new kitten issues

Question
2 weeks ago I found two kittens by my back door.  One ran off and the other one just lay there.  Believing they were strays and not wanting it to get run over I took him inside.  The next day my neighbor said a stray had kittens on her back porch 6-8 weeks earlier.  I decided to keep the kitten and named him Pepper.

At first he was just going wherever, and then he started using the small rug in front of the kitchen sink until I removed it because he had ruined it.  Now he goes on the rug  in front of the bathroom sink.  His litter box is beneath the sink.  I'm using the bottom half of a shoe box so I know he can get in it but he refuses.

I placed him in the litter box and moved his front paws around in a scratching motioning, hoping that this would help him to understand.

He's energetic and playful but insists on attacking my hands and feet.  I'll try to pull my hand or foot away but this only makes him bite and claw harder.  If I relax he'll eventually stop and start licking me and then I can pull away easily without being scratched (which the back of my hand already is).  If I can find his squeaky mouse I can distract him, but sometimes that is literally easier said than done.

Also, not sure if this is something to worry about but I've never seen a kitten do this.  If he falls asleep on my shoulder while I'm laying down he'll nudge at my neck as if he's looking for his mother's nipple.

I know this is natural to them and how they learn to hunt and fight.

Answer
Susan,

Your kitten's behavior is typical for a kitten that was weaned too early. When a kitten is weaned too early it doesn't get a chance to learn about acceptable (and non-acceptable ) behaviors from it's mom and littermates. A mother cat will correct a kitten if it uses sharp claws or bites too hard. When kittens play together, they learn that biting or clawing a sibling results in being grabbed and bitten in return. A kitten that didn't get that learning opportunity doesn't know how to act or react properly.

Don't ever play with your kitten with your hands, or 'roughhouse'  with him, use an interactive toy to play instead. Only use your hands to pet. Use a fishing pole type toy, a pet laser light (that shines a little 'red bug' on the floor and walls that cats love to try to catch (you can get them at PetSmart/Petco/etc.), a rope or shoestring to pull, or a stuffed mouse to throw.

The kitten is probably missing his littermates to play with and is playing with you like he would another kitten. My personal opinion is that you should have 2 kittens instead of one. A kitten should have a friend for comfort, company, and play. It can solve some of the kitten's behavior problems by satisfying his need for roughhousing  and playing kitty games. It would give him someone to keep him company, to learn about life with, and to comfort him when he is alone or frightened. And a kitten that was weaned too early can benefit from a warm body to snuggle with. And it takes the pressure off of you to be company for him. I would try to find another kitten his age, or ideally, one of his other littermates.

Pepper is nuzzling you because he is looking for that warmth and comfort that mom (or another kitten) normally would provide. Try making him a little box with some velour, velvet, or similar very soft material that he can knead and snuggle into. Maybe get him a soft stuffed 'mamacat' toy he can also snuggle with.

Biting is frequently due to teething which happens from 3 weeks to 8 months old. Give him a raw beef rib bone periodically as a treat to chew on. Go to the supermarket and have the butcher cut some beef ribs in half. Though some cats don't care for meat, most cats enjoy them. It satisfies the hunting and 'fresh kill' instinct that is inherited in some cats. Especially if they are indoor cats and can't go outside to satisfy the urge to hunt. Plus the fibers in the meat cleans their teeth. Thick plastic straws are good for them to bite on too.

Being weaned too early also affects using the litterbox to a certain extent. A mothercat teaches babies where to eliminate and they follow her example. If the kitten didn't get to have the Litterbox 101 lesson, then he will usually go in inappropriate places because he does't know any better.

You need a litterbox that is NOT a shoebox lid. That is too small. A cat needs to dig and have room to move around where they won't get their paws 'dirty'. That is probably one reason he is going on the rug instead of the in the shoebox lid. You can also try sand/dirt at first because a kitten that has been outside will recognize sand/dirt but not litter. You can gradually keep adding litter to the dirt/sand until it's all litter and the kitten is used to it. Start with putting the litterbox on the rug that he is going on.

Cats are basically clean animals so using the litterbox should not a problem unless there is something they don't like about it. Location is important. After you establish that he is to use the litterbox instead of the rug, move the litterbox from under the sink to a different location that is more out of the way and a little more private. But don't move it too far yet because he is still young and he won't travel to find it. Preferably have 2 litterboxes, maybe one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom.

I hope this helps. Pepper is a lucky kitty to have you care for him.

Tabbi