Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens

1. 

   Sorry this is such a long post, I'm just curious about my new kitten and his odd behavior...

   I've had several kittens before, but either they were all very far from the norm, or this one is. I just purchased him from a store a couple days ago, and have named him Salem. I took him to the vet today just for a check up (first visit comes free with the cat so I figured I may as well), and they said he was about 9 weeks old and perfectly healthy. I've noticed several things different with this kitten than any others I've had. One is a health issue I'm slightly worried about, the others are just behavior patterns I'm curious about. (I'm so over-bearing and paranoid about my new kitten, I certainly hope this isn't any indication of the type of parent I will be when I have real children, they're going to hate me lol)

   1) He doesn't eat as much as other kittens I've had in the past. The one thing that always amazed me was how much they could eat in a day. He seems healthy, and the vet today said he was fine. I'm sure the lack of interest in food is probably due to the new home, right? Tonight he was curled up next to me in bed while I was surfing the internet, and all of a sudden he jumped up quickly, made a run for the bathroom, and threw up all over the floor. I think he may have been trying to get to his litter box in there, but didn't make it in time. There's no hair in the vomit, just clear liquid and food. Immediately after throwing up he came straight to me, coughed a couple times, and laid back down in bed. I gave him a little food a couple hours later, and he ate it and has kept it down. Is he OK? Do kittens throw up occasionally for no reason at all?

   2) This isn't a problem really, just peaks my curiosity. The reason I opted for a cat rather than a dog is because I have a rather hectic schedule and wanted to be able to leave my pet at home without worrying about it. But this kitten is the most clingy thing I've ever seen in my life! He cries the entire time I'm gone if I leave the house, follows me from room to room and freaks out if I leave while he's asleep and he wakes up alone... He even follows me in the bathroom and cries in front of the door the entire time I'm in the shower until I come out again, even when he can see me. Why is he so attention-hungry? Right now I can indulge him, but I can't stay home all the time forever... Should I try to wean him from me a bit, or give him the constant attention he seems to crave? (Even when we went to the vet today, he wouldn't stop crying unless I held him. He was driving the doctors crazy, every time I set him on the table he kept whining and trying to climb back in my arms. Its adorable, and I absolutely love how quickly he bonded to me. I can give him that attention now, but eventually I'm gonna need to get back to my normal schedule.)

   3) He loves one-on-one cuddle time, and will lay with me for hours just purring and rubbing on me. But for some reason he's always trying to touch my face. He just sets his paws on my cheeks or eyes, and seems to get annoyed if I move them. Why does he do that? Again not a problem, its just so... odd. He usually does it when I'm rubbing his face or chin... Is he intelligent enough to be mimicking me? Or does he just have some fascination with my face for some reason?

   4) Why has no one ever mentioned the whole waking-up-early issue that comes with new kittens (haha)? Every morning he starts pouncing on me, biting my ears, lifting my hands with his head... he'll go for hours if I don't get up. And it's not for food or anything, he had fresh food, water, 42739876 toys, access to his liter bin, but when I got back in bed he kept trying to get me up again. Is there any way to re-adjust his internal clock to a bit later than 7:00am, or do I just need to change my sleeping habits to fit his better?

   I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but I want everything to be perfect for my new kitten. He's insanely playful, loves to cuddle, purrs all the time... I just don't understand him! Hehe.

   <3 Krys

   PS Thanks in advance for any answers or advice you can give me.

   Posted 3 years ago by Krystal #

2. 

   first thing, welcome to the TDK family and congrats on the new kit!

   1) Are you feeding him the same food(s) that were being fed prior? If not, it could be the new food is not agreeing with him. He is a baby still and his stomach is still sensitive, plus its a new situation.

   2) Might try getting another kitten about the same age, they will keep each other company. Also kittens are like people, some just crave human closeness, kids do the same thing.

   3) see # 2, he is a cuddler, you have to remember that kittens/cats are all individuals and have different personnalities.

