’ll get frightened or maybe think you’re part of the game. We have a Bengal with boundless energy and whenever she accidentally catches hold of me instead of her toy, I freeze and we pause the game until she’s worked out what’s happened (she’s not very bright but not a deliberate biter of people, just chairs, cardboard boxes, the stairs etc etc). Our previous Bengal was a deliberate biter and large and aggressive with it. The behaviour was entrenched when he adopted us but fighting back (when I say large, he was HUGE) also never helped with him, he’d generally get in one pounce and stalk off to swallow a rabbit whole or something.

😂 Your previous bengal sounds a character. Aren’t bengals really full on? Like literal mini tigers? Been terrified of them since seeing a wild one in Jackson galaxy’s show…

OP posts:

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 19/12/2023 23:23

The previous one was DEFINITELY a mini tiger - I wouldn’t advise anyone who has previously opted for Ragdolls to go for one in future. He (the earlier bitey one) actually used to make big burly tradesmen hide in their vans when the arrived if he rocked up and I wasn’t joking about the whole rabbit a day. He also managed to get me lying on the floor with him on my chest the first time he rocked up uninvited in our house. Can’t remember how but since he also kneaded and drooled it was… memorable. Our current one is more like a very mini snow leopard - half the size of the other one and very fond of zooming and pouncing but to be honest I think her brain is also half the size at most, most of the time the zooming involves crashing into or falling off things. Very sweet natured and she’s never aggressively hurt me but an absolute daft idiot.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 20/12/2023 17:21

I had a Bengal too who thought hands are toys. Withdraw hands and redirect to a toy because we didn’t and sometimes he would pounce.

He was neutered at 20 weeks and had recurrent uti, long term Cystease and I worry I neutered too early as it’s a late maturing breed compared to moggies which I think Maine coons are too.

Original poster

Moonwatcher1234 · 20/12/2023 18:34

Okay, so today he has started nipping at the kids when he is being held. He is completely calm when picked up but then nips out of the blue, very suddenly and without warning. What could be going on? I don’t want him to have to go because of this but equally can’t have the kids being nipped when they are being very sensible and careful around him.

OP posts:

margotrose · 20/12/2023 18:48

OP, he's a kitten. They are bitey and scratchy by nature. It's just what they do.

Even adult cats can behave like this. It's normal.

Original poster

Moonwatcher1234 · 20/12/2023 19:19

margotrose · 20/12/2023 18:48

OP, he's a kitten. They are bitey and scratchy by nature. It's just what they do.

Even adult cats can behave like this. It's normal.

Thanks - I think I needed to hear that. Just want them all to rub along nicely but obviously he is a living breathing creature with his own whims - just like us.

OP posts:

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 20/12/2023 19:20

I don’t want him to have to go because of this but equally can’t have the kids being nipped when they are being very sensible and careful around him.
OP - some cats are right bitey bastards all their lives (one of mine is). Many cats grow out of it. Not convinced that neutering makes much difference to it though.
However, I really wouldn't consider biting being a reason to get rid of a cat. Your children will quickly learn the signs.

TheSnowyOwl · 20/12/2023 19:23

I would think he has nipped to get something (food, attention, to be played with…) and now he had learnt that if he nips he goes to a quiet room alone so if he doesn’t want the children holding him, he will nip to get away to a quiet room.

What do you think he is seeking in the evening? Given he is a kitten and they tend to be at their most awake in the evening, I would guess to be played with. If so, start playing with him before the timescale when he usually nips to try to preempt it happening. That way he doesn’t continue to nip to get what he wants because his needs have already been fulfilled.

Mumaway · 20/12/2023 19:25

We had a Bengal kitten who was so terrifying we gifted him to a family friend who was braver than us. The kitten managed to get their staffie to climb some curtains to escape he was so mean!

SmithfamilyRobinson · 20/12/2023 19:33

Two options; hiss like a bigger or mummy cat to make clear you don't like that behaviour; get a laser pointer then you can amuse yourself by getting kitty to run around a little away from you!
PS have you paid the cat tax?

margotrose · 20/12/2023 19:35

Moonwatcher1234 · 20/12/2023 19:19

Thanks - I think I needed to hear that. Just want them all to rub along nicely but obviously he is a living breathing creature with his own whims - just like us.

Show quote history

And he may not change as an adult - I work with cats (and have had six of my own over the years) and some will nip at you their entire lives.

I recently lost an 18yo cat client of mine and even at her age she would nip at you in play sometimes

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 20/12/2023 22:40

@mumaway nice to know I’m not the only one with a Terrifying Bengal in my past!