[tenebre]

I currently have a 4 and a half month old kitten,I got him when he was 6 weeks old, i now know that is a rather young age but his mum had stopped bothering with him.

There are a few reasons why I am considering adopting another cat (his brother from the same litter but who has not found a home) mainly because;

I think he might like a playmate as he doesn't seem to like being left alone. I'm home most of the day at the moment but he spends about 2 hours from 7am onwards miowing. Even if i feed him he continues, it is as if he wants attention. I normally ignore him as i have read it will encourage him to miow for attention if he gets what he wants instantly every time. Im just wondering if he is bored a lot of the time...

I am a bit concerned about unsettling him though, as he is VERY hyper and never calms down no matter how much I play with him. I have tried to teach him that hands aren't toys but I am constantly being bitten and scratched by him. He is always trying to get under the tv to chew wires which is obviously very dangerous for him. He does understand no as he either stops and comes out, or pauses with his mouth open looking very cheeky and continues.

He has loads of toys and a climbing tower, his own room so he can have some space when he needs it.

If he is bored would getting him a playmate help? Two of his brothers from his litter need rehoming so i could take one. The only thing is that I don't want to unsettle him more and make the problem worse so i am not rushing into. Anything. His brothers who are looking for homes have been with the mother cat and each other since birth, so hopefully he could learn good behaviour from one. When he is naughty, scratches and \ or bites he is being playful and doesn't understand that it hurts. If getting him a playmate will help then i probably will. His brothers haven't had their injections though or been flead which is a worry to me

When i get a pet he or she is for life, i wont eveb consider getting rid of him as he seems happy but just very hyper. All suggestions and advice ae welcome.

Also as he has not seen his litter mate since he was 6 weeks old do you think they would recognise each other?
Thanks

 

[tenebre]

I should also mention that the playful scratching / biting has caused my hands to be very cut up. As he does it playfully and seems to be bored when he is alone I thought having another kitten might give him someone else to play with.

 

[Guest]

Hi there.

I have to say that reading your post, I don't think getting a second kitten is going to solve your problems. The reason for that is you just seem completely unprepaired for what kittens are like and what they do!

You say that you're at home all day at the moment and he meows for attention as he doesn't like being left alone, yet you ignore him because you think giving him attention will make him think he can get what he wants. Forgive me, but that sounds backwards even for children lol!

Yes, he is not going to like being left alone. He's a baby animal and a social being so wants company. He is meowing for attention as that's what kittens, cats, all sorts of pets do. You have to give him the attention either through playing or stroking or just a general fuss every time you walk past him.


In your next paragraph you talk about his incessant playing (normal for a kitten), the biting and scratching (again, normal because that's how they play), and the chewing of wires (again, normal).
Also I can assure you 100% that he does NOT understand the word no. He is far too young, and any understanding of that word will only be a primal reflex to the tone of your voice rather than the word anyway. You have to face facts. Everything he's doing is normal and to be expected and getting a second kitten won't stop him from doing it.


I don't really have any advice on what to do except for the fact I'm not sure getting a second cat will really help. This is a very strange post and I've not come across one like this before. It's almost like you've never read about kittens or ever met one before!

 

[tenebre]

Hi, wow your reply is a little condescending, I came her for advice not to be judged.

I knew exactly what to expect with a kitten thankyou very much, I only ignore him when he miows at 7am in the morning - i get up and feed him. I spend pretty much the whole day with him keeping him entertained so i do not appreciate you implying that i am a bad pet owner.

I give him attention and fuss all day! not just when i walk passed him. My hands are cut to ribbons from him, although he is SLOWLY learning.

I simply wanted advice on whether or not him having a friend would make him less bored, not to be told that i am a bad owner - i am certainly not.

I am aware that he is a baby and wont like being left alone, but i was simply asking peoples opinion on whether him having a pal would make him happier!

Im not even going to go into you insisting that I dont understand kitten behaviour of playing and scratching. Because I do, again i was just asking if him having a friendd might make him less bored.

Not once did i say that getting a second kitten would make him understand the word no...you seem a very argumentative and judgemental person.

You have actually put me off of asking for advice in the future. I have had cats my whole life but I have never had a kitten as hyper as he is. I also work at the RSPCA as a volunteer and have never come across a kitten like him. I just wanted a few peoples opinions to help me make an educated decision.

 

[Guest]

Slow down a moment and take a while to perhaps re-read your post and how it came across.

For someone who adores cats it was difficult to read that you have decided to "train" your kitten to accept being ignored. What you were talking about sounded rather intense for your cat, who is only displaying normal kitten behaviour.

Okay, if you spend lots of time with your kitten and give it lots of fuss and play then that's great. But that is slightly at odds with the ignoring comments, so which is it?
Cats have basic needs and don't manipulate people in evil ways. If it asks for attention it's normally because it will NEED something (which includes love and touch that are vital for development as well as food), not want it. If your kitten gets into the habit of learning you'll ignore it when it asks for something, you may find bonding with your kitten a lot harder, and you won't be able to read it very well in the future should (god forbid) it become ill.


