Should I get my hyperactive kitten a friend?

Perhaps you should get him some kitty furniture that he can climb on, like a kitty tree or kitty condo, and teach him how to enjoy it. Get something he can climb on, perhaps with some break-away dangling things, and a sisal scratching post. Get one of those feather on a stick toys and when he starts to climb the curtains or get into something, gently remove him and distract his attention with the feathers and lead him to the kitty condo/tree. Play with him there for awhile, give him verbal praise and a treat while he is on the condo/tree, to show him it is more fun than the curtains (or whatever).

The best way to modify kitty behavior is to distract them with play, show them what they should be playing with and teach them how to enjoy it. It might take a little time, but worth the effort in the long run. Make the desired play area as cat attractive as possible with favorite toys and perhaps some catnip. Praise him and give a treat when he does the right thing. But never hit or spank the kitty for doing the wrong thing because this could make him shy and that would be sad. After all, he is just being a cat, and a 6 month old cat is full of energy and wants to play. You just have to teach him what is the right thing to play with. Spend as much quality time with your kitten as possible, not only playing but petting and grooming.

Another kitten could also be a good idea, but be prepared to teach both kittens how to enjoy their kitty condo/tree and how to use the scratching post. For the kitten, get a kitten about the same age and size, perhaps a little bigger, and definitly as outgoing as the kitten you have so they can be an equal match. It can be a boy or a girl.

Last year when I was with the local humane society, a lady came to us with a similar problem. The cat she was having a problem with was over a year old at the time, already an adult so we suggested getting a kitten since it is often easier to introduce a kitten to an adult cat.. She finally decided to adopt a little tabby boy kitten, and this solved the problem. Her older girl cat was delighted to have a playmate, and even mothered the kitten. She stopped getting into things and acting crazy.

I also recommend reading some books by Pam Johnson-Bennett, a cat behaviorist. Try "Think Like A Cat" to begin with. Check the link below for her website (her rates for therapy are very steep, but her books can be a great asset when it comes to kitty issues). You can get the books from Amazon.com.

cats are loners? they need to visit a feral colony.

cats form groups, prides,when humans dont intervene. they are very social and the pride has order.

you can try a friend, but you might have two kittens climbing up the curtains.

i would get him a friend, playing with the other kitten might keep him off the curtains.

same age, gender and size. try a shelter that will let you bring one home for a weekend, see if they get along. there will be some hissing, but as long as they dont fight, they should get along.

and try a tree/scratching post. the ones that go from floor to ceiling.

"Once they are fix, their personality calms down, and are not dominant! Now if you get another kitten, it is important to still play with them, at least 30 minutes 2-3 times a day. Playing with the kitten at night an hour before bedtime, and some food, will help them sleep through the nights! Good luck, and enjoy!"

not any cat i ever had.

Hi, I am a cat behavior, and let me put this in a simple term. Kitten are like children, and they want attention and play. Getting another kitten will help, and give him a mate. Does not matter another male or female. Once they are fix, their personality calms down, and are not dominant! Now if you get another kitten, it is important to still play with them, at least 30 minutes 2-3 times a day. Playing with the kitten at night an hour before bedtime, and some food, will help them sleep through the nights! Good luck, and enjoy!

While kittens do enjoy companions they don't necessarily need one and it will definitely not decrease in the havoc they reek. I had a one year old kitten who I felt aged prematurely he hardly ever sprinted around the house as he did when he was a baby. However when i brought home another kitten he began scrambling around the house and over the couches as he did when he was younger.

It depneds if you get a male or female. If you cat is female then get her fixed and get a male and vice versa. The kitten will calm down. They are just like children at that age. Get plenty of toys and play with her alot. I mean that is why you got her isn't it?

Maybe it destroys your house because it wants a friend so i would get a friend for your kitten.

my cat really didn't destroy my house, but would more 'hunt' us leaving bad scratches on our legs.

a 2nd kitten did calm her down a lot, they have each other to hunt which is hilarious to watch.

your cats may not get along all so well at first, so I strongly recommend a Feliway plug-in. it really is a live saver

maybe it is not a good idea, because if your cat destroys your house alredy then it will probaly destroy the other cat but it is up to you.