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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Is this normal kitten behaviour or am I doing something wrong?

40 replies

StuffezLaBouche · 09/01/2013 17:44

Sometimes when I'm doing some work on an evening my kitten goes a bit nutty. He jumps onto the sofa so he's at eye level with me, then when I look back at him he does his chirrup sound and BOLTS upstairs...repeat as many times until bedtime. Am I scaring him? Does he want something?? He's a very loving kitten and always sleeps in my bed with me... but I'm aware I'm out the house for time periods at a time :(

OP posts:
lljkk · 09/01/2013 17:48

He's going Doolally. It's perfectly normal. He wants to play with you!

Original poster
StuffezLaBouche · 09/01/2013 17:49

Oh right! Well that's a relief. I tried picking him up a few times but he most definitely doesn't want that... I will dig out the jingly balls!

OP posts:
Sunnywithshowers · 09/01/2013 18:10

It's normal crazy kitten behaviour. Enjoy Grin

issey6cats · 09/01/2013 22:42

normal behaviour my tuxies are 6 yrs old and still do the mad dash up and down the stairs most nights for 5 and the chirrup is the noise they make when talking to mom so he sees you as mom

PlaySchool · 09/01/2013 23:01

I love the chirrup sound. Yes, this is absolutely normal behaviour!

Sparklingbrook · 09/01/2013 23:02

Yay mad half hour! Grin Sparkling Cat still does it every so often.

usualsuspect · 09/01/2013 23:05

Quite normal,get him some pingpong balls to bat about.

Loquace · 09/01/2013 23:05

If he isn't normal, then Lilly isn't either.

She always has mad time in the evening.

Tonight she jumped wildly and landed on big male dog.

It is a toss up which one looked more surpised she was there.

Her tail, I presume, will return to non bottle brush state eventually.

TheWombat · 09/01/2013 23:06

This is known as the 'mad half hour'. :) The chirrup is cat speak for 'come on, do what I want!' He's telling you he's happy and he wants to play with you. So cute.
Cotton reels, scrunched up pieces of paper and shoelaces pieces of string are always useful!

usualsuspect · 09/01/2013 23:07

They love chasing shoelaces.

MaBumble · 09/01/2013 23:08

get a feather on a stick. Its the simplest cat toy after a piece of string and mine still go nuts for it.

Bossybritches22 · 09/01/2013 23:09

Oh yes they have a mad half hour, Kitty Grand Prix we call it when our 2 (now nearly 2) go off on one. Grin

Can be hilarious- I recommend a £1 pack of bendy drinking straws- lasts for ages & they take about 4 days to "kill" one, they skitter around very satisfyingly we've found!!

BluelightsAndSirens · 09/01/2013 23:11

Princess phoebe still does this every now and then, so funny.

She jumps on the sofa backs and skits out into the hall and then kitchen with her back legs doing that funny skating on ice thing and then bolts up stairs and then back to me with that chirrup sound.

She loves an old make up brush to skit on wooden floors with!

Bossybritches22 · 09/01/2013 23:11

BTW ....he is GORGEOUS Wink

Sorry couldn't resist a peek at your profile pics!!

HazeltheMcWitch · 09/01/2013 23:11

My cat does this when he wants to play hide and seek.
He's pretty crap at hiding though. But he likes it when you sort of stomp about looking for him. Oh look! He's under the bed. Again.

SummerRainIsADistantMemory · 09/01/2013 23:15

Totally normal.

You want crazy kitten behaviour? My 8 month old kitten jumped out a second story window this evening, dashed at full speed round s field for 10 minutes, came in, ate a bowl of food with me frantically checking her for injuries then ran back upstairs to the dame window and miowed at me to open it for her again Confused

I've never been so shocked or terrified in my life... And the lunatic appears to be completely unharmed.

This summer will be great fun with every window sealed tight Hmm

Loquace · 09/01/2013 23:24

oh he is beautiful!

I am at that neurotic stage where I keep checking my slow growing kitten against everybody elses, so can I ask, how many months is he ?

PlaySchool · 09/01/2013 23:42

summer how crazy is she? My old cat jumped off the landing straight to the ground floor once. Only once though!!!!

SummerRainIsADistantMemory · 09/01/2013 23:46

Playschool.... Base jumping from the barristers is a regular occurrence, tonight was a whole new level of crazy even for her though.

She runs up door frames and pounced on her brother from the top of them too.

I've never had a cat like this tbh... My nerves are in tatters

Sunnywithshowers · 10/01/2013 08:59

I loved this stage.

If you're ever missing a kitten, look at the top of the curtains or bookcase! Grin

Sunnywithshowers · 10/01/2013 09:03

I have just looked at your photos. Your kitten is adorable.

saycheeeeeese · 10/01/2013 09:07

Gorgeous wee kitty making me broody and we already have 2!

Ginger cats are my favourite!

issey6cats · 10/01/2013 10:08

he is a real cutie

PlaySchool · 10/01/2013 10:46

He sounds like loads of fun!

Original poster
StuffezLaBouche · 10/01/2013 10:59

Oh, so nice that you've all commented. Very pleased to learn it's normal. We had a lot of play last night with his toys and he promptly wore himself out and snoozed for the rest of the evening in 'his' chair! His new trick is ambushing unsuspecting passers-by (ie me). He hides behind the sofa then as you walk past he leaps onto your leg and clings on while you try and walk. I LOVE him so much!!!

That pic on my profile was when he was nine weeks old. He's now five months old and a LOT bigger. Must put some new pics on. Interestingly, his eyes have changed colour from the grey you see in the pic to a rich gold... Anyone else's kitten do this?

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