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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.

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Original poster

My lovely kitten is turning crazy!!

33 replies

WakeyCakey · 16/08/2013 10:16

My little girl is 4.5months old. A little tortie, cute as anything.
She's always been bouncy and hyper but this last week she's started to get quite nasty.
She's launching herself on myself and DP and biting and scratching.
She was supposed to be getting spayed this week but we had to cancel because she's not quite heavy enough.
She begs and begs to go outside but I'm terrified of letting her in case she comes back pregnant.

Any idea of ways to get her to behave more sociably? She is the only pet in the household. And when she wakes up in the morning she is the sweetest most loving thing for about 45mins and then turns into the Tasmanian devil. Any help would be appreciated

OP posts:

GetStuffezd · 16/08/2013 10:18

Can you exhaust her with toys? Before mine went out they were getting extremely restless so I spent a bit of time with jingle toys and toys on strings etc. after a good session of this they happily curled up and went to sleep!

cozietoesie · 16/08/2013 10:42

The neutering should help. She may be an early maturer - which would contribute to the wanting outside. (And don't let her - she's just about old enough to get pregnant which would be awful if she's so young and not well built.)

Any idea how soon you can take her in for the op? (And shall you be chipping her while she's out for the count? )

Original poster

WakeyCakey · 16/08/2013 10:57

She's been chipped already. I've re-booked for 3 weeks time to try and allow for a bit of weight gain. We definately don't want any kittens out of her, but trying to do it when she's over 2kg which she's not yet. She's not even skinny she's just small.

Her mum was only 6.5 months when she had her first litter and was 4 months later (I think) that she had the second litter.
I've already offered to pay for the mum to get spayed and offered to take her on but both have been declined

OP posts:

moonbells · 16/08/2013 11:01

Is she calling? I agree with cosie - might be on heat?

cozietoesie · 16/08/2013 11:03

I don't envy you that 3 weeks. I've never had a tortie myself but I know that many posters have and find them very feisty. I think getting her neutered and then letting her out (to distract herself with the great outdoors part of the day) is the answer. In the interim, lots of distraction and playing as GetStuffezd said.

Bad news about her Mum. Any reason given for the owner not agreeing to her being neutered?

cozietoesie · 16/08/2013 11:05

PS - you could always give the vet a buzz and check whether (in light of her restlessness) she thinks it might be safe to neuter her earlier than the 3 week date you've scheduled.

GetStuffezd · 16/08/2013 12:49

Also OP my tortie sounds just like yours. Not skinny but just really, really tiny. Weird actually because apparently she was the first born in the litter but all the others were giants. I've seen one of her siblings and he's an enormous beast!

She's a beautiful, friendly, affectionate little thing, though.If yours has a similar nature you'll just adore her!

Original poster

WakeyCakey · 16/08/2013 14:43

I do, I fell in love the moment I saw her and there was no turning back.
She's calming down a lot today after some crazy playing but also just ignoring her quite a bit.

Gave the vet a call, doesn't look likely as they really don't like doing it before 2kg but she's booked in for 2 weeks time not 3 as I think she should of gained enough by then. She's itching to get out and calling out so I need the next couple of weeks to speed up!!

Poor little girl. She just wants to go out and play (and probably go on a huge hunt)

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 16/08/2013 16:07

Hah! I reckon she wants to get out there in that open topped sports car and feel the wind in her hair. Two weeks is going to be long enough for you.

Watch her like a hawk. When they want badly to get out they can be like flipping Houdinis - and while I'm not worried about her getting pregnant (if she's being neutered in two weeks) you don't want her to stray far from home in that first giddy freedom.

Original poster

WakeyCakey · 16/08/2013 18:07

She is so quick and sly that she does try and try but I've got pretty good at catching her before she gets too far.

Cozie as you are a Jedi when it comes to pusscats how do you feel about collars? I bought her one of the snap off ones with a bell, but she just wriggles and wriggles until she can squeeze her head out.

None of my cats in the past had collars but they were mainly semi feral and fearless. Just see so many cats now with collars that I wonder if I should follow suit?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 16/08/2013 18:19

Definitely not a Jedi - and certainly not when it comes to collars. I've never had a cat who didn't regard collars as the work of the devil and refuse flat out to wear one.

Maybe other posters could give you some tips on getting them used to one if you're keen on the notion?

itsnothingoriginal · 16/08/2013 18:40

I've got a tortie and white kitten of the same age OP. She's also quite feisty at times and just goes for the attack. Distraction with toys especially fishing rod one seems to work well at these times but she's a bit unpredictable!

Fortunately ours is quite a good size so vet said she'll neuter her mid Sept as she's also desperate to get out. Keeping Windows and doors shut this summer has been really hard!!

I'm sure they'll calm down eventually

Original poster

WakeyCakey · 16/08/2013 22:13

I'm not too worried about a collar but DP has only ever had lazy house cats who never took their collars off so he assumed she would be the same.

I'm glad she wants to go outside I need to start opening windows!

The fishing rod toy is my favourite, claws and teeth at arms length, I do love her despite her being a devil. Hopefully she will calm down as she grows up and get a bit not exercise in once she's out and about

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 16/08/2013 22:20

Where's the picture for us, Wakey ? (It's the law on the Litter Tray so you shall have to load one to your profile.)

Original poster

WakeyCakey · 16/08/2013 22:39

I'll do it tomorrow on a computer (if I work out how!!) don't think I can on my phone

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 16/08/2013 22:46

Fluffycloudland77 · 17/08/2013 08:29

She might be too young for a collar, ours hated them as a kitten but wears them now.

I buy cheap poundland plastic ones with a snap release because I can write his address on the inside of it.

Original poster

WakeyCakey · 17/08/2013 10:35

Photos of her are up.
If any of you happen to recognise her then please don't out me :-) not that I show her off to everyone who I meet!

OP posts:

GetStuffezd · 17/08/2013 10:37

I cant click on your profile, think you have to make it public. Dying to see!!

Original poster

WakeyCakey · 17/08/2013 10:46

I just realised that, can't seem to do it, any ideas what i'm missing? such a technophobe!

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 17/08/2013 10:50

Mrsc had some problems the other night so there may be some site lag as well. You have to not only make it public but also click to save your changes. Did you do that last bit?

Original poster

WakeyCakey · 17/08/2013 10:51

yes i've clicked and saved. I'll try logging out and back in

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 17/08/2013 10:55

It sounds like there is some site lag then. Give it a short while to see if that fixes it.

bigpaws · 18/08/2013 07:31

My kitten is the same age age yours. Very placid and cute nature to begin with, however now having the odd half an hour of howling to go out/scratching etc.

I bought a kitten harness and lead from Pets at Home. DDs 11&7 love to take her for a walk around the garden!! Tires her out and also becoming familiar with outdoors before she is free to roam at 6mths (after the op!!)

She isn't yet microchipped, but she wears a collar with a name tag for my own reassurance.

cozietoesie · 19/08/2013 17:26

What a pretty girl, wakey.

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