Hey, im new to this website, I need some advise, i just bought a new kitten at my local pet shop. I got her friday may-1-09, shes so adorable, i love her, but the only thing is that hse keeps meowing, its driving me nuts, we could be in the same room she'll meow. Shes been exploring my home, i let her, but she starts meowing like crazy, she acts like if shes getting hurt, and she keeps lokking for something. I've bought her food and a buttload of new toys, but she doesnt eat much, i bought her some kitten food and i give her freash water, but even when im close to her she doesnt want to play, all she does is sleep, she'll sleep on my legs, stomach and if i move to use the bathroom, she starts meowing. The only time she'll stop is when shes sleeping of if someone is petting her. Shes sleeping on my lap right now, but i dont know what to do, tomorrow shes gonna be alone because i have school and my mom works. Im going to take her to the animal clinic next week to see if anything is wrong, but please leave me some advise.
Basic info:
-Shes about 8 1/2 weeks old
-Her name is Bambi
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens
My New Kitten
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Aww Thanks Jeff for helping this baby and she is still a baby and this is probably the first time that she's been without her mom and her litter mates,she misses them. She's going to need to be cuddled and kept kind of close to you until she grows up some and she may still be a snuggler even after that.Maybe you can get down on the floor with her and sort of play w/ her toys with her that is unless you want to get another kitten about that age,they do much better in twos.
Welcome to TDK!
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Hi, Jeff. Welcome to the Daily Kitten! Bambi sounds like a wonderful kitten. She is crying because she misses her mother and littermates.
Do you know what kind of food she was being given from the place you got her? Is she using the litter box? How many other people and animals live with you?
When introducing a kitten to a new environment it is a good idea to let her explore only a small area at first, such as a bedroom. You can make her a bed using a towel or other soft material. Add a small stuffed animal to it for her to snuggle with while you are gone. Some people add a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel or a heating pad to help the little one maintain its body temperature. The kitten should have room in her bed to move away from the heat source and the heat source should not be too hot.
As she gets more used to her surroundings and learns that you are a safe person who will treat her kindly, her crying should diminish. She will soon look to you as she would to her mom in terms of her need for attention. She may keep you awake at night until she feels more comfortable in her new home, but please be patient with her. If she does something you don't like, don't yell at her or hit her. You can withdraw attention from her or say no in a calm voice and redirect her attention.
A trip to the vet is very important. She needs to be tested for FIV and FLP as well as for parasites. Your vet will be able to tell you what immunizations she will need and when. Please keep her inside and away from intact male cats until you get her spayed and please don't get her declawed.
Please keep posting to let us know how she and you are doing. :)
When you have a chance, please upload a photo of her to use as your avatar here.
Posted 2 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
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Thanks for replying guys,I have been feeding her science diet for kittens, she has a litter box, there are no pets. I dont use any force on her, i wont yell at her or even scream i just talk to her or pet her, But shes stuck to me for now, and i dont hav e bottle for kittens, ill see if i could buy one tomorrow. But im scared that she'll be terrified when shes home alone tomorrow, and shes been rejecting every toy and teddy bear/plush i gave her.
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It is distressing to hear a kitten constantly meowing, but all you can do is reassure her. You are doing fine. It will just take some time for her to get settled. Cats sleep about 18 hours per day. It is very likely that Bambi will spend most of tomorrow asleep. She will be very happy to see you and be your "velcro" kitten when you get home. lol
She will decide what toys she likes and what stuffed animal. She may only want you exclusively for a while. Sometimes just a crumpled up piece of paper turns out to be a great toy. Feather wands are also good.
If Bambi is already used to kitten food, why do you think you need a bottle?
Posted 2 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
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Hi, Jeff, you've got lots of great advice from Buttercup and KW. If she has a comfy bed (maybe with one of your old sweaters, unwashed, so it smells of you, or a sheepskin, or an old soft blanket) and a soft toy to cuddle up to, she will most probably curl up and go to sleep while you are at school and then wake up when you get home and be dying to go exploring again and play with you!
Of course, she may wake up, get bored and get into a bit of mischief too while you're gone so make sure your room is kitten-proof (no electric cords to chew, no small spaces she could get stuck in or dangerous things she could get tangled up in). She is a baby, and like a human baby, she wants to be cuddled and held and be close to her mum or dad -- and right now Dad is you. She will cry, that's what babies do! Just be patient and loving and always speak in a kind voice to her and Bambi will gradually get used to her new home and her new kittydad!
