Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens

121. 

     PICTURES!

     The first night together: http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/1978/p2150088ex4.jpg

     Thr morning after: http://img16.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p2160089mf0.jpg

     Loves my fingers: http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/2230/p2160091rx7.jpg

     Aww It's sleeping!: http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7292/p2160096rz6.jpg

     Watching the TV together: http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/7558/p2160100fa4.jpg

     She LOVES Whiskas... She ate the whole under 4mins all at once. She'd pefer Whiskas over Friskies any day. Guess it'll be her 'treat' then!
     http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/7015/p2160104tl8.jpg

     Question: Bella has been sleeping on my bed for a few hours now, shes usually very energetic and she only naps for 2 hours at max? I'm worried, is there anything wrong with her? Oh, also, shes has only pooped once (last night) and has not urinated yet... Is this normal?

     Posted 2 years ago by Paradox #

122. 

     Bella is beautiful name Paradox. When I got Toby and Bonnie originally they had two other siblings and I named the little female Bella.

     It means beautiful in Italian and in Spanish beautiful is Bonita.

     Posted 2 years ago by petpntr #

123. 

     Aw, thanks Petpntr!
     Pictures are up above! ... And a few concerns too :(

     EDIT: I teased Bella with my finger, it yawned a couple of times and got up to eat, must of been very tired for some reason.

     Posted 2 years ago by Paradox #

124. 

     Ohmigosh she is a little beauty Paradox. I just love her white whiskers. No wonder you didn't get much sleep. I wouldn't want to go to sleep either if I had her next to me. So do we have a Bella now?

     Kittens are like babies, everything they can get their hands on goes into their mouth. What you may not know is that kittens teeth just like babies and sometimes like to bite because it gives them a little comfort if their gums are bothering them. That won't happen for a couple of months yet but you need to try and not get her into the habit of chewing on your fingers because if she does it not you may not be able to break her of the habit when she is bigger and that won't be pleasant. She needs to know that fingers and hands mean treats and being petted. They are not toys.

     Kittens also don't sleep much because they have continuous short cat naps. That's where the expression came from. There is a webcam at a shelter in California that shows kittens and how they play. The reason I mention it is they have them in a play pen which is big enough for them and safe. Maybe that is something you want to consider for her when you go to school. You can see the kittens and their mother here:

     http://www.ustream.tv/channel/found-animals

     Don't worry about her not going to the bathroom. She knows where the litter box is now and she will use it when she needs to. Try to find a spot where it can stay put and not have to be moved or she will get confused. Keep an eye on her and if she goes for more than 2 days without going to the bathroom then there might be a problem. I am guessing she did urinate but it would be such a small amount you may not have noticed it. Make sure there is always water left out for her to drink.

     Oh and be prepared to have really wierd legs. When I had kittens a little younger than yours whenever I sat at the computer they would try to run up my legs because they were too small to jump. My legs ended up looking like I had some skin disease with all the scratches on them.

     Posted 2 years ago by petpntr #

125. 

     Awww, Bella is beautiful. Doesn't look like there's anything wrong with her to me! Has she drunk any water yet? Just give her time. Kittens are hard out -- play till they drop, sleep, then wake and play again. Cats don't sleep for as long as we do (oh how I wish they would...) though they sleep much more often.

     If you tease Bella with your finger, it's going to get bitten...! But I know how tempting it is to play with them with your fingers, only thing is, you don't want her doing it when she's grown...

     She is adorable! Keep us posted on progress...

     Posted 2 years ago by jcat #

126. 

     Bella is beautiful Paradox. I love your description of your first night together! Don't worry about her sleeping for a longer while. Just think how much energy she has used in meeting you, coming to your house, exploring a whole new environment, playing, etc. Sometimes when my kitties go outside for a few hours they will come in and sleep for as much as five or six hours. As kitties get older they sleep longer too. I think I read somewhere they may sleep as much as 20 hours a day. One thing you may experience with Bella is that when she is left alone when you go to school she may sleep a lot while you are gone. Then when you are home with her she will be astonishingly energetic, playing and running all over until she crashes. That is likely what happened when she slept for several hours. All very normal.

