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Discussion Forums » General Discussion
Kitten Help
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16 May 2009, 05:14
« Krisstah »
Post Count: 127
Im running out of ideas here and i really need some ideas.

I have an 8 week old female kitten. Ive only had her for about a week now. My body is scratched and bleeding.

She is constantly digging her claws into my body and attacking and pouncing. Ive gotten to the point where i need to lock myself in my bedroom to be able to get any peace. She attacks me from the moment i open my door, even if i stand perfectly still. She attacks me when i walk, when i sleep in my bed ( ive had to lock her out at night to stop this ) she climbs up my legs when im sitting, and i bleed badly even while wearing jeans.. there is no peace. She has tons of toys, i try to wear her out by playing with her with those. But she just wont leave me alone for even 5 minutes. I love her dearly and wish i had the cash for the declawing now but i dont, and wont for a couple months but my body is running out of places for her to scratch.. my legs, hands, arms, chest, back and stomach look like ive taken a knife to myself.

I feel bad for locking her out of the room at night, especially when im gone all day from working. Ive tried giving her a flick on the nose, but she was unphased, and ive tried saying no very sternly and placing her on the floor elsewhere but she just chases me and attacks my legs as i walk back/away from her. im running out of ideas. help me!
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16 May 2009, 05:19
It's KrisMiss!
Post Count: 2
Try filling a little spray bottle with water. You can get small like travel-size ones at any drugstore for a buck or two. My cat HATED that when he was a kitten. He had a problem with being a little too feisty, and whenever he would claw me, I'd spray him (his face if I could get to it, he hated that the most) with water. It really didn't take long for him to recognize the bottle. If he would come running at me with full speed, and I knew he was about to tear my legs to shreds, I'd just grab the bottle, and he'd change direction, lol. Maybe it'd work for you, too :)
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16 May 2009, 14:03
ICky VICky
Post Count: 78
i agree i did this wil my cat they hate water and will learn to not to do that.
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16 May 2009, 05:20
Aiure
Post Count: 308
I treat my cat as an equal. I've noticed that most cats don't respond well to condescending behaviour. Even that young, she's bound to be receptive to more mature communication. Have patience, and don't yell at her.
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16 May 2009, 05:20
Chris
Post Count: 1938
You do nothing. You find it too cute to notice pain. Also, post pics.
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16 May 2009, 05:27
« Krisstah »
Post Count: 127
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DbHFXiij9A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEL2i2wVXd4

=/ took the one with my pants a few days ago.
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16 May 2009, 05:29
Chris
Post Count: 1938
THAT.




IS
THE
CUTEST
FUCKING
THING


I








HAVE





EVER








SEEEEEEN.
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16 May 2009, 05:32
« Krisstah »
Post Count: 127
Shes cute.. i love her.
but sometimes she claws into my diabetic ulcers and they bleed for a good hour which probably isnt good.. =/
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16 May 2009, 09:38
~RedFraggle~
Post Count: 2651
Sooooo cute. I love black and white cats.

This is however, part of the reason why I have always adopted adult cats, rather than kittens.

The water spraying is a good idea though. I used to use that when my cat clawed the carpet. He hated it.
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16 May 2009, 06:26
Lady Sheri
Post Count: 71
Maybe try contacting your local animal shelter? They may have some resources for low cost declawing? Also they can help a lot with spaying information.

I've found that female cats often times are more high strung than males. In my experience they aren't as cuddly as males.
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16 May 2009, 09:40
~RedFraggle~
Post Count: 2651
Declawing?!? How cruel. And uneccessary. I have a cat who only lives indoors, and I've just had to train him to claw only in particular places. I.e. not the furniture. And if you own a cat you have to expect to get scratched!

Plus she's just a baby! She'll grow out of the really scratchy phase.
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16 May 2009, 10:01
Transit
Post Count: 1096
Exactly, our current cat was scratchy when she was a kitten, in kittens claws are a novelty, just like babies who have teeth, but we don't go pulling those out! Your cat will calm down, our cat started clawing the wall in the kitchen when she was hungry, so we put a wall mounted scratch post there and now she claws that. Obviously occasionally she will claw something she isn't supposed to, but when you decide to have an animal that is designed to claw, you shouldn't be surprised when she does what nature intended! Don't make a massive fuss about her being in certain rooms either, we did that with our cat, she scratched our sofa so my mum banned her from the front room, but then when she managed to get in the front room it was a novelty for her and everyone went mad, which excited her and made her scratch more.

