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Cat Forum / General Topics / November 2004Aggressive kitten
Our kitten is about 13 weeks old now and he is very aggressive. My wife and I both have lots of scars on our hands where he has attacked them and drawn a fair bit of blood. He has also gone for the children a little bit as well, but they know to keep away at the moment. We give him loads of toys and playthings to use up his aggression, but it doesn't seem to be working at the moment. I've never had a cat in my life, I'm a dog person, so my knowledge is very limited. I also don't know how to tell a cat off either. What's the best way for us to handle this? Thanks in advance Ben  SignatureBadger Badger Badger Hi Ben, >Our kitten is about 13 weeks old now and he is very aggressive. My wife >and I both have lots of scars on our hands where he has attacked them [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >very limited. I also don't know how to tell a cat off either. What's >the best way for us to handle this? In my experience, all kittens are like this. We have two 9 week-olds at the moment, and they're little monsters. Try not to let them get to your hands. I have a toy called a "kitten mitten" which is a glove with long spindly fingers and bells and jangly things on the end. They love it. I don't think it really matters how many toys you give a kitten, they need lots of attention to get them used to dealing with humans. Where did you get the kitten from? Was he handled a lot in his first few weeks? What size litter was he from? How old was he when you got him? Anyway, I think it just takes time and patience. Reward "nice" behaviour with treats rather than telling him off - it will just alienate him. There are some nice Felix cat treats that all our cats love. Good luck and let me know how you get on. PS - aren't you on uk.misc? SignatureKatie Walker > Hi Ben, > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > PS - aren't you on uk.misc? Thanks Fishwife. I am indeed on uk.misc sometimes, although I don't have enough time to read everything on there. We have one of the kitten mitten's, and he loves playing with it, but sometimes it's just not within reach. We can't be sure about his handling early on in his life, we got him fairly early in life from an ad. I believe he was in a litter of two. We have plenty of felix treats for the cat. SignatureBadger Badger Badger >> Hi Ben, >> [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > We have plenty of felix treats for the cat. kill it, cook it, eat it SignatureKnown Pinheads: Archie Leach, Fox Mulder, Ken Pangborn, Earl Something, The space boss, Brandon Hex, Mike SIgman, Richard Bullis, Allan Connor, Joey Bartload, Eddie Wollman, Dan Kettler, Viv Eshwar and Doctor Jai, FArris Jarwad, Twonky and so many others, even you, Ray. >Thanks Fishwife. I am indeed on uk.misc sometimes, although I don't >have enough time to read everything on there. Hmm.. Once you killfile everything that's cross posted, there's usually not a lot left. :o( >We have one of the kitten mitten's, and he loves playing with it, but >sometimes it's just not within reach. >We can't be sure about his handling early on in his life, we got him >fairly early in life from an ad. I believe he was in a litter of two. I did wonder if that was the case. Our two are from a litter to two as well. It's a bit of a long story, but originally we were only going to have one, and then we ended up with two, but we got them both about a week apart. We got Ella first, who we think is the eldest of the two. She fitted in straight away, and was very relaxed around us. We got Louis a week later, and he is (still) very standoffish with us. The two of them play-fight constantly, and it looks really violent, but they tire themselves out and curl up together and go to sleep. He doesn't usually interact with us unless we 'play rough'. However, our older cat was a bit like this, and he's settled down an awful lot now. SignatureKatie Walker > In message <ajzgd.272$oJ3.80@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net>, BC <BC@fake.com> writes > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > However, our older cat was a bit like this, and he's settled down an > awful lot now. Thanks for the help, hopefully he will settle down in the end. Really do think the fact that he came from such a small litter is the problem, must point out though that he is a very loving cat, loves being carried around like a baby and is always cuddled up to someone just does not know how to play without getting evil! Sounds like your one kitten is the complete opposite of ours, and if your older one has settled down there is hope! Not keen on clipping his claws as chris suggested, one as he will be going out after he is done and micro-chipped and i would like him to be able to make full use of tree's and fences and also as this is a play induced problem, when he is being cuddled he always keeps his claws in to touch us even with the kids. We will just keep on telling him no and removing our hands from his claws and putting him in another room each time he does it til he calms down, just hope he gets the idea soon as he is really losing out on play time with us as we keep having to stop so as not to encourage him to be nasty and another kitten is really not an option. gonna be fun at christmas with all the decorations for him to attack, he had a great time yesterday playing with toy spiders and bats and trying to get into pumpkins{which had glowsticks and not candles in!} SignatureBadger Badger Badger Wait til he figures out there's a tree INSIDE to climb... I have one who somehow manages to climb up the tree unseen, without knocking any of the decorations down, and goes to sleep on one of the branches hidden away from everybody! I can understand what you mean about clipping his nails... It took me a long time but when I finally got the courage, it really is no harder than clipping your own nails. I got some great nail clippers from vet and it is a whole lot easier. Going outside might take care of his nails but watch because they can grow real fast and become very uncomfortable to walk on. (By the way, I hope you didn't think I mean to declaw him!!! Never, never, never!!!) >>> Thanks Fishwife. I am indeed on uk.misc sometimes, although I don't have >>> enough time to read everything on there. [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > had a great time yesterday playing with toy spiders and bats and trying to > get into pumpkins{which had glowsticks and not candles in!