She bites and scratches the bottle (and my hand as well), and will growl at me and bite my hand if I pull the bottle away after she is done, even if she starts sucking down air. I know she is getting enough to eat because of her constant weight gain, and I know she is not dehydrated. Afterwards, she will bite down on my hand hard enough for it to hurt, and will keep biting me until I either pull her off or blow air in her face to make her stop.
This behavior is very recent, developing in the past few feedings, and in order to discourage the behavior, I need to know why she is doing it. Has this ever happened to anyone else?
2006-06-25 01:48:20 · 6 answers · asked by hellstryder 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
I have bottle fed over 40 kittens and have found that wrapping the kitten in a towell tight enough around the neck that the feet don't come through gives the cat a secure feeling. Of course I began at birth so starting with a 4 week old my scare her but it's worth a try.
2006-06-25 02:23:49 · answer #1 · answered by snakenhunter 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I've nursed 6 kittens and resently, about last year, I raised a two day old male kitten which by the time he was 4 weeks old. He was so rambunctious and he was also a biter.
To answer your question, the milk teeth start growing when they are very young, and soon those milk teeth will drop. It could be she is teathing.
At this age, I would suggest to not feed her when she's bitting. Wait a few minutes for her to calm down. When she calms down then feed her. It she tries to bite again, avoid petting her, and feeding her. Encourage good behavious because this bitting will continue if you feed her while she's biting. My kitten was truly a biter and he didn't stop until he was about 8 months old, at most a full adult. He calm down now but he still bites MEN -- LOL, he rubs off like being a nice cat and then sneaks one of those bites. He does it to my boyfriend all the time. I think he just doesn't like him. LOL....
Well because my cat is a male they tend to be dominant. I have 5 cats now. Two males and three females.
Just be patient. She'll come around. It's just a matter of training the behavior. Some cats don't like to be flipped over their stomach's because that is a threatening pose to them. They may not like being rubbed their either, and some cats, they like it. Just make the experience pleasurable. If she bites, stop and just pet her when she's not bitting. Give her positive encouragement and reward when she's nice. Put her down and ignore her if she continues biting. She may follow you around. If she plays with your ancles to get your attention protect your ancles, and try a spray bottle to stop her. Pet her when she's nice. Be persistent. I always tell my boy when he decide to play rought and bite, "be a nice boy". He understands, well, I think he understands, I've been saying that for months...he usually stops bitting or losens his grip.
Never use your hand to discipline because the next time you pet her she can attach it. I would try putting a teddy bear glove or a double sock, while you hold the bottle, and continue training her. She's get over it with time. It's just the teeth.
Usually the milk teeth will fall off or sometimes they swallow it with their food. Female teeth are smaller then the males so you may not see them on the floor. She is just a kitten so give her time, plenty of love, and lots and lots of patience. Just warn people that come to your house. Show them how to play with her and discourage the person from permitting her to bite while playing. This way your training don't go down to drain. Giving the cat toys while she's bitting is encouraging the bitting. Just give her toys when she's nice.
Well, you can reach me for more advise. I'm a cat rescuer and I also learned how to bathe your cat, and clip the nails. If you wish to bathe your cat do it while she's still young as well as clipping the nails. Once they get older they just hate it. But give me a buzz if you wish more advise.
Good luck.
2006-06-25 02:45:36 · answer #2 · answered by Treasure 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try adding some canned kitten food to her diet. It might be that she is ready to move to solid food and just isn't feeling satisfied with the bottle anymore. You might try mixing the food with her formula at first. Say a mix of 3/4 formula to 1/4 canned kitten food, increasing the food ratio over the next couple of weeks gradually and monitoring her to make sure she's tolerating it well.
2006-06-25 02:12:06 · answer #3 · answered by Molly 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She obviously feels threatened for food. Are there other animals around? You should try a more comfortable setting or even just a different one. Lay on the couch with her and bottle feed her there while you talk quielty to her. There is always a reason for a behavior, animals arent just being mean they are usually frightened or feel threatened.
2006-06-25 01:52:42 · answer #4 · answered by Amy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why are you bottle feeding a kitten it should be with its mother however if the mother isnt there for some reason its possible the teat your using is to big you cant feed a kitten with a babies teat you would need something the size of you would use for eardrops shes biting and scratching because her instinct at that age is to be with her mother
2006-06-25 01:58:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Seems as if she is ready to add some kitten food to her diet, if she can bite, she can handle it.
2006-06-25 01:58:44 · answer #6 · answered by DollyLama 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