Cat help

[simba928]

I am currently fostering a kitten (2 and a half months old). I've had him for about 5 days and he is a total brat (I haven't had a kitten in 16 years, though, so I'm not used to their crazy antics 24/7!). He likes to bite when he doesn't get his way. He'll bite any piece of you he can grab. His last tantrum was about 10 minutes ago when he wanted to play with something that I did not want him to play with. I pulled him away from it and told him no. He kept going back to it and I kept telling him no. He finally decided that since I wouldn't let him have his way he would bite me. He bites hard enough that it hurts (especially with those needle-like kitten teeth!) but not so much that it leaves any marks. At one point I moved my hands away and he started going after my legs. I finally got tired of being chewed on and he's in a little time-out in his crate to settle down. I know how to train dogs. If this were a dog it would be a piece of cake and I would have him almost, if not completely, broken of this habit. However, I am at a complete loss of what to do with him other than give him a time-out to cool down. Him and my dog played together for 3 hours, chasing eachother around the house, today, so it's not that he has too much energy that he can't get out somewhere. Ideas please?

 

[AlleyKat]

I am currently fostering a kitten (2 and a half months old). I've had him for about 5 days and he is a total brat (I haven't had a kitten in 16 years, though, so I'm not used to their crazy antics 24/7!). He likes to bite when he doesn't get his way. He'll bite any piece of you he can grab. His last tantrum was about 10 minutes ago when he wanted to play with something that I did not want him to play with. I pulled him away from it and told him no. He kept going back to it and I kept telling him no. He finally decided that since I wouldn't let him have his way he would bite me. He bites hard enough that it hurts (especially with those needle-like kitten teeth!) but not so much that it leaves any marks. At one point I moved my hands away and he started going after my legs. I finally got tired of being chewed on and he's in a little time-out in his crate to settle down. I know how to train dogs. If this were a dog it would be a piece of cake and I would have him almost, if not completely, broken of this habit. However, I am at a complete loss of what to do with him other than give him a time-out to cool down. Him and my dog played together for 3 hours, chasing eachother around the house, today, so it's not that he has too much energy that he can't get out somewhere. Ideas please?

What you have described is nothing more than normal play for his age.

Instead of putting him in "time-out", play with him a bit more to tire him quicker.

A lot of interesting toys and an occasional 'pinch' of catnip are sure ways to keep him a happy boy.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

get a lazer light. walmart sells them for $4 up by the cash registers. Best money I ever spent. I can lay on the sofa and play with the cats without much effort (great after a long day)

 

[JennyMP03]

My cat is getting close to two years old now, but she will still act out if we don't give her enough attention or play with her when she wants. She doesn't go for personal attacks, though; she bangs cabinet doors open and close because she is well aware that it drives Mama crazy.

If you just can't wear that little furball out enough to break the biting habit, try a spray bottle. That's how we disciplined our cat, and we haven't used it in a long time because she pretty much knows the rules now (but you can be sure she tries to test them now and then!). Just fill a spray bottle with room temperature water, and when he bites, yell "NO!" firmly (try to make sure you use the same tone and volume each time), then spray him. He'll get the picture soon enough!

Also, try positive reinforcement as well. When he's playing gently, give him a little piece of a treat and praise him. Good luck! Kitties are a handful, no matter the age!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

That was our first foster cat and I can tell you that they grow out of it - we failed with her and she has been with us for over six years now! The only effective thing is to ignore, ignore, ignore the behavior. Go into another room and close the door so the cat can't get to you. Kittens hate to be ignored. They are smart and will figure it out but I would avoid yelling no, just get up, walk away and close a room door behind you for about five minutes. Anytime the behavior happens again, just repeat. It isn't the most convenient thing to do but it has worked for us. Dogs deal with stern commands a lot better than cats and are so much easier to train as babies. Good Luck!!

 

[simba928]

Thanks, everyone! I'll try the spray bottle (we used to use that on our old cat but that was years ago and we never had to use it on my new cat, my foster is a different story, though) and ignoring him. I don't think it's the energy and the fact that he's not worn out because my 50 pound shepherd/collie mix plays with him nonstop. They chase eachother around, swat at eachother. Yesterday morning they were playing in my room as I was getting ready for work and he jumped in a little cardboard box, the dog went over to him and he popped out at her. The little guy definitely holds his own against her. The only thing that makes me nervous is that he had part of his tail amputated a week ago today but he doesn't seem to be bothered by it at all.