Please read, and please don't get mad at me:(:(:(...

[bluekat]

I hope you guys won't get mad at me for doing this....but our new cat, Cinnamon, I think that we're going to give her back to PetSmart I know its not good to just give back a shelter cat so quickly, but I'll tell you why. She's only been here for a week, but I think that if we're goving her back, the sooner the better. Its not that I don't like her ( I really do), she's really sweet.
Since she just came here, she's living in my bathroom still. She's just too wild and crazy. Right now, she could jump up onto my bathroom counter with no problem. and that's about 3 feet?!?
Here's some of the things she's done:
Jumped INTO my bathtub
When I try to use the washroom, she always tries to jump in or onto my lap
Climbed my curtains about 5 times
knocked down my flower vase on my counter about 5 times
ripped my shower curtain
pulled down my towels about 10 times
and whenever I clean her litterbox, she climbs into the bag, and bites my hand when I'm scooping
and the worst part is that she doesn't listen whenever we say NO and for most of the time, we don't see her doing the stuff so we can't tell her not to. But I know she's done it, since my bathroom is always a mess.
Well, two days ago, I open my bathroom door and she bursts out. Blueberry was sitting right there too! I was kind of scared, so I put her back in right away.
They meet again, and Blueberry runs away from her. You could kind of tell he doesn't like her. Cinnamon is really wild and crazy, the craziest cat I've ever seen, and Blueberry is the COMPLETE opposite. He's such a nice cat, he listens to everything we say, and hasn't done anything bad before. But Cinnamon's only been her for a week, and every day she messes up my room and bathroom.
I guess its because she's from the shelter, and she has been on the streets before. And she had about 5 siblings to play with before. Blueberry's a Himmy, so he's very laid back. So I really don't think they'll get along.

When we get another cat, I think we'll get another Persian instead, or a long haired cat.
Well, I really hope you guys won't get mad at me for doing this.
and btw, what would you do if this happened to you?

ok, thanks for listening, I'm sorry for such a long post

[stacwase]

If I were you I'd cry, and bawl, and rant, and rave, and vent to the Pet Talkers. Then I'd keep the cat. That's my history, anyway!

[Uabassoon]

what would you do if this happened to you?

I would work with the cat and keep him. He's still a baby and he has a lot of energy. I remember my RB kitty Zasper was a terror when she was a kitten she used to run around the house then jump up as high as she could on the walls, she would knock down paintings or anything else that I had hanging. I couldn't have anything out with her around if anything was on a counter or table it was broken in seconds. But I kept trying and working with her and she calmed down and turned into the sweetest cat. It takes work, things aren't perfect all the time. I wouldn't give up on a cat after only a week, especially a young cat. They need to be trained, it takes time and patience. She's not a bad cat she's just being a kitten and it's your job to teach her.

[catland]

She sounds lonely and bored. I don't know how much time you have to play with her, but she definitely sounds like she needs to find a way to get rid of some of her pent-up energy.

I hope things work out.

[catcrazylady]

How old is this cat? I'm not so sure that she is that wild. It seems to me that living in a bathroom all time would make her very, very very bored! She is feeling trapped and probably very lonely!!! That is why she jumps in your lap. It sounds like she is starving for some attention and some way to release her energy. I think that if she were allowed out and got to spend some time roaming around and maybe some play/bonding time with you then she would settle down. You said that she was used to playing with her siblings. Can you imagine being taken away from all of your play buddies, put into a small room day and night, and then get in trouble when you try to find things to do to entertain yourself because you are all alone?? I'm trying to not sound harsh here but this is just very typical cat behavior...even more so if she is young. She can't constantly live in the bathroom! She needs stimulation, attention, and lots of play time. More than anything she needs to be able to snuggle with you so that you both can bond and learn each others ways. She and Blueberry will eventually work out some kind of arrangement. They
will probably become friends. Sometimes you just have to give them some space and let the situation take care of itself. We had our only cat for three years before the second one came along. Sammy, the only, hid for 3 weeks. He would come out to eat and potty. We tried to help them become friends and eventually they were best of buddies. Now we can bring anything in here and Sammy doesn't care!! Blueberry will eventually adjust if you let them work on it!!!
The biggest piece of advice I have for you is to GET HER OUT OF THE BATHROOM!!!
Sorry, I have wanted to scream that since I first read your post!!
Good luck and don't give up yet. You just brought home a new baby and everybody has to adjust and find their place.

[K & L]

Originally posted by bluekat

Here's some of the things she's done:
Jumped INTO my bathtub

What's wrong with that? She probably doesn't have much else to do. Do you have any kind of toys/recreation in the bathroom for her?

