Hi everyone,
Please help! I've been around cats all my life and a few months ago decided to adopt one of my own. Her name is Bella and she's a gorgeous tabby-tortoise (10 months old). I love her to pieces but I'm struggling to socialise her.
When I first got her she was about 8 weeks old. She was peaceful and sociable at first, then went through a phase where she hunted everything and tore up my house. She never returned to the peace loving kitty she once was.
Instead, Bella hunts everything, jumps at the slightest noise (if I get up to leave the room she goes nuts and bolts the room). She bites and scratches to the point where she sometimes draws blood, despite me 'disciplining' her by ending play time immediately when this happens / hissing. She also uses the litter tray but doesn't bury anything she leaves in there. Often she yowls and meows around the house.
Bella has been to the vet and had a full medical, and she's also been spade about 2 months ago. I really don't know what to do and feel so guilty as she's so aggressive and skittish.
Occasionally she'll come for cuddles and can be very loving. I just wish I could help her relax more.
Any advice?
Thanks for you help.
Skittish, aggressive kitten
Re: Skittish, aggressive kitten
I'm wondering if she's lonely, but I can't afford to keep another cat, and I've stocked the house with toys, treats and catnip. I just don't know what to do. Please help.
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greenkitty
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Re: Skittish, aggressive kitten
How old was she when she was removed from her mum? Does she spend long periods on her own?
I do think another cat of a similar age may help her, so she has another furry to let off steam with and learn some boundaries. I rescued a poorly socialised kitten when she was 6 weeks old which was way too early to be away from her mum (her mum and sisters had all been rehomed), it became apparent when she was about 5 months old that she needed someone to play with so we got a slightly older male and it helped her loads. She's never grown out of the biting though!
I do think another cat of a similar age may help her, so she has another furry to let off steam with and learn some boundaries. I rescued a poorly socialised kitten when she was 6 weeks old which was way too early to be away from her mum (her mum and sisters had all been rehomed), it became apparent when she was about 5 months old that she needed someone to play with so we got a slightly older male and it helped her loads. She's never grown out of the biting though!
Re: Skittish, aggressive kitten
Hey, thanks very much for your reply! She was 9 weeks old when we picked her up from her mum, so you could be right that she was taken too early. I would love to get her a playmate, but as well as the financial odds beings against me, my two other housemates are fervently against the idea.
I should probably add that we didn't get her neutered until about 2 months ago, and she has just recently ventured outdoors (before, the vet suggested we keep her as a house cat because she has such a tiny stature, and we live next to a train line). However, I've been letting her outside and she tends to stick to our garden anyway.
I'm hoping that with more outdoors activity and patience on our part she can learn to be less aggressive. I'd really like to nip the biting in the bud, as it were.
I should probably add that we didn't get her neutered until about 2 months ago, and she has just recently ventured outdoors (before, the vet suggested we keep her as a house cat because she has such a tiny stature, and we live next to a train line). However, I've been letting her outside and she tends to stick to our garden anyway.
I'm hoping that with more outdoors activity and patience on our part she can learn to be less aggressive. I'd really like to nip the biting in the bud, as it were.
Re: Skittish, aggressive kitten
I'm also wondering if she's bored. She sounds like a very intelligent cat who needs a lot of stimulation (cats vary as much as humans in their intelligence level - I have had them at both ends of the spectrum!). Now that she has outdoor access, this may help.
While you say you have a lot of toys for her, many of them need interaction to attract her attention, so perhaps you could spend more time in active play with her. Try to keep your hands away from her when playing with her, and only stroke her when she's more calm or asking for attention.
It may be too late to stop her biting - I have had one that did this. But when she does, (hard as it may seem), let your hand go limp and when she loosens her grip, gradually slip your hand out. Alternatively, you can blow sharply into her face - that often shocks them into letting go. The main thing is, learn to watch her body language which should tell you when she's about to do it, body tenses, ears go back, eyes go wide, tail starts twitching, and stop doing whatever it is she's fed up with.
Hissing is usually a sign of anxiety, cat language for "please stop doing that". So do what she asks, stop doing it!
While you say you have a lot of toys for her, many of them need interaction to attract her attention, so perhaps you could spend more time in active play with her. Try to keep your hands away from her when playing with her, and only stroke her when she's more calm or asking for attention.
It may be too late to stop her biting - I have had one that did this. But when she does, (hard as it may seem), let your hand go limp and when she loosens her grip, gradually slip your hand out. Alternatively, you can blow sharply into her face - that often shocks them into letting go. The main thing is, learn to watch her body language which should tell you when she's about to do it, body tenses, ears go back, eyes go wide, tail starts twitching, and stop doing whatever it is she's fed up with.
Hissing is usually a sign of anxiety, cat language for "please stop doing that". So do what she asks, stop doing it!
Re: Skittish, aggressive kitten
Thanks very much, that's great advice. I've bought her a laser pen and catnip mice, as well as one of those 'da bird' things, so I try and make sure I give her at least 20 minutes of interactive of play a day, but I know that's clearly not been enough. Now that she's spending time in the garden, she seems happier and slightly less crazed. I do get the impression that she's one very clever cat. She's also obsessed with jumping into bags, so I leave lots of different textured kinds around the house for her to crash into when she's feeling like it. One day I hope to get her a playmate, but for now I'll try my best with play and treats.
As for the biting, I hope I can disincentivise it as much as possible. Essentially she has 4 parents (three other housemates) so it can be hard to achieve consistent discipline when my other housemates can respond differently to the biting. Hey ho. Fingers crossed we can reduce it as much as possible.
As for the biting, I hope I can disincentivise it as much as possible. Essentially she has 4 parents (three other housemates) so it can be hard to achieve consistent discipline when my other housemates can respond differently to the biting. Hey ho. Fingers crossed we can reduce it as much as possible.
Re: Skittish, aggressive kitten
That sounds like a good plan. Be careful with the bags though, make sure they're not the type that can get tangled round her neck (specially ones with handles). If leaving plastic carrier bags out, break the handles first to be on the safe side.