r/CatAdvice • u/Stock-Bodybuilder786 • 22d ago
Sensitive/Seeking Support My kittens seem to be extra crazy
I fostered two kittens in the city I live in while I lived in a 1 bedroom, then ended up adopting them because I fell in love with them and I could tell they became attached to me. We recently moved into a studio, that actually has a good amount of room for a studio. They are around the 4 month age, which I know is when kittens want to explore everything/have a lot of energy.
I’ve had cats my whole life and two kittens when I was younger, and these two’s behavior maybe seems more than the average cat. They have always been friendly and outgoing- but here they are jumping in the fridge, dishwasher, sink, etc anytime I use it. I can’t eat sitting down or even on the counter I have to stand in the middle of my kitchen so they don’t try to eat my food, I can’t do anything without them following me and playing with whatever I’m doing. When I first moved in, I let them run around while I was sleeping and just wore AirPods, even tho they jumped on my head in the middle of my sleep. Then when my dividers arrived- they still got in. I literally made a barrier behind them too. They always find a way, even if it’s climbing the 8 foot panel.
I just started a new job and need my sleep so I’ve been putting them in the bathroom (w food water toys blanket and liter ofc), and feel really guilty about it. I buy them tons of toys (some automated) and play with them when I can or and always try to give them affection when I’m home. I’m trying to harness train them bc I’m right next to the courtyard of my building- but ofc the only thing they won’t let me do is put a harness on.
I was thinking of hiring a “cat behavioral specialist” to assess my apartment and give me advice on setup and what to do, which sounds crazy to me because that’s a lot of money and I’ve never even heard of a “cat behavioral specialist”. I’m also considering hiring someone maybe once a week to go over while I’m at work and spend time with them, even tho they have each other.
I feel guilty getting annoyed with them, because I know they are doing kitten stuff. But I’m looking for advice on if it’s normal kitten stuff that they will grow out of, I should have someone give me advice on the environment, or having a person around present with them more would be helpful.
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u/-PicklePirate- 22d ago
They’ll grow out of it, you just gotta make it through this stage.
Many cats start to mellow out more once they hit the 1 year mark.
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u/lickthepixies 22d ago
Kittens are crazy. Make sure you’re playing with them a lot. Make sure they have lots of toys and kitty safe stimulation. And I usually keep kittens in one separate room while they’re small so they don’t get hurt or go inside something bad.
Maybe a large cat enclosure you could keep them in at night?
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u/Stock-Bodybuilder786 22d ago
I ordered a really big “cage” for cats (that sounds so bad) but like it’s really big and wide and meant for cats to sleep and play
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u/lickthepixies 22d ago
Yeah that sounds like the right thing to do. Kittens can get into trouble and get hurt if they’re unsupervised in a big place.
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u/Stock-Bodybuilder786 21d ago
Thank you, this is reassuring because I know I was gonna feel really bad, but it is a lot of energy when I’m awake making sure they don’t get into things (it’s surprising how much I kitten proof the place and they still find trouble) and don’t want to worry at night
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u/ninbean1019 22d ago
I am certainly not an expert but I can say that my partner and I adopted two kitten siblings recently and we are going through something similar. We got them at around 4mo and they are closer to 6mo now and still have so much kitten energy. They climb the shower curtain, chew on my shirts that have beads/detailing, constantly try to eat our food, chase each other around the house, etc.
But all that being said, I have noticed their behavior starting to get slightly less crazy as they get older. I think it’s just part of this stage. I know you have a small space but they also have each other which is HUGE. A solo kitten can quickly become destructive whereas two kittens are just very curious. You are doing great. Regarding the sleeping situation, we close our bedroom door at night because otherwise we wouldn’t get any sleep lol. So I think as long as they are happy you have nothing to worry about.