Ragdoll Cat Forums

First of all this is my first post here so hello everyone.

My dilemma is that I have an adorable 9 week old Ragdoll Kitten named Rucifie (its from Cinderella) who has recently developed a concerning pattern of behaviour.
He is very social and affectionate kitten who follows me and my fiance around and is extremely playful. The problem is that in the last few days when he is playing he has started to bite, it started as very light and barely touching after which he would lick, but it became harder and I cannot get him to stop.
I know there are probably very natural reasons for him doing this but even when we pull our hand away as soon as it goes back he starts to bite again and he does have lots of toys to bite instead. Although its not really painful Id prefer to stop it before it gets worse. it only happens when he gets really worked up in play and over excited so I know he doesnt mean to.
I was just wondering if anyone else has had this problem and how it was solved. Also he has not been desexed yet do you think it could stop when he is?

I would really appreciate any advice I can get on this issue.

Hi and welcom to this forum. - There are a lot of experienced cat people around here who will certainly answer later on as well, since I'm still a newbie to cats (I've got mine for 6 months now) I can only tell you from my bit of experience.

First I think your kitten is not vicious just overactive and a bit young with 9 weeks - there are still a lot of social skills they learn with their mom and littermates until they leave at a normal age of 13-14 weeks.
But since he's with you you will have to deal with it. Using your hands for playing is a no go for me - there are a lot of interactive toys (like wands, balls or mice to throw etc.) you should use for playing. Hands are there for cuddling and handling the kitten while brushing or things like that.

If he bites I would give him a firm NO and time out - meaning ignoring him and going away for a couple of minutes to give him time to cool down. I would repeat that until he has learned that biting is not acceptable behaviour with you.

Rowan, who is 15 weeks and altered, does this as well. It's not violent behavior, it's just normal kitten behavior.

The best way to deal with this is as stated above. The moment he goes into that mode (my wife calls it psycho kittie mode, Rowan's pupils get so dilated the his iris disappears and all you can see is black pupil.) The moment he goes into that mode and starts attacking your hand, firmly tell him no (sometimes loudly works as well) and put him down and ignore him completely for a bit until he calms some.

This has to be done consistently, meaning every time, without fail, otherwise it won't be as effective. Most cats grow out of this phase, but if you encourage it by thinking it's cute, and continue to let him, he may not.

We've also had to use water on a cat before that refused to respond to ignoring or No. With that we would just keep a bit of water handy, and put a couple of drops on the cat (doesn't take much unless they like water, literally a couple of drops dripped from the fingers) and say a firm no at the same time the water hits the cat, and then put him down. The cat will eventually associate the no with water, and this will have a deterrent effect as well.

Generally, if you do not encourage the behavior, and actively discorurage it, it will go away. I've been working with Rowan for two weeks now on this and he is finally getting the point, and only acts like he is going to bite, with me. My wife is inconsistent however, and he has not changed his behavior with her at all yet.

I've not seen altering effect this particular behavior one way or another.

Now if I can just train Rowan to leave me alone when I am eating, no amount of discouragement stops him from trying...put him down he hops right back up. spritz with water, he runs away, then hops back up; rinse repeat until I'm done eating. If he can smell food, he wants to be there, never mind that he has never been given anything but his cat food....he's a very stubborn cat that thinks with his belly LOL

Good luck

This is normal kitten to kitten play and they have to learn that it is not OK with people. Often the best solution is another cat to play with, which sops up this behavior and also teaches each the limits. It tends to be a stage, but you also want to let him know not to play that way to shorten the time you have to deal with it.

Do NOT quickly pull away. That is more likely to end up with a scratch - caused by your movement against teeth and claws. Freeze and he will stop. Slowly move your hand so that the part presented to his mouth is too big to bite - back of hand or palm. Rapid movements just seem part of the game to the kitten.

When he bites hard or will not stop quickly, then hiss or blow in his face. Yell no or in pain to lot him know you are not just enjoying the play. If he is too excited, give him a one or two minute time out and then let him out and love on him. If he runs at you to grab and bite feet, then consider a can of coins or water pistol. In that situation be very careful, because you can injure him badly when he runs under and grabs your feet. Just stop and pick him up.

