How to calm my friggin crazy cat?

Question

I got my cat around 2 weeks old and didn't know he was so young. He was a rescue... Anyways he's almost 3 mnths now and he is a phycho. He bites, slashes, jumps on tables, dashes around. I have tried yelling, grabbing the back of his neck, spraying water, slapping his nose and butt, putting him in a different room than me for awhile and still he keeps coming back for more. Is this normal or what. Also, for those of you who have cats and have had them your whole life, how should I greet them when I come home. Ignore or cuddle?

Thanks,
LokDog

Answer 1

One thing to remember is kittens are FULL of energy...they will run around like crazy animals just because they can. I can't believe you got this cat at 2 wks...were his eyes even open?

As far as the biting, if he starts to get agressive you either need to remove him completely from you and put him on the ground, stick a toy in his face to play with (this is what I did with my last furry baby - he's about 10 months now and is very mellow). Don't use your hands to play with him at all...if you do put gloves on or use a puppet so that your hands aren't associated with scratching posts (get him a good cat pole too). Spray bottles don't always work because some cats will look at this as a game. OH...and spanking just makes them more angry.

You just need to be patient...I know he can be a pain but one day he'll grow up and you'll be sad he doesn't run around and play anymore.

Also...one you get him fixed (6 mo) this will calm him down as well...the other option is to get him a kitty friend to play with...

As far as how to greet them when you get home...well, since he's so young I would definitely call him and give him a good pet and/hug so that he gets more used to human contact as well as learning to come when you call him; treats in a can or tupperware also helps with this because they learn to come to the rattling sounds of the treats.

Answer 2

This is COMPLETELY normal, he's a 3 month old kitten and is growing his muscle and bone structure. They play 3/4 of the time and sleep the rest.

You're not doing him any good by hitting him and trying to change the behavior, he NEEDS to blow off steam for another few months. A companion kitten would take all the pressure off you and give him some needed playmate since you're not able or willing to take over that role.

Don't consider him crazy, he's normal for his age. He needs toys to practice jumping on and things to keep him occupied. Being aggressive about it will only make him harder to handle later on.

Greet cats when you come home, a call when you come in the door (not their name, just give an 'I'm home' and see what happens). If he comes, then pet him briefly and see if he's hungry, then go do whatever you want to, but if he sticks with you include him in what you're doing. Some cats are greeters, some just wander out later on to see how things are going.

Answer 3

This is typical kitten behavior! Yelling, slapping, and grabbing are definitely not the way to deal with it. Not at all. That just teaches the kitten to be scared of you, which I am sure you don't want.
At this point, it's probably best to try to distract him with a toy when he bites and scratches you. He's really just trying to play, so giving him a toy and playing with him for awhile is a good idea. If he's being especially violent, put him in another room with a couple of toys - that way he has something to do that doesn't involve hurting you.
My cats usually come running for some attention when I get home - why would you want to ignore them? :)

Answer 4

First of all, you are abusing your pet! This is a lively kitten and a healthy one. He needs more human contact. Put him on your lap and hold him gently. Softly rub the top of his head, his ears and the bridge of his nose. Speak softly. Don't tense up as he will feel it. The kitten sounds fine. You sound like you are a nervous type. Try to relax and enjoy your cat. You two can become very close.