So annoyed at my cat

[SkyBlue1987]

Soo annoyed at my kitten right now, he’s clawed and destroyed our carpet. I’ve shut him in a room while I calm myself down but please talk me out of rehoming him because my kids love him. I know it’s not his fault I’m just frustrated that he is so destructive and am at a loss what to do - no other kitten I know is this destructive. He has so many toys and scratching posts but we have had multiple couches, curtains, dining chairs, duvets, shoes, kids stuffed toys, books eaten all destroyed.

I feel your pain. He will grow out of it. Make sure you have lots of playtime and channel his energy away from your soft furnishings.

How old is he now?

I guess he doesn't do the destroying when you are there as you'd stop him, is he left on his own a lot?

When my kittens are left alone for any length of time, I leave them in a room where they can't hurt themselves or anything else. I've have had to confiscate all soft toys because they rip them apart - and if they eat the filling it could result in an expensive vet trip.

You do have to expect clawing of sofa and carpet. But if you can, keep him away from things like duvets, soft toys etc. I know it's more difficult when you have kids. As PP said, he will grow out of it. And if you let him outside after he's neutered he will have other things to occupy him.

Unfortunately he’ll be an inside cat as is a ragdoll and we live in a busy area, but are hoping to get a catio. He’s only left by himself one day a week, but we leave doors open when we are out so he doesn’t have a need to claw carpet. The reason he clawed the carpet tonight was because I was already tired and in a bad mood and wanted some time without a kitten climbing all over me - so took myself to bed to watch a movie and shut the bedroom door - he wanted in and clawed the carpet (didn’t hear him over movie).

Ime this is what happens when you get 1
dkitten and not 2..

Our girl was such a destructive kitten, chewed through so many wires. She grew out of it by 1, but you’ve got to keep him very entertained. I realise now adopting her on her own was our first mistake, and our second was not so much a mistake as I would do it again, but we held off letting her out until she was bigger and older and that helped as she needed the stimulation.

Of course he wanted in, he is lonely.

He needs a lot more stimulation that you’re giving him, honestly he sounds a little distressed, shutting him out when you were clearly awake and there?

Your mistake was shutting the bedroom door.

He’s definitely not lonely he’s been around a busy family non stop all day - I just needed a bit of time to myself for my sanity.

we adopted two adult cats, also destroyed our carpets. They’re outdoor as well so plenty of things for them to do. I know it’s not what you want to hear but some things you just have to accept

So I’ve heard but I’m not convinced a second kitten would magically stop them both running all over the furniture and that they would just stay on the floor.

They are cats, They go where they like.

Get him a scratching pad as well as the post. And a friend. But also, he’s just a kitten and there’s not much else you can do except remind him not to scratch. A firm no every time he does it or hiss in his face like his mum would do.

Of course they won't stay on the floor. Cats like to be up high, jumping and playing. Normal behaviour.

Is your camera broken OP?

My latest are two brothers, now 6 months old - my carpets are buggered! It’s just a cat thing. The worst for it is my 9 year old female.
I basically replace the stair carpet every 2 years with more cheap carpet as it gets destroyed.
10 year old moggie weed on a photo of my dd2 this week and it’s ruined ( can’t be replaced and it’s one of my faves) I have a cupboard full of nice pottery I need to glue back and my sofas are scratched- I just think that’s cats!

Why would you think a cat would ever stay on the floor to begin with? They are climbers and explorers and hunters.

If you leave him alone with access to soft furnishings and duvets, he will occupy himself in whatever way he can, because he's bored. Having toys or scratching posts makes no difference - he doesn't know that they are 'his' and the duvets are not.

And if you shut him out of a room he will do his best to get in because he wants to be with you.

And as for not running over furniture and staying on the floor - he's a cat! They climb and jump and they 'strop' their claws on items to keep them sharp. Staying on the floor is NOT going to happen. Your expectations are not in line with cat behaviour.

Think about returning him to the breeder, all good breeders will accept their kittens/cats back.

Stay on the floor? You can't train a cat to behave like a dog.

I don't think you understand cats. They don't just stay on the floor. They do not do that. It's hard-wired in their nature to want to be high up or find somewhere really comfy to lie that is safe and off the floor; and that means your furniture.

He was lonely

Agree with the above, we’ve got two ragdolls, they are a needy but wonderful breed that need lots of love and attention. Ours would scratch the carpets if we shut the door, hence them basically ruling the house and sleeping on my pillow. I do agree that a second one helps keep them occupied but if you’re already concerned about them getting up on the furniture then adding another one possibly isn’t the right move.

@SkyBlue1987 How old is he, and has he been neutered yet?

Maybe you need a dog… or a hamster

If you have had to shut him in a room while you calm yourself down, I think you need to seen if the breeder will take him back or rehome.

He's a cat, behaving like a cat. Imo you destroyed your own carpet by not openomg the bedroom door.

This is one of the reasons rescues always want to rehome kittens in pairs. They won’t get lonely and will entertain each other- that doesn’t mean no destruction happens but less.

A kitten is used to constant company from its litter mates, you can’t say “it had company all day so now can be left alone for the evening”.

A tip - cats are generally either horizontal or vertical scratchers - sounds like yours is horizontal so make sure you have flat scratching areas as well as vertical posts. We have two coir doormats and our cat loves to scratch those (she ignored any posts we bought). But yes the carpet gets attacked occasionally especially if she is shut in or out.