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

Kittens are ruining my life

57 replies

TooManyButtons · 30/11/2016 13:21

(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!

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 07/12/2016 16:34

Nope, very, very vocal ime.

Normal cat- comes in and meows for some food. Eats food,goes to sleep.

Bengal - comes in,tells you it's raining outside and please make it stop, make it stop, go on human make it stop,oh yes I'm hungry,thanks no I want THAT good,yum this is nice , not quite as nice as yesterday's food but it'll do, clear the plate away now human, now I'll go for a sleep,I fancy a nap, maybe downstairs or perhaps upstairs .... once upstairs meows to let you know he's going to sleep.... Arghhhhhhhhhh!!!!Grin

It's quite wearing some days but he's calmed down a lot as he's got older,s o there's hope OP.

mistermagpie · 07/12/2016 16:34

I've got two Bengals and they certainly want you to know about every passing thought, whim or fancy that goes through their tiny minds! One of mine is a constant howler, I just sort of tune him out now (hes 7) but he was worse before he got neutered. The other one only howls if you leave the room (he hasn't worked out that he can follw you, although he is also 7...).

OP it sounds like you are doing everything you can, mine are louder when they are bored but I'm not sure what more you could be doing to be honest. Things like this do tend to settle after neutering so I would wait and see what happens after that.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 07/12/2016 16:38

Like this!!

TooManyButtons · 07/12/2016 16:39

I grew up with Siamese and Bengals - these are just mogs but it's the whining noise they make! I could cope if it was a normal miaow haha. I'm hoping they'll grow out of it. If not, they'll make a lovely pair of mittens to see me through the winter Grin

OP posts:
BaDumShh · 07/12/2016 16:39

It sounds as if it's just their age. I babysat for a friend's 2 kittens who were between 6-10 months old at the time, and I wanted to pull my hair out. They kept me up all night miaowing and running around, and they'd trashed the place. I adopted a 4 year old cat last year and she is an angel in comparison and is just like having a small, furry, quiet housemate. It sounds as if your kittens are at a difficult stage, which I'm sure they will grow out of eventually and be fine!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 07/12/2016 16:40

They must be vocal if you're used to Siamese and Bengals!

cozietoesie · 07/12/2016 16:44

Goodness - that's normal to me! Grin

When The Lodger moved in, I was more than a little concerned by how (comparatively) quiet he was. Wink

cozietoesie · 07/12/2016 16:46

Although at least, with bonded Siamese, they got to bed and sleep through till morning. Smile

cozietoesie · 07/12/2016 16:46

go

torthecatlady · 07/12/2016 16:55

Our kitten was very vocal, but after turning 1ish he quietened down a little. The buggers still rip up the carpet in the night though!

Fluffycloudland77 · 07/12/2016 16:57

I picked up our Bengal in front of guests, he made his usual racket & I could see their eyes widening in shock at the volume.

They looked quite concerned I might be hurting him.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 07/12/2016 17:13

One of my friends did the same, she said "oh my God what's WRONG with him?"

Errr nothing, he's just saying helloHmm

Purplebluebird · 07/12/2016 17:17

Aww poor kitties! Hehe :)
I don't know what to say, I know they can be hard work, but they will calm down eventually! It's like having a toddler. But without the tantrums ;)

Purplebluebird · 07/12/2016 17:18

Also, squeeze an orange into a spray water bottle, squirt above their heads when they scratch carpet outside your bedroom (just pop through the door)... They will stop quickly! At least ours stopped after a few days. Never in the eyes mind, just so it smells orangey around them!

sizeofalentil · 07/12/2016 17:22

I love cats but strongly dislike kittens. They are annoying, woefully small and are basically tiny balls of fury and claws wrapped in a cute package.

Could you free feed them? We put down an oven dish with cat food and let ours help themselves.

They'll calm down loads after neutering. At the moment they think you're a mother figure and have learned that whinging gets your attention.

SillyMoomin · 08/12/2016 06:02

Why hasn't anyone else demanded politely requested a photo yet??! Grin

Weedsnseeds1 · 08/12/2016 08:04

Mine was completely mute for about 3 months on arrival, then one day he gave a little micro-squeak. I lavished him with praise and he hasn't stopped since. To be fair it's mainly purring like a chain saw ( purring operates his legs, purring aids restful sleep, purring maintains stability when upside down), but he does announce his presence with a series of ack ack ack ack noises when entering a room and gives extremely noisy historical reenactments every time he has killed a mouse, complete with actions and commentary " then I jumped on it like this and I threw it in the air with this paw, then it ran and I chased it and jumped on it again...."

GinAndOnIt · 08/12/2016 08:14

It's threads like these that make me appreciate the fact that GinCat has lost his voice with age Xmas Wink

I want to see photos too!

TooManyButtons · 08/12/2016 09:36

Here they are: Maureen on the left, Margaret on the right. Poor Maureen, her sister certainly got all the looks Grin

Kittens are ruining my life
OP posts:
MissMarplesHat · 08/12/2016 09:43

They are gorgeous Smile

Meemolly · 08/12/2016 09:46

Oh they are beautiful!!! I'm sorry if you are finding it tricky at times but look at those cuties!!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 08/12/2016 09:47

Oh they're gorgeous, so pretty!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 08/12/2016 09:48

If they like to scratch then try door mats, my cat loves a good scratch especially if you spray cat nip on it.

GinAndOnIt · 08/12/2016 09:53

Oh my goodness, they are so adorable!

Weedsnseeds1 · 08/12/2016 10:38

Poor Maureen, she's just as beautiful as her sister!