I didn't say you were a BAD pet owner, I said you *sounded like* a unprepared one. Or at least with regards to a kitten.

I did give you advice on what you asked, and that was that your kitten won't stop doing what he's doing just because you get another. In once sense you could argue he would, as he would turn all of this normal behaviour onto the other kitten. But I wouldn't have though this to be preferable to trying to adapt yourself to his behaviour first.

One thing you could try would be some gloves? Some faux leather or slimline motorcycle gloves, or even big gardening gloves that go up the arm could be an investment. Then he could hang off your arm as much as he wants without hurting you. Make sure you clean those scratches well too.

As for boredom, you could try a combination of some toys that are self play toys and also the radio. You can make cheap self play toys (a rigid paper bag with string handles is fantastic for example), so you don't need to go spending £25 on some chasing tube toy or anything.


To be honest I would normally advise people to get two kittens instead of one. But the way you worded your issues worried me and I didn't feel it was right. I'm sorry you took my post the wrong way but I wanted to be honest and not pussy-foot (pardon the pun) around the situation and my opinion on it. I'm sure some sweeter fingered members will be able to give you better advice.

 

[nicolaa123]

It could be down to that he was so young when he was adopted so did not get the socialising aspect from his litter mates and his mum! If you got another one they would probably play together but think you would still have to go through the introduction stages as they may not remember each other!

A for wires and hands etc, try a wand like toy that he can chase but is away from your hands and give loads of praise when he plays with the toy without biting! I did this with mine as he was a biter as a kitten. Unfortunately the miaowing during the early hours has not stopped, I did try the whole ignore thing, but did not work!! At the moment it's normally about 6.30 am and I get a paw in my face or back!! I put the duvet over my head that some times works!

 

[Treaclesmum]

Number one thing to do would be to block off the TV wires before he hurts himself!

Getting another may help as they do play together a lot more if you have 2, and it's much better for them if you have to leave them alone for much of the day.

 

[tenebre]

Treaclesmum I have blocked off the TV wires and put a plastic cover over them to keep him safe he is a little escape artist though and likes to pretend his toys are going near the tv so he can try and get under. Luckily most of the time when I say no now he comes to me, I have started giving him a treat when he does this for positive reinforcement. (before anyone says anything or gets all preachy I wont give him too many or let him get fat)

Thank you for the reply regarding his play mate! to be honest i dont think I will adopt another cat at the moment but I just wanted to see what others thought.

nicolaa123 I now realise that I got him a little early, his mum was having nothing to do with him though, he was tiny as he was hardly getting chance to eat due to his siblings pushing him out of the way. So I do still feel it was the best option to take him at that age as he is very healthy now, and getting towards a more normal size.

I have tried him with wand like toys (he has broken 2 so far!) I do praise him when he plays with toys and not hands but he still seems to think that playing with hands is much more fun.

NexivRed I have tried leather gloves, he destroyed them. I am also a cat lover thankyou, I can read my kitten very well thankyou, which is why I can tell he is slightly bored and thought he might like a play mate. He also has alot of cheap play chase toys, and toys which he can amuse his self with. We have a big toy furry mouse on a big base on a spring which squeaks when he hits it which he loves - he just seems to love my hands more.

 

[The Minkey]

If I were a kitten, I'd like hands too ;-) If you think about it, they're warm and move in unexpected ways, much more like a real playmate perhaps. Don't envy you those scratches. The only time my kitten got near my hand to play was when it was safely inside a padded tigger glove puppet I found in a charity shop, which he treated much like another kitten, doing play pounces over the duvet and that funny sideways skitter they do.

 

[Treaclesmum]

Jumpy is a year old and still likes playing with hands!! Especially on days like today when he hasn't been allowed out to chase any real prey... hands move and they're alive!!!

 

[tenebre]

The Minkey You have just given me a brilliant idea! I have some Sooty and Sue hand puppets which I can use when he will only play with hands. When I use the 'wands' which have string and a toy he gets more distracted with my actual hands. Might be a good idea as it will move the focus away from my hand towards toys. Thanks for the reply

 

[nicolaa123]

Its feet more than hands that are attacked here still. If he is in that mood my feet are prey!! I have learnt to be bit quicker than him now!! Oh and try a crinkling cat tunnel, great to pounce on and run in and hide!!

 

[TatiLie]

Sorry, I didn't read all your post. I just read the title and thought YEEEESSS!!

I would love to have the chance to adopt Ari's brother. I actually was very sad that someone adopted him and not her. I saw them together when I met her and they were the sweetest thing together. Rocco will never replace him in her heart and if I could go back in time I would have contacted the family who adopted him and ask them to let me have him too.