Biting, hyper, unloving lil kitty!

Is he neutered?   If you already mentioned that he is, sorry, I missed that part.  If he is not neutered, he will calm down somewhat when his hormones stop racing through his body.  You will notice a BIG difference then. 

Have you tried using feliway diffusers? I heard that it can really help some cats calm down. Why is it the really cute cats can be so naughty? 

sazcork said:

Hello everyone, I am at the end of my teather and dont know what to do. I have posted before about my cat anf things are getting worse. He was rescued from a ditch at 5/6 weeks old and we took him in immediately. He was injured amd over the last 7 months have been loving and caring for him. He is a confident yound cat now and seems to have the same issues, only worse. He is aggressive, constantly snaps and bites. Not painfully, but its irritating and I was told he would grow out of it. He is constantly doing bold things and getting our backs up that we give out and he runs. But still goes back to it.we had to buy a couch as he was ripping up our landlords leather couch. Now he just ripped a huge bundle of masking tape off the walls and took all the paint with it. Im so angry now I do not know what to do. You cannot teach a cat or punish it.....it doesnt respond. Him in particular, he hates me and I am fully convinced of it. He is a beautiful cat, I was told a Khao Manee, which is one of the rarest cats in the world, but now I want him anywhere but here in my home.

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Sounds like you have been having a hard time @sazcork  , and it must be especially hard when you raised Bowie from such a young age.

As others have said, he sounds like a really active, high energy cat.  I suspect he is an inteligent cat too.  Even less energetic cats can be distructive when they are bored, and inteligent cats need stuff going on to keep them busy.  High energy, needing things to keep his brain busy, and being a teenager is pretty much your most challenging cat because they need loads of input from you.   Add to that little recipe that Bowie has related to humans and not other cats and the picture complicates even more because he is probably looking to you for all his interaction, and has not learned the lessons most cats do from their feline siblings and parents - like biting and scratching hard are not OK.

Mouse was high energy until he was about 2 1/2 (then turned in to a slug almost over night), and without siblings he grew up thinking biting was the best way to get attention....  I brought him home at 5 months and he scared me to bits every night for about 3 weeks because he kept biting my face when I tried to go to sleep, and if I stood still or knelt on the floor he would literally throw himself up at my head and land belly first in my face.  I couldn't find anything anywhere that explained his behaviour and was beside myself with what to do (thankfully he's never used his claws so there was some damage limitation).   Then one day I was watching a video I'd taken of him playing with his cat mom and it suddenly hit me - he was play fighting and bugging me for attention the same as he did with his mom.   I was just a big cat to him.   He had too much energy, needed constant entertainment and if I didn't run that energy off and tire him to the point of his needing sleep he would do what he knew would get my attention....

And remember, any movement is going to stimulate a cat, either to hunt and chase or to defend / attack depending on how secure they are.   If you respond in any way that response reinforces their actions and the behaviour is likely to end up in a repeating cycle whether you want it to or not.

It can seem impossible at the start, and scary, but there are some great articles here on TCS that look at aggressive play, and how to 'train' cats in to behaviours you would prefer them to use.   Even if you have looked at them before, I think they are always worth reminding yourself of when you're going through a patch of challenging behaviours with a cat, and to try and stick to the 'ignoring' unwanted actions unless they are really harmful - find any way you can to make them less harmful so you can ignore them while you work through things.  And remember http://www.thecatsite.com/a/cats-and-discipline-dont-mix

Look at any games that might give Bowie more of a challenge and engage him when you're not around too, and stuff that you can get him racing about really hard with you for, like DaBird and other fishing rod toys.   The only toy or game Mouse would use on his own was the Catit circuit and I'd hear that rattling away at night once he'd learned not to keep chewing my nose or toes.   I used to have to play with Mouse for 4 or more half hour sessions every day to keep him from pouncing at my head - now he only does it about once ever 6 months and sleeps most of the time and I find myself missing those wild cat days.  Hmmmm.

Good luck with Bowie calming down soon, and learning that you are not a cat playmate that he should spend his days and nights hunting.  He looks gorgeous. ( But then, so does Mouse. He had to or I'd have traded him in ROFL)

Kitten hijinks and energy -- he sounds like a normal, healthy kitten!  I bought a heavy glove at a cat supply place (don't remember which one because I've had it for a long time, but you might try catclaws.com ) that is heavy enough for even the sharpest of little teeth and claws!  It's a leopard-print faux fur and comes up halfway on the arm.  Jackson Galaxy, cat behaviorist and host of Animal Planet's "MY CAT FROM HELL"/writer of several great books including CAT DADDY/host of many videos on YouTube, suggests never playing with cats with hands, but just petting is not "playing" and so you may try using this type of glove when petting, until he grows up a bit and mellows out.

