Playing a lil too rough?

How should I handle my 11 week old, Savanna Rae???? She is starting to bite too hard. She loves to play but sometimes is a little rough. Brushing her is getting harder, especially when I try to brush her chest. I don't want to encourage her to continue this behavior, (which is sooo hard because she's so funny and cute) because I fear it may be even harder the bigger and stronger she gets. How do I get her used to me brushing her without her wanting to bite me, scratch me, or run??? This is the first kitty that I have to brush and need help. Any adice?

maybe she is beginning to teeth, this would be a reason why they start to bite more - try to distract her with a toy she can nibble at while you are brushing, its not easy, but until she gets her 2nd set, she will want to bite & nibble

Maybe she doesn't like being brushed... is she really a shedder, or could you either give her longer breaks between brushings, and/or at least do it less vigorously?

Yell, "OUCH!" when she bites you. It will startle her and eventually she'll realize biting isn't a good thing.

Also, try distracting her with another brush or comb (combs are better for her fur type) when you sit down to groom her.

She's just being a kitten, and all this is new for her. Give her time, she'll get there.

I didn't know kitten's teethe? Thanks.

You and I have the same cats. Cats that need to be brushed every day. Combed actually. You need a good steel comb which I think I have already shown you a picture of. If not, I will show it again. I started combing Persi at the age of 7 weeks just to get him used to it. I have been combing him every day and he is now 11 months. I have him trained. When he sees me cleaning the litter box in the morning, he knows the next thing that is going to happen is that he is going to get combed so he jumps on top of the dryer and waits. I then comb him very vigoroursly. When I hit a little mat or finish off with his rear end he will give me a little nip as a reminder that he is uncomforatble. I back off at this point. But he never actually bites me. I always comb him with a bottle of Pounce in plain view. When he gives me a little nip, I shake the bottle and remind him of what he is going to get when the combing is done. He then resigns himself to the rest of the combing. I started right when he was 7 weeks old with the bottle of Pounce. That is why he is so well trained because he knows that is the only special treat he is going to get. Whereas I used to have to lift him up to the dryer, he now leaps in a single bound up to the dryer and waits to be combed!

Originally Posted by dulce2u

I didn't know kitten's teethe? Thanks.

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they have to shed their baby teeth and get their adult teeth in. look at her fangs, they are curved and pointy right? Now in a month or two they will be thicker, not so pointy and not curved either. She will probably swallow the teeth or you may se them in the house.

also don't play with her by using your hands, this will encourage her to play with your hands as toys. Use string or similar toys to play with her.

Everytime that my kitten bites or plays to rough with me I put him on the floor and say 'NO that hurts'. Then I will give him a toy so that he knows that if he wants to play rough he can play with it instead of me. I really works, he used to bite me alot and now that he's older he very seldom tries to play rough with me. He has learned that playing to rough means no Mom, which for him is a good enough reason not to bite

Had to chuckle, Milli bites but now in a playful way. When she starts biting too hard I sort of pinch her and say "ouch" now when she see my hand in the pinch motion.. she taps my fingers.
And I must be honest, I play rough with her, thankfully as Milli had her first cat fight last night, and she won.. well thats my belief anyway.


sharon

It's been my experience that some cats just like playing rough. The problem with some of my cats in the past, and one right now, is that they scratch me quite a bit. However, when they bite, its never hard. It's like they know somehow that they can bite me but not to the point of breaking my skin. With their claws, however, its different. But I blame that on how sharp they are and how they are shapped (curvy); its kind of hard NOT to scratch something with them, you know?

Anyways, I just embraced it. I bought a bunch of long sleeved shirts and continued to play away with them! I don't mind the scratches at all and I'm kind of immune to that type of pain anways. But I know that other people aren't like me. My sister, for instance, complained all day long once when her cat "Spike" scratched her; it was such a little scratch, but according to her it hurt a lot and she wouldn't let it go. Haha. I was like, "look at me!" my arms are COVERED in scratches.

Good thing is that most scratches are superficial, and they go away after a month or so.

Wow, every night it's routine that Savanna gets in bed with me and we play for at least 20 minutes and it is always with my hands. I have to hide them for her to stop. Jeez, I will definitely get the toys off the floor and bring them to bed with us. LOL

Originally Posted by Jen

they have to shed their baby teeth and get their adult teeth in. look at her fangs, they are curved and pointy right? Now in a month or two they will be thicker, not so pointy and not curved either. She will probably swallow the teeth or you may se them in the house.

also don't play with her by using your hands, this will encourage her to play with your hands as toys. Use string or similar toys to play with her.

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