   4) They are naturally nocturnal by centuries of habit, I have 5 cats and the raceway @ my house usually starts between 2-4 a.m. and then when I do get up and feed them, they go back to sleep. Try playing with your baby to get him tired before you go to sleep and/or feed him just enough to keep his little tummy from waking him up being hungry.

   Posted 3 years ago by AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew #

3. 

   Welcome to the TDKers, Krystal. Congrats on the kitty. AZ Deb said it well. You have one thing to be thankful for tho, he doesn't get u up until 7:00 am????? We have two and they are screaming anywhere from 4-6 am. I am sure your kitty will be fine.

   Posted 3 years ago by SammyandOliversmama #

4. 

   First, Congrats on your new kitty. Re: the following you around and being "clingy", was he with other kitties when you got him? Could be he's just looking for the 'constant' company he had with his sibs. Deb has covered everything well, I second her suggestion/question about the possibility of getting anotther kitty about the same age to keep this one company - might really help with the "clingy" behavior. And, if you'll be leaving him alone alot because of your schedule, some kitties like the company of another. Have fun with him!!

   Posted 3 years ago by kittymom #

5. 

   Hi Krystal, welcome to TDK..
   Try getting him a few beanie babies for him to attach to, something with your smell on it will help too. He might be missing his mommy so make him some comfy stuff for him. I am running out the door but I wanted to say hi at least. I wish I could help more. I am sure the others will have valuble info. :)

   Posted 3 years ago by cricketsmama #

6. 

   Thanks for all the advice guys. As far as getting another kitten, we have 3 other cats here (and I have 6 roommates)so he's rarely every alone, but still cries if I'm not there. Two of the other cats (along with their owner) are moving out in a couple weeks, so hopefully he attaches to the other one soon.

   As far as the throwing up, he did again this morning. He hadn't eaten anything yet and it was just clear liquid, nothing else, so I don't think its the food. I called the vet and they want to test him for parasites. I needed to have that test done in a couple weeks anyways when he got his next round of shots, so I figured i may as well do that today and rest easier knowing he saw a doctor.

   Oh, and we only JUST woke up. He let me sleep until 9:45 this morning. We went to bed around 2:00am. Over-sleeping a symptom of being sick, or I just got lucky...? Usually he doesn't sleep for more than 2 hours at a

   Posted 3 years ago by Krystal #

7. 

   (Salem just jumped on the keyboard trying to get my attention and clicked enter lol, I'll finish here....)

   Usually he doesn't sleep for more than 2 hours at a time, even at night. When he got up this morning he didn't try to get me up, just immediately ran to the bathroom, started whining a lot, then threw up.

   Wish us luck at the vet, I'll let you guys know what they say.

   <3 Krys

   Posted 3 years ago by Krystal #

8. 

   Let us know Krystal how Salem did at the vet. Hopefully he just has a minor bug that that be taken care of. Poor little guy. He might have worms or something...Just let us know. :)

   Posted 3 years ago by cricketsmama #

9. 

   Welcome to TDK Krystal...sounds like Salem has a wonderful & thoughtful new mommie.

   Posted 3 years ago by feral #

10. 

    welcome... and you've been given lots of good information. Good luck at the vet, and do keep us posted! i'm running out, too, so will check back later.

    Posted 3 years ago by 2 Popoki #

11. 

    Welcome to the Daily Kitten, Krystal. Your new kitten sounds adorable! Some kittens need more attention than others, especially when they are getting used to a new place and new people. Your kitten may well be missing his mother and littermates.

    I have two cats that I've raised from about ten weeks old. They were weaned but still liked to knead on me the way they do their mothers when they are nursing. One of them still likes to gently touch my face with her paw in the morning when she wants to be petted. When a kitten puts its head under your hand or gives you a bonk with its head, it wants you to pet it. I think the stroking of petting feels similar to being licked/bathed by a mama cat. He is asking you to comfort him.

    Enjoy your new baby!

    Posted 3 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #

12. 

