Do kittens go through the "terrible twos"?

I'm hoping that's what this is because that means it won't last

Our 7 year old cat Tulip passed away in November. After much thought we decided we wanted to adopt a new kitten. We already have Tulip's sister Pansy and our almost 2-year old black lab Isis.  In February, we adopted Storm from the Humane Society.  Her name definitely suits her. She's a wild one. Thankfully we're at a stage where her and Pansy sort of get along, Pansy is at least able to tolerate Storm even if she's annoyed by her.  Storm has always had a habit of getting into things but the last week or so she's gotten worse. She relentlessly jumps on the counter, knocks things over, and tries to climb the screens on the windows.  We try to use the spray bottle and tell her "no" when she's doing something bad. She doesn't like to be sprayed but she doesn't always jump off the counter when we're spraying her either. She actually will run over to the stove and climb up on the back of it, as if she's safe there. Crazy cat. My fear is that she'll run over there when the stove is on and burn herself, she doesn't seem to smart with things like that (she has stuck her chin and paw in hot wax of a burning candle...I only turned away for a second, needless to say, we've stopped burning candles).

Her and Pansy both scratch at the carpet on the stairs, they have a scratching post (two actually) right at the bottom of the stairs, we've tried countless times to redirect them to the scratching post but it doesn't seem to help...

Anyway, I guess what I'm wondering is if anyone has any other ideas we can try to get her to calm down. Her and the dog get along great and they often play together. But her constant jumping on the counter and getting into things is getting old fast. Not to say we'd ever give her up because of it. She's just lucky she's cute!

Thanks!

It could be the "terrible two's"  I have had a couple of mine go through them.  My boy, King Arthur, has his moments lately, as well (he'll be 2 in July) but his sister and littermate, Morgan La Fay, not so much.... So I think it depends on the personality of the cat?  My Phoebe is my wild child... She has calmed down a lot in the last year or so... But she was hell on paws from the time I got her to about 3 years old.  Not in a bad sense... But she was a hot mess... Into everything, tears up everything, crazy, crazy, crazy... But she is the sweetest little girl.  She just believes in living life to the fullest, that's how I explain her to people.  But she is a joy. 

King Arthur has been a brat lately.  He has his moments where I just grrrrrrrrrrrrr... But I love him.  He is still my angel boy!!!  Paige went through the terrible two's badly.  She was a witch in every sense of the word!!  Luckily, she also is doing a lot better this year.

More of a "teenager" stage than "terrible twos", I think. And, yeah, most kittens are crazy until they're about 18 months old. Some longer, some shorter. Some are crazier than others :tongue2:.

I forgot to mention that she's about 6 months old, she was born in November sometime. I just figured the "terrible twos" must coome sooner for cats

6 months old so it probably means your "stormy" days may last for about 18 more months or so.   When I had 6 kittens all the same age, they were a handful but one in particular - Go - got himself into everything. Guess because he was the smallest, he wanted to prove himself to the others or something. 

"Terrible two" is a good phrase for a cat. Their first 2 years I think, is when they are the most curious, active, brave, defiant, I remember reading that cats turn the equivalent of a 24 year old human by the time they are 2 years old, which explains a lot about their behavior. 

Has the kitten been spayed/neutered?  If not, it may be time for that.
 

Oh yes, she was spayed when we got her...which I thought was kind of early...but it's been done.  Well thanks everyone, looks like I just need to keep my patience in check for awhile yet.

Kittens have a huge amount of energy to burn and also get bored easily, which is why I almost always have got two at the same time - they entertain each other far better than I can, and are far less inclined to bother older cats that want a quiet life.

Your kitten is also becoming a teenager, except unlike most human teenagers she is bursting with energy.  Think terrible twos crossed with hormonal teenager.

It's certainly high time to get her neutered which may help a bit, but she probably also needs a more interesting environment.  Some more (a lot more!) play with her with things she can chase might help (Da Bird and so on), and personally I would shut her out of the kitchen when I'm cooking so she can't hurt herself.  I would give the candles a miss as well until she's calmed down.  In my own home I always put the lid down on the loo, as the consequences of a cat slipping as it tries to drink don't bear thinking about. 

