Any indication that a fluffy kitten will become a nervous nutcase cat?

Flibustier · 13/10/14 - 20:12

I am thinking of getting a kitten. I have had cats before. A really soft a gentle cat, really calm, relaxed and friendly and... a mental cat - that was nervous and bouncing of the walls. Both were female. Also had a ginger male cat that was confident, lazy and friendly.

I see a lot of ads for kittens, is there any indication one can look out for in the behavior of a kitten that will indicate what type of cat it will become? Don't want to take home a nutcase...

[Deleted User] · 13/10/14 - 20:34

In my experience it all comes down to how they are treated as kittens. Whether they are treated gently and kindly as opposed to being rough, shouting etc at them.

Flibustier · 13/10/14 - 20:46

I see, so it is 100% nurture, if they treated the kitten well it will be normal?

stud u like · 13/10/14 - 20:51

Ideally, a kitten should be taken home at 12 weeks old. Younger than that, their mother may not have taught it everything it needs to know to be a cat in later life.

Kittens should not be taught how to play rough games by their owners as that is asking for trouble as they think it is normal.

Kittens need to be socialised into the home gently and calmly. No shouting.

Kittens will be curious and bouncy as that is their nature.

Flibustier · 13/10/14 - 20:53

So again, 100% nurture.

[Deleted User] · 13/10/14 - 20:56

Yes I would say so. A safe calm loving environment and lots of love, cuddles and playing nicely. I have only had one cat who would freak out at the littlest thing but he wasn't treated quietly and gently when younger.

RobinOfLoxley · 13/10/14 - 21:06

The recent Horizon programmes were great.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04lcqvq

Available on iPlayer for next 3-4 weeks.

Episode 3 of 3 perhaps answers the kitten behaviour questions best.

chris1978 · 13/10/14 - 21:47

I have two cats brother and sister. I chose the female one (Pebbles) because i felt so sorry for her as she seemed to be the runt of the litter. She would cower in the corner and was so timid. Her brother seemed more confident when young. These were being given away at 8 weeks. I think they were treated well but what always worries me is the way Pebbles sort of looks frightened when approached and the slightest noise scares her. She has had a lot of stress related problems, mainly cystitis and over-grooming. But over the 3 years we have had her she has become gradually more confident, despite a lot of vet visits with different problems. Her timidness will always be there. The way she was as a kitten seems to have continued as she's got older, so I definitly think you can tell what they are like personality wise from thier behaviour as kittens. She has needed a lot of love and attention but it's so worth it as she is a beautiful loving cat.

Flibustier · 13/10/14 - 21:49

Well that agrees more with what i have read, that cats, like dogs - are born with certain personalities.

Causes of nervousness in cats:
Genetics – as with people, some cats seem to be more nervous than others
Bad experiences – the cat may previously have had a frightening experience and survival mechanisms make the animal generally fearful in anticipation of it happening again
Lack of experience at a crucial time in development – kittens that meet people and other animals and are exposed to the general hubbub of life by the time they are eight weeks old will take almost anything in their stride. This is the making of a confident cat. If the cat has missed out on these early experiences, life with humans can be difficult to cope with.

Hypnodisc · 14/10/14 - 01:08

Flibustier wrote: »

Well that agrees more with what i have read, that cats, like dogs - are born with certain personalities.

Causes of nervousness in cats:
Genetics – as with people, some cats seem to be more nervous than others
Bad experiences – the cat may previously have had a frightening experience and survival mechanisms make the animal generally fearful in anticipation of it happening again
Lack of experience at a crucial time in development – kittens that meet people and other animals and are exposed to the general hubbub of life by the time they are eight weeks old will take almost anything in their stride. This is the making of a confident cat. If the cat has missed out on these early experiences, life with humans can be difficult to cope with.

They are - there is going to be natural personality variation in all animals, but nurture still probably has far more to do with it.

Muze · 14/10/14 - 01:52

Look for a litter that has be purposely bred, rather than someone who lets their queen wander to make a few quid when she's raped by local Toms.

Meet both parents and see home environment. Cats' window for socialistion is very early, much earlier than they you can bring them home, so make sure they are being handled and exposed to household noises and visitors etc.

Don't take them until 12 weeks, but meet them lots of time before that.
Ideally get two.

Don't think that a cat cannot be trained, keep up the socialisation using whatever rewards they like.

Neuter them young, keep them in.

RobinOfLoxley · 14/10/14 - 01:55

Muze wrote: »

Look for a litter that has be purposely bred, rather than someone who lets their queen wander to make a few quid when she's raped by local Toms.

