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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want to know how to stop my kitten leaping on us?!

50 replies

superstarheartbreaker · 09/01/2014 23:24

He's so cute and tiny but he just leaps on dd and I whenever we go in the kitchen! It is playful but he digs his claws in and dd is scared. The other day when a friend came round he leaped on me whilst I was having a cup of tea thus spilling it everywhere. Any ideas?

OP posts:

olidusUrsus · 09/01/2014 23:27

It's a kitten. That's what kittens do. He might grow out of it. Maybe.

WelshMaenad · 09/01/2014 23:27

You could sedate him?

Or you could maybe accept that he is a kitten and this is how kittens behave. He may grow out of it, or he may not.

HeadfirstThroughTheTimeVortex · 09/01/2014 23:28

Haha, he's a kitten, it's what kittens do! He will mostly grow out of it.

patienceisvirtuous · 09/01/2014 23:29

It's part of the fun of a kitten! He will grow out of it.

FortyDoorsToNowhere · 09/01/2014 23:30

Picking my dd kitten up on the weekend.

Never had a cat before, but what I have read its normal.

Binkyridesagain · 09/01/2014 23:31

I'm guessing this is your first?

You sit it down in front of you, get it to look you in the face and give it a stern talking to, whilst wagging your finger at it.

It won't work but it might make you feel as though you've done something to try and curb the behaviour.

HeadfirstThroughTheTimeVortex · 09/01/2014 23:32

Actually when our kitty was around 16 weeks and crazy we adopted another kitten a similar age. Once they got used to each other they chased and pounced on each other mostly.

CrazyHneedsSleep · 09/01/2014 23:32

You really can't stop Kittens from doing that .

You just need to be faster than him so you can move out of his way when he lunges at you and hits the cooker instead , which I have never done

stardustoddity · 09/01/2014 23:32

It is what they do!

Learn to cut his claws though. Nail clippers and not too much off at once

HeadfirstThroughTheTimeVortex · 09/01/2014 23:32

I would always have kittens in pairs in future.

olidusUrsus · 09/01/2014 23:37

Eep no don't cut at his claws! They're so tiny and wriggly - would be terrified of nipping the bit wot has blood in. Perhaps get a vet to do it if they need trimming.

Swanhildapirouetting · 09/01/2014 23:41

Two kittens!

Or pick him up and cuddle him before he pounces

Or run away....

Mine did this a lot. The next stage was climbing the curtains, racing up and down the stairs tripping us up peeing in the pot plant and scratching the furniture.

Oh and climbing up my legs with pointy claws when I'm watching telly.

You get used to everything, and once they are out in the garden prancing around, things will improve!

Glitterfeet · 09/01/2014 23:42

It's a kitten

We once got two from a rescue shelter a the same time our youngest dog was beginning to get middle aged. They would sit their and swipe my dog, it was a big dog, around the nose until it licked them. Then run around and come back for more The poor dog would sit there looking at me for help.

I agree with the good stern talking to method. You get to feel as if you're doing something but not creating more drama.

HypodeemicNerdle · 09/01/2014 23:57

You need a small water spray bottle or little water pistol, naughty behaviour from kitty gets a quick squirt of water, it won't hurt but will startle him.
I am very jealous as we are not allowed cats due to landlord allergy. Enjoy him!

ComposHat · 10/01/2014 00:02

Put a large and aggressive dog on your lap.

MiniMonty · 10/01/2014 00:34

Whatever you try, whatever you do or don't do it will only mean anything to you. You will pretend and convince yourself that one thing or another makes a difference but no. A cat cares nothing for you or any other living thing. If you were smaller it would nearly kill you, toy with you for a while and then eat you or leave to die alone while it watched.

Just agree with yourself right now that the cat, small and cutesy as it is, is alone in thoughts and has a perfectly selfish future planned out which includes you as long as you do things which it likes. When that stops, it will vanish.

My advice - get a dog.

sashh · 10/01/2014 04:18

Glitterfeet

I once had a fairly stupid dog a not stupid dog ad a cat.

The dogs were kept in one room by a baby gate.

The cat would sit outside the gate tormenting the dogs. Thick dog would then stick his nose through the gate, the cat would grab it with both claws and bit his nose.

And repeat.

I suggest the talking to, but don't be surprised if he walks off or cleans his bum in the middle of it.

Rosencrantz · 10/01/2014 06:02

My cat never grew out of it, but luckily she is very easily distracted by feathers and string, so getting her to switch focus is easy.

JadziaSnax · 10/01/2014 06:27

Mine can be distracted with a laser pointer, he really enjoys a game of chase the red dot.

Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 10/01/2014 06:29

I want a kitten

pudcat · 10/01/2014 06:32

Kittens do that. Play with it to tire it out. Roll small balls for it to chase. Dangle things on a string for it to jump up at. Get a scratching post. Please do not squirt water at it or yell at it. That will only terrify it.

TheDoctorsNewKidneys · 10/01/2014 06:55

That's what kittens do! You won't stop him, cats won't listen to anyone - you can't really train them like you can dogs.

Are you playing with him enough? They need a lot of play and stimulation. It doesn't need to be expensive - mine a year old and love balls. Bouncy ones in particular. Make sure they have a scratching post too. Tie the ball to something - some string maybe, and your DD can play with the kitten from a distance and it will pounce on the ball instead of her!

They should calm dwn a little when they grow up, but nothing will stop them pouncing on things.

Rhubarbgarden · 10/01/2014 07:10

One of ours has never grown out of this. We find it entertaining.

Please don't cut her claws, it's very cruel. Cats need their claws to defend themselves from other cats/foxes and escape up trees.

AbbeyBartlet · 10/01/2014 08:26

Please don't cut his claws or use water. They (usually) grow out of it. He is young, and that's what kittens do. Keep things out of his way like you would with a young child. If it makes you feel better, say to him in a normal voice 'that's naughty' - it won't stop him but you feel like you have made a token effort!

All I can suggest really is embrace the chaos!

AbbeyBartlet · 10/01/2014 08:28

And what PPs have said about playing with him said - advice.

Btw, theDoctors - fabulous nickname!

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