'For example, both my kitten and my toddler nephew will eat toilet paper if unsupervised': Cat owners confess their realistic yet most hissterical stories for surviving kittenhood

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Aug 22, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Oh, the kitten phase. Or, should we say, the "velociraptor with boundless energy and an insatiable urge to chew on everything" phase. The first part of kittenhood is never long enough. You know the one we're talking about - the one where they're so smol, tiny, and still learning how to exist in the world. Their baby beans are so pink and tiny, their heads so big, and their meows so awwdorable. They're purrfectly happy just cudling with you and eating.This doesn't last for long, though, as your itty bitty kitty will grow seemingly overnight into a kitten with a real purrsonality and a hunger for chaos. This is when the "fun" starts.

We say fun with a grain of salt because even though they are still pawsitively the cutest things you've ever seen in your life, they are also on a purrsonal meowssion to give you a heart attack whenever they can. From chewing on cables to hiding in parts of your house you didn't even know existed, to deciding that biting your hands and ankles is their favorite pastime, your life with a kitten will never be boring. However, your phone storage and hearts will be full of cute meowmories, ones that you will cherish for the rest of your life.

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  • 01
    Kitten including 'Cats have 3 developmental stages: Cute little baby bean, VELOCIRAPTOR, [and] adult'
    via druvo

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    I feel like when someone on this sub asks for getting their first cat advice its always to get an adult cat because it's less work and kittens are overwhelming.
    via throwmeaway717
  • 03
    I got my first kitten at 7 weeks old and he's now 8 months and just wondering if I somehow just ended up with an angel kitten? The past 6 months have been a breeze.
    via throwmeaway717
  • 04
    I have never had any issues with him, he learned the litter box immediately, loves to cuddle, doesn't scratch furniture, he's playful but not 24/7 playful and its very manageable. The worst thing he does is occasionally swatting things off tables.
    via throwmeaway717
  • 05
    Is there something else I should expect coming up or am I through worst of kittenhood?
    via throwmeaway717

  • One of our kittens was an absolute angel. He just wanted to cuddle all day. He made us want to get another kitten after a year or two. Our second kitten…. was not that way. She was a nightmare. Jumping on our faces in the middle of the night. Shrieking from getting stuck behind the toilet. Eating everything shaped like a string known to man. It was an expurrience

  • 06
    ultracilantro It's that kittens are a bit like human babies. For example, both my kitten and my toddler nephew will eat toilet paper if unsupervised. They both get bored and anxious and destructive.
    via ultracilantro
  • 07
    However, my 21 year old cat and my 21 year old relative. both don't do that. They kinda know what's up and don't get anxious/bored in the same way. Lots of people who work full time don't necessarily have the energy, patients or baby proofing to deal with human toddlers/kittens and that's ok - older cats are a better fit for them.
    via ultracilantro
  • 08
    Person holding kitten
    via SolStock

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 09
    Some people don't mind kittens/babies as much and do fine. There's no real issue either way. It's just about how much kitten proofing/playing/time you wanna give.
    via ultracilantro
  • 10
    takotaco I'd say the hardest part is that they can't be left alone for too long, which is difficult to manage when you have a busy schedule. Also difficult when they keep you up all night and you're tired on top of busy.
    via takotaco
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    Right_Count There's also the peripheral work. Vaccines and boosters, spay/neuter, changing of diet and litter as they get older, not being able to leave them alone for very long.
    via Right_Count

  • Sure, you can't leave kittens alone for a long time, but you can't leave babies or puppies alone for lengthy periods of time either. Any sort of infant needs constant care and attention, so if you're not in a position to do that, you probably shouldn't get one.

  • 12
    None of it is insurmountable but if your kitten is more on the loud/hyperactive/(self) destruct ive side, it can all feel like quite a busy first 6-12 months. Adult cats usually come vaccinated and fixed, and once they've settled in they're pretty chill.
    via Right_Count
  • 13
    spoonfulofnosugar Maybe you just got lucky with a chill kitten? About half the kittens I've raised needed a ton of play and stimulation. They also had some destructive behaviors I had to watch for like climbing curtains, chewing wires, knocking over glasses and stealing people food.
    via spoonfulofnosugar
  • 14
    I also raised a couple very young kittens that were abandoned. They needed even more attention with bottle feeding and heating pads.
    via spoonfulofnosugar
  • 15
    Two kittens playing on a bed
    via Michelle_Raponi from Pixabay

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    Angsty_Potatos My two are just shy of 8 weeks and they get into insane spots I didn't know existed in my house. Try and eat anything they can get in their mouth and climb furniture like it's their job. Keeping an eye on them is a lot
    via Angsty_Potatos
  • 17
    Ahvia... I got a kitten that I was told he was 10 weeks, but was actually 7 weeks. He is a menace. Into EVERYTHING. I have to get up every few minutes to get him off the table, down from literally hanging from the curtain, off the tv stand, etc.
    via Ahviaa224
  • 18
    I expected shenanigans because I've had kittens before, but that was 15 years ago and holy.fl • But my tiny terror is so adorable when he's being bad. So I sigh when I get up and giggle when he instantly purrs when I pick him up, every time. He's nearly 5 months now, and is just now starting to settle the f down.
    via Ahviaa224
  • 19
    Hot_Individual_863 Cats have 3 developmental stages: Cute little baby bean Velociraptor Adult
    via Hot_Individual_863
  • 20
    I think you just got lucky. LOL When I get a new kitten, they are constantly haring the older cats, and I have to make sure they don't hurt themselves or start a fight they can't finish. They also tend to love climbing furniture and curtains.
    via Hot_Individual_863
  • 21
    watch-nerd Kittens are not a lot of work. They're mid. Puppies are a lot of work.
    via watch-nerd
  • 22
    wwwhatisgoingon Partly luck, partly you may have the right attitude and approach to handle a kitten. For the luck part, there's currently a post on r/cattraining asking if his kittens playing for hours a day is normal. It is.
    via wwwhatisgoingon
  • 23
    Cats are very good at learning what gets your attention. Inexperienced cat owners. often accidentally encourage unwanted behavior and then struggle to untrain it. Kittens also really shouldn't be left alone for more than a couple hours. Many people. don't have that kind of time.
    via wwwhatisgoingon
  • 24
    missxmeow I too had an angel kitten, just didn't really get into anything, no behavior issues, no real scratching issues, and he's turned into pretty much the most chill adult cat I've ever seen.
    via missxmeow
  • 25
    Kittens can be a bit much, however I kinda love the kitten stage, and watching them become cats and figure things out. My current kitten is an absolute cuddle bug, she's also a bit of a gremlin. She's also not really a kitten anymore, she's over 2, but she still has that energy and she's on the smaller side.
    via missxmeow
  • 26
    titos334 I was fostering my first kitten 6-8 week old kitten recently. The guy was cloying as can be just a little bundle of joy and play nonstop. You couldn't coexist in the same room with him without him crawling all over you and wanting to play
    via titos334
  • 27
    with every moment you make. It's a lot of work making sure they get socialized and have a good upbringing. The cats I've had in the past have all been older adoptions in the 6-8 month range and they've always been pretty chill from the get go.
    via titos334
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    darkamberdragon They are like having toddlers on 4 legs that can out run you and hide in super small spaces - or just strange places (one of foster fails hid by hanging my off clothing in the closet. Kitten proofing is a thing.
    via darkamberdragon

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hilarious pet ownership toddler kittenhood kitten parenting cat owners Cats cute kittens funny animals
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