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Kitten keeps attacking, climbing on everything

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Editor’s note: Palm Beach Post pet experts Drs. Baker, Correa and Radosta, whose columns appear in the Accent section, are now guest bloggers on Paws Here! Look for their advice here every week and share your comments.

Question: We have an 8-month-old kitten. He is a Hemingway kitten that we got from our local animal care and control at 3 months.

He is a very hyperactive kitten with a strong will. He is a climber who loves to climb on anything and everything.

If I go to discipline him, tell him no or bring him in from outside, he lashes out at me and tries to bite or scratch me. I have tried using a water bottle, whistle and rolled up newspaper when he attacks me. None of these things seem to phrase him.

He does not attack my husband. I stay at home so I am around him more than he is. I have had experiences with an older cat before but not a kitten.

I do reward him with a treat when he comes in nicely. I am at my wit’s end right now. I was wondering what other methods I could use to correct his behavior. — Emily

Answer: Ahhh…kittens! Your kitten reminds me of a patient of mine when I was in general practice.

The owners had the most perfect silver Persian with the calmest personality. He finally passed away after a long battle with kidney failure.

A couple of months later they showed up at the hospital with the cutest black and white kitten. He was full of piss and vinegar. He was climbing their curtains, biting them, tearing up their house and just generally wreaking havoc. For that kitten, and hopefully for yours too, it is about environmental enrichment. The suggestions below should get him on the right track.

1. Focus on telling him what he should do, not what he shouldn’t. Give him appropriate places to climb like cat trees. Be sure to place them near windows and glass doors so that he can see out.

2. There is nothing like the outdoors. Give him access to a safe screened in area such as a patio. You can put a cat door in to the patio so that he can go in and out as he pleases. If you are going to keep your cat door open at night, be sure to put up lattice or otherwise secure the patio so animals cannot get in.

3. Train him to walk with you on a harness and leash. Be sure to purchase a harness made for a cat.

4. Entertain him with cat TV. You can purchase videos for cats or just put Animal Planet on when you want to keep him busy.

5. Stimulate predatory behavior with food toys and toys that move. Your cat sounds like he is intelligent and headstrong.

6. Make the areas where he shouldn’t be less attractive by blocking them, using contact paper sticky side up, aluminum foil or a Spray Sentry compressed air device (available online).

Dr. Radosta

Dr. Radosta


Lisa Radosta DVM, Diplomate ACVB
Florida Veterinary Behavior Service
PO Box 210636
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33421-0636
561-795-9398
www.flvetbehavior.com
Read more articles by Dr. Radosta | Ask her a question

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