Curb bitey kitten behaviour

[sisteroutlaw]

Tips please. We adopted a gorgeous 15 week/4 month old kitten ten days ago. Last weekend he started to go for us instead of the jiggly feather stick toys. We're giving opportunities to play hunt before feeding with the toys. Letting him get the toy and bunny kick it to death. Then giving food. But the little blighter has once done full cat kill on my wrist. I've got teeny puncture wounds! I've since moved away when I see him turn. He gets the kitty hunting look and launches!

Bought some Feliway today and a scratchy carboard thing for more stimulation. He came with a PFB level of stuff from his first adoptive family. They've said he wasn't bitey with them... I'm imagining he's still unsettled as it's a lot of change. We are calling him the furry menace at the moment. What do you do to deter them to make attacking me not so much fun? Will he grow out of it?

Say no and move him away immediately, no playing for a while.

If you can tell when he is going to start doing it, grab by the scruff to stop it.

They do grow out of it.

They grow out of it by about six months old. In the meantime it's just as well they're so damn cute!!

Thanks @Octavia64 I wasn't sure if I was to totally ignore it (as if) or be stern. Stern it is then. By the way he's so quick when he's in menace mode it's hard to get the scruff without him whipping round. I've only ever had timid cats (just happened that they were) from the age of one before so this kitten crazy is brand new!

Thanks too @GruntledGoblin - that's what I wanted to hear, that he will grow out of it. It does make dangling a foot off the sofa more fraught!

Please don't grab him by the scruff. It's not the way to handle a cat and has the potential to really backfire on you.

The main thing is not to use your hands as toys - always, always play with him at a distance with flirt poles (or similar) and if he does go for your hands, just remove them and put him on the floor (nicely) or get up and move away from him. They do grow out of it by the time they're adults so it's mostly just a case of management until they calm down.

Have you tried blowing in his face quickly? Mine hate that and it puts them off doing behaviour I don’t like. Neither of mine went full crazy on ours hands but I’ve known other cats to do so. How does he react to a sharp no?

@fieldsofbutterflies we've not been using our hands as toys at all - only at the end of the flirt poll thing. He even goes for them when they're idle! Am counting the days til next vaccination as I think he needs the outdoors for stimulation.

@Mishmashs The stern "no" worked then when he went for my hands on keys on laptop... I'm weary of getting in his face when he's in huntin' mode. My eyebrows dance and may be seen as prey.

Eek @sisteroutlaw I wouldn't even think about letting him out yet (unless you have a secure safe space?) - he's far too young.

I wouldn’t scruff a cat for this either he just playing. Redirection is the key.

Our rescue used to do this. I hissed at her every time - it's what mum cats do. It worked - no more biting.

Thanks @FormerlyPathologicallyHappy the redirection has been working a treat and if he gets bananas a sharp no I suppose is akin to a hiss @Buildinganark much better say boundary wise. Phew.