"Get down off of there, geesh, you'll hurt yourself!"
"Don't even think of trying my coffee, it's not good for you!"
"sorry it's too late for you to go outside now - tomorrow."
"You've been really good today. Wanna snackie"
"I could have sworn I left my ----- here, I wonder if that little rascal didn't take it"
"I'd love to stay longer but my baby is at home and I really should be going."
These and other common phrases known to parents of young children, are all too often spoken by pet parents! I say pet parents rather than pet owners, because those of us who have pets, are more like parents!
"Owning" is that of something material - not something that is living.
Now Kittens are less work than puppies to a certain degree, yet in their own ways, a true handful that certainly live up to the old expression: "curious as a cat".
Young Kittens, much like Toddlers, are into everything! Touching, tasting, wanting, waiting till the right moment to grab, pull, tug and taste what they get their hands on!
Imaginative, curious, busy little mischief makers, learning exploring and discovering. They'll experiment with whatever is on hand - to see what it does and what uses they can find for it.
Young kittens, like Toddlers, can easily get hurt the second you turn your back and much like Toddlers, young kittens need to be watched over and protected from heights, heat, sharp objects, larger animals, cars and other dangers we protect young children from!
Kittens love to play! They can easily find something to busy themselves with or look for someone else to see what they're doing and if they want to play.
Kittens are possessive with toys, sometimes not wanting to share with anyone else, fulling willing to get rough and tough over the situation to make themselves clear on that point. No means No!
In group play, older kittens will pick on the younger or weaker, stealing their toys or roughing them up - just cuz they can when the adults aren't around.
IF play gets out of hand and someone close at hand, gives the word that enough is enough, they'll stop and look at you as if to say "I wasn't doing nothing - it was him!" - then jump the other as if to say "now you got us in trouble you little squealer!".
IF words need to be spoken again, then the mischievious one will in fact walk away as if nothing happened and "there's no trouble here".
The older or faster-minded kittens, will in fact teach "things" to the younger or more timid of their siblings. Things that lead to mischief as well as things that teach them to survive.
Much the same goes for tending to the younger. Older kittens will clean younger kittens, they will look out for them and watch over them - just like an older brother or sister they can pick on the younger, but no one else is allowed.
Picking on one another is a means of play as well as a lesson in survival. In play, they test each other, test their abilities and test the abilities of their siblings, to see how much they can get away with! Sound familiar?
When it comes to discipline or routine, kittens, need to be taught through repetition of word or action and in this way, they learn rules - just like children.
They learn how far they can push your buttons and when you're mad and when you're not.
IF you play rough and teach them to be aggressive, they will be.
If you teach them rules, with patience, they learn respect.
When it's your personal bedtime, it's not surprising to wake up during the night to find a warm body curled up beside you, under the covers. Kittens, like kids, prefer the security and warmth of being with "mom-dad", so they'll climb into bed with you during the night.
They hurt themselves, they cry, they complain and they can be a persistant pain in the butt.
When something spooks them, they run to Mom. When something makes them uncertain, they turn to Mom. When they got hurt, they cry out for Mom
Yes indeed, they love to play, they need to be taken care of, they express contentment and are receptive enough to give in return.
They need to be loved, they need affection and are demanding of attention.
They need rules and they need respect.
They need all the things that youth need to grow and evolve in life.
They may look different, speak another language, yet in a modest way, their needs are much the same!
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