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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

When will the kitten stage end!!!

19 replies

Cherrycoke2 · 09/05/2023 10:27

I have a 13 week old kitten and my god I hate it!! I don't hate her, I love her and she isn't doing anything wrong. She is just being a regular kitten doing kitten things. She is extremely cute and funny and I don't regret getting her. I just hate the experience of having a kitten and want her to hurry up and grow up.

I've never had a kitten before. Safe to say I don't think I'd ever get one again. At what age would you say they become less kittenish and calm down?

OP posts:
Scaryshepherd · 09/05/2023 10:28

What sort of things is she doing?

MrsSkylerWhite · 09/05/2023 10:28

Sorry but I really don’t understand why you acquired a kitten in the first place. Did you do no research? What did you expect 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
Cherrycoke2 · 09/05/2023 10:39

@MrsSkylerWhite yeah I did my research, I didn't expect anything other than what she is doing. She isn't doing anything that surprises me or I didn't expect, I just thought I would love it but I don't. She doesn't know this though, I never tell her off or anything. I play with her and cuddle her and spend lots of time with her. It's just I'm struggling and not really enjoying the experience.

@Scaryshepherd she constantly jumps at me and her claws are extremely sharp. We gave them a little trim a few weeks ago but must need doing again. I'm covered in scratches all over, she has so so many toys and interactive things and for the whole 5 weeks we have been trying to reach her not to do it. Pulling her off and distracting her with other toys etc. But her favourite game no matter how much we try to stop her is diving on my and crawling up my legs. Or she will crawl up very quietly behind me while I am working and then dive on top of my head and her nails in my scalp really really hurt. I know she is just playing though but I can't wait for her to calm down

OP posts:
Want2beme · 09/05/2023 11:04

You've got a long way to go, yetGrin They start to calm down at 12 months going into their teenage years, but it can be a little earlier than that. They're still playful after that age, but not as much.

Scratches are part and parcel of living with cats, I'm afraid.

Your cat tax hasn't been paid!

VenusStarr · 09/05/2023 11:09

Hate to say it, but my 14 year old cats both still have their kitten moments... 😼

Scaryshepherd · 09/05/2023 11:12

I’ve had many cats and kittens over the years and never trimmed their claws. Is this a thing?
unfortunately cats are generally arseholes and don’t always calm down. I don’t have cats at the moment and really miss them.

Watercoloursky · 09/05/2023 12:10

Our two are 9 months old and still have plenty of crazy moments! They don't pounce on us, though - possibly because they have each other to wrestle with? I wonder if that's what's going on with yours... my sister has an 'only cat', and he is notorious for leaping on them like you describe - maybe in both cases, that's the cat treating its owner like a fellow kitten, because they don't have a feline friend to 'kitten' with?

Travelfan2021 · 09/05/2023 12:13

This reply has been withdrawn

Removed at poster's request due to privacy concerns.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 09/05/2023 12:18

I don't think cats are the pets for you so I'd look to rehome asap.

TiredandLate · 09/05/2023 12:22

My experience matches pp about 2 kittens wearing each other out. My two are just over a year old and have never scratched me. They come to me for cuddles and play fight each other.

Original poster
Cherrycoke2 · 09/05/2023 12:29

I already have another cat so I can't get another kitten. Someone said they don't think cats are for me but I've had cats all my life, just never a kitten. I got my current resident at 10 months old, he is still playful, however he absolutely hates the kitten as she is too much for him. When they are together she does the same to him, she pounces on him and he gets really stressed out with it. She is only trying to play with him so I thought it'd get better but he starts to turn aggressive because she does not leave him alone even when he hissed and growls and slaps her. The more wound up he gets, the more hyper she gets. So i'm hoping when she is a bit older and calmer he will be ok with her. Another reason I can't wait for her to get older.

Basically I just shouldn't have got a kitten! But I didn't know that at the time and it's done now. I just need to know when it might start to get better 😂

OP posts:
mc33 · 09/05/2023 12:29

Don't trim her claws, get a scratching post instead! She'll start to climb curtains eventually (just a warning, lol). But she will grow out of it. This is just the crazy stage

Original poster
Cherrycoke2 · 09/05/2023 12:35

@mc33 oh really? I was told they can be trimmed as kitten claws are so sharp. I didn't do it myself, the vet did it when we went for her first vaccinations. I'd be too scared to do it myself. I do have two scratch posts in the house

I don't mind about the curtains, I was expecting all of that anyway hahah. It's just her scratching me that's really spoiling my enjoyment of her because it's so painful. The other day I was getting dressed and she dived on my legs and slid down them. I had blood trickling down my legs it HURTS. As soon as I'm not playing with her toys with her she just attacks me (playfully). She won't play with her toys on her own unless I play with her too. So we spend lots of time playing but I can't do it 24/7 :(

OP posts:
mc33 · 09/05/2023 13:12

Cherrycoke2 · 09/05/2023 12:35

@mc33 oh really? I was told they can be trimmed as kitten claws are so sharp. I didn't do it myself, the vet did it when we went for her first vaccinations. I'd be too scared to do it myself. I do have two scratch posts in the house

I don't mind about the curtains, I was expecting all of that anyway hahah. It's just her scratching me that's really spoiling my enjoyment of her because it's so painful. The other day I was getting dressed and she dived on my legs and slid down them. I had blood trickling down my legs it HURTS. As soon as I'm not playing with her toys with her she just attacks me (playfully). She won't play with her toys on her own unless I play with her too. So we spend lots of time playing but I can't do it 24/7 :(

I was told (and taught at college) not to trim them, so I've never trimmed my cats.
Sounds like you've definitely got a lively one! I had one a few years ago. She was absolutely mad but very entertaining. (I have a cat who was a year older than her which saved me as they got on really well). Maybe try some catnip to entice her to her toys when you want a break?

Whatalife88 · 09/05/2023 14:21

I have a 2 year old cat and she's driving me mad pouncing about and scratching the sofas, curtains and running off with my toddlers toys today so you've got a while yet lol

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 09/05/2023 14:35

My cat used to spring from the top of the fridge, onto our heads, for the entire 13 years of her life. She particularly favoured the bald head of my grandpa 😄

Sorry OP

Original poster
Cherrycoke2 · 09/05/2023 16:26

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 09/05/2023 14:35

My cat used to spring from the top of the fridge, onto our heads, for the entire 13 years of her life. She particularly favoured the bald head of my grandpa 😄

Sorry OP

Hahahaha this made me laugh 😂 brill so I should just buckle in for the ride then

OP posts:
GalileoHumpkins · 14/05/2023 15:48

I've always had cats but getting a kitten was a completely different and unpleasant experience! I was not prepared for the amount of biting and scratching that ensued, it was horrendous. Thankfully he calmed down massively by about 8 months and is now a very polite little gentleman 🤗

Pixiedust1234 · 14/05/2023 15:58

You say you are playing with her using toys but are you giving her the impression you are part of a toy as well?

You need to throw balls and catnip mice so she only sees those and not your hand. Dont kick the balls or roll them to get her attention otherwise she will associate feet as an extension to the toy. Get the toys on a string/stick to play, throw balls up the stairs (as she will watch stairs and not you as it bumps down each step).

Otherwise consider her a toddler. Human toddlers slowly calm down over several years there is no sudden stop. Some cats calm down around 1yr, others 3yrs, some 8yrs, some never. Same as humans.

PS where is the cat tax, we need pictures Grin

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