    Welcome! Salem sounds adorable. After reading all the posts, I don't have much to add. My first thought was whether this was a diet change for him, if not, definitely a vet visit is in order. Please keep us posted. Hope all goes well.

    Posted 3 years ago by Tigerlilly #

13. 

    Krystal, how did it go at the vet?

    Posted 3 years ago by kittymom #

14. 

    Krystal, I'd ask your vet about the vomiting. It could just be nerves or a sensitive stomach, but it could also be that a change in diet is needed. Talk with your vet about the ingredients in the cat food you're currently using. Also, please make sure he's not nibbling on anything else in the house that might be harmful; many houseplants and household cleaners are poisonous to pets.

    The constant attention-seeking is fairly normal. After all, this kitten was surrounded by Mom and littermates until you took him home. He may need more physical contact and playtime to help make up for the lack he's now experiencing. And he may just be a mama's boy, in which case his greater need for attention will be a lifelong trait, not just a transition.

    You could try adopting another kitten as a playmate for him. If not, though, please try to make time for two 15-minute play sessions with him, every morning and every evening. He will definitely benefit from the extra attention; it will reduce any anxiety he may be feeling, and it will give him extra sensory stimulation and play-hunting activity.

    Posted 3 years ago by anncetera2 #

15. 

    Oh, and his pushing up your hand with his head? He's trying to get you to pet him. (I'd go ahead and pet him; it can be an endearing trait.)

    Posted 3 years ago by anncetera2 #

16. 

    Awwwwwwww..Little Salem has been through alot. Going from Mom and all the sibblings, to the store and now to your home. He's just little, and scared of what's next. I think once he recognizes some routine in your home he may relax a bit. Meantime...he needs a little reassurance from you that he's safe. Anncetera is right to watch out for items around the house that Salem may be getting into and not every kitty food is right for every kitty. Sometimes I shake my head with my 4 and wonder if I'm not more of a detective than a caregiver....and honestly when we love our pets we're all a bit of both. A companion for him would be a wonderful thing thru all his growing years. I have 4 sibblings (I know..it's a bit much...I just couldn't pick who'd go..so they all stayed) and they just aren't that much trouble..They play or ignore each other and all find their little nooks and crannies to sleep and dream. Good luck with Salem and please keep us posted on his progress.

    Posted 3 years ago by Karenopa #

17. 

    Hi krystal, wlecome to TDK, hope the advise you've received has helped, and that salem continues to settle in. Let us know how you get on at the vets.

    Posted 3 years ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #

18. 

    Good advice already given, but just wanted to say welcome and I have found boy kittens seem more needy than the girls, but every one is different. My Sheba follows me around everywhere, got her when she was 3 years old.

    Posted 3 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Raleigh, NC #

19. 

    Thanks again for all the advice guys, really helpful :-)

    Well, the vet visit was interesting. The doctor could barely pull Salem away from me, he kept digging his claws into my shirt and screaming every time they had to take him to the back. Cute, but really sad too. He was terrified! They ran a few tests and found out he has coccidia, a parasite. They said it was lucky I brought him in so early, so he should be fine within a few days. They said he's probably feeling worse than he acts, so that could be why he's so overly-clingy. He's also not eating as much as he should be, and is a bit dehydrated, so that's why he was over-sleeping so much. They also agreed that for him to be showing signs this early means it was a pre-existing problem, so the pet store covered the medical bill. He's on medication for the next 10 days, but they said he should be acting and feeling fine within the next 2-3 days. Also, I went back to the pet store and bought the food he was getting there, as per all of your advice about switching foods messing with his tummy. He seems to like that food much better, so I hope that helps to get him eating a good amount again.

