Not Sure What To Do With My Kitten

Hello,

I feel awful about this. I'm sure I will carry on because I am not the sort of person to give up on a pet but I am really struggling and I don't know what to do.

I got a little kitten on Monday, to join my older two cats (one is 1 year old and the other is 11 years). I posted another thread about the other cats not exactly taking to him, but this really is the least of my problems. I don't feel like I can talk to anyone about this because my parents were so kind to let us get him.

Last year, the cat I got when I was five was run down in a freak accident outside our house. It has never ever happened here but she was in the wrong place at the wrong time and she sadly didn't make it. Months later, knowing this was a freak accident, I really needed a companion in my life so I got a kitten, who is now 1 year old. He and I are really close. I literally cannot imagine life without him and he has made everything so much better. I will be leaving for uni soon and he doesn't have any friends even though he always wants to play, so I decided to get a kitten to be friends with him when I'm not here.

My parents have had cats throughout their lives and we have had several cats since I was a baby, and although every single one was different, as cats are, they were all fairly calm. My parents said we could get the kitten and now I don't want to let them down by telling them, because they haven't really spent much time with him - he is a bit of a nightmare.

Don't get me wrong. He is gorgeous and sweet and cuddly and so full of this little kitten energy and I do love him, but he is also a little terror.
I am covered in cuts and scratches and bites. I know he is young but no kitten has ever behaved this badly with us before and I don't know what to do. My cat did bite and run around and everything when he was younger, all the normal things, but this new kitten will fly at us from any direction, dig his claws into whatever flesh he can find and scrape his way up, climbing us, everything. There is blood all down my leg, bleeding scratches all over my hands and face and a horrible stinging cut on the inside of my lip which only recently stopped bleeding. He frequently grabs my arm or face, obviously he's not at all strong so I can get him away if I need to but sometimes I don't see it coming or I'm not quick enough, and then bites me hard on my arm or nose or lip. He has ripped up the bottom of the sofa, which is ridiculous because it is brand new, and also it seems the other cats just don't like him.

I appreciate this might be normal kitten behaviour? But I did not expect it at all. I know I should have anticipated any little personality but if I had known it was going to be like this I would have kept things as they were. I'm not saying I could happily move him on now - I will always stand by my pets and I know I have committed to him now - but I'm saying that if I had seen what he was like then I maybe would not have chosen to get him.
I just feel I am not in the right place to deal with his energy properly, because at this point it's annoying rather than endearing, and it shouldn't be? I no longer look forward to seeing him because I know I'm going to be bitten and cut and my things ripped up - two days worth of school notes gone because he was in my room with me whilst I was trying to study them. I am trying to do exams at the moment, and I did take this into consideration before choosing to get him. In fact, I nearly chose not to get him because of my exams, but since I got my other cat last year during exam season, and it was fine and lovely and perfect (literally no problem at all, he was such a chilled out little kitten!!), I thought it would be okay.

The thing is, it just isn't working out. His arrival has changed everything, but not for the better like I imagined it would? I know you can never tell and plan for things like this but I so thought it was the right decision for my other two cats. I was wrong. But I feel so stuck now.

I don't really consider moving him on as an option because I promised myself I would never be like that but I'd be lying if I said it hasn't crossed my mind at all. My sister has a six-month-old kitten and is settled with her partner in a new house and has all the time for all the craziness so yes, honestly, I have thought about it. But I really don't want to do that and I don't think I would ever make that decision.

I would just like some support, advice and suggestions please because I'm going to go mad with it soon enough!!

Thank you

Your kitten sounds absolutely normal but kittens do take a lot of work and some can definitely do some damage. And it can take a great deal of energy and attention to deal with their antics. So I certainly understand where you might realize that raising one just doesn’t fit into your life right now. There is nothing wrong with recognizing that and putting your efforts into finding him a new home or returning him to where you adopted him. It is much better to do it now while he is an adaptable (and I am sure adorable) kitten rather than waiting until he is grown and attached to you.

I wonder if he was not with his mother and siblings long enough to become less aggressive but that is water under the bridge now and won't help you. I agree that he sounds like a very normal kitten and one that needs to be worked with. If you need to rehome him, now is the time. Jamie was a biter, scratcher, shredder, ripper but has grown out of most of it, but it took longer than you probably have with leaving for school.

That is a real dilemma! Your kitten obviously needs social discipline in an encouraging manner and that is best delivered by other cats or kittens. You can try hissing and giving loud screeches when he is doing something wrong. Also, make your body, including hands and feet, off-limits for play. Use feather teasers; my favorite is to use an old fishing pole with a teaser attached so that the circle of play is significantly expanded - this allows your kitten to do across-the-room sprints and fantastic leaps into the air. Laser toys are good, too, but be sure to give a "cool down" time of teaser play after the lazer - you don't want him to go to bed overstimulated. The sequence is play (simulated hunting); eat; sleep. Try to get him tired out.
Also, try to ensure mental stimulation during his day -: a perch looking out a window is good.
Please keep us updated!

Mine was the same - I had deep cuts all over my arms and legs. Make sure to use a good cream as my scars are still faint yet visible.

