As with all young mammals, this seemingly crazy behavior is just your kitten's way of practicing to become an adult. Because of their predatory nature, kittens will explore new places and get used to their environment by following their instincts, which include biting, jumping and chasing after things.
2 weeks - 3 months: If you're a parent yourself, picture this period as the “terrible twos”. This is the toddler years of your kitten and is when your kitten is usually most hyperactive.
Young cats and kittens that were not raised with littermates, or that lack opportunities to play most commonly show play aggression. Learning appropriate play is an important part of a cat's socialization, and this normally occurs during time spent with littermates.
The most common reason cats experience the zoomies is pent-up energy. Cats rest and sleep for a majority of the day to conserve energy for short, very active periods. Without intentional exercise and activity, your kitty will need to find a way to get that extra energy out, resulting in a case of the zoomies.
Although play is usually more common in kittens, it may persist through adulthood, especially in cats under 2 years of age that have no other feline companions. Moving objects that can be stalked, chased, swatted, or pounced upon best stimulate cat play (see Play and Investigative Behaviors and Play and Play Toys).
Intensive growth 2-4 months. This is the naughty stage of the kitten development chart when your kittens start to show their true colours! An important stage in kitten growth, the personalities of your kitties will come forth during this time making it one of the most endearing stages of kitten development.
At what age do kittens calm down? Generally, by 9 to 12 months old, the massive amount of enthusiasm has begun to settle, and a personality has become more apparent. Each cat differs individually with some being more playful and some lazier.
A cat's temperament, training, and personality are the result of genetics and upbringing, and are generally unaffected by the presence or absence of male hormones. Castration is unlikely to calm an overactive cat or decrease aggression toward people.
“It most commonly (and annoyingly) happens at night. They usually don't last longer than 1-2 minutes, but they leave a lasting impression.”
Why Do Kittens Misbehave? Kittens are like babies. The are constantly learning about the world around them and what behavior is acceptable and what isn't through positive and negative reinforcement. When your kitten misbehaves, it's not trying to be "bad." It's simply learning how to behave.
Cats often meow to initiate play, petting, or to get you to talk to them. If you want to cut down on attention-seeking meows, stop responding when it happens. Only give them attention when they are quiet. If they start to meow again, look or walk away.
Always train with positive reinforcement. Use “time outs” or a squirt bottle filled with water to distract your kitten from behaviors you want to prevent. If your kitten misbehaves at home or during his first veterinary visit, discuss with your vet ways to in which to work with him.
Catnip can calm and soothe some cats. As an herb, catnip is easy to grow at home. If you grow it, you may find your kitty indulging in it at intervals throughout the day and maybe even chewing on it. For the most part, it's a fairly harmless indulgence.
Also, kittens play, eat, and rest similar to a toddler. Social play usually peaks at about 3 months of age. As they get to 4-9 months, they hit their teenage years. They may start to feel their natural predatory selves and the need to begin “hunt” and scavenge.
Low-Intensity Kittens
Low-intensity kittens are calm and secure. While they do play and interact with their littermates, you will notice they are not usually the instigators of aggressive play. When you pick them up, they will settle down quickly in your lap and purr happily as you pet them.
Hyper cats tend to be hyperactive because they need to release suppressed energy in their little bodies. To calm a hyper cat, the key is to drain pent-up energy by playing with them and scheduling proper mealtimes. Likewise, we can ensure they get proper grooming and try using calming solutions.
Of course while some cats get more affectionate as they age, this is not true for all cats and can depend on a number of different factors such as personality, environment, breed and more. Age also comes with physical effects that often cause cats to decrease activity and become less playful.
You can tell a lot about them by the ways they interact. Kittens who are perpetually stalking their siblings' tails and generally horsing around will be the most outgoing and playful. Kittens who are willing to play but don't initiate a lot of games on their own will generally grow up to be more laid-back.
Between six and 12 weeks of age, a kitten is very active and social. It won't sleep quite as much as it did as a newborn, but it will still spend more than half the day napping. A kitten will start playing with its littermates, explore its surroundings, and its personality will start to develop.
Do not use physical punishment. Hitting or smacking the cat will only increase the stress and aggression it is feeling. While physical resistance may be your first response when being attacked, resist that urge. You can, however, use a strong and stern voice to admonish the attacking cat.
Single kitten syndrome is the idea that young kittens, when raised with other young kittens and cats and then adopted into a home by themselves, can become aggressive, anxious, stressed, and even develop behavioral issues like inappropriate chewing/scratching and inappropriately using the litterbox.
Kittens teethe between two weeks and seven months of age, and biting tends to increase during this time. However, several instinctual factors can also lead to kitten biting: Love bites: As many cat owners know, a petting session with your cat or kitten can abruptly end when they nip you seemingly out of nowhere.