     Posted 2 years ago by DancingCatHill #

127. 

     OMG - Bella is absolutely beautiful!!!! Congratulations, Paradox!

     Posted 2 years ago by WillowandWindismom #

128. 

     Bella is Beautiful....What a wonderful choice!!! A tuxie girl!! I wish you many, many happy years together!!! You're a Father now!!!!!!

     Posted 2 years ago by 2bpurring #

129. 

     What a beautiful kitten! Thank you for the pictures. She looks like a fine, healthy girl. She will lead you on a merry dance for many years. Concatulations!!

     Posted 2 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #

130. 

     Paradox we are looking forward to you submitting your little girl on the main site!! Bella would make a beautiful addition to the TDK..

     Posted 2 years ago by 2bpurring #

131. 

     Well Bella is a beautiful baby girl! Her name is very fitting as well! Congratulations and enjoy an long and healthy life together.

     Posted 2 years ago by SoxsMom #

132. 

     Paradox, your Bella (love the name!) is quite the beauty! You are in for so many more magical moments and will learn something new everyday. Evan after a lifetime of being owned by cats, they are always teaching me something new. (For example, Frisky has seen me sorting through mail and tossing junk mail in the trash basket, so he very helpfully pushed an entire stack of sorted business papers off into the basket the other day then proudly announced his achievement and led me down the hall to see, expecting lots of praise! Moral of the story, don't leave keep paperwork where the cat can trash it! LOL)

     I'm willing to bet Bella is wetting in her tray and you just aren't seeing it. Be sure to stir up the litter well, not just scoop out droppings, and that way the bottom layer won't get all soggy and nasty.

     Sounds like you are doing fine. Try not to worry, try thinking like a small curious creature and keep things safe for her, ask all the questions here you want and need, and just simply enjoy enjoy enjoy your Bella and all those wonderful magic times with her.

     I'm soooooo glad you got her.

     Posted 2 years ago by Marnet #

133. 

     Shucks, I don't deserve all this praise! I sure will submit Bella to the front page and I'll post up more pics soon.

     Wow, Frisky must be a smart one!
     and thanks for reminding me about stiring up the litter, forgot about it :)

     So Bella has now learnt to climb up and down the stairs (I used to carry her up and down as she would refuse to go down or up, but she'll hate me carrying her.
     Whenever it looks around downstairs, it's instantly timid and shy, even with me.
     ie. She goes down, I walk toward her, she sprints off.
     This happens whenever she goes downstairs, which is about the 6th time, when she runs back up, she'll still be frightened?

     Posted 2 years ago by Paradox #

134. 

     Give Bella time to get used to all this new space. It seems that she feels comfortable with you in a space the size of your bedroom where her things are. The rest of the house may be a bit overwhelming to take in all at once. She will soon know every nook and cranny. She may run back to her safe place in your room when she tires of exploring or something or someone spooks her. Try not to chase after her, but let her come to you. Speak to her in a soothing voice. If you are anxious, she will pick up on that. Have fun!

     Posted 2 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #

135. 

     Just found this thread. Bella's beautiful, Paradox! And I love her name. :)

     Posted 2 years ago by Bellantara #

136. 

     See, Bellantara - told you!

     Posted 2 years ago by WillowandWindismom #

137. 

     Yep, Bella kitten is beautiful and Paradox is a rather extraordinary young man, I think, to so carefully do his homework before bringing little Bella home.

     Posted 2 years ago by Marnet #

138. 

     Agreed!

     Posted 2 years ago by Bellantara #

139. 

     You should be so proud. You are doing a great job. Keep the pictures coming...we all love pictures

     Posted 2 years ago by Alicia #

140. 

     Welcome Bella to your furrever home! You are indeed beautiful, such a pretty tuxie girl, but then I am partial to tuxies because of my Oliver. Congratulations on the find job you are doing, Para!

