anniebelle wrote: ↑3 years ago
Gypsy wrote: ↑3 years ago
Most of the kittens I've had have grown out of this behavior, and it could be because he was used to roughhousing with other kitties. I would gently but firmly tap him on his nose or forehead with finger and tell him STOP and put him off your lap till hes ready to be in cuddle mode. -Gypsy
Been trying that. He can't be put off when he doesn't want to. He literally flies at me, lunging his whole body and then latching on, legs and mouth flayling! I'm trying not to get too rough with him. In self defense I toss him away from me, he just comes right back! Those teeth! There's a bad cut on my hand that's been reopened twice!
I strongly believe that Milo is in a new teenage kitten phase and he will grow out of it in time and once neutered. The key to get through it and have a good relationship is never create "fear" for him (although I know you are experiencing fear) because kittens/cats react to fear by fighting. So when he is being too aggressive, turn off, put him in a bathroom with the door shut for a 15 minutes. Say NO when he does it. Be gentle always as he will not learn under fear of your aggression. with cats, aggression on your part begets aggression on his part.
Haha, I remember a kitten I had that if I put my hand up like a claw, he saw that as a threat (never had a cat do that before - and at first I thought it was funny when I put my hand in a "claw" position to watch his reaction - WRONG on ME. He would get fearful and then attack. He grew out of it after I stopped doing it. duh.
I had a maine coon kitty that if I bumped her on the nose for "NO" she felt inclined to react back to ME. I learned that thumping her was not her cup of tea so "I" changed my way of correcting her by spraying water with "NO." It didn't take long to correct that behavior.
All cats are different. When I adopted 7 kittens from newborns and they grew into young teenagers - there was a day where I thought, "I'm in over my head." - They have so much energy and they have needs to play and hunt and be a predator. I made extra time to play with them with their toys, "da bird" was their favorite. I also bought toys they can play when I'm not around like a wooden box with holes in it and you drop a rolling ball or mouse and they have to put their paws in it to try to get it. I had a rolling "track" that you could add hills and curves so when the ball in the track was touched it would move around the track and that kept them amused. I also kept bird videos on with birds in the background singing, flying, fluttering and the would watch it too. Even light acoustic music helps keep them calm. Do you have a window to put a bird feeder outside for Milo to watch?
All I'm saying is it's so important to be firm with him but in a GENTLE way because this is a kitten phase he will grow out of it and you want your bond to be trusting when the phase is over. Praise him when he is bad even. Say no, then when he stops, say good boy. Stuffs like that.
Good luck Milo is a good boy but he is full of life and excitement. he will mellow.