kitten keeps attacking my ankles and the couch

Pip is 6 months old and has decided my ankles are the main event. I work from home, so we are together all day. He attacks the couch cushions when I am not looking too. I have tried the little wand toys, but he gets bored after five minutes. What is the correct way to redirect this predatory drive without just shouting at him?

First, please note that 'shouting' is not a training method, it is a stressor. The behavior you describe is normal predatory sequence initiation. You are likely missing the 'chase' phase in your play sessions. I would recommend reading this older thread about the biological basis of ankle hunting to understand why he targets you specifically. He is not being mean; he is practicing a survival skill. To redirect, you must simulate the full sequence: stalk, pounce, chase, kill, eat.

I agree with @kater36. My Bob was like this when he came home. I found that using a battery-operated mouse that moves on its own helps a lot because you can keep it moving even if you are tired. I posted some of the ones I use in my list of high-stimulation toys. Also, make sure you are playing with him for at least 20 minutes twice a day. If he is still attacking the couch, it might be because he has not burned off his energy. See this thread on daily exercise requirements for more on timing.

You are all missing the furniture aspect. If he is attacking the couch, you need to make the couch unappealing. I use a double-sided tape that cats hate. It is messy but it works. I have a similar issue with my Charlie, although he is older. Check out my thread on protecting upholstery for the specific brands I use. Also, if he ignores the toys, you might need to make them more interesting by dragging them along the floor to mimic prey. I wrote about this in how to make toys more appealing.

Thanks for the tips. I will try the battery mouse and the double-sided tape. I was worried the tape would stick to his fur, but I guess I can monitor that. Is it too late to start this routine? He is already 6 months old. I feel like the window might be closing.