Page 2 | 18 week old kitten constantly attacking us

3orstickto2 · 2023-10-20T09:22:45+00:00

As titled really you can't walk without her pouncing and biting your legs etc. she is constantly attacking my 16 month old (who doesn't bother her) Hel be happily playing and shel go right for his neck! Is this normal kitten behaviour, will she grow out of it! I can't have my children constantly attacked and it's getting to the point I am considering re-homing her. Thank you

NigelHarmansNewWife · 20/10/2023 22:07

Our cat loves a toilet roll - it's around mouse size and she'll chase it around and wrestle with it. Hours of fun.

DangerousAlchemy · 21/10/2023 07:29

I foster for a charity and we only rehome our kittens in pairs. For this reason . I'd suggest adopting another kitten or rehoming. But be aware all charities are full atm - we are inundated with weak and sick kittens this week - so you might struggle to rehome easily. I'm surprised a charity allowed you to take a single kitten if you didn't already have another young cat for it to play with tbh.

SchittOnIt · 21/10/2023 08:32

A few years ago we rehomed a single kitten and he was chaos - required lots of playing and attacked anything and everything. Our curtains and legs took the brunt of it. I remember thinking what on earth have we done! But we’ve recently rehomed a pair of rescue kittens and it’s a completely different experience - they play endlessly with each other. Don’t get me wrong, they still cause chaos - but more from zooming about chasing each other. Maybe see if a rescue nearby would consider rehoming a single kitten of a similar age? There are so many needing homes at the moment.

Caerulea · 21/10/2023 08:39

We've a single kitten (now 7 months) but also have 3 collies, one of whom has become the kittens plaything. Once he realised how rough (and it's so rough looking! Thankfully no claws out) he could play with the dog it was a game changer. It's like they need rough play.

In terms of toys, his favourite by a huge margin are these super cheap springs from b&m. We have fetch sessions & he loves it, eyes like saucers tearing after the spring to bring it back over & over.

Literally as I type he's just knocked off a super delicate houseplant behind me. AS I TYPE! MY GOD THE MESS!

I take it all back. Kittens are awful. Put it in the bin.

DelCalMun · 21/10/2023 08:49

Is she tri coloured? They're known to be more feisty. Was she removed too young from her mother and litter mates? Early learning amongst their own family is important for a kitten. We had a similar situation to yours and my toddler son started fighting back. It wasn't going to end well. We rehomed her and she didn't change, the family had older kids so they could cope with her, just about. Obviously every cat is different, but this was our experience.

Waves93 · 21/10/2023 11:51

Our kitten was the same when we got her even though she had plenty of toys and attention. The girl I had her off lied about her age though (said she was 8 weeks she was more like 5 or 6 🙄) as she was still very young so would have still been playing with her siblings.
I decided after a few weeks of my hands and feet getting attacked to get another one! she stopped attacking us straight away as she had the little play mate that she needed ☺️ 2 together are 100% better than 1 in my opinion! They are 10 and 9 months old now. They love each other, constantly snuggling or playing, and they have each others company while we are at work

Jellytot1234 · 21/10/2023 16:08

Totally normal behaviour. This is why kittens and very young children aren’t always a great mix and why a lot of rehoming places won’t allow them to go to homes with children under 5. I don’t think I got our kitten until my son was about 4 which seemed perfect. I think it’s really sad that you’d consider rehoming a kitten because of… well; kitten behaviour. Surely you had some idea or sense of how kittens can be or should have researched. Luckily- your kitten will calm down with age but getting another kitten now you’re in this kitten mess could be a good option and may well distract the kitten from your toddler.. or maybe it won’t and then you’ll have 2 kittens going at your toddler 😬😂

Isthisasgoodasitis · 21/10/2023 17:13

She needs another kitten to play with she’s struggling with lack of feline interaction and sounds like she left mum too soon which is a problem

nanamoo · 21/10/2023 20:11

kittens do rough play, they need a lot of stimulation. I've recently got this pair of almost 13 week old kittens and the way they play is crazy. They are like a pair of baby Tasmanian devils lol They are better in pairs because they play together compared to a single kitten, hence why they 'attack' their humans. At that age they sleep, eat, play & repeat. If you play with the more with dangle toys etc it will tire them out as well as directing their energy to an appropriate toy other than yourselves.

18 week old kitten constantly attacking us

nanamoo · 21/10/2023 20:14

Caerulea · 21/10/2023 08:39

We've a single kitten (now 7 months) but also have 3 collies, one of whom has become the kittens plaything. Once he realised how rough (and it's so rough looking! Thankfully no claws out) he could play with the dog it was a game changer. It's like they need rough play.

In terms of toys, his favourite by a huge margin are these super cheap springs from b&m. We have fetch sessions & he loves it, eyes like saucers tearing after the spring to bring it back over & over.

Literally as I type he's just knocked off a super delicate houseplant behind me. AS I TYPE! MY GOD THE MESS!

I take it all back. Kittens are awful. Put it in the bin.