As far as scratching objects goes, Jackson Galaxy would strongly suggest having a variety of scratching surfaces specifically for cats, including vertical and horizontal scratchers, cat scratching posts, cat furniture.  These do not have to cost a lot and can be bought anywhere cat supplies are sold, including online at amazon, etc.  We have these throughout the house, and cats never bother the furniture (which is leather, by the way, and chosen because I thought they would not bother it, as it has nothing to exercise their claws on.)

To expend some of his natural kitten energy, Jackson Galaxy would suggest interactive sessions with toys such as da Bird, a feather-lure on a string attached to a wand.  You can buy this toy or similar ones anywhere ct supplies are sold.  I have many of them, but my cats prefer daBird over any of the others.  Jackson suggests playing with your cat until he is panting, several times a day including before bedtime.  Cats' natural instincts are to hunt, catch, and kill prey, and you are giving him an opportunity to exercise these natural impulses by playing with him with this type of toy.  

You are right that punishing a cat is absolutely WRONG.  Thank you for that.  As for not liking him, I hope you are not really enthusiastic about the behavior, not about the cat himself!  As for him "not liking" you or your partner, I don't believe this.  You are both his guardians, his protectors, his sources of food and shelter.  He may sense your dislike of his behaviors but there is no way he would not like you unless you are abusive, which I pray you never will be.  

Strongly suggest you take a look at Jackson Galaxy's YouTube videos, Animal Planet series, and/or books.  There are also excellent sources of information right here -- I hope they will help, and that my suggestions may also be of help.  He is a very cute little guy! and a cat's love and loyalty are UNCONDITIONAL.

Highly intelligent and hyperactive? He sounds like he'd be a perfect candidate for clicker training. Take a look at these.

 [article="30493"]Clicker Training For Cats​[/article]  

You should buy some cat trees.  We have three in our home.  My two kittens love them.   They really help to keep them occupied.  They run up and down, stalk each other and pounce.  I also play with them with a laser pointer by the cat trees.  Or you can throw little toy mice on and around the cat tree.  It really helps them release all the pent up energy.  Iris and Minnie usually spend 15-20 minutes playing then take a nap.  

It's good too to have scratching posts around the house.

I also agree with the previous posters about giving his hormone's time to calm.  My girls were about 3 months when I brought them home in October, and they had been spayed only a week before.  They definitely were more hyper when they first came home and have mellowed out over the weeks.  

Please be patient with your baby.  He is so adorable.    

@Norachan   I tried clicker training with Mouse but sadly never got anywhere - Mouse seemed to have zero patience and before I could try anything he would pounce for where ever I was holding the treat.         None of that polite nosing up stuff, I'm talking full on throwing body with force and my hand with snack as target.        I used to think the only time I'd have a chance would be when he was exhausted and all his energy run off, but  by then I was always more worn out than he was.        

Possibly a game for once some serious run about play has been undertaken and it's time for a snack?  It would likely have to be after a short break so Bowie wasn't too over stimulated as then he would probably pounce and bite like Mouse used to do.

@sazcork   One thing I did do was pay Mouse positive attention like treats when he was calm, pulling cute poses to get my attention (like rolling on his back and exposing his belly), and patting toys about with me watching and indicating he wanted to play - he learned really fast that he got what he wanted if he was cute, and not when he was chewing my arm or throwing himself belly first at my face.  I had to get really good at watching him and spotting when he was about to 'attack', then get in with a treat or play with da bird etc before he launched.

Approach him gradually, presenting your hand "cat nose" first - see Jackson Galaxy yt for this tip.

Are you sure you pet him correctly? Remember: don't touch the belly! Never.

You may also attempt a DiY cat -tree (use cardboard tubes and cardboard boxes from a hardware shop or supermarket).

Catnip? Shall be easy to plant and use.

Jackson Galaxy, The "Cat Daddy" and cat behaviorist extraordinaire, host of "MY CAT FROM HELL" on Animal Planet, author of several books, and all-around amazing cat guy, has social networking accounts and videos on YouTube as well as the show and books; you should definitely check him out, because this is exactly what he does -- educate people on how to live with cats!  I believe he would counsel against the use of hands in play, and to distract the cat with a toy, preferably a lure type toy such as da Bird or Cat Dancer, which you can buy at just about any "pet" supply store online or bricks-and-mortar.   Also there is clicker training, which you can see tutorials of on YouTube, and rewarding positive behavior with a treat.  Jackson would probably counsel your son to ignore your cat when he is being "bratty".  He is absolutely against punishment (I am, too) and for rewarding good behavior.  I hope this will be helpful, along with love, patience, and remembering that kittens ARE kittens and that in time, many adult cats become calmer.

