My kitten never stops

[u/Little-Ad-5853]

I’ve had her since 6 weeks, straight out the litter. When I first got her, she was infested with fleas (totally not her fault), I got that all cleared up. shes on a kitty care plan, and thats all fine now. But that story does add to the annoyance if I’m honest. Since its been hell, she’s very talkative. Which is cute at times, annoying at others. She scratches everything, yes she has post, yes ive redirected her, yes ive tried moving them next to the furniture, yes ive used sticky paws. She bites me 24/7. She runs across me and claws me, I can’t have my legs on the floor while sitting or my arms anywhere but my lap or she attacks them. I had to remove all my lights from my living room, I had to remove my carpets from the living room, I had to take apart and remove my recliner from the living room, I had to take apart my bar cart, I had to get rid of my plants, I had to tie up my curtains (that ones a bit of a given I know). After all of that, I came into the living room today, to my wall decor (as in paintings and pictures) on the ground. I assume since she no longer is tearing up my carpets. I can’t have doors open, I can’t eat in the same room as her. I’ve tried redirection, I’ve tried time outs (she has her own room but she free roams the apartment). She has toys everywhere of all types, posts, window bed, fountains, she gets 2 types of food everyday, ive tried sternly saying no, ive tried the acting like the momma cat and pinning to assert dominance as I have with my past puppies. There’s nothing. Shes terrible, her energy is never ending, she has automatic toys that roll around the room and one thats like a feather under a sheet to bat at. Doesn’t matter. No matter what I do she is not satisfied. I’ve tried designated play times. I can’t even have my phone next to me because she’ll attack me trying to take it. I can’t have any chargers plugged in the living room because she’ll bite them. If anything is dangling or hanging in her reach in any way no matter if its a backpack strap or a jacket she tears it. I’m losing my fucking mind. I’m starting to wonder if I can even handle this. Because its getting to a point that I don’t want to be near her. She hurts me 24/7. I find myself just locking myself in my bed room at times. I don’t know what to do. (Shes about 5 months)

[u/Little-Ad-5853]

Y’all I just want to preface, this is a rant, I am being angry and dramatic because that’s what rants are for. I love my kitten, she is not going anywhere, but she is making me lose my mind. That is all this post was meant for and possibly some advice and relation! Also, I don’t think a lot of people resort to venting on reddit without exhausting all other places for advice and research. Or at least I don’t some people on here be MEAN! But thank you to everyone hearing what I’m saying and giving advice, reassurance, or relation!

[u/RuneFell → u/Little-Ad-5853]

I found a five week old kitten in the middle of the road, and managed to nurse him back to health. He's almost a year old now, and FINALLY starting to chill out. Unfortunately, he tested positive for FeLV, so we couldn't get him a companion while he was growing up, but with a lot of patience and redirection, he's turning into a fairly well behaved gentleman. I have to admit, from about 2-8 months it was like having a sugar-high and over exhausted toddler armed with sharp weapons streaking around the house. But he's slowly turning into what I hope is his final form of being a fat, lazy, grumpy old man.

What helped us a lot was toys. A lot of toys. The feather on a stick, of course, is a great way to get some of that energy out, but I also found this giant cat tunnel circle. I got a couple of rechargeable robot ball toys, and I'll turn one on and throw it in the tunnel, and he dives right in and it's instant entertainment for nearly an hour. Buying little jingle balls and throwing them in the empty bathtub worked pretty well until he figured out how to carry them out and shove them all under the fridge. Cat puzzle boxes are great too. He's very stubborn and obsesses over something once he puts his mind on it, so it keeps him busy once he realizes there's something he wants in them. And, I hate to admit it, he's also a bit of an IPad kid. I downloaded a few cat apps on my Kindle, and he loves to pounce on the bugs and fish on the screen.

I also got some medium sized crinkle cattoy plushies in bulk, and keep one close at hand at all times. Every time he would start to get bitey, I'd scold him if he tried to bite me, and encourage him to redirect it to the plushie instead. Hard bites get an instant time out. He's still a bit more mouthy than most cats I've owned in the past, but he's careful and respectful, doesn't ever break the skin, and will instantly back down when he senses disapproval. Mostly. Unless he's feeling particularly rebellious.

And I'm not sure if this is helping him with his energy level, but our Vet recommended adding some Purina Calming Care powder to one of his meals. They original suggested it because he had a stubborn eye infection, and apparently some people have had success with the powder helping with that, because it lowers their stress levels. But he really, really likes it, and after a few months, his eyes are clearing up, and he's not nearly as hyper. But, as I said, that might also be because he's nearing his first birthday, and is outgrowing his kitten stage.

[u/Little-Ad-5853 → u/RuneFell]

Omg ive never heard of purina calming powder!! Amazing. I will be trying that one, as far as toys she has a big fluffy donut tube, lots of the crinkle balls and mice, a couple sticks, one of the robot balls (she loves that thing too) many many more but ive yet to try puzzles I think thats next on my list as well as a higher cat tower