Do they have high places they can go?   More high places than cats?  Your older cats might like high places to get out of her way!  Mine are manic (they are Orientals so they never really calm down) and I've managed to cat-proof my back garden.  They love playing out there, and since I finished it a year ago I think they are calmer in the house.  They also love sitting where they can see out, and threatening the birds.  If you can manage some sort of safe outdoors with free access for them that might help a lot.

This is how one couple made their home fascinating for their cats:

http://www.thecatshouse.com/

And another take on environmental enrichment for cats:

http://www.fabcats.org/behaviour/cat_friendly_home/info.html

(This mentions beds.  My cats very kindly let me share their bed!)

Having issues with my own terrible kitten right now. He is about 6 months old and into EVERYTHING. I found this thread and it helped calm my nerves about it a little, knowing that it's not unusual. But it also made me dread the 18 or so months more that I have to deal with this. So I wanted to follow up with you now that it has been a few years... how did your kitten turn out? Did it get out of their terrible stage? 

sookiecat said:

Having issues with my own terrible kitten right now. He is about 6 months old and into EVERYTHING. I found this thread and it helped calm my nerves about it a little, knowing that it's not unusual. But it also made me dread the 18 or so months more that I have to deal with this. So I wanted to follow up with you now that it has been a few years... how did your kitten turn out? Did it get out of their terrible stage? 

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to TCS!
Don't worry, he'll calm down eventually, usually around the age of 18 - 24 months, earlier if you're lucky. Kittens can be really exhausting, but they're a lot of fun at that age, too. They have a whole world to explore, and just about anything is a toy. :lol3:

    Whats Doin Storms owner,

      I had a 10 year old cat, who got diabetes, and needed insulin twice a day. I wasn't able to hold him down, and give him a shot. What  really worried me was a needle breaking off, and needing to have it removed. So, I had him put down, two hours later, came home from a local shelter, with a one year old calico kitten. Her name in Gypsy. She turns two on Dec. 19th.

     She is the love, and salvation of my life. When I first got her, she would sleep by my head on the bed, sit on my lap on the sofa until my legs fell asleep, and would let me hold her, whenever I wanted.

     However, in the last 6 weeks, she has definitely changed. She'll sleep on the bed, but only for about 15 minutes. Then, she gets down, and sleeps on a blanket on the next to the bed. She sleeps on the sofa, but at the other end. And, I'm only allowed to hold her for no more then a minute or so. It's funny, she wants her independence, but is never less then 5 feet from Daddy, at any given time.  

    She also has decided that she wants a little treat, when Daddy gets home from work in the morning. I work the 3rd shift, at a local supermarket. If, she gets it, and all I give her is 10 pieces, and she's happy. BUT, if she doesn't get her snack, she runs around the apartment, at speeds, that would put an F-15 to shame. At first, I would very gentle grab her by the scruff of the neck, and say in a stern voice, that's enough, and she would stop. However, after a couple of times of that, I noticed she would cringe whenever I came near her, so I stopped that. Now, she doesn't cringe any more. Now, I just say in a stern voice, that's enough, and she starts to wane down. I now have her to every other day for treats, and a stern voice, on the other ones, and that seems to be working, for the most part.

    I also give her a little of whatever meat, be it chix, tuna, pork, etc., when I make dinner, and that seems to idle the engines a little.  

    I think what she needs is a partner to play with. But, I live on the second floor, and I'm afraid that they would make to much noise, and the landlord would get pissed off. I should be moving next year, and maybe I'll get another one then.

   All this is to say yes, I think cats can go through the terrible twos.

   I wonder if part of the problem, is that she doesn't go out at all. She does have two perches by two windows, that she is always sitting on looking at the birds, people, cars, and now the leaves falling from the trees.

   Good luck, and lets say in touch.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Bob 

Hi @Bobby2015 and welcome to TCS!

This thread is relatively old and kittiei may not see it, but thank you for your input.

You might like to come and introduce yourself and Gypsy in our New Cats on the Block  forum.