Biting at 10 months

[Napili]

My kitten is loveable and affectionate, however, at 10 months he still loves to chew on things and will bite. He doesn't scratch or paw at us. I know that he is playing and he doesn't do it to hurt.
Is this normal? Is there anyway to train him not to. Will he grow out of it.

Also, can he have dog's chew toys. I can't find a cat's chew toy big enough for him. He's already 17 pounds.

[candes]

Well, 10 months is a bit long. But is it a rare bite or often? Is it with wild avengence, very gentile bites, or somewhere in between? Is it quite painful?

For something besides love bites... Which are just signs of affection. For hard biting, with an older kitty, I guess you could gently gag him when he bites. He isn't being punished since he is the one doing the biting and if your finger accidentally tickles his throat.... Compared to water spraying, the biting is all that is being discouraged. Not the entire kitty. So it shouldn't cause any changes in overall behavior.

For me, I would consider this as a last resort. I would find it too difficult to do. Unless kitty was being downright nasty and drawing blood with the biting.

[Meredith]

I find that an over-reaction works well. Not sure it this would work with all cats though.

When he bites, yank your hand back and react as if he's just bitten through your skin! Watch his face, he will be horrified! Enzo stopped biting so hard when he realised how bad it was hurting me...

[candes]

I find that an over-reaction works well. Not sure it this would work with all cats though.

When he bites, yank your hand back and react as if he's just bitten through your skin! Watch his face, he will be horrified! Enzo stopped biting so hard when he realised how bad it was hurting me...

I totally agree here. This is how I always handle biting. And it works. My Teddy B has only been with me since Aug 17th, and biting is a done deal.

But after 10 months, the behavior may be a bit harder to control. And it certainly hurts more at this pont. I tink kitty has been wuved to death and getting away with murder.

Oh and about the dog chew toys... Hey if he likes em, why not. My little kitten drags around HUGE items that he picks up with his teeth. I have a feeling that I am gonna end up with a kleptomaniac. Anyways, I suspect MC like large items that challenge their strength.