    I'm supposed to give him .75ml of this liquid medicine every day. When I tried tonight, it took 30 minutes and a lot of screaming and struggling to get it in him. I tried all sorts of things, but unfortunately the only way I could get him to take it was to force it in his mouth when he was crying at me. I felt terrible, and he was mad at me for the next 45 minutes. He kept turning away from me every time I tried to pet him. Not running away, so not fear, just really angry. He's back cuddling me now (in fact he's making typing this hard lol, keeps sitting on the keyboard to get my attention), but are we going to have to go through this every night for the next 10 days, or is there some kind of secret to getting the medicine in him? He still isn't eating or drinking quite normally yet, so I'm afraid to waste it by putting it in his food or water. Do I just have to suck it up and let him be mad at me for a while? I'd rather him be mad and healthy than sick, but I hated putting him through that.

    Thanks a lot again :-)

    By the way apparently he loves water... not relevant to anything, I just thought it was adorable. He's soaking wet and LOVES playing in the sink. Makes cleaning him easier lol.

    Posted 3 years ago by Krystal #

20. 

    I'm so glad you took your baby to the vet. Getting rid of the parasites will improve his health so he can put on weight. I've never had to give a cat liquid medicine, but here is a website that describes how to do it: http://cats.about.com/cs/catmanagement101/ht/giveliquidmeds.htm
    It is important not to squirt the fluid in his mouth so forcefully that it is aspirated into his lungs. He sure has bonded with you, hasn't he? :D
    He sounds like a little sweetheart! Enjoy him!

    By the way--yes, it's OK if he is mad at you when you give him his medicine. He must have it as the vet ordered. You can see how quickly he will forgive you. :)

    Posted 3 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #

21. 

    Thank God that you did take him to the vet...you are a very good Mama. Giving him the food that he was used to is also a good idea. A lot of kitties have issues with food changes and often it has to be done gradually, as in mixing old and new food together. Either way, is this food the wet or dry kind. If its wet could you jut put the medication in a very small amount of wet food and have him eat that. If what you have is dry food. possibly make a soupy mix with water (especially as he loves water - by the way, 3 of my 7 love water also) and the medication. If not, see if that same brand and flavor dry food comes in the wet variety.
    Great job getting Salem checked out early.
    Keep us posted. Hope that he responds to the meds quickly.

    Posted 3 years ago by Tigerlilly #

22. 

    Krystal your kitty sounds like it might have been weaned too early from it's mother for it to be so clingy. I think another kitten might be better than the older cats as your kitten would probably be happy with someone closer to it's age. I am glad you took him to the vet so quickly. It says you really care about this little furry buddy. It is wonderful that you have bonded so well with your kitten. You have received lots of good advice here. Keep us posted on how Salem does. Hugs and purrs and welcome to TDK.

    Posted 3 years ago by SylvesterMiasMomma #

23. 

    A small bit of advice. If you decide to get Salem a little pal,be sure that the coccidia is cleared up first. It is very contagious & can spread quickly to any other cats he is exposed to. Trust me,as loving as he sounds toward you,any anger he might be feeling now will dissipate soon after. He sounds so cute.

    Posted 3 years ago by feral #

24. 

    Well, he threw up the medicine last night. I called the vet to ask what to do and they said their main concern if we was still vomiting is dehydration. There are two ways to try to hydrate him the vet suggests. One is some fluid I can take home to give him. But if he can't hold down food or medicine, that probably won't do us any good. The other is an injection that the vet would give him. So we have an appointment for tomorrow morning. I'm going to try to give him his medicine tonight anyways. If he holds it down, I'm probably going to cancel the appointment until there is another problem. This is getting EXPENSIVE! I've fallen completely in love with Salem, so there is NO way I could ever return him. But Ive had him less than a week and this will be our third vet visit. The store only covers medicine if the animal needs it (and it's determined to be a pre-existing problem), but the exams yesterday cost me $60, and tomorrow's fee starts out at $38, before the liquids and everything. i expected to have to start putting away money in case of an emergency with my kitten, but didn't think he would need it within the first week! I;m a college student who started my own business (fire dancing instruction/performance). When I work a lot the money is good, but its slow right now because I have finals this week so I put everything down. I really hope he feels better by tonight and is able to keep his medicine down, I'll always take him to the vet if he needs it, but i really would rather not pay that again.

