I just got a kitten the other day. I have never had a kitten before because I have been allergic to them my whole life so I know nothing about them.
Lately in the morning after my finace leaves for work and I am still in bed he will crawl into bed with me and start kneading the part or my neck that meets my back. At first I thought it was cute but he has nails and it hurts.
Why does he do this?
2007-08-01 03:27:26 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
This is a natural instinctive reaction that kittens do when they are massaging the nipple of their mother to get milk. Typically kittens (and cats) who do it to humans do so because they were not fully weaned when they were taken from their mother. Some will do it to other pets or even stuffed animals. To your kitten its a comfort thing.
Keeping your kittens claws trimmed will help. You can buy a pet nail trimmer or use a regular one. Just place your kitten in your lap or on the floor between your legs. Press on the pad of its paw with your fingers to make the claws come forward. The main part of the claw includes the pinkish-colored area, which contains nerves. Do not cut this part. The white tip (just past the pinkish area) is the dead tissue, which can be cut. Simply take the nail trimmer and cut this white tip off.
If you want your kitten to stop the only thing you can do is redirect its attention to something else.
2007-08-04 12:39:31 · answer #1 · answered by KitKat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He likes you. If the nails hurt, trim them. One of you hold the kitten, (support underneath with one hand, scruff of neck with other) and the other gently manipulate each paw to make the claws pop out. Use finger nail clippers. Be careful not to trim into the vein. It looks red. If you do, a little corn starch will stop the bleeding. Only need to trim front paws. Every 10-14 days, repeat.
Please don't de-claw.
2007-08-01 04:31:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
he is just expressing his affection for you and i have noticed, in my experience that kittens who leave their mother earlier(rather than later, or course) do this much more often...
here is an exerpt from a Cat FAQ page:
"That loud purring followed by the sharpening of claws on some soft spot of your body is called "milk-treading." When you relax and sit quietly, you're giving your cat the same signal he got from his mother when he was a kitten - that his mother was ready to let him suckle. A nursing kitten instinctively uses his paws to draw out the milk, gently pushing on his mother's stomach to increase the milk flow. When older cats behave this way, it's a good sign that they're happy, content, and probably recalling their kittenhood."
My suggestion is to move the kitty next to you, or turn on your side and create a little "nook" to place the kitten in, make sure he has plenty of covers to knead on so he doesn't hurt your skin... he should grow out of it or learn not to use his nails so much as he gets older (plus as his paws get bigger the nails aren't as sharp as those little kitten-sized ones!) :)
hope that helps!
2007-08-01 03:57:13 · answer #3 · answered by kittylover 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Cats and kitten knead when they are content and happy. It's an instinctual behavior related to when they were nursing their mother and kneaded her to increase milk flow.
You can trim your kitten's nails, use "Soft Paws" or eventually get your kitten declawed to save your neck.
2007-08-01 03:31:51 · answer #4 · answered by Susan W 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
He's probably giving you a little nudge to get up and entertain him, or he may be hungry. It will help to keep his nails trimmed regularly - you can do this at home with special nail trimmer designed for pets or you can take him to your vet/animal groomer.
2007-08-01 03:32:08 · answer #5 · answered by VetTech1016 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
He wants attention he only does that because he feels he is left out because you soon to be hubby is sleeping in bed with you and he is stuck somewhere eles. So he just wants attention from his mommy
2007-08-01 03:50:48 · answer #6 · answered by ojo9999 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Aww!
It's just his way of demonstrating affection. A lot of cats will do that with their people.
2007-08-01 03:32:26 · answer #7 · answered by Tigger 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Awww! Your kitty is making kitty biscuits on your neck! Awwwww I love kitty biscuits!
2007-08-01 03:33:50 · answer #8 · answered by mammafish 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i dont no why they do it my cats does it all the time. i guess the do it to show they love u. i think its cute but sometimes it does hurt.
2007-08-01 03:31:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
He is probably trying to tell you something is wrong on your neck
2007-08-01 03:35:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