Is it possible for kitty to be psycho?

[WillParkinson]

Long story but short version...Due to a mix-up at the shelter we did not get the kitten that we wanted. We did, however, end up getting his brother and I'm wondering if it's possible he's a bit...oh, I don't know...nuts?

Here's his picture:




I swear this cat has to be psychotic. The other day I was walking through the dining room in bare feet when, suddenly, my toes were covered in biting hair. It nibbled on my big toe until I looked down and asked, "What do you think you're doing?" My reply was a simple, "Mew."

He wants to play with the 2 older cats who want little, if anything, to do with him but he doesn't give up. He runs across the room, bowls them over, and then keeps going. Think the dogs are immune? Ha! Poor Heidi is getting ready for a padded room. And for some reason kitty thinks that Misty is Mommy because he keeps looking for a nipple.

Right now he's diving for a plastic bag that must have given him attitude because he's just pulverizing it.

So...psycho or what?

[omshanti]

1. he just needs attention - he's just a baby.

Lots of love is needed and you just need to play with him until he tires out. He'll grow out of it eventually. :)

[Avalux]

2. Yep

Had a psycho kittie once; she scared the hell outta me. I'd be sitting minding my own business and she'd come flying through the air in full attack mode at hands, feet; whatever. Not playful either. Rough and would not let go. The rest of the time she stayed hidden out of view. Waiting and watching for her next victim....

[flamingyouth]

3. Sweet little baby!

I want to hold him. If he's looking for a nipple, he was probably taken from his mommy too soon. Poor little thing. Just give him love and support. He looks like a friendly little guy.

[WillParkinson]

7. VERY friendly!

A literal purring machine. Likes to be held and rubbed.

As for being taken from momma I can't say for sure. He was one of many kittens (and dogs and puppies and one poor cown whose horn was growing back into its head) removed from a farm where he was being mistreated.

The vet said she didn't think he was 4 months old because he doesn't have much in the way of musculature. He's getting bigger now but when we got him he couldn't jump to the top of the bed without falling back down.

[TrogL]

4. it's a kitten thing

Mine does similar stunts.

• hides under bed and attacks passing feet
  
• destroys toilet paper rolls, breaking into the cabinet to get them
  
• steals the sink stopper and leaves it in bizarre locations
  
• picks a fight with big cat four times its size and wins
  
• cat stampedes up and down the hall
  

[WillParkinson]

5. It's hilarious!

Cat used to think that SHE was the badass of the house. To watch this 4 month old kitten make her run and hide under the bed (until said kitten figures out where she is and then the chase is on again) is just too funny for words.

[scottcsmith]

6. Sounds like typical kitten behavior

I have a young cat (I think we got him when he was a kitten) and he acted exactly like your cat. He still does, a little. I think mostly he just wants to play. But no, your cat doesn't sound psycho to me.

[xultar]

8. Yes cuz I've got 2. I put mine on prozac and they are fine.

[SOteric]

9. Maybe psycho for a people, but pretty normal for a kitten.

He wants to 'play' and has a high need for attention and affection. As he ages, he'll mellow. I'd bet you bragging rights he'll be one of the most wonderful pets you ever had by the time he's 2.

[indigo32]

10. Hey

we can swap stories LOL
mine climbs the drapes :crazy:
but hey she is as sweet as can be.

this is just typical kitten behavior... give him lots of love.

[Rainbowreflect]

11. I had a great psyco kitty once.

She would attack everyone but me. She would wait for my hubby to come home from work and hide. When he would walk by her hiddie place she would jump out, sink her claws in his leg, bite him then run find another place to hide & wait for him. She also liked to sit on the curtain rod above the couch and pounce on people when they would sit down. She would draw blood then curl up on my lap and purr.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

12. Nuts? Nope...

just doing the XTreme Kitten Thang.

I brought a sweet little gal in to my house just around a year ago. She was no bigger than a minute and as sweet-looking as can be.

I let her out of the carrier I had brought her home in, she walks around the living room for around ten minutes, then she proceeds to beat the crap out of both my 20+ pound male and alpha male!

She was doing exactly as your describe -- just bowling the guys over RELENTLESSLY -- they couldn't walk anywhere without getting attacked. She was very much like something out of "Calvin & Hobbs"!

At a year and a half, she is still as rambunctious as she was when I first brought her home. My guys have gotten to love her and they are like a pack of elephants playing across the living room floor at 3:00 in the morning.

I would just watch your other guys and see how they are handling it and watch for signs of depression with them. This is a time for extra love and treats for them.

[madddog]

13. this is what kittens do...

they attack anything and everything, and they conveniently manage to sleep when you're not home, so they can stay up and cause mischief all night.

[Flaxbee]

14. If my kitty "Psychobitch" weren't spayed, I'd say they

could be mother and son. Psychobitch attacks feet all the time, she told us she's practicing hunting cantaloupes, and we had to tell her "no, sweetie, you mean antelopes, not cantaloupes, and our feet resemble neither so it's really not very good practice." (Can you tell we're ridiculously insane about our cats?)

Seriously, though, sounds like you have yourself an adorable, rambunctious kitty.

[VOX]

15. He may not have had enough time in the litter...

Kittens who are separated from the litter too soon tend to be lacking in the moderate social behaviors, and exhibit more of what vets call "play aggression," etc.

If you can make the time, engage the hyper-kitten in some one-on-one interactive play, with one of those feathers on a wand, or similar interactive toy. Stack up some throw pillows to make places for him to hide and to pounce from. Do this at least once a day, and the little guy will 1) develop some badly needed social "skills," and 2) will get to run off a bit of steam.

Let him do his thing, as long as the other animals can put up with it, and try to handle him gently a little more than is usual.

Psycho? Nah. Rarin' to go? You bet. He'll get there, give him time.