26.07.2022

When do British Shorthair kittens calm down? All you need to know

You've heard amazing stories about British Shorthiar's fantastically placid character, so you decided to adopt a kitten. You bring them home, and suddenly, after a few minutes of initial shyness, the frenzy begins. 

The little furball is undoubtedly cute, but you can't seem to keep them in the same place for more than three seconds. Ornaments get knocked over, a few scratches have already appeared on your furniture, and you are seriously contemplating getting rid of your curtains. 

When do British Shorthair kittens calm down, and how can you help them grow into stable and quiet kitties you've heard stories about? Untamed has all the answers.

When will your hyperactive British Shorthair kitten calm down?

I’m calm. What’s your problem?

Source: Mammiya

You can breathe a sigh of relief—regardless of how hyperactive your British Shorthair kitten is at the moment, they will most likely grow into a laid-back, loving, and even-tempered feline. This process usually takes about a year. 

Check out how your kitten's behaviour will change during the first year of their life:

What can affect your kitten's hyperactivity?

Several factors play a role in a cat's hyperactivity, and the most notable ones are:

1. Colour
2. Upbringing

The correlation between temperament and colour

Redheads are naughty, you say? Let’s see if I can live up to the reputation.

Source: uschi2807

It is not strictly a rule, but your kitty's colour can determine their temperaments. British Shorthair cats come in many different colours, including:

• Grey
• Black
• Cream
• Silver
• Cinnamon

They can also come in different patterns, such as tabby and tortoiseshell. 

According to a study that examined 84 British Shorthair kittens, felines that carried the "red" gene threw tantrums more often and didn't tolerate being held very well, especially by people they don't know. The study also showed that red, cream, and tortoiseshell kittens were more hyperactive than other colours. One explanation for this is that red fur shade is an early mutation, meaning that this gene might be associated with the temperament of the earliest domesticated felines. 

If your British Shorthair has the red gene, they may need more time to adjust to indoor life and calm down because their genetic makeup urges them to go outside and explore. 

The connection between temperament and upbringing

While your kitty's colour can play a role when determining what kind of a cat your kitten will grow into, socialisation and a stable environment are much more important. 

Early socialisation, which lasts from 2 to 12 weeks (or even longer), is crucial for your kitty's development. It happens while they are still with their mom and siblings—they learn how to interact with other cats and start getting used to humans and other animals. 

During this time, they need to have various toys and objects they can play with and have a chance to interact with their littermates. Introducing kittens to different people for at least a few minutes every day will also significantly impact how they respond to people later. 

Socialisation also involves localisation—keeping your kitten in a specific place, so they get attached to their surroundings. Once you bring a kitten to their new home, you must understand that they will experience a whole range of emotions simultaneously—excitement, curiosity, happiness, fear, and sadness for being separated from all they know. 

Your new British Shorthair kitten will need to get used to the new environment. A surge of different emotions may cause them to act out and exhibit some over-the-top behaviour, such as running around frantically and clawing at various items. Love, patience, and training will go a long way in helping your kitten calm down.

What if your kitten doesn't come from a stable environment?

Kittens should stay with their mom and littermates for about three months because it’s an important part of their socialisation.

Source: rebel1965

If you have adopted a kitten from a shelter where they haven't been properly socialised or if they have been separated from their mother too early, your British Shorthair baby may have some behavioural problems. Don't think that such a kitten can't become a lovely companion—they will only need some more time and attention. 

The best way to go is to keep your new kitten in a small, enclosed space for a few days. You don't want to overwhelm them, but help them get accustomed to their new home and the people in your family. Letting them roam freely around your home and meet everyone simultaneously may result in even more hyperactivity and erratic behaviour caused by fear and confusion. 

The slow introduction to new surroundings will help your slightly feral British Shorthair kitten relax and calm down once they reach adulthood. 

How to help your British Shorthair kitten calm down

Some British Shorthair kittens will need more time to "grow up" and become placid felines that everyone loves, even if you, the shelter, or the breeder have done everything right. 

In this case, you can help them settle down by:

1. Scheduling playtime
2. Including them in your activities
3. Getting them a companion

Play with your kitten every day

Let me take care of this bunny for a second.

Source: 5921373

The best games for your kitten are those that let them exercise their hunting instincts. You can get some fun toys, such as:

• Electric mice
• Teaser toys
• Laser
• Floppy fish

Set aside at least 30 minutes every day to play with your British Shorthair kitten. They will burn the excess energy by running around and chasing feather toys on a wand or your laser. 

Since British Shorthairs enjoy cognitive stimulation, you can give them food puzzles, which are fantastic for developing feline intelligence. Another way to exercise their brain is to teach them some tricks or train them to play hide and seek, as it's a fun game and a fantastic opportunity for you two to bond. 

Include your British Shorthair kitten in your daily activities

There's nothing British Shorthairs love more than to follow their cat parents' every step and watch everything they do. This is even more important for kittens because they need more love and reassurance. 

