Declawing makes the biting much worse, in my experience.

If you give food that has lots of food coloring and preservatives, that can cause some cats to be hyper and wild. I've had two orange cats and one calico that had that reaction, and they calmed down so much when we gave them better food.

Best of luck.

The best thing you could have done for your little girl (and for the rest of your family) would have been to keep her brother, as well. Kittens do much better in pairs, unless you have another young feline in the household who can keep up with the kitten's need to roughhouse. So my suggestion to you is to adopt another playful kitten or very young adult cat who can engage with your little girl and wear her out in appropriate feline fashion. Without that sort of interaction, you're going to have a frustrated kitten on your hands who will continue to substitute you for the feline playmate she really needs.

Laurie

Sounds like your little kitty girl does not know how to be gentle/careful with the biting and scratching. She never had anyone show/teach her what is permissable since she was a stray. Rewards can work with some cats when they are doing the behavior you accept. They are intelligent but not easily worked with like dogs. Patience, patience and teaching her what is acceptable hopefully will work.

Jan

I had a crazy kitten too ... you just need to keep up on the gentle corrections. My crazy kitten turned out to be a huge loving mushy lap cat.

Some cats get easily overstimulated. I had one like that. Usually you can see that crazed look coming and when you do set her down quickly or give her an actual time out - BEFORE she starts up with biting and clawing. Eventually they learn what's acceptable. In the case of my Basil he learned eventually just to remove himself if he got overstimulated.

My new kitten was like that as well. All teeth and claws and ankle biting. About a month after I got him, a little stray kitten showed up that I took in as well. I was sore afraid he would roughhouse her so badly she'd be hurt, but she dished it right back and within days, they were a playful pair and the aggression stopped completely. He just needed to do what all kittens do....and best they do it with other kittens. It's part of the learning process.

I so wish I could have taken in her brother but at this time, it's financially impossible as much as I hate to say it.....Boy, if I had the means, I'd have a shelter for all these homeless fur babies.....
But, I have started, when I'm holding her or petting her, I make sure I call her good little girl, or good baby and put her down before she gets antsy and then give her a treat, which she loves....I'm hoping she will associate the "good" with the treat....And I've also noticed, if she starts to bite, now if I say, "no bite", she'll stop and then of course, It's a pat and good kitty.....One way or another, we'll do this, lol.....But, I'm happy to say, no new scratches or bites in the last 2 days, lol......