Play biting?

Pouncer has toys all over the laundry room, her domain- at least 6! But whenever I come in to play with her, she prefers to pounce, paws with claws out and all, and nibble on my fingers. She's only 5 weeks, so it doesn't hurt, but I'm wondering if this is just temporary kitten play or if she'll develop a habit of thinking people's hands are toys. I used to think it was a sign that she was impatient for mealtime, but after she ate and pounced right back on my hands again, I figured that wasn't it. I've tried dragging toys around to incite her interest in chasing THOSE instead of my hands, but she seems to just love imagining my fingers as mice or something. What can I do?

Even though she is still a kitten, she must learn that biting fingers is not good. Stop playing the moment she goes after your hands. Say NO and walk away. In time she will understand.

I took a different route. I'll let my kittens nibble, but if they bite too hard, I'll say OWIE! and leave them for a while. It's what their littermates would do if they get too rough, and it's working.

Bella actually stopped nibbling at all after a couple weeks.

thanks. i'm trying your way, girlie. i've noticed that she tries to remember to retract her claws when she's batting at my fingers, especially when i go "OUCH!" and pull back, so i think we're making some progress.