    On the brighter side, he is at least still trying to eat, and he's kept a little bit of food down. And although he slept in again until 11 with me, when I decided to get up he perked right up and is acting as though he feels great today. Much improvement from yesterday :-)

    Does anyone know if it makes a difference if I give him his medication in the morning or at night? I figured a consistent time would be best, but didn't know if it made any difference when that time is.

    Posted 3 years ago by Krystal #

25. 

    Does Salem eat any type of wet food? Great Dane had some success in adding water to the wet food for her kitten Milo. (You should check out her Catster page sometime. She has lots of great videos of her Bob and Milo.) Offering it to him on your fingertips might help so all he has to do is lick it off. I wonder if the vet would approve of dividing the dose of the medication and giving the smaller amounts more frequently. He might be able to keep most of the small doses down if he got the meds that way.
    I'm glad he let you sleep in and seems to feel well. :)

    Posted 3 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #

26. 

    Hello Krystal,

    I just started reading the thread and I think Salem is really a sweetheart. Sorry to hear about what Salem is going through at the moment. I applaud you for being such a good fur mommy and taking good care of him. However, I do have a question for you.

    Before you purchase him from the store, did you have a thorough physical examination done? Did he get all the shots before you get him home? I know that if a kitten is adopted out of a shelter, they will make sure that they are in tip top condition before releasing them to a good home. I have no idea how the store conduct business but it would be vital to contact the store and to get a family history first. Is he a purebred kitty? I am not trying to scare you but he could have inherited some genetic disease which was not disclose to you. Is he neutered btw?

    Posted 3 years ago by tuttibella #

27. 

    Poor baby--hope he gets better soon. Since this is all because of an ailment he had from the store, I would take the store to small claims court to get my money back.

    Posted 3 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Raleigh, NC #

28. 

    OK, so 3 vet visits, 2 medications, and 1 week later, Salem is doing MUCH better. He isn't throwing up anymore, is back to a normal energy level (and back to waking me up bright and early to play every morning), is eating and drinking enough again... He seems to be all better. And I've gotten much better at giving him that liquid medicine hehe. Our only issue now is his constant need for my presence (if your biggest problem is that your kitten wants to be with you too much, your doing pretty alright lol). It really wouldn't be a problem at all, except that I have to go visit my mom next week for several days. I can take him with me, but he's going to have to stay locked in a room because my mom has a dog and a cat that do not accept other animals. I'm going to have to leave the house sometimes, and am worried about him. He'll be safe and all, I'm not worried about his health, but he still screams and cries every time I leave the room just long enough to use the bathroom or take a shower. Even with my roommates here, and 3 other cats (2 of which have finally accepted him, and now they play a lot), he still gets very whiny if I'm not there. If I'm at my computer, he's sitting on my desk. If I'm making food, he's on the kitchen counter. If I lay down in bed, he jumps right in next to me. It's great that he wants my attention so much, and I love giving it to him. But I have to be able to leave him at home and know he's OK when I'm doing other things. He has other people, other cats, TONS of toys... What else can I do to help him stay calm when I'm not around? And any tips on what to do with him at my mom's house?

    Thanks guys <3

    Posted 3 years ago by Krystal #

29. 

    What great news about Salem!! Glad he is feeling better. I don't have any experience with a kitten as young as Salem, but I'm sure others will have some ideas for you. So many people here wish their kit would be more affectionate. Sounds like you have all the affection from Salem you may ever need or want! He sounds like a sweetheart. :D

    Posted 3 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #

30. 

    I'm soooooo glad to hear that Salem is doing better. It is really a good thing that what we are talking about now is "too much loving", this is a wonderful fluffy thing to be discussing. I'm sure you'll get some good ideas from others, but at the least I would say to take hiim on the trip with you, mostly because he is so close to his recovery...you would want to keep a closer eye on him . Bring as many familiar things with you as you can, toys, etc. Enjoy your sweet baby!

    Posted 3 years ago by Tigerlilly #

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