Play with her more as well, then she will be distracted by toys and she can get some of her clawing and chewing frustration out on those.

Spaying tends to be done on weight, our cat was six months when she was done, but she is a very big cat.
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16 May 2009, 14:05
ICky VICky
Post Count: 78
yeah but if the cat is going to be an inside outside cat it should keep its claws for protection, i think declawing it only if its indoor cat is good idea though
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16 May 2009, 07:59
melodye
Post Count: 61
Declawing a cat is just cruel.

And she's 8 weeks old. She's still a baby. Kittens don't wean from there mothers until they're 12 weeks old if not taken too early.

Just put up with it. She won't do it forever. She's just learning. Or try the spray bottle.

Please don't declaw your cat.
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16 May 2009, 14:28
Aspiring Boxer
Post Count: 169
I have one cat at my parents'. My parents wanted to get her declawed because she was scratching my sister and me (we were just little kids). She was also scratching the furniture so they talked to her vet about it. Her vet refused to do it and said that he considered it cruel. He said that declawing cats is just like cutting off our fingers at the base of the fingernail so it'd be like cutting off our fingertips. Cats use their claws for balance and if you declaw them, it makes it harder. At least, that's what I've been told.

My cat is now 13 years old and she's sweet but will still scratch/bite if she gets annoyed.

On the other hand, my cat (at my old place-he lives with my old roommate) was like that when he was a kitten. It helped a lot, having his brother/sister to play with him but he still sounds a lot like your kitten. Now he still plays but he doesn't use claws because we would say "OUCH" when he dug his claws into us-he eventually learned not to.

It definitely will help if her claws are clipped.
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16 May 2009, 20:03
+& HelloKatie
Post Count: 17
I have had good luck with the spray bottle. As others have said, in my experience, it doesn't take long for the cat to stop the behavior simply at the sight of the bottle. Another thing I would recommend is a scratching post. Every time she starts scratching take her to the post and gently rub her paws on it. Maybe play with her toys around the post so she gets the idea that this is a good place to claw. In my experience it's all about redirection and offering the cat acceptable ways to exhibit cat behaviors (chasing, clawing, climbing). Good luck!
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16 May 2009, 07:02
.love.struck.
Post Count: 492
cut her nails. If her nails are clear it will be easy to not cut the kwik.
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16 May 2009, 08:04
Juniper ♥
Post Count: 69
I could have written this had it been back in 2006. I rescued a 2 week old kitten. I had to bottle feed her... the works. As soon as she realized she had claws, she used them against me. I was bleeding all the time. She'd grab onto my arm with her front claws, biting me, and kicking my arm digging her back claws in. That was the worst. She'd grab on so tight I'd at times actually scream out in pain and my mom had to come pull her off me. She'd just crouch down ready to jump at me again. It was horrible. My little demon baby. The vet always made me feel low and stupid... I should be able to just flick her nose or something and she'd learn. It would only make things worse. I'd be crying and begging a tiny kitten to please leave me alone. It was pathetic. I'd blow in her face, flick her mouth, try holding her flat to the floor and talking calmly... nothing worked. I'd stay as far away from her as possible... and try to remain calm and just ignore her when she came near me. It doesn't work. To this day she'll still randomly come up and bite me for no reason. She'll be 3 years old next month. I was FINALLY able to get her spayed AND declawed last month. She has calmed down drastically... but as I said she'll still come bite me for no reason. She still holds on with her front legs and kicks at my arm with her back claws. But it's sooooooo not how it was. You can get a cheap squirt bottle from the dollar store and try spraying her with water. Not in the face, and don't drown her. Make sure the spray isn't on the mist but that straight on line thing that I can't remember what it's called. Just a spray or two. If she doesn't react... run lol. All I can really do is wish you luck and say I know how you feel. People can give advice left and right but cats aren't all the same and things don't work for all of them. Some shelter's will spay for free or really cheap prices... but at 8 weeks that's still a little young. That usually helps calm a lot of cats. As for declaw... I'm not sure where places would do it for cheap. A lot of people object to the whole concept but... I'd just show them your battle scars and tell them to screw themselves. Start saving a few bucks here and there and eventually you'll be able to get it done. Anyway, sorry for my novel here. Good luck!!!
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16 May 2009, 08:13
Juniper ♥
Post Count: 69
Oh, one more thing... if you plan on keeping your cat indoors, declawing isn't something you should feel guilty about. Not with the way she's behaving. I was told a lot that it's just something she'll outgrow. As I said, my cat is about 3 years old and she's still attacking. I wouldn't recommend declawing if your cat will be going outside any time because clearly she wont be able to defend herself. I personally think outdoor cats have a greater risk of being hurt which is why all my cats have always been indoor. But that's a whole indoor/outdoor cruel/not yada yada debate that could go on forever that is all a matter of opinion so I'm not going into it. Do what you believe is right for you and your cat. If she is anything like mine... you'll need the declaw in order for your sanity. Then again, if you'd rather not deal with it, maybe she needs a new home? I got too attached even with all the bleeding I did so I still have my insaneo baby. :-P

