Okay, so I got this new kitten about a week ago, and here's the thing. He ALWAYS has to be with me, and if he's not, then he's desperately trying to climb up on me or squealing his head off until I give in.

Now naturally, I don't mind having him up on me, but 24 hours a day is a bit much. I'm trying to make him more independent but it's not working. Did anyone else ever have this problem? And if so, what did you do?

How old is your kitten? Could it be that he was taken from his mother too soon? That would make him extra clingy. Are there other cats at your house he could hang with? If not, maybe letting him have some old article of your clothing where he sleeps will help when your not around. In time he should grow out of it.

He was 6 weeks old when he was taken, which I know is a bit young but it's still common for kittens to be taken at that age.

I do have another cat...he's 6 years old, and the kitten tortures him EVERY chance he gets, chasing him around the house and swiping his paws until my other cat jumps up to a place where he can't be reached.

Whenever I come home, the kitten is always sleeping in a chair, so he must have no trouble with it when I'm not home. But when I AM home, he constantly has to be with me or he'll squeal for sometimes 15 minutes at a time.

aww that's cute. my cat never hangs out with me.

Personally, I think six weeks was way too young to leave his mother, and that would explain his behavior. I just googled it, and there are too many articles and stories to post that state the same thing.

Here's one that addresses the overly clingy kitten and the problems of socializing with other cats that often results when a kitten is taken home too young.

http://www.ragdoll.co.za/choosing_a_kitten.htm

How old is your kitten? Could it be that he was taken from his mother too soon? That would make him extra clingy. Are there other cats at your house he could hang with? If not, maybe letting him have some old article of your clothing where he sleeps will help when your not around. In time he should grow out of it.
if there is ever any dirty laundry on the floor, my cat goes over to it and she starts purring. What does that mean?

i would suggest putting a blanket on the floor next to a stuffed animal because then the kitten will have something to nuzzle wich at that age is what they are looking for it problaly just really misses its mother i also think it was taken from its mother too early

Yeah, I know now that the kitten was too young.

I'm not sure why many people think that six weeks is the appropriate age, but it seems to be really common for some reason, although it is too young. But these kittens were going to be given away no matter what, so I figured at least I could take this one and bring him to an attentive home where I know he can be taken care of properly.

He's a little ball of FIRE, and constantly getting into trouble. I keep trying to provide distractions, and they work...for about five minutes. :lol: Thanks for the suggestions, everyone, I'm gonna try them out.

You need some Tylenol PM. :lol: