kitten biting feet

We have a 9 week old kitten that is VERY active and playful.  I'm glad for that.   However, when my husband and I walk through the house she chases our feet, bites at them and attacks them.  I usually have to stop for fear I'll step on her or hurt her.  Any advice on how to get her to stop?  Or is this kitten behavior?

The "easy" way is to have two cats who can play with each other.

If a kitten is alone in a litter, it plays its wild plays with the mom, and the mom isnt always that happy.  Hisses, swats when she got enough...

Be lucky you dont have tails. Tails of ma or a friendly dad is othewise their favorites. Preferably when   dad is asleep.   

Try to play with her a lot in other ways, and if this biting on feets is too much, hiss some you too.  Although we dont recommend swatting unless really, really desperate.  

Good luck!

This is very common kitten behavior.  Every kitten I've had has done this. They do learn sooner or later that people don't like this kind of play. 

It's good that you stop moving when she "attacks" - that makes your feet less interesting, and you can distract her with a toy, show her the proper way to play with humans. It helps to keep toys in every room so you can easily reach one wherever you are.

Also like StefanZ said, you can hiss to let her know she's hurting you, and/or pick her up and put her in another room briefly to calm down.

Thank you....never thought of hissing.

A second at....nope lol. It takes all I got to take care of ths one.lol

mariaanddonnie said:

Thank you....never thought of hissing.
A second at....nope lol. It takes all I got to take care of ths one.lol

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I know it sounds perverse, but in many ways it's easier to look after two kittens than one.  Yes, twice as much food, twice as much scooping, twice as much at the vets, but they really occupy each other playing.  I never understood just how much until I got two kittens back in 1992 and within minutes they were up and down the stairs like mad.

mariaanddonnie said:

Thank you....never thought of hissing.
A second cat....nope lol. It takes all I got to take care of ths one.lol

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Nay, you can have unluck. But the beatiful is, it usually works!  They do play with each other, spending most of their energy on each other, not bothering you much, and are coming for you to cuddle and pure friendship. And some play.  They do if you are kind to them. Even the extremely shays do usually warm up with time.  Mama is always best.  (And Daddy coming as a good second).

If you are still anxious, you dont have to take a young kitten as your extra cat. You can take an adult cat too.  Preferably a young, so he will wants to play with that kitten.  And a cat-sociale cat, so you are practically sure he will be friendly to your kitten.

Seriously. In practice it is easier to have two cats than one.  It is the overall rule of thumb.

Btw, there is another defensive trick. Blowing on the face/nose.  Now it doesnt work well if he is play attacking your feets. But could work fine if he attacks your hands.

You could try carrying keys or a small can weighted with dried peas or gravel in your pocket, and dropping them/it beside her when she goes for your feet to startle her. Alternatively, you could use ping pong balls, though that encourages some cats to attack feet to prompt play.

The bad thing about scaring her is she may develop other bad behaviors or may not trusts you. They eventually grow out of it.  I just wore house slippers to bed whenever mine were all kittens until they got over it... Some take longer than others but eventually they do learn that we do not appereciate this on their own. 

I've been wearing socks.....thick ones. Lol glad to know it will pass. And I love paying with her. I was just worried it was a bad habit Forming and I wanted to check with you all. Thank u

Just go with it and play with her. This is a very common thing for kittens, and sometimes even older cats to do. When she gets older it will no doubt either stop or decrease. 

I wouldnt scare her or be mean. Cats can easily pick up on things like snapping a finger means "you are not supposed to do that", that is what I do when they I want them to stop doing something, and it usually works fine... kittens are a little more stubborn though. I wouldnt say this is a problem. All it means is that you have a playful healthy kitten. 

She'll grow out of it.

My cat used to do it all the time even when I'm asleep lol.

Our Sophie loves jumping at my feet.
She jumped up mu back the other day.
She stops it if I tell her no now.