How do I stop......

[~Chick79~]

How do I stop my DS1 who is 2 from pulling our 9week old kittens tail??

We brought her home last Thursday and for the first day or two he was a bit weary of her but since then he has taken to pulling her tail!

Now we have been doing the play gently and showing him how to pat her etc which he will then do but then as if flicking on a light switch he turns around pulls her tail!

I am just at my wits end on how to get through to him that it hurts her.....

Can anyone help???

[*Bec&Bel*]

Well when we got our kitten whos is now 12 weeks old, dd is almost 2, she was a bit rough at first but we just showed her gentle and showed her that when she was rough is hurts the cat, she has now learnt to be gentle, she still sometimes gets a bit rough but we just let her know whats shes doing and then she stops, It will take some time as it's a new pet in the house and Your DS probly just loves the kitten to bits and just wants to play. Ahh pets and kids.....
Anyway good luck with it all

[~Chick79~]

Yeah we have tried that.... and while he will be gentle for a little while, 5minutes later he can be back chasing after her and pulling her tail!

This morning I found him pulling her up by her ear!

Poor kitty..... And yes I took her away from him!

[Harlequin]

Ack. I'm not sure chick79. There might be a cat forum you can ask on to get some good advice on the issue.
Hope you get it sorted though, kitten scratches/bites are quite painful at times!

[~Chick79~]

I am thinking that she may need to scratch him in order for him to learn... problem is she won't!

[Harlequin]

Yeah I think kittens tend to bite more than scratch. He'd probably have to sit on her in order to have her really scratch him.

Does he understand that she might bite him if he does it? Or is he too young to understand that?

[~Chick79~]

He has just turned 2.... While I would like to think he may be a bit to young to understand, a) he isn't dumb and b) he knows about playing gently as he does this with his baby brother.....

[Harlequin]

The little tail is probably just too tempting

Id just try reinforcing the gentle playing thing and hopefully it will stick before the cat gets big claws!

[lovingmotheract]

i have to say that your cat will know to run away i know my cat has when dd is coming