All my cats LOVE the cat springs, even the new kittens love them! I get mine from Amazon.

nanamoo · 21/10/2023 20:30

My lot (7 adult cats and 2 kittens) love these toys, their faves are the fuzzy worms and the springs

Proseccoismyfriend · 21/10/2023 20:35

You need a 'red dot'! Our cats love the little mouse from b&m and chase the red dot on the floor. Their 16 & 12 now and even the sound of turning it on they know and come running to play, it's a great distraction and will tire her out. Kittens are wild until about 10 months old!

Original poster

3orstickto2 · 21/10/2023 20:36

Jellytot1234 · 21/10/2023 16:08

Totally normal behaviour. This is why kittens and very young children aren’t always a great mix and why a lot of rehoming places won’t allow them to go to homes with children under 5. I don’t think I got our kitten until my son was about 4 which seemed perfect. I think it’s really sad that you’d consider rehoming a kitten because of… well; kitten behaviour. Surely you had some idea or sense of how kittens can be or should have researched. Luckily- your kitten will calm down with age but getting another kitten now you’re in this kitten mess could be a good option and may well distract the kitten from your toddler.. or maybe it won’t and then you’ll have 2 kittens going at your toddler 😬😂

Lol! I suppose I was naive! Growing up we've only had adult cats. Don't know whether to get another as per lots of advice or if I'm doubling my problem 🙈

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Original poster

3orstickto2 · 21/10/2023 20:40

DelCalMun · 21/10/2023 08:49

Is she tri coloured? They're known to be more feisty. Was she removed too young from her mother and litter mates? Early learning amongst their own family is important for a kitten. We had a similar situation to yours and my toddler son started fighting back. It wasn't going to end well. We rehomed her and she didn't change, the family had older kids so they could cope with her, just about. Obviously every cat is different, but this was our experience.

Thank you, she is tri coloured, I think lol!

OP posts:

Original poster

3orstickto2 · 21/10/2023 20:41

SchittOnIt · 21/10/2023 08:32

A few years ago we rehomed a single kitten and he was chaos - required lots of playing and attacked anything and everything. Our curtains and legs took the brunt of it. I remember thinking what on earth have we done! But we’ve recently rehomed a pair of rescue kittens and it’s a completely different experience - they play endlessly with each other. Don’t get me wrong, they still cause chaos - but more from zooming about chasing each other. Maybe see if a rescue nearby would consider rehoming a single kitten of a similar age? There are so many needing homes at the moment.

Thank you. I may look into that. She is also a darling, don't get me wrong. She comes and sleeps on our bed all night long which is so sweet x

OP posts:

Original poster

3orstickto2 · 21/10/2023 20:43

DangerousAlchemy · 21/10/2023 07:29

I foster for a charity and we only rehome our kittens in pairs. For this reason . I'd suggest adopting another kitten or rehoming. But be aware all charities are full atm - we are inundated with weak and sick kittens this week - so you might struggle to rehome easily. I'm surprised a charity allowed you to take a single kitten if you didn't already have another young cat for it to play with tbh.

It wasn't from a rescue, a family friend needed help with re-homing kittens, we have given her a loving home and it's good to hear all is normal so I Will persevere xx

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Sameshitdifferentdayx · 21/10/2023 21:07

She looks beautiful though 🥺
We've also got a tri coloured kitten.. She's more playful than our older girl was at 9 weeks. 🤣😂

PickledMuffin · 21/10/2023 21:34

Awwwwww she's sooooo cute!!!!

3WildOnes · 21/10/2023 21:38

Get her a playmate. We have always got kittens in pairs. Then they play fight with each other and only occasionally attack you.

nanamoo · 21/10/2023 22:38

3orstickto2 · 21/10/2023 20:40

Thank you, she is tri coloured, I think lol!

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She looks like a bicoloured tabby and so gorgeous 😀

Daisyblue77 · 23/10/2023 14:04

Totally normal. Thats why its best to get 2 kittens.

Kristy20 · 24/10/2023 00:19

Completely normal behaviour for a kitten that age. You need to reframe your thinking.. what you’re seeing as an ‘attack’ is how kittens/cats play.

If you get kitty some toys and play with her more often, you’ll probably see an improvement in the problematic behaviour. Good 20-30 minute play sessions, or preferably just until she tires out enough to lose interest on her own.

If you don’t have the time for this level of play, it may be better to rehome her. But there’s most likely nothing ‘wrong’. She’s just a kitten being a kitten.

Madwife123 · 24/10/2023 00:37

This is why kittens should always be in pairs. They need a friend to play fight with. Otherwise they use you!

Pigriver · 24/10/2023 18:54

Yup completely normal. I wanted just one kitten but DH was adamant we got 2. I'm so pleased we did. They are 12 weeks old and mental. Either snoozing or chasing and pouncing on each other. They cuddle up and groom each other too.
They love to climb DH 's chair while he is working and lay on his keyboard.
They are currently laid/scrambling around next to me chasing each other tails.