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Glad to have you here, Jeff. We have a 16 year old here and some college students. Bambi will soon feel quite at home. She is lucky to have someone who cares so much about her. :)
Posted 2 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
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Jeff, you're doing great! She's just saying, pick me up, cuddle me, make me feel safe. Yes, kittens can be a bit of work but they're so wonderful and funny as they discover the world and learn to play and get the 'kitten crazies', make the most of this time, it doesn't last long! Leave her in your room tomorrow and close the door, make sure she has her comfy bed and her litter tray and her food and she'll be fine.
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I added some tags to this thread. If you click on them, you will see other threads that deal with some of the same issues.
If your kitten has been weaned from its mother and is eating kibble or wet food and drinking water from a bowl, she doesn't need milk. If you think she needs milk, do NOT use cow's milk. It is bad for cats. Most pet stores carry Kitten Milk Replacement (KMR) and the bottles needed to bottle-feed kittens. When bottle-feeding, do not have Bambi on her back. Bottle-feeding a kitten who is on its back may cause it to aspirate (inhale) some of the milk into her lungs which could make her sick.
Posted 2 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
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Jeff, at eight and a half weeks, she's weaned -- that means, she doesn't drink milk any more. (Cows milk is actually not good for cats, they can't digest it, so orphan kittens get fed kitten replacement milk, which replaces their mother's milk.) You don't need a bottle (she'd probably chew it to bits with her teeth now!) and you don't need to give her milk. Kitten food and fresh water is all she needs.
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She will sleep wherever she wants to. Cats are funny that way. Our three sleep with my husband and I most nights. Some people have gone to great expense to set up fancy beds for their cats only to have them turn up their noses at them. She will definitely find a way to sleep when you aren't there. I like JCAT's suggestion of letting her sleep on a tshirt or some other item you've worn but not washed yet. Your smell will comfort her.
I'm heading out to dinner. Please keep posting, Jeff. More TDKers check in during the week and we love to hear about kittens!
Posted 2 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
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Is that Bambi in your avatar??? OMG, she is just gorgeous! :D
Posted 2 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
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Hi, Jeff! I don't have any advice beyond what has been given here. But I just wanted to welcome you to TDK and to tell you "thanks" for adopting a kitten and being so concerned about giving her a loving and safe home. We will look forward to hearing the progress with your little Bambi!
Welcome!
Posted 2 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
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I bought her for 200.00 $$$, there were so many cute kittens, but she looked at me first and started meowing, it looked like if she was saying, get me out of this prison, but shes so adorable, i love her, i spent like half of my paycheck on her, including toys, food, litter, collars, etc. Even though she meows alot, she makes it up to me when she purrs, lol
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Do you mean, should you pick her up and cuddle her? Definitely. Let her go to sleep on your lap or chest? Absolutely. I guess sometime you'll have to go to school or the bathroom, lol, but when she's grown a bit, she won't be so keen on cuddling and she'll be wanting to be independent (kitty equivalent of Dad, can I have the car keys?) and explore on her own, so I'd make the most of it now ;-)
Besides, cats have minds of their own. Pretty hard to stop them doing what comes naturally. She's just talking to you, Jeff.
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Oh the joy of a new kitten! I'm also 17 and hated leaving binx at home while I had to go to school. Tore me apart. And from what I heard it tore him too. And welcome to TDK! Definitly an old shirt will do great. Binx loved to sleep in my laundry when he was little. When you hear him cry comfort him. Pick him up and cuddle with him. A paper ball will def keep her entertained. If you want her to have a specific toy then let her pick it out.
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Hi, Jeff, welcome to TDK! Bambi is adorable! I agree with what the others have said about your baby. She is crying and "looking" for something because she misses her kitty family, she's only been away from them for 3 days right? But she will get used to being with you instead in just a few more days. Some kitty's are "talkers" and will always meow a lot. You can also try meowing back at her! I have seven kitties now, the youngest is a year old and the oldest is your age! You have a lot of wonderful experiences ahead of you with Bambi and the best advice is just be patient and loving!
Posted 2 years ago by DancingCatHill #
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Jeff -You might not want to give her the run of the full house while you are gone... a smaller safe space is better. Kittens can get into the smallest places... A friend had to stay at my house while hers was being worked on, and she brought her kits. We thought we had checked out the room (kitchen) well to make sure it was ktten proof, but one silly kit found a way to get in behind the dishwasher! We had to cut the side of the cabinet out to get to her. Bambi would probably feel more secure in a room that smelled of you - like your bedroom while you are gone. Just leave her water, food and a litter box, and her bed w/toys, and she will be fine! You are doing a great job! It is great pravtice for fatherhood - way donw the line since you are only 17 now!
Posted 2 years ago by nawlins catmom #
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