Conference misery::feline_v1

    There are some recent notes about these subjects, but I don't recall
    what numbers they are.
    
    The biting behavior you describe is fairly common in kittens.  Three
    months is still very much kitten age.  The behavior should be
    discouraged now if you do not like it, before it becomes a habit.
    
    I have found that it is very important not to use your hands when
    playing with your kitten.  Use a toy.  You need to let him know
    that skin is off limits.  If he bites you or scratches you, then
    play time is over.  Ignore him.  
    
    Kittens seem to have only two speeds, fast forward and off.
    
    I use a spray bottle filled with plain water to discipline my cats.
    Cats do not respond to physical type reprimands since they are not
    submissive.  When your kitten gets on the counter, squirt him with
    the spray bottle.  You have to be consistent with cats, cause if
    they get away with something one time, they feel that gives them
    license to keep doing it.
    
    Look for the previous notes, there is some really good info in there.
    
    Jo

    Just in case, has there been a vet visit to rule out any physical problem?
    Also, maybe this is excess energy, how about another kitten playmate?
    

     Sounds like my new kitty, Sterling Silver Streak. The name used to
    be just Sterling Silver, but the Streak was a neccessity. He is
    unbelievably fast, leaping very high onto the furniture, then down on
    the floor, under the furniture, around the feet. He can be airborne,
    I swear. He loves to play, but as mentioned in a previous reply, once
    he starts biting the skin, games' over.  Don't wrestle with your hands
    or arms, or tease him with your feet.  He must realize that bodies are
    off limits for rough play. Let him get rough with the toys only.
    Silver is so spastic, my hubby thinks he's schitzoid or something.
    He attacks suddenly too, but he'll grow out of it, he's not even a year
    old yet, so I guess we'll manage, we always have!
    
                                  Denise

    At his age he may be teething. Get him things to chew on.  If you
    don't provide them, he'll pick them himself - I have a belt that
    has one end full of Dundee teeth holes. :-)
      I have found that the cat-human bond is a major help in disciplining
    my cats.  Once they've been around long enough to develop that 
    relationship (and Tym is just starting to get to that point) we
    seem to have a mutual desire to please each other.  Therefore, raising
    my voice us usually sufficient to deter most undesireable behaviors.
      Of course, they can choose to ignore you at which point to resort
    to the CAAT (?) (Cat attitude adjustment tool) or squirt bottle.
    
       ;-)
      
      Nancy DC
    

    As for jumping on counters when you're not around with the spray
    bottle, try leaving shallow pans of water on the counter.  This
    way when the cat jumps on the cunter it will get its feet wet (not
    pleasant).  Also get the book _No Naughty Cats_, forget who the
    author is but it's wonderful.  There are a lot of helpful hints
    in it and I do remeber that it was written by a vet.
    
    Roslyn

Unfortunately spray bottles and pans of water won't work for us. OUr two 
Kittens love water. I tried spraying them and they would just keep doing what 
they were doing so they could get sprayed again. Either that or they will 
start walking towards me and meowing for me to spray them again. They also 
jump in the shower when we're in there and in the toilet if it is left open 
and they roll in the sink. Personally I think that they are half otter:-)

Peace,
Geoff

Lots of different sized (but small) empty cans stacked side-by-side where
you don't want them to walk...you may need to weight them down with stones
so the kittens cannot push them away too easily...can often keep cats
from jumping up and walking over things...A friend used lots of frozen
fruit juice cans and the small single serving size cans.  The cats
cannot walk over the top because there is no top and it's a hassle to
step into and out of each little can..the result is to create a hassle
for them.  This MAY deter, or they can decide to work harder at pushing
the cans off and you don't win.

I simply wash the counter THOROUGHLY before I cook and wash the table
before we eat...and I reprimand when I see it (but I accept the fact that
it happens and will continue to happen when I'm not looking).

It's sorta like gophers if you live next to a field...you do your best,
but you only control...you never really eradicate the problem.