Our 6-8wk old kitty just adopted us a week ago. She is learning the rules
of her domain but the one major problem remaining is her nipping at hands,
fingers, and ankles, etc. How do we get her to stop the nipping?
Colleen
> Our 6-8wk old kitty just adopted us a week ago. She is learning the
> rules of her domain but the one major problem remaining is her
> nipping at hands, fingers, and ankles, etc. How do we get her to
> stop the nipping?
>
> Colleen
When she nips at you, let out a high pitched "ow" - that's how kittens tell
each other that 'biting while rasslin is not acceptable'. I did this with
ours, and they all eventually learned not to
Colleen - 12 May 2006 15:11 GMT
We use "no nip". I think she gets a little excited and the nips are part of
it. Hopefully she'll catch on soon.
c
>> Our 6-8wk old kitty just adopted us a week ago. She is learning the
>> rules of her domain but the one major problem remaining is her
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> tell each other that 'biting while rasslin is not acceptable'. I did this
> with ours, and they all eventually learned not to
deci - 12 May 2006 18:06 GMT
>We use "no nip". I think she gets a little excited and the nips are part of
>it. Hopefully she'll catch on soon.
>c
Thing is she doesn't speak English - but she does speak 'squeal' - I
would use 'Magics' method if you want her to learn quicker.
http://www.black-cat-gfx.co.uk/
"A cat is only technically an animal,
being divine" - Robert Lynd
~*Connie*~ - 12 May 2006 23:29 GMT
>> Our 6-8wk old kitty just adopted us a week ago. She is learning the
>> rules of her domain but the one major problem remaining is her
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> tell each other that 'biting while rasslin is not acceptable'. I did this
> with ours, and they all eventually learned not to
I use the "ow" method to train orphaned kittens that I foster. Works just
about every time. Occasionally you'll get a kitten who likes chewing so
much that they'll keep doing it. this is when you need to take the next
steps. First the ow. Then stop ALL play. Don't look at the kitten, don't
acknowledge it in any way for a few minutes. no negative attention, cause
attention is attention to some kittens. This usually works. If this still
doesn't work then pin the kitten to the ground as a mom would do. Scruff
the neck ever so slightly and lightly pin the kitty to the ground. Again..
VERY gently. This isn't abuse, its a "HEY! I said STOP THAT!!"
If the kitty is still biting after that, it might be too stimulated, and
should be isolated in a separate room for a while.
I believe in letting kittens chew on fingers and what not, so they know just
how far they can go with out hurting you. This way in the future if you cat
ever feels it needs to give you a bite warning, they can do so with out
breaking your skin. You never know when your cat is not feeling well and it
will want you to back off and right quick.
>Our 6-8wk old kitty just adopted us a week ago. She is learning the rules
>of her domain but the one major problem remaining is her nipping at hands,
>fingers, and ankles, etc. How do we get her to stop the nipping?
When she starts biting any part of your body, get a toy and try and show her
toys are for biting instead; you may have to remove anything on the toy that
may come off if she starts chewing on them (such as eyes, tails, etc.) until
she gets older. If she starts biting hands as a kitten and isn't trained not
to, she may continue as an adult.
To get her to stop nipping, you must react to each nip the exact same way.
You have to be consistent in your training or the kitten will get confused.
Since she is so young, you must be gentle... but firm. First, if you play
with a kitten with your hands, you teach them that your hands are
playthings. Young kittens don't necessarily understand that your hands are
attached to a person and that they are causing you pain. So, be
understanding of her right now.
Second, try to avoid playing with her directly with your hands. It's
difficult to not do, I know, but when you play using your hands, you're
teaching them a bad habit. She will get more and more excited until she ends
up biting you. Once she's bigger, the problem becomes bigger. What I did
with my kitten was buy a hand puppet toy that I found in the children's toy
section. (Make sure no eyes or nose parts can come off easily and be
swallowed by your kitten.) When I wanted to play with him, I would put the
hand puppet on and he associated the toy with playing, not my hand. Plus he
enjoyed sinking his teeth into the toy as far as they could go (esp. since
he was teething). I didn't get hurt, he didn't learn that my hands were
toys, toys are toys, and I stopped getting hurt.
Third, if your kitten does use her teeth on you, you must discipline her
EVERY single time... consistency. All you need to do is firmly say "no" or
whatever word you want to use. You could say "no bite" because two word
commands are okay to use, and more specific to the action taking place.
Plus, it is tiring to say "no" 1,000 times a day |:( Whatever y ou do,
don't scare your cat, no yelling, just say "no" firmly EVERY time she bites
or nips, and stop whatever you are doing at the time in order to discipline
her. So, if you were playing with her with your hands (oops!) and she nips
you, just stop what you're doing, immediately tell her "no." Then you can
positively reinforce her when she stops by telling her she's a good girl.
Grab a toy and start playing with her using the toy. Wand toys are also
fantastic for keeping your hands at a distance... your hand is holding the
wand and your flailing about a bit of feather at the end of a long cord...
what could be better? Plus, cats LOVE those kind of toys.
Finally, one issue with kittens is that it is difficult to keep up with
them. They are so full of energy it's dizzying. Her nipping can be a sign of
frustration or she's getting overly excited and stimulated by your petting
her. If that's the case, just make sure you tell her "no" or "no bite", make
sure you stop what you're doing just prior to her nipping you... if you were
petting her, stop petting her... if she stops and calms down, tell her she's
a good girl, and then let her be for a minute or two. If she's
overstimulated she needs to calm down. If she won't calm down, just play
with her (using toys!) till you wear her out or she seems to expend some
energy. Try your best to play with her for an hour each day, it's best to
break it up into 2 30minute sessions or whatever works best for you; she
needs to vent that energy.
Good luck! (surf the web for websites dedicated to helping you rear your
kitten)
> Our 6-8wk old kitty just adopted us a week ago. She is learning the rules
> of her domain but the one major problem remaining is her nipping at hands,
> fingers, and ankles, etc. How do we get her to stop the nipping?
>
> Colleen