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New kitten hissing

  • 07-06-2021 11:51am
    #1
    pryingEyes999
    Registered Users Posts: 15 ✭


    Have a new kitten just under a week and am having slight issues with hissing and skittish behaviour. The kitten is around 9 weeks old. When we enter a room she is in, she will initially hiss, or if she is hiding behind something. Then when we rub her she starts to purr. The kitten doesn't attack or anything like that so it must still just be lingering fear. The real question I have is will she grow out of this?

    Otherwise the kitten plays around as all kittens do but can run and hide if she hears us coming into the room or try to pick her up. Once she is picked up she is generally fine and purrs!

    Kitten: ibb.co/sWHgb0g

    The kitten is a most unusal blue/grey colour with a black nose, something I have never really seen before! Apparently a ragdoll/tabby but I don't believe it!


Comments

  • #2
    VonVix
    Registered Users Posts: 1,688 ✭✭✭VonVix


    What's her background? Did you meet the parents? Sometimes kittens who come from a feral background can display these behaviours for a long time, as this is what their mother was doing. For example my partner had gotten a kitten once at 8 weeks of age, she came from feral parents and all the kittens were adopted out at 8 weeks of age. She never fully tamed down, you could pet her and she would love it, but she was extremely skittish and ran away at any sudden movements, she was like that until she passed away at 14 years of age.

    If she came from domesticated/friendly parents, she could just be still settling in to her new home and needs a bit more time to be able to predict her environment.

    [Dog Training + Behaviour Nerd]



  • #3
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,741 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    Having looked at the pic, I can see she is vicious and will never be tamed.
    For safety's sake, I'll take her off your hands!


  • #4
    AndrewJRenko
    Registered Users Posts: 28,324 ✭✭✭✭AndrewJRenko


    Great colouring, and good of you buy new bedsheets to match her colouring too.

    Our last cat, feral rescue, never grew out of her hissing. She was great fun, very playful, but would shred my wrists or hands with claws or teeth at any opportunity. I'd regularly get the call from teens upstairs to bring her up to them, and when I'd pick her up I'd get a few hisses. If I gave her eye contact, she'd lash out at my face.

    Then I'd bring her up, put her down on the kid's bed, and it was like a different animal - purring, head rubbing, cuddling and more.

    She was rescued and fostered by a lady operating on her own, not part of a rescue or anything, so I don't think she got any formal socialising or training.

    It was just the way she was, and we still adored her regardless.


  • #5
    pryingEyes999
    Registered Users Posts: 15 ✭pryingEyes999


    VonVix wrote: »
    What's her background? Did you meet the parents? Sometimes kittens who come from a feral background can display these behaviours for a long time, as this is what their mother was doing. For example my partner had gotten a kitten once at 8 weeks of age, she came from feral parents and all the kittens were adopted out at 8 weeks of age. She never fully tamed down, you could pet her and she would love it, but she was extremely skittish and ran away at any sudden movements, she was like that until she passed away at 14 years of age.

    If she came from domesticated/friendly parents, she could just be still settling in to her new home and needs a bit more time to be able to predict her environment.

    Don't know the background, nor did we have a chance to see the mother. She came from a very rural area though, so probably didn't have the most human contact previously!

    As I say, she is fine once picked up and doesn't scratch or bite unless when trying to play which we discourage.

    Hopefully she becomes a little surer or herself and surroundings in the coming month! I shall update either way.

    Bonus pic: ibb.co/PQq0vpY


  • #6
    AndrewJRenko
    Registered Users Posts: 28,324 ✭✭✭✭AndrewJRenko


    pryingEyes999 wrote: »

    Bonus pic: ibb.co/PQq0vpY
    Savage looking beast - definitely needs a muzzle or something.


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  • #7
    VonVix
    Registered Users Posts: 1,688 ✭✭✭VonVix


    pryingEyes999 wrote: »
    Don't know the background, nor did we have a chance to see the mother. She came from a very rural area though, so probably didn't have the most human contact previously!

    As I say, she is fine once picked up and doesn't scratch or bite unless when trying to play which we discourage.

    Hopefully she becomes a little surer or herself and surroundings in the coming month! I shall update either way.

