Out of control kittens....

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2002
Out of control kittens....
6
Tue, 01-11-2005 - 11:14am

I have two cute kittens that are about 16 weeks old. I love them dearly but there's a few issues I'm tired of trying to deal with and hope there's some other options out there.

1.) They get on my table, island and side tables. Okay I didn't chase them off right away when they first got on the side tables but have always been on them for the other two and even though I've sent these cats flying (the water bottle seems to be joke for them) it doesn't seem to deter them much.

2.) One of the cats likes to go into the bathroom and pee on the wet towels if there's any on the floor. He's even gone as far as to poop on them. When I've seen it in there I took both of them in by the scruff of their necks, put their nose in it, shook them a little, swatted their bottom and then dropped them to the floor (not from a high distance though) I think the one has been in there and done it again though. I try to keep the bathroom door shut but with two kids it doesn't always get done. I shouldn't have to keep the door shut because they shouldn't be doing it. I forgot to mention both males and brothers.

3.) We have to lock them up at night or they will pounce and keep us up all night like they did the first two nights we had them. Would like to get it to where they would be nice a cuddly for my girls since the kittys belong to them.

Those are the only big problems I can think of off hand but if I think of anymore big ones I will be sure to post them. We do intend to get them fixed and front claws removed once they're big enough. I would like to think that it might end the peeing on the towels incidents but considering we rescued a dog and the thing peed on everything even after we had him fixed I don't see that one hobby stopping much.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Lynda

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 01-11-2005 - 11:30am

I'm not too sure that sticking their noses in it and swatting their butts and dropping them is going to do much, if anything. It may also have a negative impact on the cute and cuddly personalities you want them to have. I'm sure someone else will have suggestions, all I have to offer is my few comments.

Also, declawing isn't the only option - but that's a whole 'nuther subject. Clipping cat's claws is relatively easy - especially if you start when they are kittens.









Animals are forever - and so is their love.



Edited 1/11/2005 12:18 pm ET ET by zooker






Animals are forever - and so is their love.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2010
Tue, 01-11-2005 - 11:50am

I know others will have more to say than I do, but here's my 2 cents. Kittens are, by definition, out of control. LOL. Pouncing & playing at night is what they do. Now that you have the kittens, you need to be resigned to that. They will calm down as they get older. Where do you lock them up? Do they have food, water, a litterbox, & quiet toys in there with them? These are necessities.

Kittens (& cats) are not dogs. No amount of "punishment" will have any (desired) affect at all. Cats simply don't learn that way. "Putting their noses in it" is strictly a dog thing. I'm guessing that you grew up w/dogs? Be very wary of any "punishment" (again, avoid it altogether) that involves litterbox behavior. You may just condition them to get worse.

Inapproprite peeing behavior often begins w/soft things that are left on the floor. Your answer there is to NEVER leave ANYthing soft on the floor, or to close the door (as long as their litterbox isn't in there). I know that w/little kids, that's probably hard, but you're the human/grownup here. It's up to you. Make sure your DH kids pick up their towels. (Wouldn't you rather they did anyway?)

Declawing is a bad word around here. I'll let those more knowledgeable tell you why. And I promise that "sending the cat flying" is going to get you some harsh words here. We're a very friendly group, but you struck a couple of nerves.

Hope others can be more helpful.

Katz

 

 Katz

 

 

Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 01-11-2005 - 11:58am

Hi Lydia.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Tue, 01-11-2005 - 1:19pm
The easiest thing would be to use the clothes hamper. Maybe put a second litter box in or near the bathroom. I'm strongly against declawing. If God wanted declawed cats, dogs without long tails etc...he would have made them that way!!! Cats are very stubborn, it may take some time to break them from getting on the tables. What I did was put a chair and a couple of cat trees in the areas they liked to get in a high location. Good luck, you can make this a happy, positive experience for everyone. Donna
Avatar for cl_smilin_girl
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 01-11-2005 - 2:24pm

WOW! You are fast at replying!

Let me clear up a few things here. The 'flying' bit is if I catch them on a surface I give them a firm no and push them off of it. (No kitty throwing here. I've watched too much Animal Cops to make sure that my pets NEVER end up like those animals)I know they don't like the water bottle and I try to make sure they can see if from every area of the kitchen. The only thing is keeping my daughters from using it!

The declawing idea came from h (nothing 'd' about him!)so they wouldn't tear up the furniture. We have been trimming their nails basically since we got them. Boots doesn't seems to have a problem with it. Taz (who is very appropriately named) definitely needs some r&r before we go for his.

We lock them up in a pet carrier at night. It's very spacious. They do get before bed playtime but like you've all said, they're kittens. They're whole life is nothing but playtime right now.

Definitely going to work on the girls with keeping the wet towels off the floor and the bathroom door shut. The funny thing is, one time when Taz did it I was right there and saw what he was going to do and pushed him over and said no and he still did it while he was lying on his side! I'm wondering about the urine infection bit because I can change the litter one day and by the next it's absolutely terrible. Will have to call the vet for that. H's sister works for a vet clinic which makes it nice and cheap to get the meds. Since we were able to purchase the medicine for the worms and distemper shot and give it ourselves it saved us about $50 compared to the vet giving it and she checks them over everytime she's around them (which is a little more than I would like. Major family issues can't you tell? But that's for another board!)Whenever they do need actual hands on vet care we don't take them to the clinic she works at (i.e. dog had problems, they thought it was a twisted intestine. What did they do to diagnose the problem? Took a blood and urine sample. Now how is that going to tell us if the dog's intestines are twisted. $150 for nothing being wrong)We take them to the best vet around. (he came to our house to put one of our pets donw since he was afraid of the vets office and we didn't want him to have to go through the trauma of going there. After hours and charged the same price that the other one would for taking him to the office during hours. We live about 15 miles away from the good vets office and a lot closer to the other one) The other vet is more large animal oriented and pets aren't their favorite things.

Enough of my babbling and thanks for the advice!

Lynda

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Avatar for spejf
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
Tue, 01-11-2005 - 8:31pm

A word on declawing...DON"T.