We have two cat trees, I am debating getting a ridiculously expensive 90 euro ceiling height cat tree, just to keep him occupied.

He has a fascination with going on top of the kitchen cabinets that are attached to the wall above the cooker - he is that dim that he has strained his shoulder already once and needed a trip to the vet after jumping down from it. He scratches pain off the door frames, runs around like a crazy cat and claws every item of furniture in the house. A clicker, I already tried. He attempted pulling our landlords tv off the wall bracket last week.

I never rub his belly, I know he doesn't like it. My partner learned that the hard way. He was holding bowie like a baby, which  we think he likes because he doesn't wriggle, and bowie got a fright and literally tore through my partners forehead with his claws, drew blood on two of his fingers and gave him an awful shock, which turned to anger and another rehoming conversation - which really wasn't the cats fault. Bowie avoids me like the plague, there comes a time where you think......'Why won't you love me'.

Too bad you can't rehome the roommate.  Sounds like a less-than-loving person.

Cats in general do not like to be touched on their bellies, which are their most vulnerable spot.  Rolling over to show their bellies is a sign of trust, not an invitation.  

A floor-to-ceiling tree that's very secure sounds like a great addition.  More scratching pads/posts would be great, too, and they can be in any price range.  My cats love the corrugated cardboard pads that you sprinkle catnip on. They aren't expensive at all.  Ours have an angled wood frame that fits 2 pads.  They love it. 

Well, you cannot rehome your partner, housemate maybe but not partner. Bowie was well used to being held like that and still is, he sits in our arms like a baby. When he isn't hyper that is, which isn't very often. He just got spooked and attacked. Nothing to do with being less than loving......which believe me, we have been.

Recent events have been telling us that the cat is not happy with us at home. He is destructive and bored. Despite having the two trees, four huge cardboard boxes, scratching posts and wall cardboard posts and the free reign of ripping the couch we had to buy to preserve our landlords one.

sazcork said:

Well, you cannot rehome your partner, housemate maybe but not partner. Bowie was well used to being held like that and still is, he sits in our arms like a baby. When he isn't hyper that is, which isn't very often. He just got spooked and attacked. Nothing to do with being less than loving......which believe me, we have been.

Recent events have been telling us that the cat is not happy with us at home. He is destructive and bored. Despite having the two trees, four huge cardboard boxes, scratching posts and wall cardboard posts and the free reign of ripping the couch we had to buy to preserve our landlords one.

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How do you play with him? All of those activities are him entertaining himself.

We have multiple fishing poles and have gone through four batteries for the laser with him already. We do work so I'm not gonna leave him in an empty room with nothing while we are away for 8 hours of the day. Believe me, this kitty gets so much love and attention. When I sit, in quiet for a few minutes, its when he starts doing all the bold things that make you annoyed and shout and he continuously does it. We cannot be constantly on the floor playing, its exhausting. There is no stopping him. Like I mentioned previously, his new obsession is trying to pull the tv off the wall frame. The bathroom door and trying to scratch and claw the door open is a recent development too. This cat is doted on.

Wow, he is definitely a live wire kitty.   I take it he is still growing too?

Desperately trying to think of 'puzzle' things you could add to his environment for him to engage with.   

How long do you have to leave him on his own for  on a regular basis?   Does he seem quiet when he is left on his own or does he destroy things then as well as when you are with him but trying to get some quiet time?   (It does sound like some of the behaviour is attention seeking and then escalates into hyper activity as his humans get more stressed).    

 I found Mouse slept most of the time I was out (maybe small amounts of play), and when I came back in he would want reassurance, then play, then food.   After he had slept he was like a coiled spring ready to explode and he'd start bouncing off the walls.   One game that worked well was 'hid and seek' where he would run off and I'd chase, then me run and him chase, and we'd go back and forth until he tired a bit.  Sometimes running with da bird in hand, and a feather wand that would get chased round and round on the bed until he was panting.  It is exhausting though.  Mouse is now 6 and doesn't need nearly as much play but it did take a couple of years for him to settle.   