Let them sit with you and pet them whenever you can. These felines become more independent as they get older and are not big fans of cuddling, but when they are young, you need to teach them they can rely on you and feel safe around you. 

Get another cat to keep your British Shorthair kitten company

It’s party time!

Source: 12222786

Although British Shorthairs generally tolerate loneliness better than most cat breeds, hyperactive kittens might benefit from having company. Since these felines typically get on well with other cats and animals, adopting another furry friend might be the solution to your problem. 

What else could make your British Shorthair hyperactive?

Besides their young age, several more factors can make your British Shorthair more active than they should be, especially once they have passed their kitten age. Those include:

• Feline hyperesthesia syndrome (FHS)—This condition is more common in mature cats and is a major cause of hyperactivity. It is also known as the "twitchy cat disease" because the symptoms resemble seizures. When touched, affected felines often start running erratically and biting the petted area aggressively
• Boredom—If you leave your British Shorthair alone or without toys for extended periods, they may get bored and lonely, which may cause them to start running around furiously to burn the pent-up energy
• Fleas—Flea bites are itchy and can cause your kitty to be frenetic and louder than usual. If you have ruled out age, boredom, and illness, it's worth checking them for fleas
• Wrong diet—A diet high in carbohydrates can cause sudden blood sugar spikes that can contribute to hyperactivity. These spikes are usually followed by a dramatic drop that makes your cat drowsy, and all unburnt calories turn into fat deposits. Although your kitten will unlikely have weight problems no matter how much they eat, if you continue feeding them a high-calorie diet, they will become overweight as they get older. Obesity leads to other health problems, such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, heart disease, joint degeneration, and kidney disease, so besides portions, you also have to pay attention to food composition

What's the proper diet for your British Shorthair kitten?

Cats need meat and fish to grow healthy and have even energy levels.

Image (c) Untamed

The best diet for a British Shorthair kitten who has started eating solids resembles their natural eating habits. Whether you feed them wet, dry, semi-moist, raw, or homemade meals, your kitty needs to get appropriate amounts of:

1. Animal protein
2. Animal fat

Animal protein

Animal protein delivers essential amino acids—such as taurine, arginine, and lysine—that felines need for:

• Energy
• Strong muscles
• Healthy skin and coat
• Normal organ function

You need to pick cat food that contains at least 50% of meat or fish and look for ingredients such as:

• Chicken (raw or cooked)
• Liver
• Turkey
• Salmon
• Prawns
• Mackerel
• Tuna

Pork, ham, beef, or bacon are also fine, but you should serve them in smaller quantities since they contain a lot of fat. 

Animal fat

Animal fat delivers healthy fatty acids and is crucial for normal organ function and cell integrity. It is also a great taste enhancer, and cats adore its flavour, texture, and smell. 

Even picky cats who don't usually enjoy wet food will love jelly and gravy meals that contain a moderate amount of animal fat. Make sure you pick food that contains no more than 20% of fat. 

What about carbs?

Grains, vegetables, and fruit have no place in a feline diet. Their only role is to bulk up the product and lower the amount of protein. While these ingredients are not toxic, your kitty gets no nutritional value from them. All they get is a surge of energy and a lot of empty calories that contribute to weight gain later in life.

Plant protein is also nowhere near as efficient as meat at satisfying your British Shorthair kitten's needs, so make sure to avoid products containing:

• Soya
• Rice
• Corn or sweetcorn
• Wheat
• Peas
• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Beans
• Potatoes
• Sweet potatoes

Can Untamed keep your British Shorthair kitten's energy levels in check?

Untamed can help keep your British Shorthair kitten’s energy levels even.

Image (c) Untamed

Untamed checks all the boxes when it comes to a suitable diet for kittens. 

Our dishes are made with the top-quality ingredients, and we make sure that:

• Every meal is full of animal protein—Our tins contain twice as much protein as most products on the market
• Vets approve of the formulas—We make sure that our meals are suitable for felines of all ages—kittens, adults (regardless of the sterilisation status), and seniors. Feeding your kitten Untamed dishes can also help prevent:
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs), cystitis, or struvite crystals
• Allergic reactions to specific proteins
• Gastrointestinal problems like diarrhoea, vomiting, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and stomach sensitivity
• Dental issues such as gum problems and teeth loss
• Production and logistics are ethical—We are committed to keeping our planet clean—our packaging is 100% recyclable, meat and fish are sustainably sourced and obtained from cruelty-free suppliers, and our operations are carbon-neutral

Order Untamed and prevent your British Shorthair's energy spikes with some tasty treats!

Get Untamed for your British Shorthair kitten now!

Ordering complete and balanced meals for your hyperactive British Shorthair kitten couldn't be simpler. 

All you need to do is:

1. Complete our online quiz
2. Pick the products you want
3. Order the trial pack

You can expect delivery after a day, and your kitty can immediately sample some dishes. When they pick their faves, we can keep you stocked up with regular monthly deliveries. 

Lots of happy cat parents who have switched their fur babies to Untamed report the following effects: