Newly adopted kitten wants to sleep on his owner’s head

DEAR JOAN >> We recently adopted a pair of adorable 4-month-old male cats that we’ve named Tribble and Trouble.

We’ve only had them for a couple of weeks, but Trouble has caused us some actual trouble. He seems to have an almost uncontrollable desire to climb up and sit on and even cover our faces. He doesn’t use claws and doesn’t bite, but it’s really annoying, especially when we try to sleep at night.

We were told to just gently push him down and say “No, stop,” but that doesn’t work. We got some pills to “quiet him down,” but that just led to him becoming catatonic (sorry), which is not good.

We have water spray bottles, which are effective for the moment, but he just comes back and does it again after a few minutes. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. — Bob Nozik, Lafayette

DEAR BOB >> Believe it or not, but this is common cat behavior, perhaps even more so for kittens. Even though your boys are 4 months old, they still are kittens.

I think Trouble is having some trouble adjusting to his new life. He probably is a great little cuddler, which not only provides him the warmth that cats crave but also emotional support.

The tops of our heads are very warm. He might also be comforted by the warmth and smell of your breath. Some cats seem to prefer the tops of our heads, perhaps because most of us have hair up there and that might make them think about their moms.

Sleeping on or near our heads also provides safe haven when we’re sleeping in the bed together. Our bodies might twist, and our arms and legs flail, but our heads remain fairly still.

Instead of pushing him aside, drugging him or squirting him with water, try redirecting his attention by taking him into your arms and nuzzling him against your chest or under your chin. Talk quietly to him while you cuddle him.

You might be able to eventually convince him to seek comfort in your arms or by your side, rather than your head, but cats that get attached to our pates tend to prefer them. The good news is, he’s not biting or clawing you, which is another indication he’s just looking for some comfort.

DEAR JOAN >> I enjoyed the article about the tame bird in someone’s garage that perched on his finger. I had a wonderful experience some years ago in the Farne Islands in the North Sea, off the coast of England.

We went to the islands to observe the nesting puffins. At the same time, Arctic terns were nesting, and we were warned that they swoop down and peck your head to keep you away from their nests.

One bird came down and instead of pecking, it landed on my head and stayed there. It wasn’t at all aggressive but just walked around on my head. I continued to observe the sights on the island with my new friend. The ranger had never seen anything like that before.

I was destined to be around birds, and have been a volunteer for many years at Lindsay Wildlife Experience. — Gloria Dobkin, Lafayette

DEAR GLORIA >> I imagine this story says a lot about your true nature, unless your shampoo was fish scented. I’m sure the birds at Lindsay appreciate you, as do I for your volunteer work.