When I try to use the washroom, she always tries to jump in or onto my lap

That's just showing affection. I would be honored!

Climbed my curtains about 5 times
knocked down my flower vase on my counter about 5 times
ripped my shower curtain
pulled down my towels about 10 times

IF she's going to be secluded to the bath you need to remove your vase, towels, toilet paper, and drape your curtain up over the rod. She's just being a cat. You need to catproof just like you would babyproof.

and whenever I clean her litterbox, she climbs into the bag, and bites my hand when I'm scooping

Try removing the litter box from the bathroom and change it.

and the worst part is that she doesn't listen whenever we say NO and for most of the time, we don't see her doing the stuff so we can't tell her not to. But I know she's done it, since my bathroom is always a mess.

Cats don't respond to NO.

Well, two days ago, I open my bathroom door and she bursts out. Blueberry was sitting right there too! I was kind of scared, so I put her back in right away.

This is normal.

They meet again, and Blueberry runs away from her. You could kind of tell he doesn't like her. Cinnamon is really wild and crazy, the craziest cat I've ever seen, and Blueberry is the COMPLETE opposite. He's such a nice cat, he listens to everything we say, and hasn't done anything bad before. But Cinnamon's only been her for a week, and every day she messes up my room and bathroom.

She's messing this up cause she has nothing else to do or no where to go.

I guess its because she's from the shelter, and she has been on the streets before. And she had about 5 siblings to play with before. Blueberry's a Himmy, so he's very laid back. So I really don't think they'll get along.

Why is she secluded in the bathroom?


Well, I really hope you guys won't get mad at me for doing this.
and btw, what would you do if this happened to you?

No one will be mad, you just need to be more patient and work with her.

ok, thanks for listening, I'm sorry for such a long post

[bluekat]

catcrazylady- I know, we were planning on just keeping her in there for only about 3 days, but now we know that we'll have to watch her all the time.

I know I may sound like I really want to get rid of her, but its just that she's been a big problem for me now. In the mornings, I can't even go use my bathroom, I have to go to my sister's. and we're always in a rush in the mornings, so I always have to be quick, and she's always getting in the way.
Wehnever I try to do homework, she just jumps on my desk and messes up my stuff

I'm not so sure that she is that wild

I know it seems hard to believe, but she really is. Seriously, she can jump about 4 feet in the air. Since she's always pulling my towels, I wrap them up high, and she still manages to get them.

You said that she was used to playing with her siblings. Can you imagine being taken away from all of your play buddies, put into a small room day and night, and then get in trouble when you try to find things to do to entertain yourself because you are all alone??

But that's the problem. I have school, and we can't just leave her out during the day

I think we should've gotten a new cat in the summer

[jenluckenbach]

It is possible to have chosen the wrong cat for your situation. A kitten in general may not have been the right age for you. But her behavior is NOT due to being a shelter cat. Everything you describe is perfectly NORMAL. If you need to take her back, then please do so. No one will be angry. But I would suggest re-thinking getting a new cat. If you need to have a calm kitty, get an adult who has already shown that he/she is calm. Kittens have energy and she is using it the only ways that she can.

[catcrazylady]

I absolutely agree with this last peice of advice. If you need to take her back then you should. An older cat is what you need and there are so many that need homes. It is hard to get older cats adopted and you would be doing a wonderful thing by adopting an adult.
I'm so sorry if I sounded harsh before, because I wasn't trying to. I'm just jealous because she sounds like my favorite kind of kitty!! I love em spunky!!
If you and your family don't have the time to spend with her right now then it might be best if she were to go back. She is young and will probably be easy to adopt. Nobody would be mad at you. Unfortunately, sometimes things just don't work out. It is big of you to realize it and try to do what is best for you and the kitty. HUGS to you and good luck!!

[rosethecopycat]

I agree with Jen and the others.

There is nothing wrong or really different about your kitten.
She's got CABIN FEVER.

All of my fosters act different in the foster room. They are starved for affection, even though I spend the maximum amount of time in there. I sleep with them all night, if I can stand it!

For example, in the foster room, the kittens dive bomb my head. (I really have to watch that they don't do serious injury around my eyes)
They go completely nuts in there. I've had to remove just about every non-stationary item from the room, including the bed rails!
(the matresses are sitting on the floor)
I believe I'm never gonna get a night's sleep, when after their isolation period is complete, they come out and they are totally different cats.

My current foster, who could not stay off of my face at night, is not even found in the bed anymore.

They calm down a lot, and get used to other cats too. Sure, there will be some that are not matches made in heaven, but usually all will be fine with slow integrations.

