OUR NEW KITTY

Question
QUESTION: HI,....WE GOT A NEW KITTEN (APPROX 8 WEEKS OLD) AND SHE IS VERY AGGRESSIVE IN PLAY - LOTS OF BITING - LOTS OF ATTACKING THE ANKLES WHEN WE WALK AND SHE WANTS TO PLAY -
WE DO SPEND TIME WITH HER EVERY DAY TO PLAY AND TO INTERACT WITH HER
WE HAVE HAD TO CLOSE OUR BEDROOM DOORS AT NIGHT BECAUSE SHE LIKES TO ATTACK OUR FACES AND HANDS TO ROUGH PLAY....
IS SHE OK IN THE NIGHT TIME ALONE WITH THE RADIO ON??
WHAT CAN WE DO TO STOP HER FROM BITING AND ATTACKING OUR ANKLES WHEN SHE WANTS TO PLAY????
WE LIVE ON A SECOND STORY APARTMENT - I AM FEARFUL THAT SHE WILL FALL OFF THE PORCH....WHEN WE TAKE HER OUTSIDE WE TAKE HER ON A LEASH UNTIL SHE GETS A LITTLE OLDER...IS THAT CORRECT???
THANK YOU
God bless


ANSWER: Cathy,

Taking her on a leash is good. Give her lots of exercise to tire her out.

I don't know how your porch is set up but get some plastic sheeting and put it around the area that the cat can get through. Another thing to do, which sounds mean but it's not, is to put her on top of the railing and pretend to drop her, holding her over the side, so it scares her and she won't go on the railing. Let her know what can happen when she does. They learn by association.

To be truthful, you need another kitten to keep yours company. A human can't play rough like another kitten can. They need company for playing and for cuddling. It takes some of the need for attention and affection off you.

Spray her with water when she bites your ankles and tell her NO! firmly. Play with her when she stops. She has to associate the fact that if she bites you won't play with her.

Feed her a can of food before you go to bed. That may make her sleep through the night. And play with her before you go to bed also which should tire her out a bit. Being by herself at night is probably scary for her, hence the need for a friend. Two cats are always beter than one.

Tabbi

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: actually...i do have another question
i dont like to have kitty on my bed - i am a little anul about kittys paws being in the kitty litter, and she licks herself...all that - am I being to anul about that??
how dirty is the kitty when she gets on my bed??
thanks again

Answer
Hi Cathy.

I don't think it's any worse than what you walk on barefooted and then get on your bed. Maybe if she stuck her paws in your mouth or licked your tongue I would consider getting anal, but otherwise "don't sweat the small stuff!" (smile).

One of my cats years ago slept in the crib with my daughter all the time. I know...horrors! But she was healthy, never had a cat related problem or illness, and grew up to be a cat lover. I used to have 7 cats that slept on the bed. No problems. No illnesses. No room to move.

Cats keep themselves pretty clean. And THEY don't get sick from cleaning themselves so I think you are safe from your cute little germ-machine. (smile)

Keep me posted.

Tabbi