I’ve seen a lot of posts in this forum about the challenges of raising a puppy, from noise and behavior issues to the exhausting puppy phase and ‘teenage’ stage. I once looked after a 4-month-old puppy for two weeks, and it was tough—especially for those of us in a city setting.
However, I notice there are fewer discussions here about the difficulties of raising kittens, and I’m wondering if it’s really that much easier? Is it less tiring to raise a kitten? Would love to hear from folks who’ve raised both!
Raising kittens in pairs can actually help them burn off energy by playing with each other. Kittens are just different—naturally, they know to use a designated potty spot and even cover it up. They might need a little guidance at first, but they’re generally not as destructive as puppies can be. It’s really a whole different experience.
Kittens are simpler in terms of training. They usually just pick up litter box habits on their own. With a puppy, you have to reward good behavior each time you go outside. Kittens also tend to stay in one area until they’re big enough to roam, whereas puppies often need baby gates and playpens to keep them safe. Overall, kittens are a lot easier.
Cats learn so much from other cats, like using the litterbox and how to play without hurting. My kitten only had a few issues, like jumping onto counters and, once or twice, missing the litterbox edge. Turned out we just needed a bigger tray! For the jumping, we used a spray bottle—it wasn’t harsh, just enough to get her down. Now, she listens when we tell her ‘down’ without the bottle.
I even taught her a few tricks with treats, like sitting and giving her paw. Tried teaching more, but now she just keeps giving her paw for everything!
@Lee
Thanks, it sounds like you trained her well! Since cats learn a lot from other cats, do you think it’s better to adopt them when they’re a little older, so they have more time with their mom and siblings to pick up these behaviors?
Raising a puppy is like having a full-time job! You’re constantly feeding, cleaning, and exercising them, and just when you think you’re done, it starts all over again. They’ll chew on anything they find—including you! Cleaning up accidents is part of it, and let me tell you, when they have one in their crate, it can get really messy.
A kitten is way less work. I once found a tiny kitten in a dumpster, and she immediately went to the litterbox on her own—I was amazed.
@Charlie
Thanks for sharing your story. When I babysat a puppy, I barely got 6 hours of sleep because he was so energetic and woke up super early. I get what you mean about that endless cycle, but I imagine they grow out of it. How long do you think it takes for both kittens and puppies to settle down a bit?