     Posted 2 years ago by SammyandOliversmama #

141. 

     I'm so glad to hear that Bella's settling in okay! She sounds absolutely adorable.

     Please remember to play with Bella, but NOT directly with your hands. Seriously, this will likely create problems later on when she doesn't realize she's playing too rough. Instead, drag a toy on a string, roll a crumpled-up ball of paper across the floor, or dangle a Cat Dancer for her. Hands should be for petting and treats only - not as playthings or chew toys.

     She will get into every tiny crevice, nook, and cranny that she can fit her head into. She will climb things you never thought possible, and leap farther than you imagine.

     She has lots of energy, but has no littermate to play with now. That means you will need to substitute for her brother. Remember, no playing directly with the hands - but lots and lots of playtime with whatever playthings you can devise that are safe.

     As a general guideline, don't let her do things as a kitten, that she won't be allowed to do as a full-grown cat.

     And enjoy her kitten days, and take LOTS of pictures to share with us! She will grow up in the blink of an eye.

     Posted 2 years ago by anncetera2 #

142. 

     I have been dealing with the real world for the last few days, and have not had a chance to check in with this thread until now.

     Paradox, your Bella is simply gorgeous. Moreover, she seems to have come with a gentle personality (catsonality?).

     A few comments on biting behavior -- more properly, "nipping" behavior. Since Bella is still a baby, and since she sees you now as "mama", some of the finger nipping may be an attempt to nurse. Its a good thing that when they really need to nurse, they don't have teeth. At any rate, it is in no way a physical attack. As someone else has observed, when she bunny-kicks when you touch her stomach, she is likely playing with you like she played with her brothers and sisters. Those habits are discourageable (?), which is a good thing because a bitey adult cat is not a good thing. As for the nipping while being brushed -- I am convinced that cats love the attention (maybe not kittens so much, but Bella should get used to it.) Although they do like the attention, I believe that they think the brush (and the hand attached thereto) are toys.

     I guess what I said in my characteristcally long-winded fashion is that in many cases, biting by cats, while unpleasant, is not an attack. Please remember that as your lovely Bella grows more and more lovely.

     Once again, congratulations. You and Bella are very lucky to have each other.

     Posted 2 years ago by Ivory Bill #

143. 

     Hi fellow TDK'ers. For the great and helpful people that remember this thread - I'm so sorry I haven't been on this forum for a LONG while, as straight after the last reply, I left for a holiday, then exams and moving houses etc.

     I came back here, because I'm concerned with Bella. Oh God, she is SO very smart and cute, more so than when she was a 12 weeks old. She does everything for me, more than I can ask. She Meow's loudly for my sister up stairs if shes late for school instead of my mum walking upstairs and waking her up, she'll try to push the newspaper towards me if it's still outside, she cuddles up with me in bed and sits on the desk near my bed waiting for me to wake up every morning.

     Just yesterday, I came back from school finding her not greeting me at the door instead in the kitchen meowing so very loudly and rolling around licking her bottom and crawling around on her stomach. I did some research ASAP, and I'm quite sure shes having her first heat.
     I rang up the vet and asked how much it is to spay/desex her, and they told me it was $250... That's a little hefty for us at the moment...

     Here I am, after school and she's still acting weird, meowing so loud that if you're outside the house, you could hear it no problem. It pisses me off yet at the same time I feel sorry for her, she's not affectionate anymore. It's as if she completely changed - brain washed as to who she is...

     Anyway, I'm worried WHAT IF, it's not heat? I'll have to go search other local vets and see if they can offer the desexing cheaper, as my friend said he got his desexed for $100. Hope she's okay...

     Posted 2 years ago by Paradox #

144. 

     Welcome back Paradox. Glad to hear that Bella is such a sweetheart.

     Yes, she may very well be in heat. Do NOT let her get outside where she and some male cat can make kittens or you will shortly find yourself with a whole passle of new kittens on your hands.

