Kitten is obsessed with chewing on us - OUCH!

Question
We have been having a problem with Mocha, our siamese kitten (petshop bought). First let me say I don't believe this is a problem of the breed, because I have had TONS of siamese over the yrs and have never had this problem. He will pounce and use his paws (with claws!) to grab your hand or arm and pull it toward him and then proceed to chew OBSESSIVELY on your hand, thumb, etc.  If you try to ignore it and allow him, then he will continue to chew, almost also in a suckling manner, and purr, until you force him away.  Then, he forcefully jumps back on you, again grabbing you with his paws, and repeats the behavior.  A few times I got agitated and knocked him off of me rather forcefully but he just comes back for more, like he is physically craving my skin.  It almost makes me think of a male holding down a female with his teeth to mate her, but he is only around 3 months old or so.  If I thought it would help to go ahead and get him fixed, I would, but he seems young to be showing that kind or behavior yet.  I will keep pushing/knocking him down until I'm so irritated I just lock him in the bathroom, but as soon as we let him out it's just more of the same and we are on the verge of getting rid of him.  He is a full-blooded siamese that we paid $200 in for and I would like to make this work but he is making me hate him with his extreme behavior.  Should we take him to the vet? Get him fixed?  Please advise.  Thank you!!


Answer
Hi Jennifer.  Some of this could be teething-related.  He's growing in some adult teeth now, and kittens can be bitey during this time.  If you can try diverting his attention to a toy to chew when he bites, it might help.  A rabbit-fur mouse is a favorite.  I get raw hide chews for small puppies for my kittens when they're this age.  They will use them for teething once in a while.

It sounds like he might have been separated from his litter and mother too young, though, and the problem you're having is play aggression.  Between 8 and 12 weeks, kittens learn what kind of play is appropriate.  They learn that biting and scratching hurt, and that their playmates disappear when they're too rough.  A kitten taken away from his litter before this lesson is learned is often a problem biter later in life.

Siamese are smart and are so attention-driven that I think you may be able to discourage this behavior by giving him time outs.  You say you lock him in the bathroom when you become fed up, but when you let him out, he's back at it.  I would recommend trying this method more consistently.  Every time he bites, put him in the bathroom, and leave him there for 15-30 minutes.  If he comes out and bites again, he goes back in the bathroom.  I've used this method successfully for years, after it was suggested to me by an animal behaviorist who I brought a biting Siamese to.  He used to draw blood.  But after a couple of weeks of consistent time outs like this, he was biting less, and soon, he didn't bite at all.

He's still at an impressionable age, and if your household would permit it, I'd consider getting a second kitten.  He can still benefit from learning how to interact with other cats, and I think you might be pleasantly surprised with how his behavior changes if he gets bitten by another kitten a couple of times when they wrestle.  

Remember never to use your hands as play things - always use a feather or a ribbon or something between you and the kitten as a toy when you play.  That way, he doesn't confuse your hand for something appropriate to bite on.

I doubt this is anything sexual at all, but Siamese do mature earlier than other breeds, sometimes by the age of four months.  So it will not hurt to have him neutered in about a month.