Last Updated on 2 years by GILBERT FILLMORE
Wondering how to get a kitten to calm down? Kittens are adorable creatures. Their big round eyes always seem to peer into the depths of our souls. The calming purrs and meows make us want to take care of them for the rest of their beautiful lives. When we cuddle and play with them, we just can’t help but feel fully responsible for their lives. They have this ability to make us laugh, smile and throw our worries out of our minds. For sure, they might seem more energetic than the biggest dogs you have ever seen with their curious minds and unhinged sense of adventure.
Despite their innocence and sweetness, at times Kittens can be a bit too much to handle. When these amazing furry young ones aren’t calm, you will feel like you are in a chaotic market. Maybe they are just uneasy, or they are probably overly excited. The thing is, a kitten that is not calm can be frustrating to any feline owner out there. This brings into question, “How do we get a kitten to calm down?” Well, there are a number of ways to get your feline young one to feel as calm as a breeze. Prepare yourself for a walk down the simple and also intricate ways that will help you reassure your kitten, or even help you have control on their moods.
Signs of A Non-Calm Kitten
It is very easy to confuse the behavior and body language of our small-pawed friends to mean something else. This makes it important to know the behaviors that will be displayed with a non-calm kitten. For instance, a kitten that does not feel calm will keep trying its best to run away or hide from you. This avoidance behavior can be annoying when all you want is to take care of them. The kitten may also hiss, growl, or show other aggressive behaviors towards people, animals, and hypothetically even to the environment.
If you have a kitten that is not calm, you will also be subject to constant vocalizations. The crying and meowing will be persistent to the point you will feel overwhelmed. This coupled with excessive scratching and biting behavior when you attempt to pet him/her to calm them down will only end up being frustrating. The kitten will also be constantly pacing and restless, like in a hurry to go somewhere, away from you. Unfortunately, the kitten may also defecate or urinate outside of their litter boxes making an undesirable and unhealthy living environment for everyone.
Training Your Kitten To Stay Calm
How can you get a kitten to calm down? Well, it all comes down to proper training. If your kitten knows how to respond to different stimuli, then it will portray desired behavior. The best approach to training is by using positive reinforcement to help your kitten learn to calm down and behave accordingly. This is where you will reward your young feline companion for reacting and responding in a way that you see fit with praise, treats, toys, or even more playtime. Clicker training is one way to go about it.
A sound followed by a treat when your kitten does something good will engrave that memory into your furry friend. It is important to avoid punishment as this will only result in fear and anxiety, hence only worsening the situation for the kitten. You could also try diverting their attention to toys or treats when they seem not calm. Overall, basic obedience commands and early socialization will improve your kitten’s behavior when it comes to interacting with other animals or people. While at it, identifying the triggers that are making them show unwanted behaviors will help with creating a tailored training plan for your kitten.
Making A Calm Environment
In case your kitten is currently anxious or is always anxious, the best way to make them stay calm is by creating a calming environment. You can provide a secluded space that is quiet enough for your kitten to relax. This can be a place in your bedroom or even a crate with a pad and toys to keep them preoccupied. It is also important to create a routine for your kitten since kittens thrive on a routine. This gives them something to always look forward to, and they won’t have time to feel anxious and afraid. Treats, toys, playtime, and sleeping times should consistently happen during the same period each day.
Kittens exposed to overstimulating will also tend to not be calm. This means, loud noises, bright lights, and populated environments will only end up making your kitten feel stressed. It is important that you spend time with your kitten, giving them plenty of attention and keeping them away from overstimulation. There are also tricks that you can use such as calming scents that have pheromones to keep the kitten calm. Soft music or white noise can also mask outside noises making your feline companion less exposed to them. If you can, provide a high enough perch where they will feel secure from stimuli. If these tricks seem to have little effect, get professional recommendations tailored for your kitten to help you.
Secret To Playtime
You have probably heard as playful as a kitten and as curious as a cat. It then comes as no secret that one effective way of making your furry young companion calm is by keeping them engaged. When it too comes to playtime, you have to ensure that it is as interactive as possible. Use interactive toys that you can also even join in. This will create a bonding opportunity for you and your feline companion. You can also use a variety of toys, this way when they get bored they can just switch to another toy.
When it comes to playtime, you should also ensure that it is hazard free. Being curious creatures that they are, they may try to climb or chew on things that could potentially be deadly for them. If this happens they might have a negative association and you will probably fail in keeping them calm altogether. You can also ensure to always end your engaging sessions on a positive note. You can do this by petting them and giving them some love. It may be challenging, but with proper planning and patience, you will succeed in using appropriate means to help your kitten to calm down.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age do kittens calm down?
At around 1 year, as kittens reach their adult stage, they will tend to be more calm. Kittens have varied characteristics depending on the breed and individual personalities. Providing plenty of exercises can help burn their energy or reduce any fear.
How do you discipline a kitten?
It is important not to punish kittens since they may fail to understand your intentions. Overall, as they are still in their young years and are receptive to learning, you can use positive reinforcement to ensure they show the desired behavior.
How do you raise a well-behaved kitten?
Kittens are young and receptive to learning, so training them early at this stage will make them display desired behavior. You can use positive reinforcement to achieve this and maintain consistency since kittens thrive on routine.
What is the fastest way to tame a kitten?
The fastest way to tame a kitten is by using positive reinforcement to reward desired behavior. You can use toys and treats to keep them engaged with you. These fun playtimes will increase the bond between you and the kitten.
What is bad kitten Behaviour?
Kittens with bad behavior will always tend to be aggressive. They will scratch or bite at people, making it uncomfortable to be around them. They will also defecate and urinate anywhere rather than in their litter.
What not to do with kittens?
When interacting with kittens you should not handle them in an aggressive manner as this can end up injuring them. You should also not physically punish them as this can cause fear, anxiety and mistrust.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when our young feline companions are not calm we as their owners will also be affected. We will be concerned and frustrated about our anxious kittens’ well-being. It is also an unhappy feeling knowing your feline companion is not comfortable. We can feel helpless sometimes if we do not apply the proper set of tactics and techniques to help them feel calm. It is important to know the signs in order to take appropriate tailored actions. This way, using positive reinforcement you can train your kitten to feel comfortable and stay engaged. You can also ensure that you provide a calming environment, which can include you purchasing pheromones that have calming effects for your kitten. Using playtime, you can also keep your kitten engaged to feel stressed. This can be like your secret recipe to success. Always ensure that you monitor your kitten for any signs of change, and if the signs exceed you can always seek out professional help from the veterinarian.