So, if you really think it is the breed of cat you've chose, do return her, but learn something from this, when you think you've found your next kitten (or adult):

They may act exactly the same, because it is normal.

And you can't go returning them all. It's not fair to put a cat through anymore life adjustments than absolutely neccessary. That's where we get our older (non adoptable) cats in rescue.

[Logan]

I haven't had a kitten in years. Mimi was six weeks old when I got her and she was quite playful as I remember. But I never had to shut her up. Maybe closing her in the bathroom is making her more "kitten like" than she would be if you gave her some freedom. I know I'd go bonkers if I were locked in a bathroom 24/7, and I can guarantee that any of my pets would. Blueberry can certainly handle this little one. Let them play.....can you isolate the kitten in your room instead of the bathroom when you are at school? I think "boredom" is the key here. But if you truly don't think you can handle it, take her back and give her the opportunity to be adopted by a different family who can handle her.

Good luck. Hope I didn't sound too harsh, but a kitten is exactly that and they are adventurous, busy and FUN!!!!!

[Pam]

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
It is possible to have chosen the wrong cat for your situation. A kitten in general may not have been the right age for you. But her behavior is NOT due to being a shelter cat. Everything you describe is perfectly NORMAL. If you need to take her back, then please do so. No one will be angry. But I would suggest re-thinking getting a new cat. If you need to have a calm kitty, get an adult who has already shown that he/she is calm. Kittens have energy and she is using it the only ways that she can.

Jen has given you excellent advice. I can't add a thing really. When we adopted Andy he was a rambuctious little guy which really was quite a change from Trevor who was more of a laid back kitty even as a kitten. At times I wondered what I had gotten myself into. After a couple of months he began to settle himself down and now is the gentlest, most affectionate kitty anyone could ever want. That may happen with Cinnamon in time but, as Jen says, maybe you should have been thinking along the lines of an older cat. Kittens will be kittens! Whatever you decide I wish you and Cinnamon good luck.

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

I also think Jen gave you some very good advice. Maybe the TIMING is a problem - it's probably a bid time to introduce the kitten into the house if no-one has time to socialise her and help her settle in.

I also agree with the comments regarding the naughty and destructive behaviour - sounds like a typical kitten to me. Their energy CAN be overwhelming at times.

I am sure whatever decision you make will be done with the cat's best interests at heart, so good luck and you have my support.

[Nomilynn]

Even though it's been said, I have to agree.. everything you have said here doesn't sound abnormal or strange or "overly" wild for any average kitten. Nutmeg was able to jump from the floor to the near the top of my sliding glass doors (about 5 feet or more) at four months. She ruined a curtain rod (bent it) by grabbing the curtains and bending the rod. She chewed my cell phone charger ($50 purchase). She spilled my pens all over my floor and scattered homework everywhere, and chewed up papers.

Tilly would keep me awake at night by chewing my toes while I was sleeping, and she was six months when I got her - not even a baby kitten.

Bassett would climb clothes in the closet to get to the top shelf, and then howl because she couldn't get down. Bassett also jumped onto a dresser and knocked over a 19in TV and broke it; it now makes a strange humming sound and there is a line across the screen.

I now cannot have any plants or flowers in my house, because they are eaten/destroyed. I can't leave any boxes/towels/laundry on the floor because they get peed on. I had to get new blinds because the ripped up a black out blind in my room. My guest room boxspring is a mess with claw marks.

What did I do? Chalked it up to being a cat mom. I'm not critisizing you at ALL, just answering your question (the "what would you do" one). I agree with Jen here - I think you need to get an older, laid back cat and not a kitten. The behaviour you described is normal kitten behaviour and it would come (most likely) with any kitten. If you have to take it back, please do, but don't make Cinnamon live in the bathroom anymore She's lonely and sad in there.. imagine how you might feel if you had to live in only one room ALL the time without ever getting out! Good luck.. I hope it all works out for the best for you guys

[PayItForward]

I do agree with seperating a new pet, to allow them to settle and when you are not there to watch them.

But I wouldn't use a bathroom it is uncomfortable and boring for a cat.

We always used a spare room and me & Steve took turns sleeping with the isolated cat, so they were NEVER alone at night.

We even do this with the strays we pick up (As the strays are never introduced to the family cats )

I would let the new kitten play with Blueberry when you are home and keep her in your bedroom the rest of the time.

And give it another week maybe ? to see if things settles.

PS. My kits could easily jump 4 foot. Tigs jumps from cat tree to hamg by his front paws from the window pole...I wouldn't swap them for the world.