Kitten help please!!

Elfie. · 01-14-2009, 03:02 PM

Hey guys I'm hoping some pet owners can help me out here. I have a 12 week old kitten who has developed some annoying habits. First, whenever he comes to cuddle, he ends up chewing/nibbling on me so I'm constantly covered in kitten slobber. I don't want to push him off my lap but I don't know what else to do. Second, he's started peeing in my plants. Help!

freebirdmac · 01-14-2009, 03:34 PM

The gnawing will stop as he gets older and gets rid of the annoying baby teeth. As for peeing in the plants, buy some sour apple spray. Use it where ever he pees. The scent is very discouraging. You may also want to try a different litter and keep the box clean!

Mindi911 · 01-14-2009, 03:42 PM

buy him a little toy to chew and gnaw on.

as for the plants sorry my cat never did that.

Defiant1 · 01-14-2009, 03:44 PM

bad kitty.

Elfie. · 01-14-2009, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebirdmac

The gnawing will stop as he gets older and gets rid of the annoying baby teeth. As for peeing in the plants, buy some sour apple spray. Use it where ever he pees. The scent is very discouraging. You may also want to try a different litter and keep the box clean!

Thanks very much for that suggestion! I keep his box very clean but he seems to prefer the plants as his potty place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindi911

buy him a little toy to chew and gnaw on.

as for the plants sorry my cat never did that.

Good idea, he has toys but no chewy ones. I'll get him some.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Defiant1

bad kitty.

I'll say.

TheBlasterMan · 01-14-2009, 04:13 PM

man am i a kitten lover.

cute little things

demike · 01-14-2009, 04:15 PM

Put catnip all over his toys...bwahahhaha

But seriously get him a little toy and whenever you see him about to pee on a plant put him in his litterbox. When he is of age I would recommend you get him fixed and possibly declawed.

Cats are cool pets and good luck.

demike · 01-14-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlasterMan

man am i a kitten lover.

Keep that gross **** to yourself.

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freebirdmac · 01-14-2009, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elfie.

Thanks very much for that suggestion! I keep his box very clean but he seems to prefer the plants as his potty place.

Some cats really don't like the feel or smell of some litters. Kittens can also test the waters. Most would prefer to go outside in soil. So that may be all it is. I know I had to train all of mine that nighttime was for sleeping!

Kate1 · 01-14-2009, 04:49 PM

My kitty did the peeing in the plants too. I moved all the plants to a room where I could keep the kitten out, and put landscaping rocks on top of the dirt. After a couple of weeks, I brought the plants back out. Problem solved.

As far as the kitty knibbling on you - if she/he is biting you - tap him on the nose with your index finger & say NO when he starts. After a few times of that, all you have to do is show your index finger and the kitty will stop.

Congrats on your new pet! They always give back lots of Love!

SunnyAZGrl · 01-14-2009, 07:22 PM

I rescued two 2 day old kittens from behind work a little over six months ago. A girl and a boy. The boy nibbles when you're trying to be affectionate and I'm not sure how to stop it either. It does become less frequent, however, if you give them soft toys that are stuffed with catnip.

Also, what kind of litter are you using? Some cats do not like the cheaper litter as it is too harsh on their feet. I've been lucky enough to be able to use cheap litter, but my friend had to switch to the more expensive stuff because her cat was doing the same thing.

Mindi911 · 01-14-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demike

Put catnip all over his toys...bwahahhaha

But seriously get him a little toy and whenever you see him about to pee on a plant put him in his litterbox. When he is of age I would recommend you get him fixed and possibly declawed.

Cats are cool pets and good luck.

Mike I know you are a friend but seriously you are asking to be NEGGED here and yes I am seriously pissed off! YOU DO NOT DECLAW A CAT EVER!!!!!

WTF MAN. Cats claws are their defence if you take away that then you are taking away there reason for existance!

Cats depend on their claws for so many things! Have you seen how pathetic a declawed cat is! They get in fights and get hurt simply because they can't scratch back.

Seriously Mike I can't believe that you actually suggested this.

I am totally against declawing, your cat will have to learn it's not good to claw your furniture, you or anything else for that matter.