} Dont worry, i realised you didnt mean declawing, dont agree with it either but thats a completely different subject. Will keep the clipping idea in mind but cant really see me doing it. The cat i had as a child used to walk under the christmas tree taking all the tinsel with him wrapped round his tail much to the annoyance of my mother! At least yours manages it without any destruction, you must have a very agile cat or a big tree! Looked after a frinds rat once that learnt to climb our tree which gave us a few minutes of panic the first time as we couldent find her anywhere. > Wait til he figures out there's a tree INSIDE to climb... I have one who > somehow manages to climb up the tree unseen, without knocking any of the [quoted text clipped - 57 lines] >>had a great time yesterday playing with toy spiders and bats and trying to >>get into pumpkins{which had glowsticks and not candles in!} SignatureBadger Badger Badger | > In message <ajzgd.272$oJ3.80@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net>, BC <BC@fake.com> writes | > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] | -- | Badger Badger Badger I really like the way they climb the tree, get stuck, then try to back down. Hey, it's poky in all directions! But about the rough play: in addition to the other good suggestions, you might also like to scruff him. When he grabs too hard, pinch the nape of his neck beween your thumb and forefinger. Just the skin and not roughly but with firm authority, as though you were asking him, "What do you think you're doing?" Because you really are. He should freeze up if you are firm and authoritative enough. While still holding him, slowly remove the affected hand. Then pet him well afterwards. Mama cats do this to their kittens during cleaning. Kittens are easily bored and prone to wandering away. Mama knows this and will grab a bumptious youngster, who will settle down almost immediately. >I really like the way they climb the tree, get stuck, >then try to back down. Hey, it's poky in all >directions! I remember the first time Macavity climbed one of the trees out the front. He got stuck because he was trying to come down head first. Never did that again! >But about the rough play: in addition to the other good >suggestions, you might also like to scruff him. When Oooh, yes. I've found this works too. >afterwards. Mama cats do this to their kittens during >cleaning. Kittens are easily bored and prone to >wandering away. Mama knows this and will grab a >bumptious youngster, who will settle down almost >immediately. It also helps to reinforce the human-surrogate-mother thing in cats, so they tend to respect you (slightly) more. If this is possible. :o) Signaturewww.katie-walker.co.uk >> I really like the way they climb the tree, get stuck, >> then try to back down. Hey, it's poky in all [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > It also helps to reinforce the human-surrogate-mother thing in cats, so > they tend to respect you (slightly) more. If this is possible. :o) Think i have done that a bit too much, when i went to get the kids from school the other day my mother who was round said that kitty ran to the door as i left, and sat looking up at the door meeowing! Love the idea of a water pistol, How did you manage to not wet the fairy lights?! He is due to be neutered in bout two and a half months so that should chill him out a bit. Hope i am posting these replies properly, its usually my husband who writes on these things but he has made me have a go as the kitten I've been talking bout is technically mine not his! SignatureBadger Badger Badger >> It also helps to reinforce the human-surrogate-mother thing in >>cats, so they tend to respect you (slightly) more. If this is >>possible. :o) >Think i have done that a bit too much, when i went to get the kids from >school the other day my mother who was round said that kitty ran to the >door as i left, and sat looking up at the door meeowing! Aww! Ours squeak a little sometimes when we leave the room - it's nice to know you're missed! >Love the idea of a water pistol, How did you manage to not wet the >fairy lights?! We just had to be careful to scoosh him whenever he looked like he was going to be naughty. Works with anything really - kitchen worktops, scragging things he shouldn't. It's certainly the most effective way of getting a cat to stop doing something you don't want it to!! >He is due to be neutered in bout two and a half months so that should >chill him out a bit. He'll probably feel a little bit sorry for himself for a while, so make sure he gets lots of reassurance. He'll be a bit woozy when he comes back from the vets, and sleep for a couple of days. But it definitely makes them nicer cats (as far as humans are concerned). >Hope i am posting these replies properly, its usually my husband who >writes on these things but he has made me have a go as the kitten I've >been talking bout is technically mine not his! You're doing just fine!! :o) Signaturewww.katie-walker.co.uk > | > In message <ajzgd.272$oJ3.80@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net>, > BC <BC@fake.com> writes [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > bumptious youngster, who will settle down almost > immediately. Ok, my kitten must be totally mad! A friend of mine suggested this and i tried it a couple of times but it makes him worse! He keeps still when you hold him by the scruff but the second you let go he flattens his ears and launches straight at me, which results in more scratches if i'm not quick enough! It's as if he is telling me off for making him calm down. Think i will have too just accept that he has a split personality. Daft thing is he woke me up this morning by licking