Aggresive Kitten After Boarding

Urgent advice needed.

Sent my 4-5 months old kitten for boarding as we were away for 10 days. Just picked her up today.

She's just running around amok and jumping on top of couches, biting my sister ankles for no reason, scratched up my dad foot. She used to be a sweet little girl who was chill but playful. She didn't use her claws on her.

Back then when she nip our ankle, we tell her no and she would back off. She would roll on her back and go under the couch to sleep but now she's just running around the couch top and refuse to be pat.

Today she's just aggresive and angry. She's eating and using the litter, taking treats but tries to bite and threaten to scratch if you want to touch her.

During her stay, I got nothing but good report on her eating and watching other cats play outside etc. She was described as a sweetheart and easy going kitten.

She never mixed with other cats there and she had her check up at the vet two weeks ago with a clean bill of health.

What's going on?

Hi. Are you sure she wasn't exposed to other cats while she was boarded? I would be willing to bet that she was. If the boarding place you used was like most, she likely had little human exposure, and spent most of her time with other cats.

I would take a few steps toward re-introducing her to your house/home, and see if that - and time - doesn't help to return her to her 'old' state.

See if there are any ideas/tips that you might want to try from these TCS articles.

9 Tips That Will Help Your Kitten Adapt To A New Apartment

How To Help A New Cat Adjust To Your Home

She was in her own little cattery with a glass separator watching two other kittens next door playing with each other. She was played with but I'm not sure how much time spent on her

How long does it usually take for a cat to adjust back to her old self?

FeebysOwner said:

Hi. Are you sure she wasn't exposed to other cats while she was boarded? I would be willing to bet that she was. If the boarding place you used was like most, she likely had little human exposure, and spent most of her time with other cats.

I would take a few steps toward re-introducing her to your house/home, and see if that - and time - doesn't help to return her to her 'old' state.

See if there are any ideas/tips that you might want to try from these TCS articles.

9 Tips That Will Help Your Kitten Adapt To A New Apartment

How To Help A New Cat Adjust To Your Home

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That can vary by cat, but she is pretty young and therefore more adaptable to changes than older cats, so I would give it at least a few days to start seeing some positive changes.

And, since she was mostly cooped up during that time, that might be part of her problem - unused energy and boredom. So, trying to use toys that don't involve your hands right now and playing with her might help some.

But, in the meantime, I would still institute a consistent discipline plan to deal with unwanted nipping. Either hiss, say a firm 'no', or 'ow' to make sure you can stop the nipping just as you did before.

I hope things will improve tomorrow. Kinda alarming and made me double check if I got the right kitten back. It's been 7 hours and she's still sulky and aggresive. The only time she's affectionate and rubs herself against my legs is when she just woke up from her naps. That reminded me a bit of her old self and there's hope.

FeebysOwner said:

That can vary by cat, but she is pretty young and therefore more adaptable to changes than older cats, so I would give it at least a few days to start seeing some positive changes.

And, since she was mostly cooped up during that time, that might be part of her problem - unused energy and boredom. So, trying to use toys that don't involve your hands right now and playing with her might help some.

But, in the meantime, I would still institute a consistent discipline plan to deal with unwanted nipping. Either hiss, say a firm 'no', or 'ow' to make sure you can stop the nipping just as you did before.

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One second she's chilling, next a sudden burst of energy.. Running around toppling stuff.. Oh my.. Her old self used to run around as well but in a sweeter manner.. Tonight it just seems like she doesn't care about anything

You just got her back today, right? Give it some more time...

There are probably a few things going on. She's happy to be home and is overstimulated by the happiness. Let her run herself out and have toys if she comes looking to play. She was cooped up and could see other kitties playing and probably wanted to play with them, so she is also filled with frustration.

When my Yoshi is very happy he will sometimes forget himself and love bite too hard. Hopefully your baby will remember her manners when she relaxes.

She's also getting to the age when some kitties go through a play more/cuddle less phase. Almost teenager.

She's likely just super excited after having been in unfamiliar territory for a week and a half, and pent up with energy. Give her a few days (or even less!) -- plus, she's a wild kitten, lol.

You need to understand that while she was at the boarder's she thought that was going to be the rest of her life. She thought she would never see her family again, or her house or have anyone to play with again EVER! She was desperate for love, affection and hope. She got affection from the people there, but no hope. Hope is the belief that she would return home. She will calm down in time. This is her frantic expression of love, frustration, and the fear she felt.

The good thing is now there is the memory in her mind that she goes to the boarder's and returns home. Now she will have hope in the future if she goes again.

Thanks everyone.

Update - the next day she became a little calmer and by the following day she was herself again. Now she's just sleeping around the house, chase some toys, rub around when she has a burst of energy and purring in affection when being rubbed.

All in all, her old self and a kitten behaviour instead of an angry animal.

Good news! And, thanks for letting us know! Where is a pic of that little girl, and did you tell us her name and I missed it?

FeebysOwner said:

Good news! And, thanks for letting us know! Where is a pic of that little girl, and did you tell us her name and I missed it?

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Just done her petting session, now she snuggle to sleep beside me. Not much of a snuggle on human kitten, prefer her own space.

This is Biby.

Thanks! Biby is adorable - even if she has a bit of an 'independent' streak to her.

At least she likes taking her naps right beside you. Some of the members here would give anything for that, so they wouldn't have to have their kitties on top of them all the time!

FeebysOwner said:

Thanks! Biby is adorable - even if she has a bit of an 'independent' streak to her.

At least she likes taking her naps right beside you. Some of the members here would give anything for that, so they wouldn't have to have their kitties on top of the all the time!

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That's true. She stepped on me before and this kitty packed on some weight. She will rest next to my leg and lean against it