    Bonus pic: ibb.co/PQq0vpY

    In fairness to her she's still also a tiny baby, it can be overwhelming for the little ones to feel like they have to look out for themselves and they've barely been on the planet for 8 weeks. Keep fostering a secure environment for her with positive experiences, I'd say she will be grand, she's just a little insecure right now. :o

    [Dog Training + Behaviour Nerd]



  • #8
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,418 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    Can't comment on the hissing problem, but that is one beautiful kitty :) In your second photo the way the light catches her fur, you can see some very subtle tabby stripes there as well.


  • #9
    pryingEyes999
    Registered Users Posts: 15 ✭pryingEyes999


    Thanks all for the advice! It would be such a shame to have a shy cat later on, especially when there are no real dangers around. Youtube is full of videos where they turn very agressive feral older kittens/cat, so my lady has to be easy enough :)

    She is quite the looker alright. I have never seen a grey/blue/silver (depending on what you see) cat before myself. She looks very like a Russian Blue, although quite unlikely in Ireland i'd say!


  • #10
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,418 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    Our most recent two, now both sadly passed away, also came from a rural setting. When we went to collect them, the "owner" didn't know where they were, but suddenly an adult cat appeared the cat flap with a still living mouse in her mouth, closely followed by two kittens. She then dropped the mouse on the kitchen floor and then watched while the two kittens chased it around the room. It was as if she was giving them mouse catching lessons! Basically the mother cat and kittens were given free roam, but had had very little, if any, real socialization.

    They were a little scratchy and bitey to start with but soon settled down, so I wouldn't worry too much.


  • #11
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    I adopted a six week old kitten with her mother. The kitten spent her day bombing around the house, but if she stopped at looked at us, she would hiss. She would jump into the bed with us, then hiss at us. I admit we basically let her do whatever she wanted, but the hissing soon resolved. It seems like a kneejerk reaction and not a sign of agression here.


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  • #12
    Mollyb60
    Registered Users Posts: 6,546 ✭✭✭Mollyb60


    Awww I can't see the cute kitty photos! :(

    There's a kitten who lives 2 doors down from me who roams around the estate, he's very friendly, maybe a year old. He loves head rubs but will hiss mid-pet every time you touch him. He's not aggressive and doesn't scratch or bite anyone, it just seems to be an unconscious reaction. I don't know his backstory so it could be something similar to your kitty.
    I would try to feed her treats from your hands to try encourage her to bond with you.


  • #13
    pryingEyes999
    Registered Users Posts: 15 ✭pryingEyes999


    Mollyb60 wrote: »
    Awww I can't see the cute kitty photos! :(

    There's a kitten who lives 2 doors down from me who roams around the estate, he's very friendly, maybe a year old. He loves head rubs but will hiss mid-pet every time you touch him. He's not aggressive and doesn't scratch or bite anyone, it just seems to be an unconscious reaction. I don't know his backstory so it could be something similar to your kitty.
    I would try to feed her treats from your hands to try encourage her to bond with you.

    Just put the ibb links above into your browser and the picture should come up. I can't add photos as I am too new


  • #14
    quickbeam
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 16,287 Mod ✭✭✭✭quickbeam


    Pics because they're just too nice not to be visible to all:

    DSC-0035.jpg
    DSC-0038.jpg


  • #15
    randombar
    Registered Users Posts: 3,360 ✭✭✭randombar


    I got a couple of very wild kittens a few years ago from a guy, spitting mad, daughter just thought that's the way kittens were thank god. Calmed down after a few months, now they are slobs.


  • #16
    RobbingBandit
    Registered Users Posts: 18,073 ✭✭✭✭RobbingBandit


    Cute kitten dibs on the dangerous beast :)


  • #17
    Mollyb60
    Registered Users Posts: 6,546 ✭✭✭Mollyb60


    QB, a modern day hero for all cat lovers.
    That is one stunning kitten.


  • #18
    aonb
    Registered Users Posts: 3,277 ✭✭✭aonb


    You only have her a week - shes a baby in a strange place, she will soon settle. Handle her as much as you can, lots of TLC and gentle, calm, quiet and she will soon settle in. The prettiest kitten!