Do not confuse him by ever using hands or feet themselves to play with him. Use wands, Da Bird, soft toys to retrieve that will give him chase and catch play that both of you enjoy.

He is not being mean or vicious. The biting and then grooming is typical for this behavior - among cats. Feel happy that he accepts you as a feline playmate - but do gently show him you do not want to play that way and give him alternatives.

Thankyou all so much for your great advice.
I do know he isnt being violent I was just stuck for what to put in the subject to sum it up lol.
He does hove toys like wands and we definitely dont use hands for play but I will continue to use your methods and see how he goes.
As far as being consistent is concerned I think my dad needs to be trained more than the kitten lol, he usually doesnt stop him and when I do he says "but hes not biting hard hes only playing" so I think I have some work to do with him there.

Thankyou again

It might seem harder when the same bite is delivered by a 20 pound cat. You need to start right away stopping play biting and grabbing on people.

JenaKevinRucifie Wrote:First of all this is my first post here so hello everyone.

My dilemma is that I have an adorable 9 week old Ragdoll Kitten named Rucifie (its from Cinderella) who has recently developed a concerning pattern of behaviour.
He is very social and affectionate kitten who follows me and my fiance around and is extremely playful. The problem is that in the last few days when he is playing he has started to bite, it started as very light and barely touching after which he would lick, but it became harder and I cannot get him to stop.
I know there are probably very natural reasons for him doing this but even when we pull our hand away as soon as it goes back he starts to bite again and he does have lots of toys to bite instead. Although its not really painful Id prefer to stop it before it gets worse. it only happens when he gets really worked up in play and over excited so I know he doesnt mean to.
I was just wondering if anyone else has had this problem and how it was solved. Also he has not been desexed yet do you think it could stop when he is?

I would really appreciate any advice I can get on this issue.

Hi! This is my first time posting a reply. I have a similar problem but it's not my Ragdoll kitten.... it's my mother's. We got our kittens from the same litter and they are 10 months and just neutered. Her kitten "Lucas" is very vicious and he bites extremely hard! He laches on to you and tries to sink his teeth in as far as they will go! He bit me yesterday and I think it is infected this time. He not only bites me but he bites my mother too. He can be acting nice and playing with you and the next thing you know .... he is attacking you! My kitten is the sweetest cat you could imagine and even though he may bite you a little when you play with him...he never bites hard or tries to sink his teeth into you. I can get him all wound up and then put my face down to his and all he'll do is lick me! I really believe that there is something seriously wrong with Lucas since he has been biting since my mother got him. This is NOT typical of this breed at all. I also have an older Ragdoll that's 6 year old and I have never had any behavior like this from either of mine. Does anyone know what could be his problem? I would appreciate the help because if we can't get him to stop...we will have to get rid of him which neither of us wants to do. Thanks!

I am not sure what you are describing - and it makes a difference. A cat biting to injure does not bite and THEN increase the pressure and sink his teeth in. A cat will bite and his fangs will penetrate all the way and he moves fast in one blur of motion, not staying around to be injured himself. There will be display before the attack to try and bluff the danger away. Expect ears facing backward, growling, hissing, hackles up, sideways movement and salivation.

Real aggression comes from fear and pain, the latter seeming more likely in your case. You need to look for triggers based on when he does and does not do this.

Is he neutered, because some males will be much quicker to become aggressive. Sometimes some tissue is left. It will be easy for your vet to check, because the penis of a whole male will have a barb on the end.

If he is being held and is loving and then he suddenly moves and bites, then consider that something has caused him a stab of pain. If he is playing and becomes excited and bites, then consider that he is getting too many calories and/or not enough exercise. Use up energy with wands and other interactive toys like da bird.

When we first got Princess from a rescue place, She would sleep up by my head,and I would scratch her belly and I would get ready to fall asleep and she would lick my hand then bite my hand, I would go back to scratching and as soon as I would stop she start again. Not a good thing getting bitten while you sleep. I started to smack her nose and tell her no. She finally stopped doing it.