My kitten growls and hisses when he has a particularly tasty meal. He's an only cat and his growling is directed at me if I come too close! He also growls and hisses if he has one toy and happens to be near another toy, or if another toy is offered to him? He's my first kitten (well he's 6 months old) and I can't find help on this behaviour directed toward the owner, only to other cats.

Also, for those with indoor cats, how long did it take for your cats to grow out of racing out of open doors? He has a harness and leash but I've decided against letting him out alone as there are far too many idiots around me that have abused other cats.

Other than the above he's a really lovely kitten and I'm currently trying to toilet train him with a litter kwitter. Oh and for those dreading the upcoming summer with indoor cats, I picked up some Flat Cats today and they're bloody brilliant, so make sure you don't boil to death and order yourself some! I even got one custom made to cover the patio door.

Hi welcome to the forum.Has he always displayed this type of behaviour or is it something which has developed recently.Has he been neutered,if not he is at the age where it needs to be done to stop him wanting to spray,go wandering ,looking for females and can cause aggression in some.This may also be behind his desire to rush out the door.

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Hi, he was neutered (and chipped, just in case) back in January so he shouldn't have the urge to find a mate or claim a territory! He's more or less shown this behaviour since he settled in with us.

Was he from a large litter? He may have had to fight for his share of the food and hasn't learnt that it's all his now. I have had kittens that do this towards their litter mates but always try to intervene so that they do not leave me with the same bad manners. Growling over tasty food is quite common. I would just leave him to eat his meal alone and quietly so that he isn't worrying that someone is going to take it away.
Taking him outside on a harness is a good idea. If you can a cat run in the garden would be better. As for making a dash for the open door I think he should grow out of it but perhaps not for quite some time. Some cats just see an open door as an opportunity to be nosey - it doesn't matter where the door leads to.
My own cat now knows the command 'stay' when I open a door, though I wouldn't risk leaving it open for longer than a few moments.

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How we behave toward cats here below determines our status in heaven. - Robert A. Heinlein
http://www.lambchopsiamese.webs.com

Actually no, he was from a mere litter of three (him being the middle child) but did display some aggressive behaviour to his siblings and mum when being fed as a young kit too. I suppose it's just his personality! I'm hoping he will grow out of it, if we give him a bit of chicken to munch on he does get very possessive of it even if we aren't even paying attention to him and just happen to be walking past or standing near to him.

I'm glad to hear that he should (hopefully!) grow out of the dashing, he comes to 'greet' me when I come home from work but part of me thinks he's just dashing down the stairs to try his luck for the front door! He does similar when I leave my bedroom ... I have rodents in there! :P

Hello and welcome to the forum!
My kitten is 7 months old (my word the time goes so fast) and has been known to give a wee growl to my OH on occasion if he goes too close to him when he's eating something he particularly likes (such as fish or raw meat). Funnily enough he doesn't do this with me but it's as though he thinks OH is going to attempt to steal it from him or something.
I wouldn't worry too much about it; as lymorelynn said, it isn't that uncommon.

I'm not sure about the running out the door thing. William (my kitten) hates to be on the wrong side of any door as he seems to think he's missing out on something meaning he follows us from room to room all the time, but he doesn't attempt to get out the house when we leave. It is probably much the same thing though - like a child your kitten simply doesn't want to miss out anything.

Have you got any pictures of him? It's an unwritten forum rule

Ask and you shall receive My fave photo.



William sounds very like my kitten, he follows me around like a puppydog. Rarely wanders off independantly - unless an outside door is open!

What a beautiful, wistful looking kitten

Hope you don't mind me being cheeky as I can't really offer any advice on his little growling problem (one of mine does that too and we do our best to ignore her!) but can I ask - did you put up your screen on the patio door yet and, if so, are you pleased with it? We've just had the downstairs of our cottage made more open plan and with a litter of kittens running round I know we're going to bake in our south facing kitchen/diner this summer. I was about to order a stupidly expensive 'roll out' screen for the French doors but...

What a sweetie I love his little nose

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How we behave toward cats here below determines our status in heaven. - Robert A. Heinlein
http://www.lambchopsiamese.webs.com

Awww he is so beautiful, I love his colouring Glad that I asked now William is a little McGinger, although he finds the term strawberry blonde far less offensive.

Aww bless his paws! I love having William as my wee shadow, although it would be nice to get the occasional shower in peace