Thread: kittens & hand biting

No, mine don't exactly sleep through the night either. They are up at 5 or 6 am larking about. So we shut them downstairs in the kitchen with acess to their litter trays, so even if they start playing at the crack of dawn, we won't hear a thing. We just have to make sure that we've left nothing out which might attract their attention - food, bread, food wrappers, etc. We now have to put the kitchen bin in a cupboard or they would raid it and spread the contents all around the floor (this has happened a few times!).

Yesterday I stupidly left the bacon out (but wrapped up). We went out for a bit and when we got back, they had unwrapped the bacon, separated the 3 slices, taken one slice off and left it in bits on the floor. All of it had been licked and chewed. The dog couldn't believe his luck, he gobbled up as much as he could before we could stop him! But this was our fault, there was no point telling them off, as I gave them the opportunity, and the deed was well and truly done.

Kittens definitely tend to bite too hard--it takes a while for them to learn what is acceptable. Remember also that their baby teeth are exceptionally sharp so it hurts even more than it would later, and they go through stages when they are teething and so are quite prone to wanting to chew/bite. My experience is that they eventually are less into biting as they mature, and that simply stopping rough play will fairly quickly teach them not to bite too much.

Kittens are very cute and fun to watch grow up, but they are also quite a bit of work!

That's funny that you mention baby teeth. I have grown up with cats. The first cat in my life was 6months older than I was, and she was with our family until she was 16. We got kittens after her, and so on.

Yet while studying Maine Coons before we made a commitment to get some, we came across the baby teeth issue.

I had no clue that cats had baby teeth in a similar manner to humans!

Larry and Monty have just been through a stage where their new canine teeth have started to come through, BEFORE the canine milk teeth have dropped out. So for a few days they've had DOUBLE canine teeth, on both sides! I never knew this was going to happen!

We've been checking regularly to see when the milk teeth drop out, and now they have, one by one. Last night we checked Larry and sure enough, he was down to 2 brand new perfect canine teeth. Then we noticed on the floor the tiny milk tooth, so we picked it up and put it in a jar......next to pensioner Barney's old canine tooth which fell out a few months back, which as you can imagine is very long and wizened. The very old tooth and the very young tooth!

Yes I know, pair of saddoes we are...

Well, we've had mixed results.

Via using "ow!" and some water spritzing, James only does the play biting when he's not interested in being petted. This is clear.

Penny however is a serious problem. Earlier today, she switched from wanting to be petted, to trying to bite my fingertips multiple times. Each time she'd bit, I'd grab her by the scruff and lift her a little and firmly, but not loudly, say "no".

This does not seem to deter her at all.

Aww, it's all a big fun game to her at the moment! I'm sure she'll calm down as she gets older.

We quite like the Duvet game, and to be fair to Freyja she generally only plays it when the lights are on - once it's dark, she tends to settle down and jump off the bed to sprawl out on the floor. Sometimes she gets into psychokitty mode, and all I need to do then is get a garden mist can out and she calms right down - she's only been 'misted' once (I deliberately used a mister instead of a spray) and now she only needs to see the can and she stops.

She also likes a good chew on fingers and knuckles, and I know you're not supposed to encourage it but she looks like a proper little lion when she's in that mood and is impossible to resist. Plus, she's never drawn blood with her teeth or claws, and if her chomping gets uncomfortably hard I just have to say 'calm down' and blow gently in her face - she stops the gnawing and licks the spot she's just had her fangs in. I know she can bite much harder than she does, 'cos I've watched her chewing Freddie The Fairy often enough. Claws are the only real issue, to be honest - her back feet in particular. I've perfected the art of holding onto her back feet and saying 'claws' quite firmly (admittedly, this has had varying success!), but mainly she grips my hands with her front paws to hold them in place whilst she clamps her face round my fingers!

Well, the biting seems to be subsiding, but I'll tell Cindel about the scruff thing, though I have to laugh because when I pick up Penny, which I do in a gentle manner, she keeps purring. It's like she enjoys it.
James is far better behaved, but I think Penny is getting the message.
I agree on the toys thing, and will see about enforcing that. I think it's possible that they are over-toyed right now.
Catnip is something we have, but have read that it shouldn't be given to kittens, especially since it apparently doesn't affect them.
I know they are babies. I'm just overprotective, over-worried. I want so much to get them into good habits, and prevent some of the things i"ve seen in the past with cats that my parents and friends have owned.

They sure are getting big though! 3 months and 2 weeks and already they are surprisingly large for their age. We may yet get our dream of having *really* big cats.

Originally Posted by candes

Being lifted by the scruff of the neck in punishment will just promote the opposite affect. It will make kitty more aggressive. And tend not to like you. Do it and risk losing a loving friend.

What you say is not really accurate. Here is an article I found quickly with more explanation:
Scruffing your cat or dog - the scruff of the neck in cats and dogs - Article on Pets.ca

In fact, vet techs are often taught to pill cats and dogs by holding them gently by the scruff of the neck. They don't lift the animal off the ground, just pull a bit. Makes the animals relax and open their mouths a bit and pills can be easily popped right in. I have watched this being done to many animals and it does not scare them or make them aggressive. In fact, it is much easier on the animals than struggling with them.

Raised many cats throughout my life, and none of them would bite or scratch. Cats pick up emotions and voice tones much easier than you imagine

You are claiming that none of your kittens have ever bitten you?? I find this very, very hard to believe (unless you never really played with your young animals). Not only is this counter to my experience with every single kitten or puppy that I have ever had, but biting is an instinctual way that they play with each other, so of course they are going to play with us like that until they learn not to. It doesn't hurt them because they have fur, but we don't so it does hurt us and they have to learn that. Also kittens and puppies go through periods when they are teething and they chew on almost everything. The notion that these people's kittens are biting them only because they aren't talking to them properly or some such thing is frankly rubbish in my opinion. Young kittens and puppies engage in play with their teeth, and they will do it with each other and with us until we train them not to.