Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 10 week old, male orange tabby. He is my first kitten, so I'm learning as I go along. I know the "kneading" thing is normal. But while he's doing that he rubs his nose and mouth all over my face and neck and then bites. It's not a playful bite or a mean bite, but a very slow and gentle one (though it still pinches). He holds the bite until I pull him off. The look on his face is very tired and dreamy, and his eyes are closed. It's so weird. He jumps in bed with me and does all this and I can't get to sleep, so I have to lock him out. Someone told me that it could be because he was taken from his mother too early.
Is this normal?

It does sound a bit like he is trying to nurse, but I am not an expert. Perhaps you could get him a stuffed animal to cuddle with. He could be missing his mom.
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PHTessie

Since your kitten is so young, it could very well be associated with nursing. Wanted to mention neither of my two 14 year old boys have ever bitten or scratched anyone, they are very gentle since they were very young, but Stanley gives love bites. Specifically, he has a foot fetish. He loves bare toes. He rubs against them, licks, and nips on them gently... I wear socks often. I am at great risk at night because I like to stick a foot or two out for "temperature control" while I sleep. He doesn't get me often, but I have woken up to a pinned down foot being licked and slobbered on -- and bitten gently. I pull it under the covers fast... I know it is meant as affection as he is purring very loudly when he does this. The worst is when I have visitors. He doesn't do it often, but he usually picks out the cat-hater in the group to lick their big toe. LOL

So, yours may be due to nursing/age, but Stanley is 14 and hasn't stopped yet. It isn't all the time, but he does it a couple times a week...
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Tammy
Stanley and Pookey

Cats sure are strange! The new thing with my kitty "Dude" is that he goes under the bed when I get in the shower. As soon as I open the shower curtain, he runs out from under the bed into the bathroom to me and licks my wet feet. He's so weird!

I'm hoping he calms down some with this behavior because I have to lock him out of my room at night. In the morning I open my bedroom door and he comes running in to continue the nuzzling, kneading, and nibbling!

A call to your vet may help clarify...but it definately sounds like he's trying to nurse. My 2 year old "big guy" still kneads and suckles on the fur of one of my other cats (also a male!) so go figure! Vet said it wasn't anything to worry about, some cats do it all thier life. You may want to break him of the biting part by firmly saying "NO" or "NO BITE" when he does. No need to yell just your tome will probably get him to stop. You don't want it to turn into more aggressive biting. Once you've reprimanded him and he stops, give him love again. Let us know!
Colleen

Thank you for your reply. Other people have been telling me the same thing. He's biting a little less, but now he's been suckling on sleeves or drawstrings on my clothing. It's so cute to watch him because he has his eyes closed and he's making the sound like he's sucking on a bottle. Plus he's still little so it's even cuter.
I never thought I'd love a cat so much! I never was really a cat person.

Welcome to the cat world! LOL! I was attacked by a cat when little, hated them! Until I found one and adopted him, his name was Asti adn he was my soul-mate! Never knew I could love a kitty so much! Lost him 2 yrs ago but have since adopted 4 more! THey will frustrate you, love you, entertain you! Best of luck for a long and purrrrrfect relationship!

>^..^<
Colleen

Hmmmmmmmm, never was a cat person..Now where have I heard that before.
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PHTessie

What do you mean?
Were you at one time not a cat person?