Expert: Norman Auspitz - 3/15/2010

Question
Hi,
We recently rescued a brother and sister set of kittens who have had all sorts of health issues but who are settling in and doing better.  We also have another kitty who is about 9 months old.
We have had the kittens for about a month, and the female, China Doll, occasionally will visit us at night.  All the cats have various sleeping spots, but recently, China Doll has come to our heads on a few occasions and seems restless, is purring, and starts biting my hands.  Normally if she bites my hands, I completely stop moving and she will stop, and I redirect her attention to something else.  But in this instance, she does not let go and starts biting harder and harder until of course I react and hide my hands.  She then thinks I am playing and starts to attack the area my hand may be.  She never does this during regular play time.  Tonight for the first time, after I hid my hand, she then went to bite my chin, cheek, and it was the same thing - she kept on biting harder and harder until I react.  I gently moved her out of the way a few times but finally I got upset and picked her up by the scruff and took her off the bed.
I would appreciate any suggestions.  None of my cat behaviour books address biting body parts while one is sleeping (or trying to sleep).
The only information I maybe could add that would help is that she has a voracious appetite.  She was dealing with worms for a short time but seems better.  We are working with a homeopathic vet for their numerous health issues at this time.  Other than that, she is an affectionate and energetic kitten but definitely a rascal.
Also, as I am writing this, it is the middle of the night since she woke me up with biting, and she is purring and occasionally attempting to bite my hand.  Right now my method is to push towards her slightly and then she lets go, but I don't want her to get into the habit of thinking it is ok to bite hands.  Please help!
Amanda

Answer
Amanda,

I am wondering if she is teething?  She seems to be at the right age for some teething issues.  This will tend to make kittens want to do biting behaviors.  Your reaction to her biting is correct (i.e. scruffing and moving her away).  However, I would not wait until the biting gets hard, but start immediately. on the onset of the behavior.

Cats and kittens have very, very tough kin and often engage in rough play which includes lots of biting and scratching behaviors. They have to learn to play more gently with us softer skinned humans.  So, to socialize kittens, we hold them (one at a time), speak softly and stroke them.  They love this "game".  As soon as the biting/scratching behavior begins, they get scruffed and put aside and we walk away.  They pretty quickly learn to no avoid the biting/scratching behaviors when they play with us.

As kittens get older, they tend to figure out nighttime is for sleeping. Cats by nature are nocturnal and have to learn that we humans are diurnal, so they tend to change to being diurnal, as well. It often can take kittens a bit of time to "learn the ropes".

I hope this helps.

Best regards... Norm.