new cat or kitten advice (merged)

carlw

Hi All

Just like to say what a great board this is.

We have just rescued a 2 year old cat from the RSPCA, and never had cats before so its all very new. The little girl we got is so much fun and loves playing and being fussed. She is an indoor cat also if that makes any difference, she doesnt seem interested in going out.

One thing i have noticed is that she is starting to bite more when you play with her, is this ok, and just meant in a playful way as it doesnt hurt, im just worried if we have children or friends over and she scares or hurts them.

Is there any training or disapline that we need to do, with regards her going on the kitchen sides or ripping the carpet up, or is this just normal and we should just leave her to get on with it?

Any tips or information greatly welcomed.

Oh and she is coming in waking us up at 5.45 every morning to play, but she seems to be doing this less.

Thanks

Carl

BizzyBek

Hi Carl

A lot of cats get over excited and bite when playing. They are 'play bites', if you imagine how a cat can hunt and eat a wild bird/rabbit, you'd know if it was a real bite! Kittens and cats will play bite one another in play too - its all part of pretending to hunt.

When you play with her as soon as she bites say 'no' very firmly, stop playing with her and ignore her for at least five minutes then give her a toy and leave her to play by herself for a while. Its the same if cats play with claws out. You can't perfectly train them not to but many will get the message.

If you don't want her on the kitchen tops - again just perservence of putting her onto the floor with a firm 'no'. Oh be like me, give up and always have some anti bacterial wipes on the side!

When they shred carpets/furniture it isn't to sharpen claws as many people presume, it is because it releases sent and it is another form of marking terriotary (like neck rubbing). Get a scratching post and encourage her to use that as much as possible.

And always remember you don't own a cat - they own you!

BizzyBek owned by 13 and time shared by no end of foster cats!

kareno

I have 4 cats and one of mine is a little biter. With him when he bites I do one sharp blow into his face and say "gently", sounds odd but mine gets the message now with just the gently, and I don't have to blow in his face anymore. There's the odd time he does but much rarer than before.

Regarding the kitchen sides, again it might sound cruel but with mine I keep a spray bottle and give them a little squirt with water when they go up. They never bother now.

Agree with BizzyBek about the scratching post, and a good way to encourage them to scratch it is to buy some Kookamunga catnip spray and spray the sisal with it, mine go mad scratching on it just after I've done this!

Again, mine wake me up between 5 and 6 every morning, looking for a bit of attention and to be fed. I'm gonna get an automatic feeder soon so I wont have to get up to feed them.

Well done for getting this little girl from the RSPCA, they're brilliant pets, you wont regret it.

bindiboo

just to update, never got any of the first ones as I only had a second reserve on them. But had a a call yesterday and rspca have first reserved me 2 kittens to have a look at.. She said they were sandy colour.. I wonder if she meant ginger.................cute

dollywops

We had to have our 20 year old (less 3 days) cat put down last summer. My husband had been telling the children (18 and 15) that she was wigig (when its gone, its gone). Anyway, we decided that we could not be without a cat.

I really could not face being 'vetted', so I contacted my vet. Somebody had placed a card on the notice board to say that she had kittens for sale. We went along, chose our little black and white moggy, and then picked her up when she was ready to leave her mummy. She is now 7 months old and is the most loving creature imaginable. She trots in and out of the house in the morning from time to time just to make sure I am around and give me a lick and an earwash.

We need to get her to stop using her litter tray as we are going away at the end of the month. My next door neighbours will be into feed her and give her cuddles and doubtless she will be spending time with them. Whereas I am sure they won't mind cleaning out her bowl, I really can't ask them to deal with her litter tray.

It has been a very long time since I/we have had to train a cat to go outdoors. We have tried putting some litter in a couple of spots in the garden, but she has not got the message. OH told me she rushed out this morning when he moved the bin from in front of the catflap and he was sure she had gone out for a pee. Half an hour later and much scrabbling in the litter tray proved him wrong.

Does anyone have any hints or suggestions.

Tortieshell

Hi to be honest I've never had to train any of my cats to go outside.

Once they are used to going out just take the litter tray away, I think given the choice most cats would prefer digging in the dirt and your cat has probably been doing it outside already. It's worked everytime for me and I've lost count of the cats that I've looked after!

leoetal19

my eldest 3 cats all gradually went from indoor to outdoor without help-my youngets at 5 months still just uses the litter tray
however my beloved boy was killed a couple of years ago aged 4 and a half and he used to sit outside cross legged and dart in 2 use the litter tray til the day he died!!
guess theyre all different x

bindiboo

been to see the kitten. have chosen the shorthaired one. it is a sandy colour or pale ginger if you preferand its about 12 weeks old rspca have named it buzz and i think we will keep that name as it is nice. kids excited now. should be getting a home visit in 2 weeks. will post pic soon

MrsE_2

Georgina wrote: »

Check with your vet what worming programme you should use, and do your own research too (ie check packets/manufacturers websites). That way you make sure that you have a good understanding of the wormers available, and know what you are worming against. The wormers available in the supermarket really are false economy, as they don't provide protection against all type of worms. From a quick look it seems that Panacur gives protection against tape, round and lung worms, where others (even Drontal & Milbemax) do not protect against lungworm.

Scratch posts are on offer at the moment - £6.99 for this deluxe one!


HTH,

Georgie

I just got some MILBEMAX, I thought they were the new all singing all dancing tablets:mad:

bindiboo

hi guys hope you can help

as some of you know we were gonna pick up the kitten in another week. The seller is going on holiday and asked if we would pick the kitten up sooner. Well we have picked her up today. She is almost 7 weeks old. I know that she is younger than the recommended 8 weekd but she is weaned and litter trained and has been vet checked and has also been wormed with her next dose due in 2 weeks.


What I would like to know is how often should be feeding her. She has had 3 little feeds of kitten food, since coming home at 12pm Also she doent seem interested in drinking water yet.

so far since coming home, she has had a good sniff around, fed, used her litter tray ok. she then went to sleep for about 2 1/2 hours. When she awoke she had another feed and was in a playful mood and had great fun with the kids.

I think all the playing zonked her out again she had had another little feed when she woke and a wee wee in her litter tray.

Also she seems to prefer a particular spot on the arm of the sette to sleep than the pet bed I have for her. Is this typical? When she is alseep I move her into her bed to get her used to it.

what should I expect for her first night with us................will she be wanting to play at 2am!!!!!!!


I will be booking her into the vets for her jabs when she is 9 weeks old.


So any tips welcomed.