Advice for a cute but sometimes aggressive kitten

[janitor]

OK thanks everyone. It is tougher than I have thought and a little frustrating for the most as I grew up with dogs. I think for the most part I am take a step back and let her develop. I usually play with her in the mornings as she wakes us up. I then play with her when I get home from work. My wife is in and out of the house intermittently and takes care of her then.

The basic idea that I am getting is to get her to chill out. Play with her as much as possible and try not to stress her out. I think that we can handle this then. There is not point in causing her any more stress. I think she has a bit of trust issues with me at the moment that I have to work on with her. 

Thanks for the advice everyone.  

 

[MoochNNoodles]

Sounds good to me. Keep us updated!

 

[janitor]

Hi everyone, 

        So it has been a great week or so in the land of aggressive kitty. The ignoring trick works and she basically calms down and for the most part is a snuggle monster. In the last week or so she has become increasingly more affectionate and interested in what we are doing. thus if you are sleeping on the couch, she will come and sleep with you. If you leave to go to another room, she will follow. 

        She does have a tendency to play rough and get over excited. She nips a bit during this time and tries to bite. Once we realized what she was doing we simply  stop playing and leave. She does get the idea and at times just needs to calm down a little. She seems a little fixated on my fingers during those times but I just withdraw and give her a toy and she seems to stop trying to bite. 

 

[amy thornton]

I have a new kitten as well, a friends daughter rescued him and his 2 siblings from the side of the road where the mother had been hit and killed by a car. The first night she brought them home she put them in a box under the porch with a bowl of milk the next morning he was the only kitten left the other 2 disappeared. Her roommate went to pick him up and he hissed at her so she threw him so my friends daughter took him to a friend’s house who said they would keep him but 20 minutes later the dog attacked him, so she came to my house with him and I was in love with him at first site and wanted to make sure that he would never be afraid again. He was 3 weeks old when he got him he is now 9 weeks. Everything you have posted sounds like I could have been the one posting my issues with Gizzy and his behavior. I have read everything I can to help Gizzy adjust and learn to be a cat. Every day he learns something new and his behavior gets better he and I are learning together as this is my first cat. I started clicker training yesterday and he has caught on very quickly! When he starts to get to aggressive when he is playing I role a ball across the floor or some other toy to distract him and it normally stops him from attacking me but if it doesn’t I get up and walk away he then calms down and when he has changed his attitude he comes looking for me to play some more! This site has really been my main source of info everyone is very helpful and I learn constantly how to care and meet all of Gizzys needs.

 

[janitor]

Hi everyone, I am ashamed to say that I lost my temper with her tonight. I am shaking as I write this. Today I was playing with her and she was overly aggressive. Biting and attacking my hands. She started to come by while I was on the couch in a calm affectionate way. Then seemingly out of no where would go for my hands. Finally as I was getting up she came back again and I thought that I could pick her up she just fell on her back and went clawing and biting for my hands. 

I tried to catch her to say "no!" but she flipped around again tried to attack. I caught her and scolded her. All the while she kept trying to bite me. I finally put her down and again she swatted at me. I screamed at her and chased her into the bedroom. She was so scared and I feel so horrible. I do not know what to do. She has been getting more affectionate AND more aggressive with me. I have tried everything and it has worked to an extent but she is fixated at times on my hands. 

I am so sorry that I chased her and I immediately felt bad and still do. However, I am worried that I traumatized her or something. She is hiding now and I am going to let her stay that way until she comes around. Any advice. 

 

[nbrazil]

Hi everyone, I am ashamed to say that I lost my temper with her tonight. I am shaking as I write this. Today I was playing with her and she was overly aggressive. Biting and attacking my hands. She started to come by while I was on the couch in a calm affectionate way. Then seemingly out of no where would go for my hands. Finally as I was getting up she came back again and I thought that I could pick her up she just fell on her back and went clawing and biting for my hands. 

I tried to catch her to say "no!" but she flipped around again tried to attack. I caught her and scolded her. All the while she kept trying to bite me. I finally put her down and again she swatted at me. I screamed at her and chased her into the bedroom. She was so scared and I feel so horrible. I do not know what to do. She has been getting more affectionate AND more aggressive with me. I have tried everything and it has worked to an extent but she is fixated at times on my hands. 

I am so sorry that I chased her and I immediately felt bad and still do. However, I am worried that I traumatized her or something. She is hiding now and I am going to let her stay that way until she comes around. Any advice. 

Been there, done that - I feel your pain and worry. I thought I had traumatized my little guy under a similar circumstance... the look of fear in his eyes haunted me for days although I did not physically harm him, only restrained him and howled at him. This was early on. What did I do? Realized that these guys are emotional sponges and changed my attitude. I made a conscious choice to remind myself that he is a kitten, doing normal kitten things and to endeavor to act calmly in the future regardless of my feelings of frustration.

Kittens can't help being what they are, and when you are their entire living universe they are going to do kitten things to you, how else can it be? The trick is to keep these things from becoming habits because they WILL eventually grow up.

So, it took about a day or so of being calm and projecting love instead of anger and he was just fine. I'm not an expert or an advisor, but except for traumatic physical harm I think it is unlikely there will be any lasting impact.* Just be forgiving and loving and let her know that you are safe. Kittens are quite resilient. Don't force her to come to you, let her come to you (maybe offer her a treat - like tuna).


*As in striking with emotional intent.... Stepping on a tail doesn't count, for instance.

 

[janitor]

Thanks for the support. I really appreciate it. Things seem to be back to normal. She is a little cautious around me but still being a little Stalker as always. By that I mean, she slept calmly between us last night and is following me around the house this morning. Actually just now she came in to tell me that I have been on the computer to long. 

What I am taking from this is that I just have to accept that is what she is, a kitten. There is no point in getting angry or frustrated as it will only make the situation worse. I felt so bad yesterday and when I got home she was ready to make up. I was sitting on the floor and she quietly came up put two paws on my knee and gently placed her toy on my knee. It was as if to say "I forgive you, now let's play" 

 

[colz]

1st never look straight in eyes this is a sign of aggresion for cats so they retaliate, second though u play with kitten u have not socialised her, u need to blink in you have accidental eye contact this means u not a threat, an they may come time do it back, u need to put gloves on an start by holding her securley wrapped in a towel secuely for about 10 mins every 4 hours or so, only put food down an let her eat it infront of u, if not lift again till she does, try some lavaender in room and 1 really good thing for her an dogs is download some hart music for cats/dogs sounds crazy but it works they love it and it calming, thanks an good luck. Foster Mum for cat rescue x

 

[jujubee]

I haven't been on TCS for quite awhile.  My daughter brought home an 8week old kitten a week and a half ago. It was sick and flea infested (been to the vet and its fat and happy now!) So, the kitten was cute and cuddly up until last night. I also have a 7 year old and a 3 year old cats, the middle cat was rough housing with the kitten for the first time last night. It seems like that flipped a switch in the kitten, it was up most of the night bouncing around on my bed, getting in all kinds of trouble. No aggression or anything, yet.  I was kind of thinking that the wet food I started giving the kitten last night had sugar or caffeine in it!

The older cats are fixed females, the kitten is a male that I will get fixed when it's old enough.

I decided to troll TCS; I found this great thread. You guys are terrific!  Now I know what to watch out for and what NOT to be concerned about  

I got each of my older cats when they were about 6 months old so I've never been through the extreme kitten experience

 

[catpack]

Glad you found some good advice and thank you for taking in this little guy!

It sounds like he may finally be feeling well enough to play. But yes, he will out grow the kitten antics in a few months. Enjoy him! =)