5 COMMON KITTEN BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS AND HOW TO SOLVE THEM
“HE ATTACKS MY FINGERS AND TOES!” It starts with the tapping of fingers to catch a kitten’s attention, and ends with a grab and a bite. Resist the temptation, and always use dangly, fishing rod-style toys to tempt your kitten into a game. If your kitten does bite you, don’t react. Hold your hand still until he releases, then calmly stop the interaction.
“HE NEVER STOPS!”
Kitten energy can come as a surprise to a new owner. When he’s old enough, going into the garden can help reduce unwanted behaviours that come out of exuberance as your kitten will burn off energy outside. Even simply watching the goings-on in a garden or street will provide invaluable stimulation, so make a windowsill ‘his’ space — add a cosy bed or blanket from where he can observe the world. If your kitten will be an indoor cat, take the role as your kitten’s entertainment officer seriously, and accept that your home will have feline facilities permanently in situ.
“HE POOS ON THE FLOOR!”
If your kitten is consistently missing the litter tray, or is messing elsewhere in the house, get your vet to check him out in case there’s an underlying health issue. Don’t tell him off — it could make the situation worse. Ensure the litter tray is kept as clean as possible. Cats are particularly sensitive to bad smells that we might not even be aware of. It may be a case of trial and error to find a type of litter that he’s happy with.
“HE CLIMBS THE CURTAINS!”
A kitten will find floor-length curtains
irresistible. Distract him with a toy before he approaches them. Daniel suggests: “Instead of fixating on the fact that you don’t want your kitten to do something, focus on what you would prefer him to do. Concentrate on a solution — if your cat is scratching at a piece of furniture or climbing the curtains, encourage him to use a scratching post placed nearby. Attract his attention, then lure him across to it with a dangly toy, giving him lots of praise.”
“HE KEEPS ME AWAKE AT NIGHT!”
Some owners want a kitten to be close to them at night, particularly when they arrive. However, this can create an expectation for nocturnal games, resulting in little sleep for you! It’s not unkind to put a kitten in a cosy, secure environment (a small room with everything he needs) until morning. Cats are naturally active at dawn and dusk, but your kitten can learn to adjust his sleeping pattern to suit your lifestyle.