My cat is about 4 months old and is very active and hyper. So much that it makes it difficult for me to sleep at night, and sometimes I have to put her in a small room. She does rest , but not enough. She like to bite feet and scratch my clothes that hang in the closet. I feed her a natural diet consisting mainly og ground turkey and eggs. Please help!

Hate to tell you but that's how 4 month old kittens are supposed to be! Not much to treat there. Be thankful. People get kittens and then when they act like kittens........!

It won't last long. Give her a few months and she'll start to settle. Enjoy it while it lasts.

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Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.

Kittens, puppies, toddlers, etc. They ALL tend to sleep better when played out. I assume you are away from home all day? She's probably storing up her energy for when you do return. Many people adopt cats because they are "lower maintenance" than dogs. Surprise! They need training and exercise and attention too. Does she have "stuff" to occupy herself with? (mental & physical stimulation is very important)
Do you spend enough time training & playing with her? Maybe increase her exercise time in the evening? Many people think that cats just "are". They too must be taught manners. You need to be sure to discourage ALL forms of rough play (interactive toys are best) and teach her when playtime is. You may want to try crateing her at night (with her litterbox a blanket or "bed" and water in the kennel with her) and she will gradually learn that when she's in there, it's quiet time. She doesn't have enough room to do much more than sleep, so she should get it pretty quickly. That will help to set her internal clock on to a routine that fits your schedule. Crateing is NOT cruel, it is a valuable training tool that is NOT used as discipline but rather as a quiet, comfort zone. Good-luck, she will grow up. You have to help guide her along though, so that she becomes the cat you want her to be.

Holey Cow! After almost 40 years of doing this I find cats can be "trained" and "crated"! Shoot, why not just get Goldfish!

[ 29 September 2001: Message edited by: gpm ]

__________________
Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.

Hi there!
I agree with much of what Dana has posted, however I think your problem may be solved with a lot less work! This may sound odd or like more work, but trust me, it isn't. GET ANOTHER FEMALE KITTEN OF THE SAME AGE OR A YOUNG ADULT MALE (up to 2-2.5 yrs). I always feel sorry for young kittens going out by themselves or to homes with other geriatric cats, they have no one to play with and to practice prey behaviors with (which is why a lot of people will eventually complain about agression). Human's can not satisfy all thier needs or most certainly will not be able to teach them "good" kitty manners (that's why there are so many problems with "hand-reared" cats). Contrary to popular belief, cats are not solitary creatures. For those who have studied feral colonies this is very evident. Knowing this, it may allow you to understand the frustrations of your kitty a little better. Be kind, get her a friend, they may hiss at one another 1st, but that is expected, with young kittens the introduction process is very quick. In no time the 2 will be companions and will keep each other occupied therefore giving you quiet time to sleep. There are no shortages of cats in this world (unfortunately)-go get em -you won't be sorry!
kkrista

To gpm,
What do you mean by your comments? I don't want to read anything into them but they struck me as possibly rude? What have you been doing for the last 40 years? I agree that there is no need for homeopathy in this case, but was it wrong to advise this person regarding behavior? I'm very new here and I certainly do not want to offend anyone (but I am a redhead!). Please let me know if my response was inappropriate.
kkrista

To gpm,
What do you mean by your comments? I don't want to read anything into them but they struck me as possibly rude? What have you been doing for the last 40 years? I agree that there is no need for homeopathy in this case, but was it wrong to advise this person regarding behavior? I'm very new here and I certainly do not want to offend anyone (but I am a redhead!). Please let me know if my response was inappropriate.
kkrista

kkrista,
I have a solitary cat who is very vocal and dominating-a female. She is 6 years old. While I spend alot of time with her I sometimes consider getting a companion for her.

Would you recommend this and if so what age and sex?

Snowlion,
Sorry I have not responded, I've been in agony over my Kidney Failure case.
In my experience, female cats, especially dominant ones are quite happy on their own. They don't wish to share you with another. However, having said that, it is not impossible to introduce another cat into the home, provided you chose the right one, but YOU must want another cat, because I guarentee you she doesn't want a new friend. Enjoy the vocal expressions, cats in the wild are not vocal because they don't need to be so obvious, however our pets have adapted this language to communicate to us, I wouldn't worry about it our see it as an expression of stress if this is her "normal" behavior. If YOU decide that YOU would like another cat, go with a neutered male (they are lowest in the heirarcy of cats and usually allow themselves to be dominated, not always though!)Males also don't hold grudges usually, which is VERY important because your female will probably be pretty mean to the newcomer. Try to pick a cat to her age range. I think it's terribly unfair to put kittens in with old crabs, howmuch fun can that be for them?, not to mention how irratating for the older cat to be constantly pounced on and invited to play! Hope this helps.
Krista