After my mom's dog passed away, we decided we would get her a kitten. We got her a little black and white kitten (now 8 weeks old) name Muffin. At first, she was real sweet and you were able to hold her and play with her.
But then my dad started to play rough with her and now she's 'wild.' She'll be good for about 5 minutes, then she'll chew at your arm, climb up your leg, smack you in the face (I actually got my eye scratched and had to go to a doctor), chew at your feet, just a handful. I know she's a kitten and kittens might act that way, but she never acted that way before my dad started playing with her.
Right now, we have two other cats (and one of the cats hates Muffin). So Muffin stays in her own little room while we slowly try to introduce the two cats. Anytime she starts acting 'wild,' we put her up. She has lots of toys and we try to play with her when we get her out.
Here's my question; besides not playing rough with her anymore, how else can we calm her down?
2006-10-16 06:17:44 · 9 answers · asked by memoirsofajeweler1985 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
You answered your own question. Stop playing rough with her, just give her some time and she should be somehwat more tamed.
2006-10-16 06:22:33 · answer #1 · answered by Panada 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your dad should never have played rough with the kitten. Kittens are very impressionable. But, what's done is done.
To calm the kitten down, don't encourage such playing. When the kitten is good, give her a treat. When she gets wild, put her in time-out for ten minutes. Time out should be a cat carrier located in a room with the door closed. No toys, no contact, nothing to keep her attention. It may seem cruel, especially when she cries, but it will drive the point home.
When you let her out of time-out, be sure to pet her, let her know she's a good girl and that you love her, but she can't get all rough like that anymore.
I have a "wild child" cat, too. Time-out has worked wonders and the whole family (my husband, me, the "wild child" and the other 9 cats) are happier for it.
2006-10-16 13:27:50 · answer #2 · answered by Avie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Instead of ruffling her up and getting her rowdy, try being productive with her play time and teach her hunting skills (just a simple string will do). She'll love chasing it from what it sounds like. Just be careful she might *accidentally* get your hand. It happens. Unfortunately, some kittens really have wild tendincies - it's a "nature vs. nurture" thing. Extra calming snuggle time will relax her, but it's normal for a kitten to be very wild ... I promise they mellow out with age.
As for your other cats, you probably would be best off just letting them get used to her. She's going to be around, so they'll have to deal. Make *sure* not to ignore the other cats - give them extra special attention.
2006-10-16 13:26:36 · answer #3 · answered by leaysa 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is normal for kittens to get to play more rough as they begin to grow...this is how they would play with their brothers and sisters...it's part of learning how to survive.
So it's quite possible that your dad's rough play was not the real cause of this change.
She will calm down as the next weeks and months pass by.
2006-10-17 09:10:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not playing roughly is a very good start. Time will also help; as she matures, she should behave better.
Give her puzzle-type toys when she is confined to her room. A Treat-a-Ball, Buster Cube or Kitty Kong with some food inside should keep her physically and mentally busy.
2006-10-16 13:25:07 · answer #5 · answered by melissa k 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i just got a new kitten and my other cat hated her for the first two weeks, theres not much you can do about that except let them deal with it themselves, the cats have to figure it out for themselves, its been 3 weeks and my cat loves my kitten, as far as your kitten beng rough the only thing you can do is discipline her or also using a squirt bottle and squirtting her will make her stop... they hate water, hope that helps
2006-10-16 13:23:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Stop playing rough with her, my dad did the exact same (i think thats just the way dads are) but yer i tried not too let him too much because then they do just turn spitefull it would be real good to stop now before she turns bad,
good luck x
2006-10-16 13:27:06 · answer #7 · answered by § gαввαηα § 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont play rough with her when she is bad put her in time out or in a cage until she is better
2006-10-16 14:57:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
my kitten was wild but I always played whith her and slept then she started loving me more an being nice.
2006-10-16 14:54:42 · answer #9 · answered by Leonid K 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