Cat Chat Feline Forum

Hello, I'm Labs and a week ago I adopted a new kitten. He is 9 weeks old and i adopted him from a home where he was with his mom and sister, he has always only been indoors.

The problem I'm having is that he constantly scratches and bites and I mean constantly. I understand play aggression but this is too much, I mean even when he is super tired and half asleep, even then if I try to pet him he would scratch me and bite, not a moment in the day or night that he would not pounce and scratch or bite you. Whether I'm walking or sitting, whether he is tired or active, that's all he does. I can never ever touch him or pet him. The home I got him from is of an elderly couple so I know he wasn't socialized much but the woman's 7 year granddaughter has played with my kitten and his sister when they were younger. Even if he was not socialized much, isn't this too much? I mean always trying to scratch and bite, even when he's tired, is that normal?

I know he likes being petted because when he's not facing me or looking my way and I gently rub under his ear or chin, he just closes his eyes and relaxes, but only when he doesn't know he is being petted and can't see me or my body. What do I do? I already took him to the vet and the vet said he is healthy and strong. How am I supposed to enforce good behavior when he never behaves good? I have tried firmly and loudly saying no and walking away but no change, in fact today is his worst behavior.

He is very comfy with lots of toys and I never ever play with him using my hands or any other body part, always a toy but he doesn't know the difference. He is eating and using the same food and litter box that he was used to at his home. He eats and drinks like a champ and uses the litter box without issues. I have also tried the Feliway calming diffuser and spray, doesn't seem to care. There are no small children or any other animals at my place. Please don't suggest to get another cat because I don't want to and that can't be the only option. Please advice what else I can do?

Hi Labs and welcome. You've got your hands full.

9 weeks is a bit young to leave his mother and sister, but a great improvement on the old customary age of 6 weeks. A couple or three more weeks roughnecking with his sister would have benefited him; he would have learned how to inhibit his bites and scratches; however, I wonder if the small grand daughter has been playing too rough with him. Children get carried away and act daft, even the nicest ones.

It seems as if he sees humans as beings to bite and scratch, as if that's all he's accustomed to. However, he enjoys affection when you sneak it up on him, and that's a good sign.

You've got a hard job, but it looks as if you need to completely re-educate him.

I too have a 'tearaway' and this is what's worked for us:-

Any aggression, say 'no', sharply (though not loudly; hiss in fact) and withdraw your hand. It's hard (and painful!) to move slowly in this situation, but a fast movement on your part he sees as incitement to chase and pounce. If the kitten persists, say something like 'WHAT did I say?' in the same hiss, and, when you've got free, move away (as you're doing already) but not too far, and after a while, talk to the kitten, praise him for being a good boy, in fact praise him for everything he does right, including tray and feeding. And if he does accept affection, give LOTS of praise.

After a time of this, my 'devil kitten' would come and rub round my legs (especially when there was food in the offing lol!) but if I tried to stroke her, she'd have me. So I didn't stroke, just talked to her and told her she was a good girl. Now, 5 years on, she does come for affection, but I've had to learn that I can't approach her; I have to wait for her to want affection. But I still talk to her and praise her even when I know touching her is going to provoke aggression. She's been a complete pain in the posterior, but I wouldn't be without her.

It's a case of, getting your wishes across to them, that their behaviour's unacceptable, but trying to make them feel loved all the while.

You'll get exasperated at times; you're only human, but try to be reasonably consistent; they DO come to know what you want and want to please you, I think. But it's hard work!

Hopefully there will be other members along with more ideas and advice, but hope this helps for now, all the best with the little horror

Thank you Lilith so much for your response. I will definitely do that and be consistent, I really want to keep him and it would be great if he calms down a bit and stops the random attacks, he has my heart so I would put my all into this! Would also love any other advice anyone else wants to give