Biting Kitten!!

Re: Biting Kitten!!

Jenny T — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:37:57 GMT

Animals that are hand-reared can have a number of problems in later life, some showing aggressive behaviour for no apparent reason. This is not just restricted to cats.

It is believed that the weaning process which occurs when a mother reduces the offspring's access to milk is a much more complex situation than just changing from milk to solid foods. The mother is also teaching the young to deal with frustration. Young not allowed access to the teat will initially try a number of tactics to get their own way, including aggression (throwing a temper tantrum). Eventually they will try the correct tactic of trying the solid food and this provides the reward of relieving the frustration of not being allowed to suckle (are you all following this so far- trying to condense a lot of learning theory etc into a few sentences).

The outcome is that the animal learns that when it is frustrated by something- the best solution is to try other things to relieve that frustration. Hand-reared animals do not learn this. We feed them as much as they want, when they want it. We are usually so happy they are taking food. These animals may then not learn the important lesson of how to relieve frustration by trying different options. They can be quite difficult to train. With-holding a food reward in an attempt to get a dog to learn a sit command may end up with an owner getting bitten as the dog can't cope with not getting what it wants- NOW.

Cats can attack owners for no apparent reason. This could be because the cat sees the owner and expects food or attention NOW. When this is not forthcoming the cat can't cope with the frustration and so become aggressive (it has kept the pre-weaned kitten mentality as it has never had the opportunity to learn otherwise). It is not really the animal's fault- it is not nasty, it just has not had the opportunity to develop normally .

You need a cat behaviourist to help you teach the cat how to deal with frustration. Please DO NOT spray the cat with water! That really wont help. It is vitally important that we understand a problem before taking the decision to use punishments when dealing with behaviour problems.

Good luck.

Re: Biting Kitten!!

Jo Mackenzie — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:01:31 GMT

Nope but he has the exact same markings

Re: Biting Kitten!!

Anonymous — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:26:46 GMT

is Elvis a bengal too?

Re: Biting Kitten!!

Jo Mackenzie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:43:20 GMT

Steph I love your picture by the way, looks exactly like my Elvis!

Re: Biting Kitten!!

Jo Mackenzie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:42:23 GMT

Thank you that's really great in-depth advice, I'll get started!!!! I'll let you know how it goes!

Re: Biting Kitten!!

Anonymous — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:25:52 GMT

Not really sure about pups to be honest, not really my expertise! Try to keep the kitten with the other cat as much as possible and try to incorporate play time with both of them. Pay attention to how she responds to him with her sounds and body language if it's possible for you to emulate this do it! but obviously scale it down, if she pops him on the nose or bats at him you may not be able to do this, as literally your hand was the hand that fed him. This will confuse him, find a soft toy or cloth and bat him with that instead. keep it in your pocket or near by at times when he might get a bit too rough. it will be enough to make a statement if you voice with it your feelings too, with the firm NO or growl hiss at him. but at the same time be soft enough as not to warrant abuse.

Another thing you can do is teach him the OUCH or OWWW when he bites you scream really loud and make a big deal when he releases praise. Similar to how his mother or a playmate would. This is the hunting technique that would be use by his mother at this age to teach him his hunting and playing skills. They learn their soft mouth from litter mates and mum. Might be worth reading up on it if you can to get some ideas. :) you could even play with the soft toy that you use for voicing and 'wrestle' with him with the toy and when you're fed up or when you see him bite down hard make your noise and turn or leave from play. Return with time and replay and do the same, eventually he will catch on. Cats are very smart and learn by trial and error and have great memories.

Re: Biting Kitten!!

Jo Mackenzie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:52:38 GMT

[quote user="StephB"]

Generally kittens shouldn't leave their mother until after 15 wks ideally. though it's common practice for them to leave a lot earlier 8-12wks and in some extreme cases younger, in the wild or out free they wouldn't leave their mothers until after they reach puberty (5-7months) and in some groups of cats even older than that! these periods are very important for learning for the kittens and if you don't try to emulate or know what to expect then it can make it very easy for bad habits to start.

