CAT OWNERS - I have some Quesitons

[Stangs55]

Sorry for the semi-long story, if you just wanna give some advice, skip to the end where the questions are.

So my wife and I got a new kitten around December of last year. The original owner had adopted the mother and wasn't really sure of his age--but he was very young (too young I'm told) at probably 4 weeks.

He came from a pretty messed up homelife living in filth with tons of other cats. We've spent about $1k going through vet visits and medicine to get this thing better...and he finally is. When we first got him, he started to decline fast (unfortunately, after my wife became attached to him...hence the 1g). He had all kinds of diarrhea and health issues. But anyways...the fact is, he's better now

But...we have another (and in my mind, bigger) problem.

The little bastard bites.

He's a very playful and active kitten (at about 5 1/2 - 6 months old now). But he loves to bite when he plays. So much so...that if you go to touch him and he's NOT just waking up from a nap, he nips at you or attacks your hand. It's not a mean thing, he just thinks he's playing. It's cute at first...but then it get SO annoying. It's now to the point where it's hard to find a time when you can just pick him up and pet him b/c he'll start either writhing around or trying to grab and bite your hand. If he's just laying on the couch and you go to pet him, he'll often pin his ears back...wait a sec...then kinda open his mouth and give you a nip....and then jolt up and run without you ever doing anything.

I should also mention that he is NOT neutered, yet. He's pretty much been too sick thusfar, but we've scheduled to get it done in 2 weeks.

So I really need some advice. I've owned dogs my entire life and this is our first cat. What the hell do I do?

Do I spank him like I would a dog? I've heard that this is not the right way to approach trying to "train" a cat.

Do I spray him with a water bottle? This is the suggestion we've gotten from vets, but we've been doing it for about a month and it doesn't seem to help much...just makes him stay away from us.

Is this a normal thing for kittens to do?

Will it go away?

Does it have anything to do with him still having his nuts? (ie: not neutered )

Will he calm down after he's neutered at all?

Or are we just screwed? Did we just get a hyperactive cat and this is a part of his personality?

Thanks for helping out. Any advice is good advice right now.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Be glad you have a hyperactive cat, they're fun! But, seriously its just becuase he is young, and he will calm down a bit when he gets older and after he is neatured.

Never spank him or spray water, show him what you want him to do, and then give him a treat when he does it. Always positive reinforcement.

 

[BatmanNate]

In my experience, it's just a kitten thing. Once they're older, they only do that half the time and they let you pet the other half, but all cats are different. Maybe spend some time playing with him with some yarn?

 

[Steve]

He will calm down after he's neutered, and probably he'll be grateful for the relief.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

if hes immediatly lets go after biting hes just playing. its mostly a kitten thing that they grow out of.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos
if hes immediatly lets go after biting hes just playing. its mostly a kitten thing that they grow out of.

I'm not sure that has anything to do with it. When my cat gets pissed and bites, he doesn't hang on.

 

[Shame]

Never spank a cat. It just doesn't work. If you want them to do something, point them to it or distract them to it. If you want them to stop doing something, startle them.

I got mine in December and he was doing the same thing. He was neutered and laser declawed two weeks ago. I did find that if you leave your hand there, don't move it even if he's biting you, and distract him with something else, they'll pretty much quit it or time. If the cat thinks your hand is a toy, they'll play with it. It is the kitten way...

 

[boomerang]

When he does something you don't like such as the biting, take a finger or two and tap him lightly on the head. Do it right away. When he bites, give him a tap.

This is what his mother would do to him with her paw to teach him no.

I agree with others that this is a kitten thing, but cats like most, if not all animals, are susceptible to various undesirable behaviors. To ensure this doesn't carry into adulthood, let him know now that this is not acceptable behavior.

To him, you need to assert yourself as the alpha cat. The leader of the pack.

 

[Kelemvor]

If he's not hissing or having his hair stand up like he's scared or attacking, then I'd say it relalyis just him playing because he's a kitten. He will settle down with time. All you can do when he bites is just say No! and try bopping him on the nose or something.

Could also try putting some Bitter Apple stuff on your hands. Then when he bites it won't taste good so maybe he'll stop.

Good Luck

 

[OdiN]

Yeah right now...and in the next few months he's going to be an explosive ball of energy, playful and energetic.

Do you have any toys for him to play with? Get something he can attack and play with him with that, and be sure to have a scratching post.

Also you may want to get a glove toy that he can play with and wear that when you play with him so he doesn't get used to attacking your hand.

 

[Azraele]

He'll grow out of it. It's a kitten thing. You might also consider getting him a playmate to help with some of his energy.

 

[Shame]

Originally posted by: boomerang
When he does something you don't like such as the biting, take a finger or two and tap him lightly on the head. Do it right away. When he bites, give him a tap.

This is what his mother would do to him with her paw to teach him no.

I agree with others that this is a kitten thing, but cats like most, if not all animals, are susceptible to various undesirable behaviors. To ensure this doesn't carry into adulthood, let him know now that this is not acceptable behavior.

To him, you need to assert yourself as the alpha cat. The leader of the pack.

The "problem" with cats is that they aren't pack animals... Probably one of the reasons why dog lovers hate them. The cat is the alpha, you just have to figure out how to manipulate them.

 

[xcript]

I'm sure he'll grow out of it.

Pics?

 

[SVT Cobra]

Ah yes, Pics?

 

[Stangs55]

Ah yes...pics.

When we first got him
Another kitten pic.

Now
Now..again

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: Shame
The "problem" with cats is that they aren't pack animals... Probably one of the reasons why dog lovers hate them. The cat is the alpha, you just have to figure out how to manipulate them.

:laugh: You have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Cute cat and wifey!

 

[trmiv]

Our three month old kitten is neutered, but he still does the bitting thing. I can get him to stop by saying a stern "NO" now. That didn't work at first though. I got him to that point by when he would do it, we would stick out an index finger and tap him on the nose and say "NO." If that didn't work, he would get sprayed with the water bottle with a "NO". Now he's to the point where just the "NO", or either just picking up the water bottle, or sticking out the finger will cause him to stop.

Our kitten is a little daredevil though, not scared of a single thing. That's both a good and a bad thing.

 

[NanoStuff]

My cat gave birth to 4. One boy three girls. As soon as he could walk he started banging his sisters.

Not sure why that's relevant.

 

[OdiN]

Is it a Manx?

 

[JM Aggie08]

i just give my sisters cat a swift kick across the room and she knows what's up, then again, she is not as cute as your little on

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Kitten thing compounded by the separation from his mother too early.

When he bites, just scruff him and drop him (gently!) on the ground/other end of the couch.

- M4H

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: JM Aggie08
i just give my sisters cat a swift kick across the room and she knows what's up, then again, she is not as cute as your little on

I hope a giant comes along and gives you a swift kick across a couple rooms.

 

[lytalbayre]

Kitten's teeth are sharp as hell!! And yeah, he's playing around, but just doesn't realize that he's hurting you. If he bites, just put him on the ground and ignore his ass!!! He'll learn not to bite.

Plus, as he gets bigger and neutered, he'll calm down.

My cat used to be like that, and the only way he learned to stop was for us to stop rough-housing with him and ignoring him when he's ultra playful... that's what toys are for....

Still, part of owning a cat is dealing with the unexpected play attack/bite.

 

[trmiv]

Man, with all this talk about how cats settle down when they are neutered, I would hate to see our kitten if he wasn't neutered. He's a massive handful as it is.