The good news - they change. Mine started attacking us (I was very scared at times) when she was around 4 months old. I even once or twice had to resort to spraying water on her because it was so scary and she would not stop. By the time she was spayed and around 8 months she completely stopped and even became very affectionate. She is now the most wonderful 2 year old I have seen. She doesn't bite or scratch unless a pesky child decides to pull her tail!

We kept our hands away, played with feathers and not with hands. When she became rough I made a point of 'LOUD CRYING IN PAIN' noise so she knew she had stepped a paw too far. If she continued I would remove her from my room and shut the door on her. Once she calmed down I would let her back in.

Good luck

I agree he was probably separated too early to learn not to bite/scratch too painful from his siblings, and he’s probably at the age when they play with the other kittens rigorously. I see no reason why not rehoming him to your sister, he would greatly benefit from the company of another kitten. I don’t see why you should feel bad about this, it seems like a perfect solution since you feel you’re not in the place to deal with an energetic kitten.

hectorvector said:

Hello,

I feel awful about this. I'm sure I will carry on because I am not the sort of person to give up on a pet but I am really struggling and I don't know what to do.

I got a little kitten on Monday, to join my older two cats (one is 1 year old and the other is 11 years). I posted another thread about the other cats not exactly taking to him, but this really is the least of my problems. I don't feel like I can talk to anyone about this because my parents were so kind to let us get him.

Last year, the cat I got when I was five was run down in a freak accident outside our house. It has never ever happened here but she was in the wrong place at the wrong time and she sadly didn't make it. Months later, knowing this was a freak accident, I really needed a companion in my life so I got a kitten, who is now 1 year old. He and I are really close. I literally cannot imagine life without him and he has made everything so much better. I will be leaving for uni soon and he doesn't have any friends even though he always wants to play, so I decided to get a kitten to be friends with him when I'm not here.

My parents have had cats throughout their lives and we have had several cats since I was a baby, and although every single one was different, as cats are, they were all fairly calm. My parents said we could get the kitten and now I don't want to let them down by telling them, because they haven't really spent much time with him - he is a bit of a nightmare.

Don't get me wrong. He is gorgeous and sweet and cuddly and so full of this little kitten energy and I do love him, but he is also a little terror.
I am covered in cuts and scratches and bites. I know he is young but no kitten has ever behaved this badly with us before and I don't know what to do. My cat did bite and run around and everything when he was younger, all the normal things, but this new kitten will fly at us from any direction, dig his claws into whatever flesh he can find and scrape his way up, climbing us, everything. There is blood all down my leg, bleeding scratches all over my hands and face and a horrible stinging cut on the inside of my lip which only recently stopped bleeding. He frequently grabs my arm or face, obviously he's not at all strong so I can get him away if I need to but sometimes I don't see it coming or I'm not quick enough, and then bites me hard on my arm or nose or lip. He has ripped up the bottom of the sofa, which is ridiculous because it is brand new, and also it seems the other cats just don't like him.

I appreciate this might be normal kitten behaviour? But I did not expect it at all. I know I should have anticipated any little personality but if I had known it was going to be like this I would have kept things as they were. I'm not saying I could happily move him on now - I will always stand by my pets and I know I have committed to him now - but I'm saying that if I had seen what he was like then I maybe would not have chosen to get him.
I just feel I am not in the right place to deal with his energy properly, because at this point it's annoying rather than endearing, and it shouldn't be? I no longer look forward to seeing him because I know I'm going to be bitten and cut and my things ripped up - two days worth of school notes gone because he was in my room with me whilst I was trying to study them. I am trying to do exams at the moment, and I did take this into consideration before choosing to get him. In fact, I nearly chose not to get him because of my exams, but since I got my other cat last year during exam season, and it was fine and lovely and perfect (literally no problem at all, he was such a chilled out little kitten!!), I thought it would be okay.

The thing is, it just isn't working out. His arrival has changed everything, but not for the better like I imagined it would? I know you can never tell and plan for things like this but I so thought it was the right decision for my other two cats. I was wrong. But I feel so stuck now.

I don't really consider moving him on as an option because I promised myself I would never be like that but I'd be lying if I said it hasn't crossed my mind at all. My sister has a six-month-old kitten and is settled with her partner in a new house and has all the time for all the craziness so yes, honestly, I have thought about it. But I really don't want to do that and I don't think I would ever make that decision.

I would just like some support, advice and suggestions please because I'm going to go mad with it soon enough!!

Thank you

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As far as the clawing / scratching, take the kitty to the pet store - one that does grooming - and have the associate in the grooming area apply "Kitty Caps" on the claws. These are silicone claw covers that will allow kitty to still do all the scratching activities, but without the damage.
When kitty bites, don't jerk your hand out of kitty's mouth, just sit still. Kitty is playing. If you sit still, kitty will get bored. If kitty persists with biting, push into kitty's mouth.
Try getting one of those toys that come on a string attached to a pole. Tire kitty out. Kitty probably has loads of energy. Kitty needs lots of diversion.
Above all else, don't give up on kitty. It's not even been a week. Kitty's probably a little overwhelmed and therefore may be acting out a bit. Give it at least three months.

And as for your school notes, consider keeping a copy on an electronic device. Kitty can't shred that.