Meet both parents and see home environment. Cats' window for socialistion is very early, much earlier than they you can bring them home, so make sure they are being handled and exposed to household noises and visitors etc.

Don't take them until 12 weeks, but meet them lots of time before that.
Ideally get two.

Don't think that a cat cannot be trained, keep up the socialisation using whatever rewards they like.

Neuter them young, keep them in.

BIB Siblings. Cats may hate each other but close relations have a bond (smell)

Shrike · 14/10/14 - 10:03

Rather than buying one, why not try your local cat shelters? They will be happy for you to come in and look at all the kittens they have and interact before you take one. They will know the kittens at least (admittedly they'll likely know little of the mums' history) and will have no reason to mislead you, unlike a commercial breeder.

annette kurten · 14/10/14 - 10:07

i`ve never met a frantic tabby. other than that i`ve babied all the kittens i`ve had and they`ve been pretty chilled out.

some breeds are dopier than others, if temperament is really important maybe get a pedigree.

i`ve always found toms calmer than queens too.

[Deleted User] · 14/10/14 - 10:22

Sorry, but IMO, nuture does not equate to expected behaviour with cats. I currently have 5 pet cats and foster approximately 25, so I know what I'm on about. All treated the same, all totally different. Some are quiet and docile, some are batshit crazy. If you want to know what you're getting, get an older cat (+2 years). By that time, they have calmed down, hopefully won't scratch the living hell out of your furniture and have their personality all set. Go to a rescue centre, tell them what kind of cat you want, and they should be able to match you with your perfect new fur baby. Cats are not dogs, in any way, shape or form, no matter how much you think you can train them. As long as they know where the litter tray is, you've done about as much as you can do.

[Deleted User] · 14/10/14 - 10:26

RobinOfLoxley wrote: »

BIB Siblings. Cats may hate each other but close relations have a bond (smell)

Not necessarily. I currently have 5 unrelated pet cats ranging from 6 months to maybe 2 years (plus a litter of 3, and a mummy and baby, and another baby which mummy foster nursed).

Apart from the two small ones (6-8 weeks max and are only just starting to socialise with the bigger cats so sticking together is the aim of the game for them...), they all love and hate each other in equal measures.

RobinOfLoxley · 14/10/14 - 10:49

orangebird wrote: »

Not necessarily. I currently have 5 unrelated pet cats ranging from 6 months to maybe 2 years (plus a litter of 3, and a mummy and baby, and another baby which mummy foster nursed).

Apart from the two small ones (6-8 weeks max and are only just starting to socialise with the bigger cats so sticking together is the aim of the game for them...), they all love and hate each other in equal measures.

I'm just going on what they said on Cat Watch last week (repeated from tonight on BBC2, but maybe you will still be feeding your clowder).

I currently have half a cat. It's actually next door's but considers this place his other home.
They are often away at weekends, Bank Holidays and School Holidays (they are both teachers), so I look after the cat when they are away, by mutual arrangement.

In fact the cat, comes round whether they are at home or not. He's a real sweetie but gets bullied by the other neighbours' cats.He will sleep in the Conservatory or sometimes in the house in the day, but really he likes to wander. He is not a house cat.

When I was a kid, one of our neighbours was a small business/office. They found a cat in the back yard, semi-hidden, that had just died after giving birth to a single kitten.

We had a small poodle that had just given birth that same week.
We put the kitten in with her and she immediately adopted it as one of her litter and suckled and looked after it. That was very sweet.

[Deleted User] · 14/10/14 - 11:08

RobinOfLoxley wrote: »

I'm just going on what they said on Cat Watch last week (repeated from tonight on BBC2, but maybe you will still be feeding your clowder).

I currently have half a cat. It's actually next door's but considers this place his other home.
They are often away at weekends, Bank Holidays and School Holidays (they are both teachers), so I look after the cat when they are away, by mutual arrangement.

In fact the cat, comes round whether they are at home or not. He's a real sweetie but gets bullied by the other neighbours' cats.He will sleep in the Conservatory or sometimes in the house in the day, but really he likes to wander. He is not a house cat.

When I was a kid, one of our neighbours was a small business/office. They found a cat in the back yard, semi-hidden, that had just died after giving birth to a single kitten.

We had a small poodle that had just given birth that same week.
We put the kitten in with her and she immediately adopted it as one of her litter and suckled and looked after it. That was very sweet.

Yeah, I'm a bit 'meh' about all that sibling stuff. My two UK cats are litter brothers. They know each other alright, but don't particularly like each other very much! As kittens, yes, they were together a lot, sleeping, eating, playing. But as they've got older, not so much. Actually, if one disappeared, I very much doubt the other would be too distraught, if at all.

