starting to regret getting our kitten

[BobPatandIgglePiggle]

Our female kitten is coming up to 4 months and we're starting to regret getting her a little :-(

We've had her since she was 9 weeks and initially she was brilliant - played nicely, used her litter tray etc

But she's becoming a real handful - we were giving her free run of downstairs but, even though she was using the litter tray she started to poo behind the tv. We now leave her in the kitchen when we're out.

She's started biting and clawing us which is the real problem - we play with her, she's got toys and a scratch post but we constantly have to try to stop her biting us - she's getting quite vicious :-(

What can we do? Ds loves her so we don't want to give her back but she's becoming quite stressful to have around.

She might be ill? I think changing toilet habits and becoming aggressive are both symptoms of illness... You should get her checked by a vet, better to be safe than sorry.

Is she to be spayed shortly? She's of an age now and if not spayed, she could well have hormones coursing through her already. (In other words, you would have a quarrelsome teenager on your hands right now.)

Agree with the spaying - plus the "teenage" stage which passes in a few weeks. Our kitten went back to being playful but less vicious!

Thank you - I don't think she's ill - she's eating well and using her litter tray every day (the behind the tv thing was very brief, we got some spray for the carpet and she's not done it since)

I thought it was 6 months for spaying - will ring a vet tomorrow and get her booked in. She was a lovely little thing at first, really hoping that we can get her back to that!

Dp has had cats before but never a kitten and I've never had a pet, we didn't think she'd be this disruptive!

Many people think 6 months but 4 is actually the recommended timing nowadays if the kitten is healthy etc. Here's some guidance you might like to read before speaking to the vet.

Long time since I had a kitten, but as far as I recall the violence is a fairly normal phase and does come after the cute and pliable part. You just need to make sure she knows biting isn't ok - either a 'no' and stop playing, or my favourite 'blow in the face' trick (when she bites you, blow gently into her face), and it should pass.

The pooing - have you changed anything about the tray? How often are you scooping the poo/wee out? It may be that as she's growing she's becoming more discerning about her toilet and doesn't want to go where she's been already. A second tray might help with that.

you say she has toys, but are you playing with her?

our kitten is 6mo, she's also quite a bitey cat and we've found that if she's playing aggressively, then its better to direct the aggression and play with her energetically for 15-20 minutes.

cat like to play hunt/catch/kill. personally we either use a flying frenzy toy or a laser pointer and use the toys to mimic prey behaviour.

we play, get her to run around and chase the toy until she's pretty much laying pooped on the carpet. It really does reduce the biting behaviour, and stops her being so destructive, and best done at least 1-2 times a day!

Not that this helps you OP, but this is why we only home kittens in pairs. It gives them a constant playmate and source of comfort.

I agree with the other posters though - this is just a phase you need to get through, and neutering (at four months) should help.

This is normal behaviour and they do grow out if it. Gently, but firmly chastise her if she plays rough and put her down on the floor if she bites or claws you.

Kittens and puppies are a nightmare. They're cute little balls of destruction.

Cats and dogs on the other hand are lovely :)

You've basically got a toddler/teenager with claws in the house. Give her time.