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.

That's just what kittens do. I've had 4 kittens over the years and always budget to replace carpets, sofa, curtains and living room blinds with each one! Sometimes i get lucky and only have to replace the carpet!

You could try clipping his nails but if you haven't done that before, make an appointment with your veterinary nurse first to find out how to do it safely.

Finally, don't leave the poor thing alone, Ragdolls are super social able and you'll be breaking his little heart.

Completely agree.

Probably much better for the kitten if you return it to the breeder OP

I wasn’t saying I thought they would stay on the floor I was responding to the suggestion to get a second cat by saying I didn’t magically think that would stop the destruction 😂

How old is the kitten?

Two cats play with each other and are less likely to destroy your furniture. However if you can't cope with a cat being a cat then you should re-home him before he gets too settled.

Rehome him. Don’t get another cat.

Five ish months. Still little I know.

Have you ever had a cat before? Because cats destroy things, it’s in their nature. I accepted, when I got cats, that things like my sofa would get ruined. It goes with the territory. Maybe, as other people suggested, you should return him to the breeder.

In the nicest way it sounds like you haven’t understood the way cats operate and their nature. They want to be involved and know what’s happening. Closed doors are just a nightmare for them. I tend to find that as soon as I open the door they have a quick look and then they wander off again. They don’t actually want to be in there they just want the door to be open. They want to be up high and climb. They need to scratch for their health and to mark their territory. They are odd little creatures with their quirks but that’s why cat owners love them.

I purposefully only rescue adult cats as I know I don’t have the capacity to be home a lot with a kitten. My adult cat is also a streetwise moggie so can roam outside if she wants. You unfortunately don’t have that freedom with a designer kitten like a ragdoll.

im sorry you are struggling but the only thing I can suggest is redirection every time your cat does something you don’t want it to do. My cat loved being on the kitchen benches but I’d pick up every time and put her down. She’s now used to the fact that she doesn’t go there but can go anywhere else.

jf you want some space from your kitten (understandable) can you make sure one of the children is around to entertain them or your partner if you have one?

obviously potentially too late now but two kittens together especially litter mates will entertain each other. Your cat may be bored and being destructive as a result. With another kitten they can climb all over each other and play together to let off some steam and energy

I keep my cats claws clipped short. If I let them grow they would destroy everything.
Youtube videos will show you how to do it safely and you can get special clippers.

I’m going to get his nails done tomorrow to help. I think it’s been two ish months since they were done. When we asked at the vet a few weeks ago during his vaccine if she’d clip them they said not to and they only need them done yearly. I thought that was a bit odd. Other things I’ve read say every few weeks or so.

You shouldn't need to clip his nails at all if you have suitable scratching posts and surfaces for him.

The cat needs to be very still when clipping. You can get one of these. Its not cruel. My new kitten soon got used to it.
Yearly? You must be joking. My cats get clipped as soon as new points are visible.

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Thank you. Yes next time I will make sure he’s occupied when I leave him alone, or at least in an area he can’t destroy. We need to work on the kitchen bench soon, just in the last week he’s realised how to get up there and unfortunately it’s not safe up there - he might stand on the gas hobs while they are on or tip over the slow cooker etc. Scary to think about. I’m going to have to look at ways to keep him off.

See this is how I’ve got confused, by all the conflicting advice 😂. Honestly his nails look long to me. But he has lots of different kinds of scratching equipment - a rope and fabric tree, cardboard, etc

Aww, he's just a baby. My cats claw at the carpet sometimes, if they've been accidentally shut in somewhere, but, well thats part of having a cat. Don't be mad at him. Take it as a compliment that he loves you and wanted to be near you.

I've had 6 cats over the years and never once have I ever clipped their nails.

send him my way

You certainly should be checking them. Sometimes old cats neglect themselves and their claws can bend round and grow right into their paw pads.

I didn't say I didn't check them, just that in all my years of owning cats they've never once needed their nails clipping.

He is a baby bless him. Cats sometimes do scratch things they’re not supposed to. And as pp said jumping, climbing and so on are what cats do.

Yeah the kitchen benches thing was a big no for me as I don’t like the hygiene side of things. She got used to it after a while. Helps that she hates being picked up so she associates being on the bench with being picked up and that stopped her. Probably won’t work on a clingy cat if they like being held

Your film must have been quite loud, I can hear one of my semi ferals outside the back door when I'm watching TV 2 rooms away.

I'm currently waiting for some rather expensive ltv flooring to be installed to replace the carpet my stubborn old pair have trashed. They do it for fun. Were specifically getting an expensive realistic oak looking herringbone floor as real wood or carpet could be trashed by said cats. At least your kitten isn't weeing around randomly but their only a baby they need attention. You could watch the movie with the kitten pogoing round like a lunatic on your lap.

Scratching posts are not sufficient for large-breed active indoor cats. Outdoor cats make their own arrangements and can keep them shorter - just being outside a lot wears them down, and they can scratch things to their heart's content. An annual check/trim would be enough for them.

Has he been neutered yet? That usually calms male cats down a lot.