my face-yuck then went under my duvet and went to sleep next to my feet! Which poses another question, is it possible for a cat to suffocate itself by sleeping under a duvet? SignatureBadger Badger Badger My cats all LOVE to go under the covers, comforters, etc. So when I wake up feeling like a pretzel, I know who to blame!!!! >> | > In message <ajzgd.272$oJ3.80@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net>, >> BC <BC@fake.com> writes [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] > question, is it possible for a cat to suffocate itself by sleeping under a > duvet? >Thanks for the help, hopefully he will settle down in the end. I hope so too. >Really do think the fact that he came from such a small litter is the >problem, must point out though that he is a very loving cat, loves >being carried around like a baby and is always cuddled up to someone >just does not know how to play without getting evil! Aww, well he sounds like a right monster, but it's good news that he likes being carried around/handled. >Sounds like your one kitten is the complete opposite of ours, and if >your older one has settled down there is hope! Absolutely. Our older one is fat and lazy now, and although he has the occasional grump, he's generally a very sweet cat. I think that he probably wouldn't be so affable if we hadn't had him neutered though. Are you going to do the same? >Not keen on clipping his claws as chris suggested, I have to say that I'm dead against it. I've looked at the evidence from both sides, but I wouldn't ever get it done. I know there are people from both sides of the fence here, and I don't want to get into an agrument with anyone, it's just my personal feelings on the subject. *shrug* >one as he will be going out after he is done and micro-chipped Glad you're getting him chipped. We had ours done at the same time as neutering. Some vets will give you a discount if you do it this way, and it's less stressful for the cat. >and i would like him to be able to make full use of tree's and fences >and also as this is a play induced problem, when he is being cuddled he >always keeps his claws in to touch us even with the kids. Although we played rough with our older cat, we also made sure he knew when enough was enough. The only time we tolerate claws now is if he's "kneeding" us, which is quite a compliment from a cat! >We will just keep on telling him no and removing our hands from his >claws and putting him in another room each time he does it til he calms >down, Putting him in another room may help. We did this with our older one to stop him from trying to steal food from our plates. Eventually he learned that if he was really good and patient, we would sometimes put a tiny bit of it in his food bowl (if appropriate). Now, he doesn't even bat an eyelid and we don't have to put it in his bowl. > just hope he gets the idea soon as he is really losing out on play >time with us as we keep having to stop so as not to encourage him to be >nasty and another kitten is really not an option. He'll get there. I've found it's better to do lots of short visits with cats anyway, rather than visiting a few times, but for a long time. (Does that make sense?) It's like a kind of "treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen" type thing - if you go in, play with them for 5-10 minutes then leave, then they will always be pleased to see you. >gonna be fun at christmas with all the decorations for him to attack, >he had a great time yesterday playing with toy spiders and bats and >trying to get into pumpkins{which had glowsticks and not candles in!} I remember our first christmas with Macavity (our eldest). That was fun. It was everything we could do to stop him scaling the tree! Get a water pistol. It's the most humane way I've found of stopping them from being naughty!! Please keep me posted anyway... Signaturewww.katie-walker.co.uk > Our kitten is about 13 weeks old now and he is very aggressive. My wife > and I both have lots of scars on our hands where he has attacked them [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > very limited. I also don't know how to tell a cat off either. What's the > best way for us to handle this? Best to handle him a lot with slow strokes and calming noises. He is probably still in kitten 'play' mode and just needs calming down and a lot of handling. SignatureI.P.Freely > very limited. I also don't know how to tell a cat off either. What's the > best way for us to handle this? When the kitten hurts you, say OUCH out loud and slowly move away your hand. Cats can be trained, but it takes a lot of consistency. You have to repeat over and over, until the kitten learns that it hurts. Another option would be to get the kitten another kitten to play with. A cat is the best toy for another cat. SignatureVictor Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com Have your trimmed his nails? No matter how many scratching posts, etc. he has his nails will still grow and he may be scratching unintentionally because his nails are too long. Its not that hard to do with a special cat nail clipper but you might want the vet or the vet tech to show you how to do it.... > Our kitten is about 13 weeks old now and he is very aggressive. My wife > and I both have lots of scars on our hands where he has attacked them and [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Ben > Our kitten is about 13 weeks old now and he is very > aggressive. My wife and I both have lots of scars on > our hands where he has attacked them and drawn a > fair bit of blood. He has also gone for the children a > little bit as well, but they know to keep away at the > moment. Kittens play rough, and it's getting 'stung' by a sibling that teaches a kitten to temper the aggression out playing. We give > him loads of toys and playthings to use up his aggression, > but it doesn't seem to be working at the moment. Catnip mice and scratching posts don't bite or claw *back*... and that's the problem. The post in this thread by Victor Martinez is the (in my opinion) best way to handle this. SignatureHilly. |
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