I have a 7 week old "foster" kitten (rescued feral at 5-6 weeks old.) He stays in a large cage when I can't keep an eye on him because I don't have a safe place for him where he can't get into mischief if there is no on watching, and he is only allowed loose in the bedroom because he has to be kept separate from my cat...
The first 1-2 weeks, he was very loving and cuddly, and only played with his toys. Now he is getting more wild and when he is loose in the bedroom or up on my computer desk he will leap up and attack (in play) a person's body parts! He plays very rough! If you reach down to pet him or pick him up, he will try to nip and bite your hands. Not because he doesn't want petting or to be picked up--as soon as you lift him up he will start to purr-- but just because he wants to play with everything including hands!
I really don't want him to learn that biting is acceptable behavior but I just don't know what to do to stop it. I tried giving him a toy to bite instead if he goes for the hands, but this does not seem to discourage him from trying to bite human hands or whatever else is within reach! I really want to discourage this behavior now while he is still young...
The first 1-2 weeks, he was very loving and cuddly, and only played with his toys. Now he is getting more wild and when he is loose in the bedroom or up on my computer desk he will leap up and attack (in play) a person's body parts! He plays very rough! If you reach down to pet him or pick him up, he will try to nip and bite your hands. Not because he doesn't want petting or to be picked up--as soon as you lift him up he will start to purr-- but just because he wants to play with everything including hands!
I really don't want him to learn that biting is acceptable behavior but I just don't know what to do to stop it. I tried giving him a toy to bite instead if he goes for the hands, but this does not seem to discourage him from trying to bite human hands or whatever else is within reach! I really want to discourage this behavior now while he is still young...