Spay

Will spaying our 6 month old kitten calm her down? She is so energetic, but she's becoming destructive, she's clawed our faces a few times now, and claws our hands most days. I know scratches is all part of having a kitten, but she's taking it to the extreme! We make sure we play with her plenty, and she has a whole box of toys to keep her amused. She's terrorising Roxy, who's 4. She just won't leave her alone, she's forever leaping on her. I've made Roxy a hidey hole in my wardrobe so she can get some quiet time. I know (hope!) Molly the kitten will calm down with age, and we are following all the suggestions on here, using time out in a quiet place, discouraging negative behaviour and showing her something positive behaviour instead. I just wondered if getting her spayed will help?

not so much. Spaying helps for territorial behavour.  But here I think it is more a teenager problem.  AND behavioural problem.  

You could think spaying, taking away the hormones, takes also away the teenager isssues. But it doesnt seem so...  Spayed cats do have their normal teenager time, just like anybody else.  Minus spraying and peeing.  

Anyway, it is time now for spaying anyhow.  Unless you are determined to have a litter on  her, perhaps being a breeder, there is no point in waiting.

Try to spy where she is NOT in heat.

Good luck!

I agree - spaying will not change her personality or her energy level. BUT if you don't get her spayed - she could become much more dominant as the month's go by and will probably start spraying urine as well. As for spaying - it will definitely help with keeping the hormones away and from her becoming territorial. She sounds like a typical energetic six month old kitten :nod:. Try having scheduled ten to fifteen minute play sessions with her each day. Use interactive wand toys. Just make sure to put the toys away when you are done playing with them - the wand toys have string.

Sounds like she is a bored teenager.  Yes, spay her, coming into season won't help, but she also needs teaching not to bite & claw, and enough play and so on.  Unfortunately the best toy for a cat is another cat, but I mean when you get two at the same time as kittens.  That's certainly the case for my Oriental Blacks who burn up vast amounts of energy playing with each other despite being 4 years old now.

Suggest you Google 'bored cats' and have a look through the results for some ideas.

It never calmed my Jack down either. I would get her booked in now to be spayed though Jessy so the howling for a mate doesn't start

Get a Feliway diffuser as well for Roxy, and some Rescue Remedy from the chemist or supermarket for both of them, because it'll calm them both down

One day i'm going to have the camera at my side to video him when he has his night time crazies. He runs along the back of the sofa then onto the other one like it was the wall of death at the fairground, that with his growling as he does it has me in hysterics while Rosie and Sophie wonder what's wrong with him

OrientalSlave said:

Suggest you Google 'bored cats' and have a look through the results for some ideas.

Click to expand...

Interesting tip.  Tx!  

The other posters' thoughts are well-put; I'd just like to add that I hope you'll be able to enjoy your cat's unique personality just as it is!  Each cat has a very unique personality; all of the cats in our family have their playful and rambunctious times, from our "baby" of 7 years all the way up to our two guys, at 17.  I wouldn't change a thing.  When you love your friends or family members, you accept them just as they are.  It should be the same with our beloved feline family members. 

Thank you everyone, @TarasGirl, I promise you, we love her very very much, as we do Roxy and the guinea pigs. We love all of our fur babies very much. We make sure to spend time playing with Molly, and she has interactive toys too. We will make sure to keep entertaining her. :-)