Dear Sparkle,
I think I may be in big trouble. When I was a tiny kitten, I got separated from the rest of my family. Some humans found me and took me to this place to live with a bunch of other kittens and young cats. It was fun! All I had to do was play all day with my friends, and occasionally humans I didn’t know would come over and play with me too. Eventually one of these strangers took me home. I thought we were going to be great pals and I had lots of fun stalking this human and attacking him. I even learned how to ambush him from above by balancing on top of a door and jumping! But then he started to get mad at me and it seemed like he was always yelling at me whenever I tried to play. Then one day he shoved me in a big plastic box and took me back to my old home. He told the humans there I was “crazy” and “unmanageable.” I was hurt by that, but at least I was back with my old kitty friends — and some new ones too.
Well, a couple of weeks later, another human decided to take me home with her. I thought maybe she would be more fun than the other human, but she doesn’t seem to like my games either. In fact, once when I was ambushing her, I jumped on her a little too hard and drew blood — and she began crying! I felt really bad about that and tried purring to make her feel better. Maybe it worked because she said it was okay, and “it wasn’t my fault.” But I still can’t get her to enjoy my stalking and attack games, and I’m worried she will take me back to my old home too. I’m starting to feel like there is something wrong with me. Or is it the humans that are wrong?
Signed,
Confused
Dear Confused,
There is nothing wrong with you at all. You are a very normal, hyperactive teenage kitten! And I will be polite and say it’s not so much that the humans are wrong as they are ignorant. Hm. I thought I was being polite, even if it didn’t come out quite that way. And since ignorance can be teachable, maybe that is the politest way to put it.
Humans always think they want kittens because they are cute and fun and playful — and then they get upset because these cute, fun kittens play rough! And most humans don’t realize there are right ways and wrong ways to play with kittens like you, who are especially bright, imaginative and active. When you are with other kittens and young cats, you learn boundaries and limits because your friends tell you in no uncertain terms when you have gone too far. Humans, with their furless appendages, are more fragile and when you get too excited and land a few scratches on an arm or an ankle, they tend to complain and call you “crazy.” Smarter humans will play with you using toys on strings, or balls or nip mice they can throw for you to chase — any sort of play that does not involve them using their hands and fingers to interact with you. Humans are supposed to know that hands are for petting and feeding, not for playing — and they also should make time to pull out toys and play with you daily.
Now, what to do with your present human? The best thing to do is to take out your excess energy on other things and not on her. When I was a kitten, I used to beat up the blankets and bedspread regularly. Doing sprints around the house is a good idea too. Play with things that aren’t attached to your human, and at least you won’t injure her. It sounds to me like she likes you, and perhaps she is teachable, but you know what? If she packs you up and hauls you back to your old home, it is not the end of the world. You have lots of friends there — and if any of the humans in charge there are savvy, maybe instead of taking you back, they will convince your human to adopt a friend for you — because having a buddy to mess around with would be the best way for you to burn off all your energy, and have lots of fun doing it.
Excellent advice Sparkle! As they say in Boston {full disclosure I am not a native but I hear this ALL the time} you are wicked smmmahhhht. If I translate that to any other city I have lived in it means you are very smart!
The humans should really read your books, Sparkle!
Brilliant Sparkle, as always. Do you know we had a kitten returned to my former shelter last year ‘cuz she was “too affectionate”…peeps are sure hard to purrlease…IMHFO
Some humans have a much steeper learning curve than others, that’s for sure. x
Sparkle, how did you get so smart? Did you go to Mewniversity or sumfing?
Just keep on trying to teach that human!
You are so right Sparkle. Humans don’t think things all the way through. This cute kitteh that beats everything up is expelling excess energy not just playing for the human’s amusement. This kitteh is like this most of the time so if a human doesn’t like playing with kitteh for hours, then don’t blame the kitteh. He has shown you what he is like most of the time. Good call Sparkle.
Its truly sad when people dump kittens because they act like kittens. And kittens have those sharp razor like claws too! Hopefully the people will wise up and use the proper cat toys and not their hands to play with cats, so a lesson well taught, Sparkle.
