Question: My kitten is almost 6 months old, but in the last week she has become increasingly naughty, she keeps doing things she knows she's not allowed to (i.e., getting up on the mantelpiece and knocking things off). I come home everyday from work to a disaster area. I feel bad for constantly telling her off, but what else can I do? ~Julie
Kim's Response: Dear Julie, Kittens unfortunately play roughly (as anyone who has worn kitten scratches knows).
The key is to redirect them to things that are acceptable to play with, and discourage them or even block them from places you don’t want them to be.
Best,
Kim Meyer, Nov 4 2005