Adopted a 4 month old kitten in September who is cool except for the fact when you try to play with her she always wants to bite/scratch. I thought this was an adjustment problem for her but its starting to become a bit of a pain especially since she jumps on everyone including my 4 year old. Anyone have any suggestions or ideas when this problem will end. I thought I was getting a kitty i could love and play with but shes becoming a pain. Next step back to the shelter!
2007-11-12 05:08:18 · 12 answers · asked by AH SHIIII... 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Respond in the same way a mama cat would when her kits get to frisky. Yelp and then ignore her. React immediately.
I used to have a cat that would bite me playfully when I held him. I would drop him on the spot! Yes, it shocked him! And, he learned the lesson very quickly. Don't bite humans!
When you see her becoming frisky, engage her in a game of chase the string or have her jump and chase the feathered toys on the end of a wand. She can pounce and bite and hunt those objects all she wants! : )
BTW -- biting is a form of play between kits and cats. Their fur and loose skin keep it from hurting like it hurts us.
Also, between 4 and 6 months is when kitten is at his or her most rambunctious! Please give this little lady the time to outgrow her frisky kitten stage before making a life-long decision.
PS I disagree with water spraying technique for this particular problem. It is an effective method of behavior modification, but not fore the reason most people think. A spray bottle sounds like a hiss. Hissing at a cat is sending a signal that the other cat (You are the big cat -- the one hissing with the spray bottle. lol) is on your territory and he better not be there for long! So, spraying with water is a good techniques for cats being on countertops, scratching furniture, being on your bed, etc. Basically, it is good for catching him in *places* (territories) you do not want him to be!
If you use a spray bottle to tell a kitten he is wrong for playing with you -- well -- that isn’t the message you really want to send. You want to send the message that you need her to play differently. If you hiss at the kitten for playing with you then want the kitten to come to cuddle you are sending mixed messages. Please, use the yelp and ignore technique for this particular problem.
2007-11-12 05:22:09 · answer #1 · answered by susanmaried 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First to the jerk that said smack it. I should smack you. When your kitten starts to play too rough simply stop playing with her and walk away. She should learn that when she plays rough you will not play with her any longer. If you make her see that she will not get your attention when being rough, she should stop. Remember though, cats are tough to train especially if the behavior has been going on a while. Also, everyone in the house must follow the rules. Kittens can be a bit wild, just like young children, but do calm down around a year or so old. Don't bring her back to the shelter just yet, give her a chance for you to train her correctly, after all she is only a cat.
2007-11-12 05:21:29 · answer #2 · answered by TheDude 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A firm, but gentle, tap on the nose while saying, "No." Then ignore the kitten. When a kitten gets too rambunctious with her mom or her littermates, they'll probably let her know in no uncertain terms to watch it.
Make sure she has a scratching post so she can scratch and toys so she can bite them. Play with her a lot so she works her craziness out. As she grows older, she'll become a little less rambunctious and a little more affectionate.
2007-11-12 08:37:19 · answer #3 · answered by VeggieTart -- Let's Go Caps! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please don't take it back to the shelter. I don't see how people can do that to an animal. I took in a stray, and he's a bit crazy too. When you play he plays back but a little too rough. He bites but it's love bites. Just let him do his own thing, and he will find his comfort zone. Just don't mess with him unless he comes to you. Then he will warm up to you on his own terms. Maks sure his nails are trimed, get him toys to chase and scratch, and just accept the crazy cat you addopted for who he is. I did. Good luck!
2007-11-12 05:16:57 · answer #4 · answered by bobby b 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to let her know that you don't like that. She's just playing with you the way she'd play with one of her litter mates. Kittens do not realize that they cannot play that way with their human family, until they're told otherwise.
Don't give up on her so easily. Just because she isn't exactly what you were looking for, doesn't mean she should be returned to the shelter. She's just a kitten, it's part of their ''job'' to be pains! She'll calm down as she gets older.
2007-11-12 05:13:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
If your kid was doing something you didn't like, and you didn't try to correct it you just thought they'd "grow out of it", and they never did, would you get rid of them?
I didn't think so.
You need to TEACH kitty not to bite. Bitter apple on your hands works, yelling, smacking them lightly on the nose while saying "NO" firmly (don't smack them hard, just enough to get the point across).
Also...don't LET them do it. If they start, stop playing immediately. Go sit somewhere away from it, or seclude it somewhere for 15 minutes or so.
2007-11-12 05:18:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
when she tries to bite you or jump on your 4 year old, you can try either tapping her on the nose and say no, or get a spray bottle and just spray her with some water...she'll get the hint soon enough.
2007-11-12 05:13:41 · answer #7 · answered by **STARR** 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Get a water bottle and just spray it a little but don't soak it. the adoption place thatwe got our cat from said to do it and it works!
2007-11-12 05:13:34 · answer #8 · answered by rebecca b 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
kittens are like this till about 1 year old.have you got lots of toys,scratch post,everytime it does put down and dont pick up,they do out grow
2007-11-12 05:15:14 · answer #9 · answered by sky 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the water bottle. Whenever she does something she shouldn't be, just give her a squirt. It may take a few times before she gets it but it will work.
2007-11-12 05:21:45 · answer #10 · answered by niteswimr2 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