Oh, Sparkle, you gave really good advice.
We had a kitten who was separated from her litter and she played rough too. She needed another kitten to roughhouse with–NOT a human. So, we bought her a dog toy–one with rope arms and legs, ears and a long rope tail. This would be Ruth’s new littermate. When we played with her, we would let her bite, rabbit-kick, and scratch the toy. She would bite the ears and attack the tail–all things kittens do with their littermates. It worked. She never bit us again!
People just don’t get it sometimes.
Sparkle, I wish this came as a set of directions for each and every clueless human out there who does NOT know how to live with kittens. ❗
Excellent advice, as always, Sparkle. They didn’t do it with Calista (Astrid and Lisbeth are only 10 months older), but our humans believe in adopting in pairs. Kittens do have an inordinate amount of energy and sometimes it is impossible to wear them out. Chasing each other throughout the house burns gobs of kitten energy. Calista and Astrid do lots of this. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
I was a crazy hyper kitty too..but my humans never would has given up on me..they is not giver uppers..Good luck little kitty 😥 ..Great advice Miss Sparkle!
Hello,Sparkle! I love your blog! I found my way to your blog by going to Katie Isabella’s blog.
Aren’t you a Somali? That’s a kind of cat breed.
I hope to see you soon!
http://LifewithRagdoll.blogspot.com
Kisses.
Ragdoll Mommy~
Poor little one. I hope the human is a good one for that sweetie.
A cat is going to be a cat and if you can’t deal with that then you shouldn’t be living with a cat…My husband sometimes gets cranky when the cats act like cats and I have to remind him – that’s what they do and HE has to adjust.
Be patient with that Human, there IS HOPE!
Harvey Button 😀
You are just the kind our human likes the most Dear Confused! We wish you the best!
Oh, we like your advice sweet Sparkle. What a wise kitty you are. Hugs and nose kisses
There’s lots of humans that need to be trained about what being a kitten is really all about so this is great advice Sparkle!
Hopefully the human in question with read up on cat behavior or consult a behaviorist.
Some humans just don’t understand young animals no matter the species. We are all very lucky with our publicist. She knows that with kids and kittens there will be hijinks!
great advice sparkle. now if there is someone to advice the humans, that would really really help too.
Good advice as this kitten may have a teachable human.
There is a reason some toys are labeled “Kitten toys”
You would think some humans would get a clue 😐
We hope this kitty has a good outcome 🙂
Purrs Tillie and Georgia,
Treasure,Tiger, JJ and Julie
I’m lucky in that both my humans understand how to live with cats. For those that don’t you are an excellent spokescat for getting the word out Sparkle! Keep up the good work!
Meow and Namste! ~ Pippy the Feline Yognini
Ah, the teenage years! Great advice, Sparkle. I hope confused pays close attention to every word.
Dear Sparkle,
Everyone says I’M crazy too. The Boss. Glogirly. Even Gloman.
…but I think they kinda like it! As long as I can make them laugh, I know I’m doing something right.
love, Waffles
Good advice and I betcha, that when Confused gets a little older, he won’t do all that stuff any more.That was such good advice though. Take care.
great advice…. we recommend people adopt kittens in pairs for that reason. and our fosters lost even more of their minds last night and were running around the house like it was a racetrack 🙂
Great post, Sparkle! we like your idea for a kitty-buddy too!
Pip, Smidgen, Minnie, Hollie
Well said!
Purrs,
Nissy
We think your advice abut getting a companion was spot on Sparkle.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Purrfect advice Sparkle…in my 11 years I have found it is the humans who are crazy.
Hugs Madi your BFFF
Very wise advice, especially about urging your human to adopt another kitten!
Purrs,
The Chans
Pawsome advice´s Sparkle !
Oh, good luck with your hoomin. We hope she learns how to live with you properly.
Great advice, as always, Sparkle! This sounds like a promising human that will be able to be trained.
Excellent advise! We think this hooman is teachable. Happy Purrsday!
Excellent advice Miss Sparkle.