Crazy Kitten

I'm SwampMonster, I haven't been on in awhile because of how busy life has been for me. I'm happy to say my adult male is back to his former self and full of life.   I am very relieved about that. However, I have something else to worry about now.  A few weeks back we rescued a small stray kitten with a bad leg. We weren't able to get the rest of his family (my intention was to get them all into the vet and with an organization my friend is involved in). I was happy to rescue him because I was very concerned about his condition. Well, after a handful of vet bills later, he is in perfectly fine health and full of kitten spirit. The problem is, is that he's kind of a naughty little thing. I know, I know, it's "kitten behavior," but I'm at a loss as to how I should train him. Initially he was so little and tired that he just wanted to eat and keep warm, but now it's very much about play time. I've bought him mountains of toys, and played with him a lot. I know many people just assume I'm doing something wrong, but I'm not, I'm doing everything every web site, every forum, and every veterinarian has recommended. We play for hours, to the point I feel like it's too much, and he's very aggressive and eats like a moose.

Eating
He eats too fast, which I've read could be an issue related to being taken too early from the mother. So in order to slow him down I monitor him and pull him away for a few seconds between mouthfuls, this works fairly well, but it doesn't change how demanding he is for food. I can't eat my breakfast in the same room as him, and even if he's been fed five minutes before me he still wants my food. He is very vocal and will just wail at the top of his lungs, to the point I fear someone will think something terrible is happening to him.   He really is ready to eat 24/7. He does not have any parasites, we've looked into everything, and the vet just says it's his personality. Has anyone else had to deal with a bossy guzzle gut? He eats science diet wet kitten food at least five times a day (roughly a table spoon each time, plus water on top). It seems like a lot to me already. He also gets kitten milk, which I'm trying to get him off of. It was fine when I was raising him, but he's getting older and I don't want him drinking kitten milk forever! He also refuses to drink water, he hates the stuff. If I mix his kitten milk with "too much water", he walks away from it. Thankfully I've been able to put extra water into his wet food, so that he does get some hydration. I just wish he'd start drinking water!! Someone suggested the cat water fountain, but they can be expensive, and seem gimmicky to me. Thoughts?

Behavior

My kitten is always in the mood to play. He loves every kind of toy there is, especially things with bells inside them. I make sure to play with him for a good chunk of the day, but I also need time to myself. I often get an hour or two here and there by putting him to bed. He's been trained to go to sleep in the bedroom where we have a kitten crate. When he is awake, however, he requires my full attention. When we play together it'll be fine for awhile, and then he'll turn on me. He's 10 weeks old, and is in his "hunting" stage. He loves to puff up and run at anything living.  He is very aggressive about hunting. He will run at me, and even when I attempt to redirect him to toys five to ten times, he will always go after me. He bites and kicks and he is crazy mean about it. It's not mouthing, which he will do once in a while, it's break skin biting. He has bit me on the face a number of times, and torn my arms to crap. I have tried spraying him with water, he is growing to love the water bottle, not fear it. I have pushed his tongue down as others have recommended, he doesn't like it and will avoid my fingers, but bites the rest of my hand instead. I've rubbed my legs with orange peel, and it doesn't stop him from biting them. The only advice my vet could give me was to "not give him the opportunity." Kind of hard when you consider I have to take care of him, I can't not be there. Hiding up on the couch is no  longer an option because he can climb everything.. He will chew on cords, attack my lap top, etc. I cannot distract him either. If he finds something he wants to do, he will continue to do it regardless. It's like he's on a mission. He puts on his angry face and runs past me back to the telephone cord. Sometimes I put him in his kitty cage for a time out, which works, because he goes to sleep, but once he is awake it starts all over again. He is separate from my other animals, which is unfortunate because I'd love for him to interact with the cats (he does through the french door). He would love to play with them, but because I don't know if he is feline leukemia positive I don't want them to interact. Not until he's tested and I'm given the green light. So no, he has no playmates but me. 

What can I do to help him? He means well. He's just being himself, so I'm not mad at him for it. It's not like he's hissing at me and hiding from me, but it's not cool that he's tearing my arms apart. 
Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

1.) How old is the kitten?

