feral kitten question

Question
Hello, I have a question about new kitten behavior. I have just recently rescued a very young kitten (named Minou), I would say she is probably about 6 weeks old now. When I first got her, she was maybe 3 weeks old and very thin
and had some very bad looking scratch marks on the back of her neck, like maybe a lager animal had drug her off and away. She was found in a parking lot and
then given to me. It's been a very long time since I have had a kitten, she is doing well and is very healthy now and has lots of energy, which is good. But,she always attacks me. I can play w/her and have her chase her toys and all,
but, when I stop, I immediately get attacked either my hands or my feet. She is aggressive, but on the flip side when I come home from work she runs to the door and is purring tail up in the air, and gives me a sweet meow, but this is
short lived. If I try to pick her up, my hands are bitten. She doesnt like being petted especially on her neck and I figure that is from whatever trauma occurred. Any suggestions on how to tame this young kitten. I can see that
she can be sweet but how do I encourage her sweetness w/out getting bitten and scratched so much? Thank you, Allison

Answer
HI Allison,

Good for you for taking in this poor little kitten. What you describe is actually pretty normal behavior for any kitten, not just a feral kitten. Most kittens are still with their siblings at the age of 6 weeks (kittens are not usually weaned until at least 8 weeks) so most kittens learn boundaries and what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior from their mother and siblings. You will have to teach her this instead!

One option is to adopt a nother kitten the same age, so the youngsters can play together. They will learn from eacother that it hurts when you are bitten etc. If that's not an option you'll have to teach her these boundaries yourself.

When she attacks you, try to de-direct her interest to a stuffed toy by interposing it between you and her. If she does bite or scratch you, hiss at her as if you were another cat and walk away and ignore her for at least 20 minutes. Don't scold her or punish her, just pretend she doesn't exist. She will soon learn that if she hurts you you will not "play" with her any more.

Also make sure you play with her several times a day, with a feather on a wand or a laser pointer or something that gets her really running around and burns off her kitten energy.

It is a good idea to get her used to being picked up. To protect yourself and make her feel more secure, wrap her tightly in a towel or blanket to pick her up. Feed her some little peices of meat by hand while you are holding her wrapped in the towel. You can hold her for increasing lengths of time wrapped in the towel, eventually she will at least accept it if not come to like it.

Normally I would say grab a hold of the scruff of her neck with one hand and put the other hand under her back feet to pick her up, but with her injuries that would be painful and traumatic for her. It may take a few more weeks for the injuries to heal. I hope she has seen a vet to make sure she doesn't have worms, and to have the injuries checked out and her kitten vaccinations.

Good luck!