In the meantime, however, have a couple of questions/concerns.
I do need a name, but I’m sure that will be easier once you see the photo’s.
He’s 5 months old (already 7 lbs) and was labeled at the Humane Society as a “hand biter” – basically he was raised this way, and considers the hand of a human to be nothing other than a toy for him to bite, scratch, and claw. Also noted that he’s not suitable for children under 10 (part of there reason I wanted him, no one else would take him).
He’s not mean, or evil - just playing, but it will definitely be something that has to stop (eventually). I’ve got toys to for him to play with when he’s worst. He will come flying out from behind a piece of furniture to attack/bite my leg(s). At night, he’ll lay in bed for awhile, nice 'n calm, but give him 20 minutes, and he’ll bite my head!
Any advice would be great! Someone recommended a spray bottle (water) to use when he’s being naughty, but I’m not sure about that (for one thing, he actually seems to like water!)… pics to come.
Preliminary name consideration: 1) Schitzo, 2) Albus, 3) Kitty.
I also am not confident the squirt bottle would be effective in this situation. They’re good for across the room transgressions, not so much when kitty is chewing on the hand trying to grab & aim the squirt bottle.
In my experience, the most effective (but not quick) way to retrain a hand-player is to NOT play. Kitty attacks Hand, and Hand immediately stops moving, other hand offers distraction, mouth says “be nice” " no, no" whatever in a calm but firm tone. After a few zillion repetitions, Kitty will figure out that hands are boring toys.
As for the surprise attacks . . . I tend to shriek before saying “No!” in an extra mean voice. This does not impress my brats, so I can’t recommend it.
Albus appeals to me for Kitty’s real name, but that isn’t a firm vote yet
No clue on names, but I have found canned air a good deterrent. It sounds a little like another cat’s hiss, and it doesn’t get everything all wet. Maybe he’ll get the clue that you are angry when he bites.
When my late beloved kitty Boo was a kitten, he attacked and bit quite a few times. I remember almost being afraid to fall asleep when he was lurking around! He was my first cat as an adult on my own and I wondered what I did wrong.
He was 4 months old when I adopted him from the animal shelter, about the same age as yours. The good news is he outgrew it and was not a biter as an adult.
Kittens tend to be a little bit “bitey” anyway but most likely this particular kitten was removed from his littermates too soon. What happens is that kittens learn how to play by playing with and biting other kittens and their own mother cat. When kittens bite too hard in play, they are reprimanded by Maman or the other kitten by being swatted on the head. (Or bitten back.)
What I have found effective is to do just what Maman does: give a swat on the top of the head (sort of on the forehead) when the kitten bites. Obviously this means a VERY LIGHT TAP from a human. Not a hit, not a slap. A tap, with one finger only. Not a swat with your hand. It should be equivalent to what a mother cat would do with her paw. You are replacing the mother’s action with your own.
He might well outgrow being bitey too. Or at least tone it down somewhat. Probably not for a couple of years, though. If you can, try and play with him a LOT to tire him out. Especially before bed. But do remember that kittens are naturally full of energy. They run, leap, bite, scratch, paw, and chase. It’s what cats do and a cat will never completely stop doing any of those things. So resign yourself!
Oooh, lil biter is a cutie patootie! His coloring is almost like orange marmalade, so that’s my name suggestion for him: Marmalade. Sorry I don’t have any suggestions for the biting - I don’t have any cats. (not allowed where I live, nor are dogs, for that matter!)
He’s beyond adorable, TheBoneyKingofNowhere! He’s lucky to have you as his human! I hope you can find a way to help him to stop biting, though. I’m sure that maybe after he gets out of the ‘kitten stage’, he’ll stop the biting thing. I know it’ll be sheer hell to wait that long, and you need to do something now. Have you talked to your vet about it? Maybe he/she can give you some tips. Again, he’s just beautiful!
Good luck!
I have a new kitty too, and this thread is making me very thankful that she’s fourteen and has very nice manners. Her only flaw so far is sticking her cold nose in my ear in the middle of the night.
Ooh, what a beautiful cat! If I had an orange cat, I’d name him Weasley. I don’t have much advice for the biting though, I’d just try to substitute some other toy if he attempts it. Good luck!
Orange kitties are my favorite! He looks just like one I helped raise in college. Also, he appears to be longhaired (or will be when he grows up) so you might want to get him used to being brushed.
The one I helped raise was named Kitty, so I think that’s a good name for him.
It took 2 weeks for one of our cats to tell us his name, and 3 weeks for our female. Your kitty will tell you his name eventually.
We’ve been training our two kittens with the “forehead tap” method, along with a firm “No!”. It seems to be working well. Of course, our kitties are both geniuses.
He’s so cute. I especially like the trashcan and paper pictures. (I was expecting it to be a newspaper, though. Our Winston loved newspapers.) No name ideas–I’m terrible at naming cats. I’d probably just call him Kitty.
(not allowed where I live, nor are dogs, for that matter!)