Hello -- I am "foster failure" with a spayed, female kitten approximately four months old. She was found by herself, and I offered to foster her since she is an "only" and I could turn her around in a week or two and easily get her adopted. Anyhow, my husband fell in love with her, and decided she's a keeper. We've had her about six weeks and I estimate she is now about four months old.
I realize the challenges of having an "only" kitten, but I have zero interest in having two. My husband is home with her all day, so she gets a TON of attention and is rarely ever alone.
Getting to my point.... we had a spell where she was pretty snappy (nicknamed her "snapping turtle"). Mostly it was when she was really "charged up" -- so we play with her a ton and I bought her a kicker toy that she loves to beat up. So, I think we have a handle on the play aggression and it has much improved.
My only concern now, is whenever she is on the bed -- she resorts to being a snapping turtle again. This not just during play, but when you go to touch her or pick her up. My old cat used to be this way too -- almost as if being on the bed gives them some sort of sense of superiority --- I have often heard you should not let dogs on the bed or couch until you establish dominance over them -- maybe this is similar???
I am just wondering if this common?
Lastly, I have read so many mixed comments on what to do when a kitten is bitey --- so many say don't spray them, don't smack them (I would never), don't blow in their face..... doesn't leave a lot left you can do! I am tempted to leave a spray bottle on the nightstand and only use it if she bites on the bed. She needs to know that she will lose her bed privileges if she bites, but I can't safely remove her when she does it.
Other than this -- we really love her -- she plays hard and cuddles hard!
I realize the challenges of having an "only" kitten, but I have zero interest in having two. My husband is home with her all day, so she gets a TON of attention and is rarely ever alone.
Getting to my point.... we had a spell where she was pretty snappy (nicknamed her "snapping turtle"). Mostly it was when she was really "charged up" -- so we play with her a ton and I bought her a kicker toy that she loves to beat up. So, I think we have a handle on the play aggression and it has much improved.
My only concern now, is whenever she is on the bed -- she resorts to being a snapping turtle again. This not just during play, but when you go to touch her or pick her up. My old cat used to be this way too -- almost as if being on the bed gives them some sort of sense of superiority --- I have often heard you should not let dogs on the bed or couch until you establish dominance over them -- maybe this is similar???
I am just wondering if this common?
Lastly, I have read so many mixed comments on what to do when a kitten is bitey --- so many say don't spray them, don't smack them (I would never), don't blow in their face..... doesn't leave a lot left you can do! I am tempted to leave a spray bottle on the nightstand and only use it if she bites on the bed. She needs to know that she will lose her bed privileges if she bites, but I can't safely remove her when she does it.
Other than this -- we really love her -- she plays hard and cuddles hard!