Kittens are ruining my life

[TooManyButtons]

(Only slightly light hearted!)

When my only DD left for uni September, I got a pair of kittens. Something to love, and fill my empty nest. Turns out it may have been a huge mistake.

They're now 6 months old. They've trashed my house, including my leather sofas, bed and dining room chairs. They've ripped up and shredded the carpet outside my bedroom trying to get in at night. All this I expected, and tbh it's not really the main issue.

It's the miaowing. Constantly. If they're not eating, they're miaowing. Loudly. And it's such a whiny, horrible miaow. I sit getting ready for work in the morning with them both sat inches from my face, constantly miaowing at me. I get a moments peace by feeding them, then it starts again. And good lord can they eat! I can fill their bowl to the top with biscuits and 10 minutes later there they are, whining for more.

They constantly try to steal my food, no matter how often I put them on the floor. I literally have to sit holding my plate in the air while they try to intercept each forkful. If I shut them out, they just miaow louder and louder.

It's got to the point where between the constant whining, and climbing all over me with their uber sharp claws, I've started going to bed at 7 just to escape and get a bit of peace (while they rip up the carpets trying to get in). I was in tears last night with it all. Disclaimer: I am depressed which I'm sure is making things worse. But seriously, I can't cope!

What games do they play? For example, if they're already eating kibble, have you considered a treat toy or two to put it in for them?

Oh - and when are they to be neutered. (If they haven't been already.)

It sounds like they're bored. They need some play time and /or toys.

You need one of these.

Have they been neutered? Are you able to let them out (only if they've been neutered obvs). Also, what are you feeding them? It sounds like the food they're getting isn't satisfying them for some reason. Have you had them checked by the vet?

Have you got any cat toys to entertain them? A laser toy, cat tree etc. They sound like they're bored.

They're booked in to be neutered next week. The vet gave them both a clean bill of health at their pre-op assessment yesterday, so I know there's nothing medically wrong with them.

They do play a lot. They have a huge luxury cat gym which they love, a house full of toys, plenty of laser pointer time, and a large garden/surrounding fields which they can access anytime through their cat flap. They do go out, although after 30 seconds outside this morning they were back whining that it was too cold and the grass was all crunchy.

I might try a toy treat dispenser, if nothing else it might buy me a few more minutes of peace!

Wow! It sounds like you're doing everything then! Bit dodgy to be letting them out if they're not neutered yet! Perhaps try and keep them in until next week's neutering.

Hopefully, neutering may he help to calm them down, but it's probably just because they're so young still. I'm sorry you're having problems with depression, it can't be easy if you can't relax at home. I hope the situation gets better soon.

Just thought of something else - could you get some Feliway? Might help to calm them?

If you feed them when they miaow at you, you are rewarding them for that behaviour and they will do it more and more.

If they do something you don't like, then put them down and walk away. They will learn.

Do YOU play with them though? Properly interact with them and wear them out with pouncing type toys? (Feathers on a fishing wire type thing) Do you talk to them? I know it's weird but they like it.

They might settle down once they've been fixed.

My cat is really vocal and he's been better since we switched his dry food to Applaws.

It's a bit of a shocker how vocal they can be ,isn't it?

Feliway is good stuff!

If you have a pet store or large supermarket nearby, then 'treat balls' should be easily obtainable and not that expensive. They're basically plastic spheres with holes in them through which the treats/kibble falls out or can be obtained. (Failing that, they should be buyable online.)

They should calm down a lot with some age on them and with being neutered.

Lots of luck.

Cozie's suggestion is a good one ( as always) I have a small Dreamies dispenser which Puccini likes, it was a free gift a while back.

I looked at those earlier today and considered buying one for Ozzy. I ended up buying him a Christmas hat instead.
After today's naughtiness I might get one.
Good luck OP.

Sorry if I missed it, but what dry food are you giving them? if it's one like Go-Cat or Whiskas, it will be full of carbs, and not much protein, and cats, being obligate carnivores, need lots of protein to make them feel full. I switch between Applaws and Orijen bought online. A wet meal once a day is nice for them, again avoiding anything with grains/cereals.

Like others have said, interactive play like chucking a ball, screwed up bits of paper etc. about for them to chase, laser pen (mine ignored the one that moves the laser by itself like the one upthread) and fishing wand toys are appreciated by my 2 boys. And they like it when you answer their miaows.

Are they a particular breed? Male or female?

As a PP pointed out, really bad idea to let them out until they've been neutered, they're old enough to breed at 5 months.

I have a shouty cat (we have four cats). It's amusing and I don't mind it but I imagine two kittens doing it constantly must be draining!

Please don't let them out until they are neutered. If they are female they will end up pregnant, if they are male, they could well wander in search of a female or end up in a fight.

Have you got any empty cardboard boxes? We managed to get one of those display boxes for crisps which contained six boxes and then we cut holes through so the cats could go from 'room to room'. Put treats in, hide toys, make things interesting.

They WILL calm down. They are the equivalent of a 2 year old child who needs attention constantly when they are awake. It will get easier.

Definately look at high protein biscuits, like Applaws. They should only need about 30grams a day (It will say on the bag) and maybe 1 pouch. They will feel fuller for longer.

Pouches contains mostly water. So I think its a bit like giving someone, say 4 yoghurts a day without a meal.

Sainsburys Encore is high protein as well.

Also is there worm treatment up to date?

they sound beautiful but I feel for you. I had a boy cat that was very hard work once.

I agree with pp, please don't let them out until they have been neutered.

They will settle down in time. It seems like all of the changes at the same time are overwhelming you (daughter moving away, new kittens, along with the change of season/weather), but give it time and they will settle down. You have made a promise to look after these cats forever, just give them some time. They can often sense your emotions so they may be unnerved by your feelings as well.

Are they girls? We have 2 6 month old kittens and they eat everything in sight. The boy has been done but the girl hasn't, and this week she's started calling and waving her backside in the air. The noise is ghastly.

She's booked into the vets for Wednesday

I've just picked the little buggers up from the vets after their op... They're still miaowing

Their worming is up to date, and they're fed on wainwright's grain free food, both wet and dry, after they refused to eat the hideously expensive raw food I bought them.

I think I am just feeling overwhelmed with everything at the moment, and their god awful noise is tipping me over the edge! Having said that, Margaret is curled up in my lap and Maureen is on my shoulder like a furry ginger parrot, both purring like mad. When they're quiet, they're actually rather lovely.

Omg fabulous names!!

My mum is a bit like this with the cats. I often visit and find her telling them off for meowing at her

I personally find it cute, but to others it can be nails on a chalkboard stuff.

Are they lap cats? Are they asking for affection?

They grow out of being little shit bags! My cat was a complete little bugger when little she was obsessed with destroying my expensive curtains. But thankfully very quiet. Her brothers my friends had and they were worse! They would cry at night and rip up the carpet outside their bedroom door trying to get in. They also would piss on their sofa! Our cats are all 5 now and are good cats. The boys no longer piss everywhere and cry and my little girl is the laziest little thing ever! Climbing curtains is far too energetic!! Hang in there!! Xxx

Gosh. You wouldn't need Siamese around!

Or a bastard Bengal

I always received the impression that Bengals just got on with their deeds (bad or otherwise) rather than - like Siamese - wanting to tell you all about it.

(With grace notes and full harmony where possible! )