     As long as she still eats, drinks, and uses the litter tray without apparent trouble, has no vomiting or diarreha, and no blood, ususual swelling, etc., she is most likely in heat. Female cats in heat will sound loud, miserable, and non-stop. And they are uncomfortable, bless their hearts.

     Bella is old enough she could mate and have kittens of her own. But it would be very hard on her physically to breed so young as well as you having to deal with an entire litter of kittens to care for until weaning and then find homes for.

     I'd call around to other vets and see if any can give you a lower price. Although be careful and don't go somewhere just because it is cheaper if for any reason you feel the vet doesn't really care about giving cats good care.

     As I recall, you are a fairly long drive from the Humane Society. However, check with them to see if they provide spaying at a budget price. It just might well be worth the extra distance and time to get there and back.

     You could also see if any of the local vets would allow you to work off the cost of the spaying by doing some cleaning, maintenance, or such chores either for their veterinary location or their home location. You can always make a good faith offer.

     I know you love Bella. Part of that love means accepting the full responsibility for her total care, including proper vet care, which includes having her spayed in a timely manner.

     Trust me, she will become her loving self again when she is no longer in heat. She will continue to mature in her personality and relationship with you as she matures into a full grown adult cat. Things will change somewhat but it is truly fun and a joy to watch a kitten grow up and to more firmly bond with them as they do so.

     Be sure to keep us posted!

     Oh yes, and if you have any pictures of Bella now she has grown some, be sure to post them for us to ooooh and ahhhh over with you!

     Posted 2 years ago by Marnet #

145. 

     Sure, I'll try my best to post up some pictures.
     I feel so sympathetic for Bella at the moment, she does seem like she is struggling at times and we're trying to organize a vet to desex her.

     I hope the desexing won't put her off or change her personality...
     Oh, and I don't know how I'll manage Bella at the vet as whenever a visitor comes around, she is so terribly scared. I remember on my birthday sleepover, she was so terrified, she ran off and we all couldn't find her after searching out the whole house for an hour straight, that made me depressed for the whole night. The next morning, when everyone left, we found her behind shoe boxes in a closet she managed to open herself... yep, she stayed in there for 12 hours straight.

     Posted 2 years ago by Paradox #

146. 

     Hi, Paradox, yep, sounds like your little Bella is in heat and Marnet has given you some great advice. I've never had a female cat change personality on me after being spayed and when male cats are neutered they usually turn into total lovebugs and couchcats, so that type of personality change is good (of course, they get a little plumper but not usually a problem with females). The vet will be used to dealing with timid cats, as long as you can get her into her carrier and get her safely to the vet, she will be fine. As Marnet said, we'd love to see piccies!

     Posted 2 years ago by jcat #

147. 

     first of all, if your going to keep it inside you might want to put a belled collar so you can keep up with her because cats are usually curious (of course)

     Posted 2 years ago by snickers0801 #

148. 

     My timid cats are very easy to deal with at the vet, they become very quiet and stay close to me or hide their heads in my arms and the vet can deal with the rest of them easily. Now that they know the carrier means the vet getting them into the carrier is the hardest part.

     Posted 2 years ago by TrufflesMom #

149. 

     Paradox spayign doesn't change a cats personality or behaviors if anything they become more companionable becasue they do not have the need to mate drive, plus the longer you put of her spay the more uncomfortable for her because after a heat time it only takes a week or 2 to max 3 to have another cycle if a female has not become pregnant. Also there are health concerns for female snot fixed besides the one with the nipples can't remember the name and pyrtoma I think it's called it sort of a infection that can lead to way way worse and possible death if not taken care of in females that are not fixed. It has to do with her reproductive system.

     ? where did you get Bella again? I find this odd since most pet stores or shelters wont release a kitten to a new owner until they are already spayed! DO what you can get her in to be fixed and see what happens try not to stress or worry unduely!

     Posted 2 years ago by Momma to 2 MaineCoons #

150. 

     She is statistically going to live a longer healthier life if spayed. I hope that you find a vet you like and have her cared for. Bella deserves to live a long and happy life with you.

     Posted 2 years ago by SoxsMom #

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