#1
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Help!Kitten spends all her time on my mothers shoulders!
Ok, so here's the story.
Three days ago my mother got a 2 month siamese kitten(female). She's the most loving and the sweetest kitten ever, but... she jumps on my mothers back or shoulders whenever my mother is available. It's becoming ennoying, because for example when my mother works the kitten will jump from nowhere and will scare her or scratch her accidently while trying to reach her shoulder. Then she will sit and purr to her ears for hours. How my mother should break such habitude? The second thing is that the kitten refuses water. She eats well, but deslikes water. Is it normal? Anyway she seems to be healthy. The third thing is that the kitten apparently was not litter trained. First time she refused to do in the litter box, so my mother confined the kitten in a small area with the litter box and the kitten did pooped in the box, but when she got an access to a little bit larger space, she immeadeatly urinated on the carpet. Now she waits at the door for someone to enter and liberate her. I hope someone can help with these matters. Thank you very much! Last edited by Vas; September 12th, 2005 at 07:34 PM. |
#2
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personally I think the water issue is a much bigger problem than jumping on shoulders ...cats need to drink plenty of water to avoid a UTI. I'd suggest trying a cat water fountain, it may entice her to drink more. My 2 cats both prefer ice cold water, or running water.
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#3
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The shoulder jumping is something many, if not most, small kittens do, along with leg climbing. Your mom should take her down immediately and this will probably stop as the kitten gets older.
Where did she get this kitten? It should have been litter trained by it's mom at around 5 weeks old. Has your mom had her vet checked? If she isn't drinking, then she could have a urinary tract infection which would definitely make her avoid the litterbox. Your mom needs to get her checked before trying anything else. Is it sure that she's not drinking? Tell your mom to measure out an amount of water - like 1/2 cup - and put it in a wide bowl. Many cats do not like to drink out of small bowls. Then at night she can pour the water back in the measuring cup and see how much is gone. What is the kitten eating? If it's dry food, and little water, that could contribute to urinary problems and she should give the kitten canned food, which is full of water. |
#4
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Quote:
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#5
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Well, my mother took the kitten from an unwanted litter of kittens... As far as I know kittens seem to have been eating human food.
My mom gives royal canine dry food mixed with wet food and the kitten eats well. Before I didn't think that water problem may be an issue (may be because I never had one before), I thought that kitten is just adapting to a new environment.... But now I'm affraid something may be wrong and the kitten should see the vet as soon as possible... My mom will take the kitten to the vet tomorrow, so we'll see what's what. And I will tell her to measure out an amount of water. |
#6
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All you have to do for a cat for water is put a full bowl out.
My 2 cats and dog drink about 2 litres of water a day between them, more on warmer days. Litter training takes time. A good way is to take the poop and put it in the box, and constantly be offering the kitten the box, like maybe every 2-3 hours. If you see her start to poop on the floor or urinate on the floor quickly and quietly scoop her up and take her to the cat box. Put her in and say something like go potty, good girl, and after a few times most cats will learn to use the box. Thats exactly how I trained the cat i had when i was a teenager and the one I have now. |
#7
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Just wanted to mention my Vinnie,who's favourite spot is still my shoulder
As a baby he would lay there,no matter what I was doing....now at 13lb's he still wants to,but does not jump,just sits there and begs until I lift him up..it's kind of cute,like a boa around my neck...except it's not a lightweight Boa
__________________
"The cruelest animal is the Human animal" 3 kitties,Rocky(r.i.p my boy),Chico,Vinnie |
#8
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My mom took kitty to the vet today. He discovered a cold and a bronchitis and injected atibiotics. Can it be the cause for avoiding water and litterbox?The vet didn't have the aswer for the water problem. However my mom observed that kitty drinks a little bit on her own, but still avoids going to litter box (it's been about 24 hours she hasn't peed!) .
What may be other symptoms of urinary tract infections, because I'm not very eager to trust vets that live overseas (my mother isn't from Canada)... Last edited by Vas; September 13th, 2005 at 03:38 PM. |
#9
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OH that's a beautiful little Himalayan kitty!
Sick cats sometimes will avoid the litterbox. The kitten must be drinking some, or it would be dead by now. Did the vet say it was dehydrated? Did you mom mention the peeing problem? Probably the best thing would be to confine her in a dog crate, if your mom can get her hands on one, with litterbox, food and water and blanket. Make sure these things are arranged so that there is room ONLY to lie down and that the rest of the space is taken up with food bowls and litterbox. The kitten will have no choice but to use the box. Of course this is assuming there is no infection present. The signs of urinary tract or bladder infection could be a lot of straining to pee with nothing happening, crying, and/or blood in the urine. Or there might be few signs. |
#10
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The vet didn't say that it was dehydrated. Yes, my mom mentioned the peeing problem and the response was that kitty may be still adapting to a new environment. My mom also follows the advise to put a piece of paper towel with kitty's urine into the litter box. My mom will take the kitten to the vet on friday for a follow-up and further bronchitis treatment .Would it be a bad idea to ask also for antibiotics for urinary tract infection prevention (just to be sure...)? |
#11
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In order to check for urinary tract infections, a urinalysis must be done. I would never give antibiotics or other meds without being sure a problem exists.
Cats and kittens do not as a rule pee on the floor as part of their adaptation to a new home. In the countless cats I"ve owned and fostered, I've never seen this, not even in totally feral kittens or cats who were born and lived outdoors and never even saw a litterbox. When cats avoid the litterbox there is always a reason, since kittens do not need to be housetrained the way puppies do. Maybe it's the litter. Your mom should ask the person she got the cat from what kind of litter was being used, and if the kitten ever used a litterbox, although it's my experience that people are often not truthful about such things. People do not normally give away purebred cats for free, and this might be the reason this was. A urinalysis would be a good idea. |
#12
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OH MY GOODNESS......Is she ever cute!!!!!!!
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#13
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update
Just wanted to update that my mother's kitten is doing just fine: has learnd to use litter box (not completly, sometimes "accidents" still happen...) and is in good health. Thanks everybody for help!
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