I have been waking up the past few nights to my 11 week old kitten pouncing at my face. I hear 'HSSSS' scratch within the same second. Then she purrs and tries to be affectionate and doesn't let me fall back asleep cause she will keep meowing and rubbing her head on my face and rubbing all over my body. Is this a usual thing? What is she trying to tell me?

what a stinker!

Diesel doesn't jump on our faces but he does come up about 4:30am every day and start purring, rubbing and licking until I start scratching and loving on him. Once he's had his fill off he goes to do "dude cat" things.

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Dallas, TX USA
Diesel - snow Bengal born 09/01/2013 adopted Feb 2014
Tuck, Chloe, Buddy, Lewis & Tia - rescue kitties
Clyde, Bleu & Coal - Great Danes

Well, your kitty is a teeny one -- not far removed from her mother and siblings. I think she's trying to tell you "time to get up and play with me" and "I love you." What you need to do is play with her and completely exhaust her and she may sleep through the night. Bengals are like two-year old children. She sounds soooo sweet. My 7-year old Bengal sleeps through the night most nights.

I agree with Sherry. Our two 12 week olds slept through the night from when they arrived. But we would get them up (if they were sleeping) at least an hour before our bedtime. And have a really good running, jumping, hunting game (often Da Bird wand). Then give me some supper. Thatay they were tired and full, and slept through. This is such a normal cycle for cats, too, they seem to slip right into it. Kill, eat, sleep.

Yea, this is actually kind of a tough thing. You don't want to risk losing an eye or suffer serious injury, but on the other hand it sounds like you'd like to have the cat's company (eventually), and like the fact that the kitten is bonding nicely and affectionate etc.

I don't know what to suggest.

Just as an anecdote though, all three of mine have slept with me since they were pretty young. Neytiri was always just cuddly and great, never caused the slightest problem. The bengals though would sleep nicely for awhile, then wake up, scramble under the blankets and attack my feet. Many mornings (or in the middle of the night) I would be jolted awake up from a searing pain in the feet from a bengal attack. They never messed with my face though fortunately, so I tolerated it until they grew out of it. Various puncture marks on my feet for the first 3 or 4 months though

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The little monsters 3

Well yea she is a sweety! I have noticed she isn't doing it when I wake up around 6 but only if I sleep in! We are expecting to get the next kitten tomorrow (The boy) so I can't wait to see how this works at night

Our guy doesn't bother my husband AT ALL during the night. But I can expect to have him pawing at the covers near my face, to pull them down so he can lick my nose or chin. The tough part is to stay awake long enough to pet and snuggle him before I fall back asleep and he's back at me again if he didn't get enough loving' This is anywhere from 2-4am! As soon as daylight hits though, he jumps up onto the bed on the window sill and watches for birds and squirrels.

Something that worked for me:

When I first brought Lily home she didn't understand what "bed time" was. There was lots of play time and not enough sleep time. Eventually after enough play sessions and feedings at night she got the hint that it was time to settle down. Some time after that she started to migrate to my bed where it was warm (I was sleeping in it). She tried sleeping on my arms, my chest, my face.... and I was very firm and insistent that kitties only sleep between my legs. When she would try to sleep anywhere but in between my legs she got moved and juggled around unceremoniously until she finally figured it out.

I wouldn't incentivize the attacks by playing with her and giving her what she wants when she does it. The play time and feeding treats RIGHT before bed seems like a good first step. Whatever you decide to do, be systematic and create a routine.