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Cats/kitten behavior

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Expert: - 9/29/2008


Question
I have a male orange tabby who is 5 months old and very very hyper... he is constantly running and jumping.  will this subside EVER?  I just had him neutered and hope that will help.

Answer
Lynne,

At this point your cat is in late childhood to early adolescence in human terms, he will settle, but in the meantime you may find that having regular play sessions with an interactive toy like a kitty tease or kitten mitten a couple of times daily totaling about an hour will help to calm this little guy down. The more stimulation you provide to help him focus attention on things other than bouncing off of the walls would be helpful. I have found that using a specially designed video series called The Cat Sitter would be helpful during the time that you are at work. The videos in this series have been specially designed to appeal to cats and provide stimulation and entertainment in one package. To my knowledge there are three videos in the series. You can find these dvds in pet supply stores such as Petsmart for about $ 15 CAN on average. The two first videos in the series feature great footage of small prey animals such as squirrels, hamsters, mice, birds at a bird feeder and other shots of wildlife. So far all of the cats that I've shown the videos to have enjoyed the footage and it makes for a perfect way to entertain your kitten while you are at work. This little guy will grow out of the kitten crazies, it just takes a bit of time.

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Ali

Expertise

I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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