Why does my kitten cry when playing with her toy?

[PinocchiosLeftNostril]

The above is what she sounds like. Although my 6mo kitten doesn't bite me.

She does it with a little mouse toy. She carries it everywhere with her. it's especially annoying when she brings in on to my bed at night and starts crying. Sometimes her cries are mingled with trills. Sometimes they are really high pitched as if she is in pain.

Someone told me it might be a sign she's becoming sexually mature and is feeling the urge to have her own kittens ...

Should i book her in to be spayed?

It was always my intention to have it done, but not as a matter of urgency. She is an indoor cat along with her brother (who was neutered months ago). There has been no spraying and no attempts of mounting as of yet.

[PinocchiosLeftNostril]

Forgot the tick

[cozietoesie]

Book her in to be spayed right away anyway. As soon as she comes into heat (and you could have virtually no notice) you'll likely have a little she-devil on your hands - and the odds of you being able to keep her in the house are slim. They'll find the smallest opportunity to get out.

I'll listen to the crying when my computer stops playing up and gives me some noise.

[GerundTheBehemoth]

Early spaying (before six months old) is also strongly preventative against mammary cancer.

Re the crying, I've known a few cats that squeak excitedly when playing, I don't think it's any cause for concern.

[YoureBeingADick]

Those noises are like what all my cats have done when they have caught a mouse and bring it to show you. Possible your kitten is practising those noises as maybe has a string hunting urge. Was her mother an outdoor cat?

[YoureBeingADick]

*strong hunting urge

[PinocchiosLeftNostril]

Thank you all. She is terrified every time the front door opens and shoots upstairs, so i don't think she's in any rush to escape. But i agree with getting her in to be spayed for the health benefits and the chance she may escape at some point.

I'll call the vet after work today.

Not to sound silly, but will her being spayed stop her bleeding/coming into heat? Or is that still something that will happen, just without the risk of becoming pregnant?

[GerundTheBehemoth]

Bleeding as part of the heat cycle doesn't happen in cats - and yes, spaying will stop her coming into heat at all.

[YoureBeingADick]

Yes the speying will stop her coming into heat. Thank goodness! My girly had one heat before i got her speyed and she was awful for about 4 days.

[cozietoesie]

She may be scared of outside right now - but believe me, if she came into heat it could be a very different story, Calling the vet is a good idea.

[PinocchiosLeftNostril]

Yes, her mum (a friend's cat who was sadly run over last week ) was an outdoor cat who could come and go as she pleased.

We live in an upper floor building with a communal front door, next to a main road, so i can't really let them out as they'd have no way of getting back in. My neighbours don't want a cat flap put in.

And they seem quite afraid of the outdoors anyway. I have a little balcony with high/smooth walls that i tried making cat-friendly for them, but they wouldn't go outside.

And whenever i have visitors in, they dart away upstairs until the visitors leave.

Yet they like to sit by the glass door and watch all the birds and cars.

I've looked into getting little harnesses for if ever they expressed the want to go outdoors. We have a lovely quiet loch about 10 minutes drive from our house i could take them to. But my friend thinks that's ridiculous and cats can't be put on leads. But why do pet shops sell them if that's the case?

Me and dd play with them every day with teasers and they love those. We also have one from PAH which attaches to the door and dangles down on a string for them to play with when we're both out.

Do you think i should get them another toy/activity that helps them with their hunting urges?

[cozietoesie]

Kittens/playful cats seem to love those laser pens that shine a dot on the floor.

[YoureBeingADick]

Yes i would definitely try and satisfy the hunting urge but tbh it sounds like she is doing that herself with her mouse.

[YoureBeingADick]

Whoops- posted too soon.

Wrt the harness- im not sure i would do it but if you think they would be happy on a harness you could try it (indoors at first obv)

[cozietoesie]

Heard the noise now - and I think it's just general playing excitement. (In fact the cat in that clip was too excited hence the biting the owner.)