I'm not 100% sure what he does while we are away. We have to work full time to pay rent and whatnot so we are away 40 hours a week each on different shift times really. Sometimes when I come home his eyes are super heavy like he just woke up and other times he is standing with his front paws on the glass waiting to nudge off my legs. Either way he is very happy and affectionate when we come home and then ten minutes later, evil cat.

Sometimes when we are at work I can tell he has been active, with cardboard bits all over the floor from tearing the boxes. Sometimes more destructive with a glass that was in a padded box shattered all over the floor from on top of the kitchen cabinets. I basically want to stop the bad behaviour. The repetitive, make you shout and run behaviour. I don't know how to do that.

Sounds like he has some hunting / checking over his territory time when you are out too, though no doubt a few long naps so he has the energy to pester you when you're home.   

The pulling things off the tops of cupboards and chewing boxes sounds like exploration and normal cat behaviour, only your guy does it a bit more than your average kitty:   he definitely comes across as being very intelligent as well as having lots of energy so it is really difficult to manage.  Please do try to stick with him if you can (rented apartments being destroyed is not always an option no matter how much you want a cat).   There are a few members on TCS who have cats that will shred everything in their home given half a chance and it is usually the intelligent cats who get in to this - sadly when there's more than one cat they seem to continue but in pairs or as a pack and the damage is even greater...

It isn't easy but clearing all surfaces of things which can harm your cat, and those which can be broken or destroyed is well worth the effort.  If you want to deter him from going some places like the tops of the kitchen cupboards try the sticky tape method for a few weeks.     For cupboards and drawers it might take toddler locks on most doors and drawer fronts to preserve things, but in the interests of him having some controlled (by you) adventures you could leave some places raidable and have a treat in there - be it a cardboard box or a bit of dry food in a small box he has to work to get at.   

Cardboard boxes he can squeeze in to, hide and hunt as well as climbing his tree/s?

The more you control the environment so he can't do 'bad' / unwanted things you get stressed by and have to respond to and shout at the more he will be able to race about but you won't have to respond.   That is the point where you can start to look for those brief moments when he is doing something you want him to do.    Respond at those moments with something he likes so he can learn those things are worth repeating.   Slowly but surely you can start to put the home back to 'normal' once he starts to get the idea that stuff is not for destroying and getting human attention with.    For sure, if I leave papers and cards out somewhere, Mouse will know what the most valuable one is and dig it out in seconds and turn it to paper mache.  But at least he doesn't do it constantly while looking over at me with an evil glint in his eye because he knows I'm going to have to leap up and give him attention.

It is 6.15am on my day off and I am sitting here in tears writing this. Bowie now aggressively scratches the bedroom door frame and door at night and mornings. He was scratching for about twenty minutes at 2am and started it again at about twenty minutes ago. Most mornings at 6 my partners alarm goes off for work and the cat scratches at the door because he knows we are awake so my bf gets up for work and goes out of the room - immediately because he has to otherwise the scratching gets worse. He will go to work and if i stay silent Bowie will not comw near the door. If i so much as sneeze the car is persistently scratching at the door until i get up and give out. I have tried ignoring him, believe me, it does not stop in the mornings. Whats worse os I know the cat is getting exactly what he wants when my bf gets up for work......he gets cuddles when he is leaving....but what can we do if we are actually getting up for work. Now we are off and awake anyway amd exhausted - both of us. Its effecting a relationship when we are both grumpy and giving out to each other about the cat and stopping him scratching. I covered the door frames with double sided tape and yesterday i covered the door too.... He has scratched roght through it and is again damaging the door. This morning I dont know what to do..... Help? Again?

I'm sorry to hear Bowie is depriving you of sleep @sazcork  Have you thought about keeping him crated while you sleep?

I understand that he is very hyper. What you could do is let him have free run of your apartment during the day. When you get home from work give him a long play session and lots of attention. Let him interact with you while you're at home. About an hour before you want to go to bed give him another long play session, something to wear him out, then put him in the crate with his dinner so he can eat and groom and then sleep.

I have a cage like this and it's so useful. During the day I leave the doors open so the cats can use it to climb and play in.


Have you seen the My Cat From Hell videos on how to engage cats in play? A healthy young cat can play for at least 30 minutes before he is done. You need to play with him until he is panting, give him a few minutes to catch his breath and then build up the excitement until he is panting again.


What else have you tried? Did the clicker training work for him? What kind of toys does he prefer?

A common theme with your cat seems to be scratching people and things.   Have you had any luck trimming your cat's nails? Well trimmed nails will GREATLY reduce the pain and destruction that a kitten will cause.