Tiki the stunt cat

[HollyJLancaster]

Have any of you guys got any good tips for calming a 5 month old kitten?

She's an utterly beautiful little girl but she's an absolute raging ball of madness at the moment, not unusual for a kitten and we've dealt with the energy and curiosity of a kitten before but Tiki is beyond anything I have known before - she literally has no sense for danger.

She's five months now so she has one more month of being a house cat before she is neutered and can go outside, however she still tries to escape now. She's bolted out the door a few times and it's like she doesn't even realise she's outside. She shows no caution -our other cat checks to see what's going on first before heading out of the house. Luckily we live on a quiet road with little through traffic but it's still a worry.

Even in the house though, it's getting to the stage where I feel the need to kitten proof everything! We've had to block the chimney pipe because she keeps trying to climb up it, she chews and attacks plugs and wire cables, I have to constantly check cupboards, the washing machine, the tumble drier because she gets into everything. Last night I caught her trying to stick her face into a pan of potatoes that were boiling on the hob when I turned my back! It seems like if we tell the older cat Boo, not to do something she never does it again - Tiki sees it as a challenge!

I'm just worried she's going to hurt herself. She has plenty of toys, she spends all day running around playing with Boo and she gets several one on one playtimes with me and OH each day. She just seems too keen to get into trouble. I am tempted to let her out but there are too many unneutered male cats around and she's not going to be able to keep them at bay.

Any ideas?

[Lilith]

Omg and I thought my Molly was dreadful...worse than my Siamese - and that's saying something.

It was like living with a poltergeist - and still is, even though she's turned 4! Luckily these days she does sleep sometimes!

I'm afraid as a fellow-sufferer I can't offer any advice, only commiserations, and hope your endurance and sanity hold out!

What a little horror!

[HollyJLancaster]

Success! My son came home the other day proudly brandishing a mouse shaped laser pointer as a gift for Tiki and Boo - I've never used a laser pointer before as I've never been very keen on them and heard negative things but it is brilliant, they absolutely love it.

Tiki played with it for hours yesterday and actually slept the entire night on my pillow - zonked straight out and snoring like a tractor! Fab!

[MarkB]

Cat's Meow (used to be called Undercover Mouse) is the best thing ever for young cats. Mine play with theirs all the time. This is a really cheap price too http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cat-Meow-Toy- ... 58c1361552" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They take 3 x C batteries. Definitely worth using Alkaline batteries, as regular ones run out in no time.

[bobbys girl]

I was just going to suggest the same thing. It keeps my lot happy for hours.

[Lilith]

I considered buying a Cat's Meow for Molly, but after watching a couple of videos thought she'd destroy it. Moll doesn't pull her punches!

I also bought a laser pointer for the garden, you know, those long warm summer nights...

Well, they DID used to happen...back in the dark ages when I rode on my pet dinosaur to school...

I tried the laser pointer out in my cluttered front room. Molly opened one eye and went back to sleep. Fourteen year old Emily, who's going deaf and spends the time sleeping, went wild! There's life in the old Em yet!

Glad Tiki loves her laser mouse!

[bobbys girl]

I also bought a laser pointer for the garden, you know, those long warm summer nights...

Well, they DID used to happen...back in the dark ages when I rode on my pet dinosaur to school...

[MarkB]

Those toys are really tough. Ingrid is a toy killer and even 6kg Domino has had a good go at it. The worst that has happened it that the arm has come out of the hole and just needs pushing back in. Even though we only got ours recently, there seems there is a newer model with a speed control on it. That would have been better, as ours is only single speed and it goes really fast when the batteries are new.

[Walesgang]

Da Bird!!

Ours was put away for a while when the string broke - I came across it the other day and remembered to get a repair kit - hey presto - everyone loves it!!