Hello everyone. It's been a looooooong time since I posted last. In fact I think the last thing I posted was an introduction to a very young kitten I had acquired from a less than pleasant background. Here's a refresher...

All the advice you can throw at me...

Anyway, here we are 4 months later, we reckon he is approaching 5-6 months old so we've booked him in to be neutered at the end of this month.

As far as socialisation goes, he's not been too bad considering he left his mother outrageously early. He is fully litter trained now. My older cat, Benji, initially didn't take to him but because *somebody* ¬_¬ keeps keeping Benji shut in their house for days at a time I've kept him in for 4 weeks solid and he and Figaro have bonded. It's beautiful. They sleep together, they groom each other, they play together. We call him Figaro's Uncle Benji

But Figaro... Well he thinks my arms and hands and fingers are chew toys and scratch posts. Literally I am scratched to hell and back. I've been asked if the scratches and scars on my arms are self inflicted. :-/ I am almost 100% certain his actions aren't malicious, he just likes to play a lot. Especially if Benji is sleeping. But he is too rough with me.

Funny thing though, if my 4 year old goes to play, Figaro is gentle. He has never drawn blood on my children but doesn't think twice about doing it to me. I don't really know how to stop that. I'm all for playing, don't get me wrong, he is an indoor cat currently (and will be forever if I have my way) and I want him to play and get exercise but my arms just can't take it any more. I have cats toys coming out the wazoo but my arms and hands are obviously far more appealing.

Sorry for the novel.... Help?!

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-Hayley

Lovely to hear that Figaro is coming on so well. We need some pics though to be sure you are telling the truth though.....

Regarding the biting and scratching - as soon as he does this to you, remove your hand, give a VERY firm (but not a shout or yell) "NO!" and then ignore him for a short time or walk away from him. He will start to realise that when he does this, his playing stops. Eventually, he should stop altogether.

What will also help is that, when you do play rough, you use dangler toys that are on long sticks to protect you.

Now, the cost ofthis advice is piccies so cough up the dosh girlfriend!!!

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Thanks for that I do tell him no but he doesn't usually get the idea. Even if I take a 5 minute break he still just goes straight for my arms The dangler toys don't last 5 minutes haha he mauls them too! Firm favourite is his laser pointer!

Oh and piccies are well on their way!

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-Hayley