That is a very sweet story about your poodle adopting the kitten. Animals could show humans a thing or two sometimes about acceptance and compassion.

sadmuppet · 14/10/14 - 11:23

Certain breeds seem to have certain characteristics so genetics is certainly likely to bre a part of the kitten's personality e.g. ragdolls are meant to be placid and laid back (although I have one and she's certainly not like that with one of my other cats, who she hates!), breeds with Siamese influences tend to be quite vocal and abyssians are meant to be very active but intelligent and friendly.

Torties have a reputation for being a bit mad! Mine certainly is!

Even then, I think it's quite difficult to tell what the kitten is going to be like as an adult - my black rescue moggie was completely barmy as a kitten - destroyed the curtains by climbing up them, ran about like a mad thing for 16 hours a day but grew up to be the most calm, placid cat. Maybe she wore herself out....

Polomini · 14/10/14 - 12:24

I've got two female cats, littermates, and they're completely different, despite having had exactly the same treatment. They're just moggies, from a friend's cat, so I know their background. One cat is confident, outgoing and placid, happy to approach anyone for a bit of fuss, her sister is the complete opposite - keeps herself to herself, doesn't like to be approached or picked up, and will only tolerate attention when she wants it (usually when she wants food!).

So I think it's as much nature as nurture, as with any living creature.

Relly · 14/10/14 - 14:06

Polomini wrote: »

I've got two female cats, littermates, and they're completely different, despite having had exactly the same treatment. They're just moggies, from a friend's cat, so I know their background. One cat is confident, outgoing and placid, happy to approach anyone for a bit of fuss, her sister is the complete opposite - keeps herself to herself, doesn't like to be approached or picked up, and will only tolerate attention when she wants it (usually when she wants food!).

So I think it's as much nature as nurture, as with any living creature.

Same here, Polomini. My two tabbies (littermates) are completely different in nature, and I've had them since they were born. One's loving, sweet, climbs into bed with me at night, plays with kids in the street (she's in with a chance of a cuddle from them), all that, yet her sister is the most frightened, nervous little thing you've ever seen. She even scurries off if we walk past her too quickly, and we've never ever treated her badly. She hates to be picked up, yet she'll deign to drape herself across me if I've given her some chicken beforehand. /rolleyes

My torty is bat-shit crazy but loves a cuddle, and my tuxedo's too clever for her own good but also loves a cuddle.

Flibustier · 14/10/14 - 18:10

Thanks for the stories. Much appreciated.

I am torn what to do. If I get this cat, it will have to be a home cat because I am on the first floor. My flat is only 50 sqm... just seems cruel to keep an animal made to explore in such a small space.

Shrike · 14/10/14 - 19:27

I wouldn't get a kitten if you have such a small flat, as you say its nature is to explore over a wide area.
However cat shelters often have cats that can't go outside, for various reasons, who still need loving homes - it may take a little longer to find a cat that suits but when you do find it, rest assured it will be glad to have a new home!
Try Cats Protection and also the shelters on catchat.org

[Deleted User] · 14/10/14 - 19:45

Shrike wrote: »

I wouldn't get a kitten if you have such a small flat, as you say its nature is to explore over a wide area.
However cat shelters often have cats that can't go outside, for various reasons, who still need loving homes - it may take a little longer to find a cat that suits but when you do find it, rest assured it will be glad to have a new home!
Try Cats Protection and also the shelters on catchat.org

Great advice - an older indoor cat would be great. I currently have 11 'indoor' cats... My house isn't tiny, but it's still pretty full on. I don't let them out as it's too dangerous here, but I have toys, scratch posts (ranging from kitten size posts to a 2m high cat 'condo'). They all manage pretty well, but can't wait to get back to the UK and let them be in or out as they choose.

sadmuppet · 14/10/14 - 20:18

Relly wrote: »

My torty is bat-shit crazy but loves a cuddle

Love this description - very much the same as mine! This is her sleeping...:o:confused:

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh48/sadmuppet_photos/headlesstwo.jpg

Misanthropy_83 · 14/10/14 - 20:25

My mothers cat Leo is a scaredy cat he is easily spooked and will stick his claws in if he gets spooked by a sudden noise but other than that he is very friendly and loves being picked and carried around probably from when I did that all the time when he was a kitten but he will cling on and will refuse to get down and if you bend over a chair hoping he will jump onto it he will cling on even more.

Hey there!

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Any indication that a fluffy kitten will become a nervous nutcase cat?

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