  • #19
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,741 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    I love kittens hissing. Very cute how they come across as all tough with no idea how little and vulnerable they are!!

    OP, as others have said, it's early yet, she'll settle down and is obviously handleable .


    Many years ago, we had two cats that colour - beautiful.
    They were moggies - not pedigree.


  • #20
    pryingEyes999
    Registered Users Posts: 15 ✭pryingEyes999


    the beer revolu wrote: »
    I love kittens hissing. Very cute how they come across as all tough with no idea how little and vulnerable they are!!

    OP, as others have said, it's early yet, she'll settle down and is obviously handleable .


    Many years ago, we had two cats that colour - beautiful.
    They were moggies - not pedigree.

    oh well :o :pac:

    I actually think the hissing has become less of an issue today, which is great.

    Now, if she only started to become affectionate and actually want to be picked up...that'd be great :D Alas, cats are funny creatures


  • #21
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,741 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    pryingEyes999 wrote: »
    oh well :o :pac:

    I actually think the hissing has become less of an issue today, which is great.

    Now, if she only started to become affectionate and actually want to be picked up...that'd be great :D Alas, cats are funny creatures

    One of our current cats really was not affectionate as a kitten (except towards our ginger cat). She's still a very odd personality but she became affectionate over the years.
    She's now, odd, vocal and quite needy!
    She'll never like being picked up but will tolerate it!

    Handle the cat as much as you can - as much as she will tolerate.


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  • #22
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭[Deleted User]


    I adopted a 10 week old kitten from a rescue last October and she was very difficult to manage. She was found at the side of the road with her mother, who'd been run over, and had been hand reared from 2 weeks old, which we were led to believe was of benefit, but it meant she had never learned her "cat manners" from her mother which is vital for kittens. We persevered with her for a month, but in the end we had to return her to the rescue, as she was clearly unhappy and not adjusting. She would not allow us to touch her or pet her, and would literally attack us, biting and scratching if we tried to. I have to be careful of cat bites because I am diabetic. She would launch herself at me, and once, (while I was asleep!) she attacked my face and scratched me badly. After discussion with the rescue, we arranged to return her, and she was placed in a home with other, older cats, where eventually she adjusted very well. (Rescue kept me updated).

    Do you know how your kitten was raised before you adopted her? She does not sound too bad and I hope she settles for you, as she is a beauty.


  • #23
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 18,749 ✭✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    OP, beautiful kitten!!
    Just have patience with.her, she is only a baby.
    I love her!!!!!


  • #24
    Musefan
    Registered Users Posts: 774 ✭✭✭Musefan


    Hi! I also took in some kittens from a rural setting (read: filthy hay shed!). It takes some weeks to adjust. We always made sure to provide a covered sleeping area e.g cat cave. Maybe leave something with your scent where they sleep! One of my cats is so dependent on her smell that she will hiss if we have had to clean or wash her for some reason, or if she’s outside. She can’t get a proper smell of us and thinks we’re strangers! Pic attached of one of said kittens now! Could be a relative of yours!


  • #25
    zzxx
    Registered Users Posts: 229 ✭✭zzxx


    Sad to see this little one up for sale now…. @OP please consider rehoming through a rescue

    https://www.donedeal.ie/cats-for-sale/blue-grey-female-kitten/28413437


  • #26
    Tilikum17
    Registered Users Posts: 1,316 ✭✭✭Tilikum17


    zzxx wrote: »
    Sad to see this little one up for sale now…. @OP please consider rehoming through a rescue

    https://www.donedeal.ie/cats-for-sale/blue-grey-female-kitten/28413437

    Christ almighty.


  • #27
    pryingEyes999
    Registered Users Posts: 15 ✭pryingEyes999


    zzxx wrote: »
    Sad to see this little one up for sale now…. @OP please consider rehoming through a rescue

    https://www.donedeal.ie/cats-for-sale/blue-grey-female-kitten/28413437

    Yeah I put her up just to see would people be interested really but am keeping her now. I was having a bad day with her last week and got into a fit, "RIGHT, shes going!". I thought better of it later :o Although I will say that I wouldn't give her to a rescue, simply because I already paid 250 for her :o


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