A question for kitten people

[cassiesmom]

Okay, people with kittens - I have a question. I was petting my cat-nephew, Milo last night. He is nine months old. Cassie (11 years old) doesn't do this so I want to know if I did something wrong or if it is just his youth. As I was petting Milo, he took my hand in all of his four paws and started to bite me! Not serious bites, though because he still had a calm look on his face and didn't have airplane ears. He also didn't have his claws extended. Then he started licking my hand where he had just bit it. I'm just wondering if I did something to provoke him? He is such a sweet cat. Is 9 months still considered a kitten? I don't mind the bites or the claw marks but on the other hand, he should probably learn that it isn't okay to bite.

Thank you all!

[moosmom]

You need to redirect his playfulness by not using your hands. Sounds like that's whats been happening. All ya gotta do to break him of this is to say "NO!!!!" very firmly, dettach yourself from him (or him from you) and walk away. He'll get the hint.

Distract him with kitty toys, ones he can chase. Something that'll distract him from making shredded wheat out of your hand.

[Catlady711]

Sometimes that behavior is just being a kitten, but usually it's because someone in the household 'wrestles' with the cat with their hands which is a very bad habit!

[jenluckenbach]

The behavior is perfectly normal. This is how the kitten would wrestle with another kitten. The problem is, if you do not stop him from doing this he will think it is an OK way to play and end up being a biter in adulthood. So, as the others have said, do not play with your hands,, use a toy instead. He can bite and grab that all he wants to. :)

[cassiesmom]

Thank you, everybody! I wasn't even playing with him, just petting when he took my hand in his paws and started to bite. Is 9 months old still considered a kitten? I think I'll get him a Kitten Mitten. It's been a long time since we had a young cat in the family! I'll try to take pictures of him playing. He also likes to look out the window at the birds and leaves.

Here's the Kitten Mitten. Petsmart has them. He'll love this, I think.
http://www.thecatconnection.com/page/TCC/PROD/TYS-0910

[Katelf]

Yes, 9 months old is still a kitten :)

I agree with the posts which suggest redirecting his biting play away from human hands. Toys are much sturdier!

(Also, keep petting the kitty when they are calm. It helps, for sure.)

Enjoy :)

^..^katelf~t~

[Catlady711]

If it were me I"d stay away from any type of toy that fits over your hand since the cat has already been grabbing hands and the kitten may not realize the difference between a bare hand and a hand wearing a toy that it's encouraged to attack. A fishing pole toy or balls you can toss would be a better option.

[cassiesmom]

Update. I saw him again :D I was petting him and he tried to bite on my hand, so I moved my hand away. He has a little furry "mousie" that he played with for a good half hour - it slides on the tile so he can push it, and then pounce on it, and then pick it up in his mouth. You can tell what he might be thinking - Okay, I'll put it over here. Now, over here. Now, between these pillows. Now I'll push it. Oops, she is looking over here, better ignore it. I have to get photos of him for you because he is just so funny.

[sissybritches]

Thank you, everybody! I wasn't even playing with him, just petting when he took my hand in his paws and started to bite. Is 9 months old still considered a kitten? I think I'll get him a Kitten Mitten. It's been a long time since we had a young cat in the family! I'll try to take pictures of him playing. He also likes to look out the window at the birds and leaves.

Here's the Kitten Mitten. Petsmart has them. He'll love this, I think.
http://www.thecatconnection.com/page/TCC/PROD/TYS-0910
He could also be trying to tell you he doesn't want to be petted anymore. My cat Melody will roll on her back for me to pet her belly and when she wants me to stop she will roll away and if I don't she will either gently nip or scratch at me.
Sissybritches

[KittyGurl]

Angel still does this and she is 5 years old. This behavior is normal, but as everyone else is saying, it is a very bad habit! Say "no" firmly and stop playing with your hands. Even if It doesn't seem like you playing with Milo with your hands, it may seems like that to him. Good luck!

[cassiesmom]

Guess what? It's now two years later and the Big Guy still does it! I've learned to have a toy ready when he starts the grab-my-hand action.

[Freedom]

AGH! I read the whole thread, not until the last post did I learn it was from 2007!

So he still does this? Silly boy.

OK, so WHERE are the photos and vid of this dear boy? Let's SEE him! :D