2.) I would try offering him more food at each feelings as he does seem genuinely hungry. I had a litter of kittens 2 yrs ago that at 8-10 wks old would each eat a 3 oz can of wet food 4 times a day. I thought surely I was over feeding them (they were sick preemies and were very small for their age.) Just turned out that their metabolism was just very fast. They are now 2 yrs old and several of them are still heavy eaters (though they are all lean and healthy.)

3.) As for the play aggression, if he was taken away from momma and siblings before 8-10 wks it is very likely he has just missed out on learning some social skills. I would continue doing play sessions with him and distracting him with toys when he starts going for hands/feet. When he gets too aggressive with toys, stop for a brief period and let him calm down before playing again.

I have found that the Bolt toy (automatic laser light toy) is a great addition for any household with a active cat. It runs automatically for 15 mins and provides a good distraction for kitty, esp when you need to get some work done! Mine also like the Turbo or Star Chaser track toys.

And, of course, if you are able, getting another kitten with similar energy can always help. They tire each other out, plus they are able to learn proper social skills as well. =)

I agree with CapPack. At 10 weeks it is normal for him to play alot.  If he cant play with another kitten or cat, so he plays with his human. (how is your resident? Dont they play with each other?).

"He eats science diet wet kitten food at least five times a day (roughly a table spoon each time, plus water on top)".

A table spoon five times a day isnt too much for a growing up, lively kitten!  Increase it, and im sure he will let you eat in peace more often.  Good he at least has this kitten milk as extra... He needs it, not only as extra fluid, but also, extra nourishment...

Eating just wet food he gets most of his water here.  He doesnt need so much more. This is surely why he isnt fond of water.

Good luck!

Hey!
Thanks for the replies. Feeding him more food has resulted in a better mood, yet he still gets into crap and bites me. Especially when I'm trying to work. T - T The good news is he's suddenly becoming more affectionate. He doesn't give kisses or anything, but he happily curls up beside me and sometimes lies on my stomach, something he hasn't done since we first found him!

We have one of those toys with the trapped ball which he likes to play with, and it's helped a little for distracting him so I can get some peace and quiet. Oddly enough, he's not crazy about laser pens! I'll have to hit up the pet store to see if there's anything else that could distract him. Our other cats hate him, which bums me out, because he loves them and desperately wants to play with them. As I mentioned in my original post, we've kept them pretty much isolated from each other, because my kitten stands a good chance of having Feline Leukemia (it's a real problem here with strays). I'd rather not expose my other pets to that disease, it's better to be safe than sorry.

I've been trying to transition him onto kitten kibble at my vet's advice, but he's suddenly gone cold turkey! I'll put out his wet food and he'll turn his nose up at it. Actually... he tries to cover it up as though it's poo in the litter tray! He used to love wet food, and I'm surprised that he'd choose kibble over it. I tried to serve him just the wet food the other day, he refused to eat it. After worrying about him not eating I finally put down the kibble which he gobbled up instantly. Since switching to (an unintentionally) all kibble diet he's been drinking water! I'm very happy about that. I'm not happy that he refuses to eat his old food, as it has resulted in an upset tummy, and a mixture of soft and hard stool which gives him a sore bum. I tried to transition him, but I just can't explain his refusal to eat his old food. He just really loves kibble. >.<

Yes, kibble = dry food is sprayed with especial  "delicious flavor", compare with human food glutamate and similiar appetite teasers.   That is why  the cat in the Whiskas reklame always chooses Whiskas "Whiskas - if the cat is allowed to choose".   Which in a way is surely true, but it is a truth which must be modified much.  He chooses Whiskas not because it is the very best brand, but because these smelly additions.

Most other brands of dry cat foods do of course similiarly. Especielly the cheaper brands.

Give him what he eates, but in the long run try and return to wet food. Its better!

Dont forget the dry food must be of high quality, much animal proteins and much animal fats, for kittens or at least, for active cats.

Make sure he drinks much water. When he had mainly wet, it wasnt necessary for him to drink water.  Eating mainly dry, he must drink, his kidneys will otherwise take much punishment.

Have several bowls around the house, consider a water fountain...

Im happy he is more lovingly now. Perhaps because he isnt constantly hungry now, so he afford to think about other things too...   OR because he is a little older, and also more used to you...

Good luck!