We have a new kitten that hisses, bites and attacks. Help!?

Question

I'm worried that she is feral. She is only 8 weeks old and occasionally she can be really sweet. But she is biting and scratching my children, and hissing, spitting and arching her back at all of us. I can hardly pet her now. Any suggestions???

Answer 1

The kitten is hissing, spitting, scratching and biting becuase she feels threatened and is warning whoever to back off. Please don't be offended but kittens and cats need time to adjust to people especially children. Kids move erratically, talk excitedly, are boisteous and a naturally skittish cat will find this very threatening and stressful. The cat will defend itself.

I have two grandsons ages 8 and 9 now. I have had to teach them how to approach my cat and the new kitten softly, slowly and gently. No sudden erratic movements... just calm, matter of fact and begin by offering a hand forthe cat to smell. No touch first. The best thing to do with skittish cats is to simply IGNORE them for a while and allow them to realize for themsleves that you mean them no harm. When the kitten is hungry, choose one kid to give the kitty his food bowl - softly and matter of factly. When kitty is eating, the child can fently pat its head briefly. Keep doing this rotating the kids. Pretty soon, the cat will associate the kids with pleasant feelings

Good luck.

Answer 2

When he gets fixed part of this behavior will stop and that should be at 6 months old. If you're lucky you might be able to get it done at 5 months. Squirt bottles are one thing but I'd hold him and when he starts his acting up I'd tell him "NO"! firmly and tap his nose. The most sensitive part of an animal is it's nose. Repeat every time he misbehaves. NEVER tickle a kitty. It makes them aggressive. Put his claws back into his paws when he has them out. Repeat this action as well. Past that my secret weapon is to "cry" loudly when he attacks. If you pretend to cry it usually upsets them a lot and their attitude changes to " Are you hurt? Can I help? I'm sorry!" Talk to him also and tell him he's being naughty and he has to stop it or he'll go outside and tell him what an awful place that is. Cats have the intelligence of a 6 year old human child so treat him that way. This one's just a juvenile though.

Answer 3

Poor baby is scared to death. A new home, new faces and children. Have the children leave her alone for a while and let her come to her new family on her terms. It can take any where from a week to a month and longer sometimes to get used to a new home. You didn't say how you aquired her. Did you find her or get her from someone else? Make sure and get all her shots, espically rabies when she's old enough (about 4 months). Get her lots of toys to play with and a scratching pole. You may consider putting her in the bathroom at nite so she can't attack anyone. We had to put my son's new kitten in a cage at nite, he kept clawing my girls while they slept. He'd bite at your neck when you tried to hold him. Quite the little "vampire", which is now his name. That was 3weeks ago and now he's doing fine. My son had found him at a dumpster at nite, it was 31 degrees out. he had worms and earmites and was the size of a 6 week old. The kitten turned out to be 4 months old and near death do to the worms. We had him wormed, got all the shots including rabies and treated him for earmites. Just give her time and space and she'll surprise you one day.

Answer 4

Do you know if she was used to people before you brought her home? Some kittens (if they were born outside and not used to people from the start) take a little longer to adjust to being around people. I know some people don't agree with this but, I had my oldest cat declawed (on the front only) because she was scracthing the kids all the time. Our new cat still has hers because she never uses them. Make sure to take the kitten to a vet to be checked out for any of the feline "issues" they can have. Just make sure the kids give her her own space and she may adjust. Good luck

Answer 5

I agree with all of the people who suggested you ignore the cat for a while, and allow her to come to you when she is ready. And keep the kids away from her until she's used to the household!

Also, when I was fostering kittens rescued from feral colonies, I discovered it is helpful to keep the kitten in your bedroom. That way, at night, when you are sleeping, she can "check you out" while you sleep. She won't feel threatened because you're zonked.

Answer 6

It might not like kids. maybe let the little thing be alone in a room with food water a litter box and something to sleep on and play with for a day or two. its probably just under alot of stress. It also might just be going through its "wild" stage!

Answer 7

leave her alone to let her get used to the people and suroundings when you put out her food pet her gently and when she calms a bit start to handle her..cats that are born with out contact will be ruff just doing what comes naturaly.contact and handleing but she might be skitish all the time good luck

Answer 8

Make sure she has her vaccines, and if she IS from a feral litter she will take time and patience to settle. Best to let her come to YOU, not try to interact until she initiates it.

Answer 9

She might not like the kids. She'll probably grow out of it. You can have her spayed when she is four months old. That should calm her down.

Answer 10

She might be wanting to play but doesn't know how. To her that might be playing because of how she and her brothers and sisters played before you got her.