New Kitten Troubles

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  • 1 October, 2014 at 11:36 pm #819075
    marrk
    Participant

    Hello everyone! So, I just got a new kitten. She’s about 3 months old and absolutely adorable. When we first brought her home about 4 or 5 days ago, we kept her in a separate room with her food and water and litter box so she could get used to us, and I think she has, but now she will not stand to be by herself. She constantly yells at us (I’d say meow but it is closer to a yell with the volume she can get) if she is kept in the separate room now, and bats her paws under the door violently. When one of us lets her out, she won’t leave anyone alone. She’ll jump up and cling on your sweatshirt when you’re standing. When you sit down she climbs all over your chest, head, and shoulders and licks and nips all over your face and hands. When you put her down on the ground she just comes back up to do it again, no matter how many times you put her there. She won’t sit still ever! It was cute at first, but I’m a student and I don’t have time to constantly play with her, only for 20 or 30 minutes when I get home and after I finish my homework. I feel like I’m starting to resent her a little bit. I wish I didn’t but the huge scratches all over my legs and arms don’t help. Is it just because she’s a kitten or is she badly behaved? We got her from a foster family so I understand that she may be a bit lonely, but we can’t get another cat for her to play with. I’d appreciate any responses! Thanks.

    2 October, 2014 at 12:16 am #819084
    Michael
    Participant

    I am no expert on kittens v adults but the younger the cat is, the more active they will be. If they want out of the safe room that usually means they are not so afraid and you should try to give them the run of the house and see how they get on.

    The main questions are what is in the room you confined them to and what times is she most active?

    If she is bored she will manifest this by being very active and jumping around.

    If it tends to be later at night this is extremely normal for kittens. The ‘midnight crazies’ reflect that fact that cats are naturally nocturnal and will tend to want to explore and play at night.

    To be hones, if she wants to interact with you so soon after moving you should be delighted–a hyperactive cat has its own challenges but much easier to bond with than a scaredy cat. Try to give her plenty of climbing spaces, safe toys, and play with her a lot and I bet when she is 14 months old she will calm down and you will miss the old her.

    BTW mine are two and they still run about at night. !!

    2 October, 2014 at 1:00 am #819087
    marrk
    Participant

    Thanks Michael. I think you’re right that it’s best to interact with her as much as possible and let her roam around. We bought her quite a few small toys and a cat tree to climb on, but she’s much more interested in climbing on people! I think she’ll calm down as time goes on though.

    2 October, 2014 at 1:01 am #819088
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    I agree with Michael, you should be glad that she isn’t hiding or hissing and acting afraid. She is a kitten, and she is a baby and will be very active. Wand toys to play with her with and get her jumping, a cat tower for her to climb and a scratching post for her to use her claws and balls for her to chase are effective ways for a kitten to burn off energy. After she eats she will groom and probably sleep for a while. It’s normal for a kitten to be high energy and want to be with you. If she is biting hands and feet, try to divert her to the toys. It just takes patience and time. Once she is used to your routine, she will settle down and sleep at night. She may get up to use the litter box or eat, but will come back and get in bed with you, at least my 4 do! She should be able to have the run of the house now, if you don’t have other pets or another reason to confine her to one area. Cats always want your attention when you are using a computer or trying to concentrate on something else!! Enjoy her! 😉

    2 October, 2014 at 1:13 am #819089
    katzenjammer
    Participant

    Great advice above! Yup when I adopted my first kitty (also first pet) I was crying in frustration at his boundless energy until advised that this is normal and he’d settle down as he grew older. And current kitty, Dorry, was also definitely a handful, at 4 yrs old he is much calmer, but as Michael mentioned often gets a “second wind” at lights out time just when I am headed off to bed. Like KZ I generally find him fast asleep on bed with me if I wake in the night or when am alarm goes off.

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