OP buy your cat a scratch post.

CATRACCOM · 01-15-2009, 12:09 AM

You could try putting things in the soil of your plant so its not friendly..long skewers or something so there's no room for a cat. Most of my cats have gotten over the biting thing by giving them a toy to bite instead of your hand. I have one that is still a little bitey but I do have a 4 year old bugging her. I'd bite her too.

Elfie. · 01-15-2009, 01:34 AM

Thanks for all the suggestions guy I'll try them out. Rocks and skewers in the plants! Great ideas.

SunnyAZGrl, I use that fresh step stuff but I'm thinking of changing to something else.

I really have to agree with Mindi here, declawing is very cruel and shoudn't even be allowed. Claws are what cats use to defend themselves with and grasp with like humans use their hands. A cat without claws is like a human without fingers.

demike · 01-15-2009, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindi911

Mike I know you are a friend but seriously you are asking to be NEGGED here and yes I am seriously pissed off! YOU DO NOT DECLAW A CAT EVER!!!!!

WTF MAN. Cats claws are their defence if you take away that then you are taking away there reason for existance!

Cats depend on their claws for so many things! Have you seen how pathetic a declawed cat is! They get in fights and get hurt simply because they can't scratch back.

Seriously Mike I can't believe that you actually suggested this.

I am totally against declawing, your cat will have to learn it's not good to claw your furniture, you or anything else for that matter.

OP buy your cat a scratch post.

Sorry minders but I am not against getting cats declawed if they are a strictly inside cat. My cat is declawed and she is fine. EVERY cat I have ever owned has been declawed with no problems. Any cat I own is an inside only cat. We will have to agree to disagree here but we are still friends?

And I know the whole debate and information on the declawing of cats, both sides of the argument.
Off to work, everyone have a great day!!

carbonmade78 · 01-15-2009, 05:09 AM

While I understand why some owners choose to declaw their cats, I still believe it's a bit unnecessary and cruel.

It's like cutting the first knuckle off of all your fingers. Ouch.

http://www.paw-rescue.org/declaw_paper.html

Then again, I don't believe in snipping dogs ears either.

A MUCH better alternative (and this has saved MY furniture) is to get you cat what's called a Super Scratcher. I got mine at Target. It's like a little box with corrugated cardboard laid inside of it. I don't know what it is, but my cat LOVES that thing. She will sharpen her claws on that cardboard all day. All of my friends that have them say their cats love them too.. Apparently, cats + cardboard = <3

lafemmeforte · 01-15-2009, 05:12 AM

haha yeah whenever we had a cardboard box lying around the house my cat used to chew it to shreds.

Verti-gal · 01-15-2009, 07:50 AM

The nibbling can be a sign that they were weaned earlier than they wanted to be. Mama cat may have been ready to wean them, they just may not have been. They do normally grow out of that. I wouldn't encourage it but I wouldn't punish it either.

Catchol · 01-15-2009, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elfie.

Hey guys I'm hoping some pet owners can help me out here. I have a 12 week old kitten who has developed some annoying habits. First, whenever he comes to cuddle, he ends up chewing/nibbling on me so I'm constantly covered in kitten slobber. I don't want to push him off my lap but I don't know what else to do. Second, he's started peeing in my plants. Help!

Get some peppermint (or orange) essential oil and put a few drops in the soil of your plants. It won't harm the plants, but as soon as his little nose gets a whiff of peppermint, he'll go elsewhere.

dunkonu9 · 01-15-2009, 04:28 PM

Well the clawing just takes time to teach them it is bad but I would not expect them to stop. A spray bottle of water goes a long way training a cat. If you put vinigar anywhere you do not want a cat to pee they will not. I am not sure what that will do to you plants though.

If all else fails cats taste pretty good....

biochick · 01-15-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dunkonu9

Well the clawing just takes time to teach them it is bad but I would not expect them to stop. A spray bottle of water goes a long way training a cat. If you put vinigar anywhere you do not want a cat to pee they will not. I am not sure what that will do to you plants though.

If all else fails cats taste pretty good....

Vinegar can be used as an herbicide, I would keep it away from your plants. But that is handy to know for other places.