Biting Kitten

Hi all: I have not been here for awhile but have a problem - I adopted a kitten about 7-8 months old now , female , spayed - all shots, health is fine - she is a WTC victim - her parents never came home that horid day - I adopted her along with another year old cat from a resuer in NY - this darn kitten bites - I mean really bites - I knew she was a biter before I got her and took her as I thought I might be able to work with her - had another I got through the biting stage but this one has me baffled - she is confined to a room now - I do let her out and she plays nice with the other cats but when I go to pet her after she has been out for awhile she literally uses my arm for a chew stick - when she does this I tell her no and put her back in her room - now get this - when I go to her room and go in she is all lovey dovey - will cuddle up on my shoulder and purr - but then after awhile she will attack my head - I have never seen this before - any ideas? Linda

To me, it sounds like a pet aggression thing. In most cases after they have had too much stimulation, they start in the attack mode. There are usually 2 soulutions to this. One is desensatize, and you just work with them over months petting them for short periods of time. When you are done, give a treat and walk away. You can gradually get them to tolerate more petting at one time. The other is just to recognise when they have had enough and walk away to let them calm down. Drugs are usually a last resort and only used if the cat faces euthanization.

Hi Sandie and thanks - I know very little of this kittens up bringing and she could very well have been played with very very rough - I let her out and when she begins to " attack " if I can't stop her biting with my voice I confine her for awhile and then let her out again - It took months when I had another one like this - but his problem was the folks I sold him too were mean to him - I knew he was a sweet boy when I had him and knew it was under neath his biting - he is now a bed sleeper - but it took months. Linda