Be completely honest, do you think I should keep my cat or give him back? (SERIOUS QUESTION)?

I don't want to sound like cats are bad pets (They aren't), but they do destroy everything. I have a cat that chews on the blinds cord. I actually have stress and anxiety as well (along with depression). If I where you, I'd distract him with something. Pet him, play with him, introduce him to a window he can look out of. I believe you can get some sort of spray that you spray on an area you do not want him to mess with. I'd switch my hours around to fit the cat. He needs to sleep at some point, so just sleep when he does. If he truly is causing a lot more stress, then maybe you should take him back. Maybe get a older cat that won't be really active. Good luck.

I know how you're feeling I have almost everything you mentioned and more (I'm a phobic machine). I got a cat, Loki around Halloween 2007 I believe it was and he was very calm until he got used to our house then he'd keep us up all night meowing and tearing through the house. I thought of maybe getting a playmate for him so we ended up getting a very young female, Discord...she was a holy terror and it got to the point my mom was ready to take her to the shelter (The woman we got her from said that's where she was taking her if noone took her by the time her newspaper ad ran out because she had 4 dogs and had to keep the kitten in a small cage.) but I thought for sure she'd be euthanized because I had very high doubts she'd pass the tests they do for aggression and stuff. I kept her because of that fear and after a few months they were playing and she has mellowed out a lot now. I think maybe you should give it a bit more time and try out these to see if he'll stop being a nuisance.

1. If you don't already get him a scratch post or high kitty condo (cats love being up in high places and need a place to sharpen claws)

2. Try getting SSSCAT Cat Training Aid (It's a spray can you place where you don't want him going and if he gets in it's "line of sight" it will make a hiss sound as it sprays (nothing toxic) either at his face or at his feet (you can choose height) I got a can to keep our cats off the kitchen counter and I had one to keep them out of my room when the door was open but I don't mind them in there now so I took it out.)

3. Try getting something called "Frolicat BOLT Interactive Laser Pet Toy" for an auto laser or just a laser pointer if you want to use it manually and not spend as much (Use this to try to tire him out before you go to bed (it has worked on ours)

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I'm a hypochondriac too and an I have bad anxiety, I can relate. I used to stay indoors all the time, although I still do, but when we got a new cat three years ago, my anxiety seemed to be havoc for awhile. At first, our cat Chester, who was still really young, loved to be all I've the place, behind the TV and computer, on the counters, in the bed frames, and behind the couch, and in all these other places that annoyed me. But as he matured and grew older, he calmed down a bit and doesn't create as much anxiety for me.

Your cat too, he's still just kitten for one, younger cats tend to be more energetic, mischievous, and often bring a lot of havoc. I have two cats, It's in a cats nature to explore, and that's what your cat likes to do, he like to explore (even though it can be annoying). Eventually your cat will calm down a bit, I assure you.

Good luck.

This is pretty typical behavior for kittens. Mine is 12 weeks old, and he acts like an absolute lunatic during his daily "witching hour" early in the morning. He wakes me up by biting my hands (playfully, but biting nevertheless), he walks on my head when I'm in bed, and he speeds around my bedroom, knocking into things and sometimes making a mess.

I would advise you to keep the kitten, for two reasons:

1) It gets better sooner than you'd think. Kittenhood is gone in a flash, and as cats grow to adulthood they don't have the boundless energy or need to bite and scratch that they did as babies. A teething kitten will bite; an adult with adult teeth will not. Your cat will be happy to lounge before you know it.

2) You've already bonded with your kitten, and you can modify his behavior. I'd start with Feliway, either the spray of diffuser. It mimics natural pheromones, signaling to the cat that they are in home territory and putting them at ease. For biting, always, always redirect to a toy. That works the vast majority of the time. If he still bites and scratches, put him in a room alone with no interaction for 20 minutes. The key is consistency. You want to drill it into his head that when he bites or scratches, playtime is over. And for the forbidden places, use double sided tape or mix toothpaste with cayenne pepper...your cat will quickly realize the wires suddenly taste awful and will give up on them.

I hate to say that he sounds like an ordinary young cat - but - he sounds like he is just a normal healthy young cat. Perhaps you would have done better to have gotten an older more sedate cat. Young cats can drive you nuts at times. They are into everything and want all your attention and being naturally nocturnal they just don't get that you want to sleep. You are going to have to decide whether you are willing to wait for him to grow up and settle down or if you just want to wash your hands of the whole affair. No one is going to be able to make that decision for you - you might feel even worse if you get rid of him and feel guilty about that. Perhaps you could try to really get him tired playing with toys with him - rolling a ball to chase, laser light to chase, thingys on the end of a stick to jump up at and catch. He might just be very bored.

In this case I would take him back and get an older cat. They can be extremely helpful for your conditions. Just know he will most likey put to sleep. Maybe try a rescue or just a new home but again I would get an older cat next time. Plus you will be saving a life that may not have been saved.

He's just a kitten, give him some time. If he doesn't change by the time he grows up then give him to someone that doesn't mind his personality. If you're not happy he's not going to feel happy, so keeping him wouldn't be fair.