OK I rescued this kitten from a lady who found her by a church, shes like 7 weeks old and now she's just crazy!!! I'm only 13 i don't know what to do we've tried talking to her in a firm voice putting her in a seprate room, now I'm going crazy. We have a 7 and 8 year old tabby and tuxedo kitty and they're getting tired of having to live on the edge because they'll get attacked. I have scarrs all over me, and it's bad enough I already have ansomnia now I can't go to sleep at all unless she suckles on my fingers until she falls asleep. I love her and my other kitties they are like family to me but I need help.
Natashja
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens
SOS SOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELP ME MY KITTEN IS NUTS!!!!!!!!
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Kittens are chock-full of energy, and this one sounds like she's missing her mommy bigtime. Suckling on your fingers is a security/comfort mechanism. Maybe you could try a soft blanket or heating pad covered with a soft towel, and a stuffed animal to help the wee one think it's her mommy.
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Keep the kitten separate from your other cats for now, except for certain periods. I hope you introduced them gradually. When the kitten bites you, grab her head so that you keep her mouth closed, and say "DON'T. DO. THAT!" This kitten might be feral and needs some training in living with humans and other house cats. Adult cats do have to deal with a certain kind of irritation at the introduction of kittens. I have a cat, Jasmine, who is only 17 months old, but I can tell she gets irritated at Kensho's constant energy and playfulness (he is 3 months). You could also get a couple squirt guns or bottles and squirt the kitten when she gets too playful/aggressive.
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There's no avoiding the youthful phase of kittenhood. The growing and learning process seems slow and painful but remember that once your kitten is all grown up it's for good. My four (sibblings) are going on 3 yrs. old and I miss the spicey, playful activities of their youth. They grow up FAST. Good luck with all you do. Remember to be as loving and patient (yet consistant) as you'd want others to be with you when you were once a disobedient child. =)
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It's helped me to "think like a momma cat". Mother cats can restrain their kittens to stop bad behavior. When being attacked, scoop her up and make sure she can't claw you. Hold her still and say "No, I'm the momma". Don't release her until she settles down. Repeat if she keeps up the behavior. She'll get the message that you're in charge and start recognizing what you don't like. Make sure you restrain her without ever holding too tight or hurting her. You can hold her front paws together (same with the back ones) to stop her from scratching. If you treat her with love, but authority, she'll sense who's in charge. You've just taken on the role of her surrogate mom. You sound like a very loving young lady and your kitten will bond with you and give you all her love for a very long time.
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I have seen other mommas on here suggest picking her up by the scruf of her neck and hissing (like momma cat would do) if she scratches you or hurts you. Have heard that works.
And squirt gun or bottle works wonders. Just remember to squirt when do they do the behaviour you dont' want right away. They won't assocaite bad behaviours with squirt bottle if you do it after the fact.
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Yes, iliketea is correct with the "scruffing". that's what mama cats do when their kittens misbehave. Otherwise it just takes time. She would be doing this with her siblings if she had any--that's how they play/learn.
Posted 2 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Raleigh, NC #
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I agree with those who say you need to sometimes pick up a kitten by the fur around the shoulder blades. I had to do that with Kensho when I got him, at 2 months old, because he bit so much. I would sometimes pick him up and hold him in front of me and say NO. Then just set him down away from me. You need to establish that you are the alpha female, the one in charge, and you're not going to tolerate completely wild behavior.
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Thank you all for the help, I was five when we got our two boys now i'm 13, and they are my babies no one could tell me other wise, and they look up to me as their mother when im gone the one runs around meowing ma all day, lol.
I have tried to pick her up by the neck before, and hissing at her kind of helps but a minute later shes doing it again. She wasn't around her ma for very long so, she needs a mommy, and I stepped in and took that place for her, she follows me around all day, I dont mind the suckling so much I actually think it's cute, but I now have little bluies on me from it.
She also likes water so spraying her doesn't help, lol. She's a weird cat but i love her and she already has taken a big peice of my heart.
:)
Natashja -
You'll just have to be consistent with her and keep at it...eventually she'll get it! It will take a while for the message to get across. If she is doing it again a minute later, you'll have to repeat an walk around maybe and ignore her and not look at her or give her any attention for a a bit?
Aww kitten likes water how cute ;)
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Calm down the baby cat with a lot of snuggling and loving. She wants attention, and like a child, if she can't get it from goodness she will try another way.
Please don't pick her up by the neck, honey. That may cause her some discomfort as she gains weight. To scruff her, make sure that she is down on a firm surface, grab the neck skin, push down GENTLY but firmly, and give her a low, firm hiss. That will get her attention, and that's what the momcats do to get their attention and to correct behavior with their kittens. Be gentle, and she will reciprocate.
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I would like to emphatically agree that picking her up by the scruff is a bad idea. You must know exactly where to grab onto and that can be tricky. I absolutely agree that hissing at her like a momma cat does works very well, *particularly* if you *GENTLY* bop her on the nose with your index finger. That's what momma does- she hisses and smacks her children. Actually, 4-legged Lily, the queen of my 6 cats, still does that at least once a day to all the other cats. Only she isn't gentle about it. She makes sure they don't forget who is boss! You need to make sure that your new baby knows that you are boss.
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I agree that you should not pick her up, a "paw" (finger) on the top of the head with a little pressure, and a firm authoritative hiss and/or NO, is a good strategy. You also want to try and play with her (with toys, not your hands) to stimulate her and wear her out! Kittens just have lots of energy, and if she was separated early as you say, she probably lost a lot of training time that you need to replace. Just be patient. Bless you for taking her in! Keep posting!
Posted 2 years ago by nawlins catmom #
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