[/quote]

Wow I didn't know they should stay with them that long! Thanks Steph, that'll really help the next time I have some to rear, even if I have to give them away earlier than that I can explain it to the new owners. What age would you say puppies should leave their mum? We see most of them at 8 - 10 weeks but more and more as early as 6 weeks!

I do have another cat who is very well behaved, not that it seems to be rubbing off on him!!! She is doing quite a good job of telling him off when he annoys her though lol.

Re: Biting Kitten!!

Anonymous — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:50:13 GMT

I forgot to ask. Is there another cat in your house that could teach her some manners?

Re: Biting Kitten!!

Nikki Graef — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:30:26 GMT

I have a "problem cat" a result of poor hand rearing on my part, she still bites and scratches when she feels like it and shes now nearly 7 years old!!!

I blame the fact shes tortie too but i know its mostly my fault. Definately try and stop it while you can, its so embarrassing when she bites my friends and i have to tell everyone who visits the house dont touch her she'll bite you!! Shes so pretty and looks so sweet that people rarely listen then when she does attack them im like sorry but i did tell you!!

Re: Biting Kitten!!

Anonymous — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:16:23 GMT

Re: Biting Kitten!!

Jo Mackenzie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:07:41 GMT

I know, from experience cats that were hand-reared as babies are always difficult! When I hand rear them I normally rehome them at 8 - 9 weeks so I'm not used to having one at this sort of age when they're starting to get really mischievous!! He doesn't ever get hand fed and all their meals are prepared then put on the floor in different rooms to avoid stealing and they are allowed to come and get it.

Re: Biting Kitten!!

Anonymous — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:00:09 GMT

A Sharp firm NO and placing him out of the room or on the floor should suffice for most things. Or not saying anything and placing him out of the room. No hand feeding and preparing meals away from the kitten and letting the kitten come to the meal and not you to the kitten with the meal. You need to be careful with the bottle with such a small kitten as it could in turn make them afraid of you. If the kit were still with its mother she would either pop the kit on the nose or scream and turn her back to him. The time with the mother during the younger ages is so important and raising a young kit away from the mother, it's important to know a bit about what that process teaches them. It might be an idea for you to have a read up on the upbringing of kittens with their mothers or even speaking to Jenny T about it. You may find you have more problems on your hands later down the road because of the lack of mother care.

Re: Biting Kitten!!

Steph Worsley — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:17:55 GMT

the spray works wonders with my guys when they do something naughty, I just need to shake the bottle now and they stop what they were doing!!!

Re: Biting Kitten!!

loopylou711 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:08:50 GMT

Poppy when you scruff her trys to get free and bite or she just crys and makes you feel guilty! Need to get tough!! Just haard when there that cutee!!

Re: Biting Kitten!!

Jo Mackenzie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:05:16 GMT

I've tried the scruff thing with Elvis but he seems to think its a game and just keeps coming back for more!!! I'll try the water but not convinced it'll work - I've tried flicking water at him before when he jumps on the worktop when I'm doing dishes and he just stands and stares at me with his head on one side. He's such a cocky little sh*t lol

Re: Biting Kitten!!

loopylou711 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:58:09 GMT

Our youngest is 12 weeks and the exact same! She is terrible for biting feet and hands. We tend to pick her up by the scruff and put her on the floor and ignore her if she does it. Might try the little bottle of water though she doesn't seem to mind it too much. Blowing in her face annoys her more and tends to get her to stop biting! I should get tough though before she gets worse!

good luck!!

Re: Biting Kitten!!

Emma Townson VN Cert IV MBVNA — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:29:50 GMT

Hi Jo,

I had a cat that did that (not nasty but got a bit too far!) - I used to have a little spray bottle on hand nearby filled with water, so every time the cat gets close - sprey him with water! Obviously not on a full hard sprey - but so he learns that each time he does that, its not a pleasureable experience for him!