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omg! this biting and scratching has to stop!

post #1 of 8
1/14/11 at 12:30pm
Thread Starter 
I've had my kitten since he was 7 weeks old, and he's 14 weeks today. I've tried to get him to stop this play biting/scratching but nothing seems to work. He has tons of toys, I've tried walking away/ignoring him and said NO firmly when he bites but all he does is run after me nipping and scarring up my legs! He's drawing blood from me and leaving painful scars and it's getting to the point where im very frustrated and I just don't know what to do anymore.
Help GREATLY appreciated!!
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post #2 of 8
1/14/11 at 1:59pm
7 weeks was pretty early for him to leave his mother and siblings. 12 weeks would have been better, as that would have given his family time to teach him some kitty behavior.

The simplest solution is as nature intended, a cat to teach him. Is he an only kitten/cat? If so do you have the finances and time for another cat? Getting an older kitten (like 6+ months) or young cat would provide him a great teacher and a playmate that isn't injured so easily.
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post #3 of 8
1/14/11 at 2:48pm
Do what strange_wings suggested and do it soon! Our cat was like that when he was a kitten, but we were clueless at the time and thought that was normal behavior for kittens. Fast forward 7 years and he still does that! It's not fun when a huge cat claws at your leg, especially in summer! Not to mention that the only way he knows how to play with us is biting and scratching. Neutering didn't change anything. We don't know anything about his early kittenhood because he just wandered into our home one day, but I assume he must have been separated from his mother early, and we simply didn't know that the kitten needed a cat companion because everyone gets just one kitten, right? It's sad that things like this aren't general knowledge :/
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post #4 of 8
1/14/11 at 6:53pm
Thread Starter 
yeah i've read that he was too young, but it was after getting him that i learned of that! lol. he is an only kitten and as for getting another cat .. ill probably be able to do it. thanks for the suggestion! first time i've heard of it
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post #5 of 8
1/14/11 at 7:03pm
I totally agree with strange_wings on getting another kitty as a teacher. Plus he won't be lonely when you leave him alone.
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post #6 of 8
1/14/11 at 7:09pm


I can only imagine how much energy it would take to have kept these kittens occupied all day with how much they like to run, chase, and wrestle, and I bet while away at work a bored kitty might get a little mischievous.
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post #7 of 8
1/14/11 at 11:46pm
Mine did that too, and still does at 6 months old - but not nearly as bad as he did when he was younger.

We were supposed to get him at 12 weeks, but the breeder "insisted" we take him right around 8 weeks.

We kept him as an only cat (we had some medical problems early on with him and I didn't think it would be fair to bring in a new cat so soon as Marc was contagious) so he never learned. I'm still hopeful he'll grow out of it.

So, if you can get another kitty - do so! Just make sure the kitty is of an age where he/she knows how to use their claws and isn't another 8-11 week old.

Good Luck! Until then, neosporin helps
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post #8 of 8
1/15/11 at 9:28am
I agree with everyone that another kitten, near the same age, would probably help.

In the mean time, I've had a lot of success with giving cats a "time out" when they've behaved aggressively to me or others. When an incident occurs, I immediately say, "No," firmly, (and not too scarily) and put the offender in a room alone, with the door closed. I leave them there for 10 minutes or so, then open the door and give them lots of verbal welcoming and affection.

Every time the aggression occurs, I do this. It can be annoying, exhausting, and take some time. But I've trained kittens and grown cats with this method.

You do use interactive wand type toys with him, like Da Bird or the feather duster type? I find my cats behave much better if they get a good session with these kinds of toys and they get worn out somewhat. For a kitten a couple (or more) of 15-20 minute sessions each day with these kinds of toys would go a long way to helping him channel his energy in a more acceptable way.


Robin
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