Help!! New kitten!

[dakhoda]

Hello! My name is Megan and recently during my summer vacation I got a new kitten. My last one had died last year by a car accident. I didn't wanna rush into buying a new one to feed my feelings from the old one.

Anyway! I have a problem that did not occur with my last cat. My little kitten Littlefoot bites and HARD. Morning, day and night she bites. Like a dog on lockdown with the jaw. At times the biting is so hard that it bleeds, not like a scratch either.

I push her away EVERY single time, but she keeps coming back. Whether its 12 in the afternoon or 12 in the morning she's biting me. My hands and legs and shoulders are so scratched up that my parents are getting upset and want to get rid of her.

I have tried placing her back on the ground, gently pushing her away, giving her her toys and even blowing gently on her(Advice from a friend) but NOTHING is working. And the biting has GOT TO STOP!... I really don't want to get rid of her.

I love her to pieces but my hands are SORE. I can't afford something fancy, so please don't suggest getting something around 40/50 bucks. I DON'T have that type of money right now...

Please... any help is needed.
~ Megan.

I'm new to this site if nobody knew either... I came across and saw its about pets so I decided to ask her. Thanks!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Hi and welcome to PT.:) First I would try to trim her nails. I have two kittens right now and their nails grow very fast and they're extremely sharp too. You can do a few things when she tries to bite you:
1. Say "Ouch or No" very loud and then clap your hands and walk away from her and ignore her.
2. Try to entice her with a toy instead. Never use your hands/fingers to play with her because she'll then think they are toys.
3. Use a squirt bottle as a last resort but some cats like water.
4. Reinforce good behavior. When she's acting the way you want her to be tell how good she's being and praise her or you can even give her a treat.

Here's some more information about it:http://www.catsofaustralia.com/aggressive-kitten.htm. Good luck.:)

[dakhoda]

Thanks! I looked over the site and I'll try doing some of these things. Hopefully soon she will grow out of these biting sessions.

[Romy]

Kittens need to bite like babies do when they are teething. So lots of toys, and some good quality kitten biscuits - and lots of water around.

Hope all improves - it is just a matter of time.

Cheers
Diane

[moosmom]

Do what I did with Molly, my little gutter kitty. I took two tennis socks. Put a rattling kitty toy inside one, rolled it up and stuffed it in the other. I tied it up in a knot. I drew a face on it with permanent marker and she LOVES it!!!!!! I sprayed liquid catnip on it. This way it teaches her to play with objects OTHER THAN your hands. Never play with a kitten with your hands, as it reinforces bad behavior. She's gonna love the Sock Buddy.

I did the same thing with my hairless kitty, Butchie. He went nuts over it and eventually outgrew hand biting. It's just a phase.

[dakhoda]

Thanks so much everyone! I'm working on teaching her no!

I'm going to collect some kitten toys and a spray bottle. It seems that she understand the meaning of no reinforced with a clap.

[moosmom]

Great job, Dakhoda!!! You're doing all the right things!

[Cataholic]

The best cure for too hard kitty bites is another kitty the similar age to help teach her appropriate play manners. She was, perhaps, taken too young from her mother, or inappropriately socialized, so she doesn't quite grasp what is too hard, and not too hard. A friend similar in age, would work this right out in a few weeks.

Good luck!