Man. I sure know how to babble.
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16 May 2009, 11:58
.Amber.
Post Count: 260
Do NOT let these people guilt you into thinking you're cruel for wanting to declaw your cat. It is not inhumane. Playing with her more is NOT going to stop her from clawing - some cats are just naturally -extremely- fiesty. Mine is one of them. We play with him alll day long, and at a year old, he is still outrageous with his back claws.

I've also found that spaying/neutering doesn't really calm them down like people say it does.
Cat claws are not a damn thing like baby teeth. If you're cat is going to be indoors, it doesn't need its claws. It has no reason for them. That comparison is ridiculous, in essence, she just said your child won't need to eat. *Rolling my eyes*

You do what you need to do to stay sane, and tell people to shove poles up their asses if they have a problem with it. At least you're homing an animal that would otherwise be stuck in a shelter and likely killed.
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16 May 2009, 12:17
Villy
Post Count: 204
It is INCREDIBLY inhumane. How ignorant.

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17 May 2009, 01:04
.Amber.
Post Count: 260
No, its really not. We don't live in the stone age anymore. Changes are necessary..
Some cats are just NOT very tame, and it doesn't matter how "well" you think you can train them.
Whether it's illegal in other coutries or not, it isn't here - so she shouldn't be made to feel guilty for not being against an idea.
But anyway - back to the topic with people who know how to converse without condemning - the spray bottle is usually a very good way to get them to listen, as you could probably tell from how many people use it.
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17 May 2009, 15:18
seasongster
Post Count: 58
so surely when your baby scratches its face, you'll have the doctor snip off the tips of its fingers, right? it's not cruel at ALL. after all, the baby could hurt itself and god knows the scratch marks they leave on your neck are unpleasant.
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16 May 2009, 14:31
« Krisstah »
Post Count: 127
Oh i dont feel bad about declawing, my last cat i had for 13 years was declawed and she was fine.. i think i may have to try the squirt bottle.
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16 May 2009, 17:34
Juniper ♥
Post Count: 69
I'm glad you don't feel bad. I don't either. It can be a painful process, so I do worry that my cat could be one of the few that have constant pain after the surgery... but I think I got lucky. My cat was still trying to use her paws as soon as we brought her home, the day after the surgery, as if nothing had just happened. The only difference in her, claw wise, is she doesn't have any and when she can't hang on to something she looks almost confused. But it doesn't stop her. My older cat has been declawed for manyyy years now (well over 10 years)... and she still paws at things thinking she's getting the job of distruction done. 8 weeks is clearly too young for declawing... but so long as she's gonna be an indoor cat, I don't believe it's inhumane or anything like that. You'll probably hear loads of people telling you it's evil... but if she doesn't start to calm down and you're still getting attacked, you have every right. You can TRY clipping nails... but I've noticed that with dull nails... the scratches hurt even worse cause they're just a little wider. And they grow out so fast it feels like you're clipping nails every day. Anyway yes, get a squirt bottle and feel no regrets. My cat is part idiot so she sometimes comes up to the bottle wanting something to drink... but these days a squirt tends to do the job.
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