Struggling a bit with new kitten

[SkyBlue1987]

Good morning, I have had cats before but never a kitten so am new to this and looking for tips and advice. We have a gorgeous little 12 week old ragdoll kitten which we have just got. We choose a ragdoll since we needed an indoor cat to protect native wildlife but also we thought he’d be a good fit for our two young kids and we always have someone working from home so he wouldn’t be alone a lot. Other than get a second cat (not an option for us) I’m looking for ways to keep him entertained while I need to work. I was hoping he’d be content to sleep on my lap or play nearby during the day but he wants to play with me 24/7. My boys play with him before and after school but it doesn’t seem to tire him out. Also what does everyone do with young kittens at night - long term we’d like him to sleep at the end of our beds but at the moment he’s very bitey and claws a lot. He would just climb over my kids and wake them all night (can’t shut the kids doors as they wake to come into our bed). Although part of the reason we got a cat was that hopefully it would encourage my son to stay in his bed all night (if the cat was in there to).

He's only 12 weeks! Lovely kitten. Allow him on beds etc from the start. He'll learn to snuggle up, and bite phase is only there if he is being played with. Go to bed, so calm and quiet. Keep your hands under the covers. And puss will settle to sleep. Maybe not all night, but calm and quiet and kitty will sleep....well, ours always have done.

Also what’s the best way to teach him not to do something so he’ll learn? My two year old was eating before and the cat kept climbing up to his food upsetting my toddler, I kept putting the cat back on floor saying no - then I got scratched (maybe he thought it was a game).

Unless adopting an adult cat I’ve always had pairs. we got our current cats four years ago. One initially but OMG he was just play play play all day and night. So off we went and got his sister and problem instantly solved! As for nights - they are kept downstairs (there’s one door between the whole of downstairs and the actual stairs so easy to confine them yet they still have access to the cat flap and food) otherwise I get a 4.30am breakfast wake up call from the male. They sleep on my bed during the day and as adults would sleep at night until…4.30am!
I certainly think it’s odd you expecting the cat to stay with your son all night to encourage him to stay in bed. Cats pick who they like and where they want to sleep. Cats can be trained or do I’ve heard, but I’ve never been able to! They don’t seem to respond to ‘no’ the same way my dogs do! They do come when called though.
Why is a second kitten not an option? The kitten will need interaction at this age and for some time especially as an indoor cat. (By the way my Maine Coons may have a rep as hunters but in four years only three mice and two were in the last month). Either you tough it out first a few months or get a companion.

I'm afraid if another kitten is not an option then you have to fulfil that role - including being bitten, scratched and chased round the house all day. You kitten will be very bored (and destructive) otherwise.

Has he got a climbing tower? Also self play toys, our cat loved his track and ball when he was a kitten. You can also do play, feed, sleep like you do with babies! Wear them out with a toy, feather on a string/stick type thing get them diving around for 15/20 minutes then feed, then you'll find they go for a sleep

Prevent the behaviour you don’t want. Eg eat in the dining room with the door closed.
Re biting and scratching and playing. That’s what kittens are like.

Kittens (and mother cats) teach each other how to play nicely and not hurt - they learn from their littermates how to keep claws and teeth safe in rough and tumble games. You need to do that as he doesn’t have another cat to tell him when he is playing too rough. If he scratches, give a little squawk and stop playing for a minute. Never encourage biting or clawing in play and never let him play with hands. He may bite when he gets over stimulated and that is a sign he needs a little break to calm down. He is at a very high energy age and will need little bursts of intense play. Wand toys are good for tiring them out.