My New Kitten!! [Archive] - QLC Message Boards

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01-08-2007, 10:12 PM

Just wanted to share the joy...

I got a kitten saturday and he is adorable. I rescued him from the basement of my apartment building, where he was abandoned. :mad: My nice super actually rescued him from the back and fed him for a few weeks.

He is super cute and friendly and fun. :D I don't know how old he is yet. He's pretty small, but not tiny. I have to take him to the vet yet to find out if he's all well (I'm worried since I don't know his history, tho he is a "people" cat).

Anyone have any advice on raising cats? He's a total sweetie but his one problem is that he begs and actively tries to get my food when I'm eating. I think I can train him to back off, and other than that he's stellar. So... any kitten advice?? or stories?

Kitty

01-08-2007, 10:21 PM

Awww..how exciting! I'm happy for you :)

pisces2473

01-08-2007, 10:24 PM

YAY for kitties! I have 3, the last one we got was a stray at my fiance's work. We're hoping she just wandered off, and didn't get dumped, but he works in a not great area, so who knows. Luckily she just has a minor case of worms and is doing great at almost 8 months old! She was about 3 months when we got her.

Just be firm with the kitty. Don't give into begging and whatnot. If he's jumping on the table while you're eating, put him back on the floor with a firm but gentle "No." Our cats obey with hand commands. They know that a sharp pointing finger downward is "down."

Give him lots of love and play play play with him. The adopted stray we have--she fetches and can catch things thrown to her in mid-air.

Good luck (and do get him to the vet soon)! :D

capella

01-08-2007, 10:27 PM

Use a spray bottle with water for the food thing. I do that when mine scratch on furniture.

Cats are fun! Just make sure you figure out your cat's particulars. One of mine HAS to be the first in the litter box after a cleaning. The other NEEDS to have a clean litter box (yes, it's changed daily because of that). The other just has to jump in the shower after I get out and let the water drip on his head (weirdo). They all have their own personalities.

I love kitties! Be careful to check him for fleas and worms. That can get to be a nasty cycle. (Found that out the hard way with my little Walmart kitty). Get him fixed!!

That is all. Enjoy your kitty!

pisces2473

01-08-2007, 10:39 PM

Amy, one of mine ALWAYS uses the box the MINUTE I'm done scooping it. I have to scoop it daily, as well...since, 3 cats...well, you know. She watches me while I'm scooping for that opportune moment. Weird lil kitty. :p

CTGirl

01-09-2007, 09:18 AM

blueyes

01-09-2007, 09:29 AM

Congrats!

I got a new kitten back in the summer and he's also does the food thing. I just tell him 'No' and put him back down on the floor. Just be patient and firm, and he will (eventually) get the point. The water thing only sort of works on him b/c he is also unafraid of water (unless I get it RIGHT in his nose and then it works, but I feel like that's kind of mean).

Besides Pisces, talk to Embra - she's also got 3 cats and she's helpful when it comes to kitten care.

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01-09-2007, 10:50 AM

CTGirl

01-09-2007, 10:55 AM

Yeah, he seems to respond when I snap and tell him no, and occasionally I have to pick him up and remove him from my side. He'll get it, I think. I'm sure he's getting it already, but just testing boundries, seeing how far he can get. This morning, though, the birds out the window distracted him so I could eat in peace.

Little bugger is totally cute. :p

A spray bottle of water works wonders for most cats. One of mine is smart, and so all I have to do is reach for a spray bottle and she'll stop whatever it is she's doing that she's not supposed to. My other kitten doesnt learn so well, lol.

Winter Storm

01-09-2007, 10:57 AM

Congrats!

I swear I am so in love with my kitten, Camryn Pumpkin. Last night, I was feeling kinda down, missing my father and whatnot and I began to cry while laying in bed. My kitten was asleep at the bottom of the bed. She heard my whimpering, got up, crawled up to me, laid down on my chest and proceeded to lick my tears away. I felt so fucking loved. We curled up and fell asleep together.
Who says cats can't be affectionate? Seriously, she is my joy!

What I did was Google info on caring for kittens; get him litter trained, buy a scratching post, get little toys ad I recommend taking him for his first vet visit to ensure he's healthy and gots his shots so you'll have him for a long time.

And play with him and be affectionate with him and he'll love you for life. :)

embrassezla

01-09-2007, 10:58 AM

A spray bottle of water works wonders for most cats. One of mine is smart, and so all I have to do is reach for a spray bottle and she'll stop whatever it is she's doing that she's not supposed to. My other kitten doesnt learn so well, lol.
The reason this kind of "punishment" is acceptable for cats is because, unlike other animals, they become afraid of the spray bottle, not the human wielding it.

CTGirl

01-09-2007, 11:00 AM

The reason this kind of "punishment" is acceptable for cats is because, unlike other animals, they become afraid of the spray bottle, not the human wielding it.

Yeah, exactly.

Winter Storm

01-09-2007, 11:02 AM

CTGirl

01-09-2007, 11:07 AM

My kitten, Cammie, who is soo daggone hard-headed is only temporarily afraid of the squirt bottle.

I'll squirt he rto get her to stop doing something. And she will for about 2 mins. and she goes right to it. But funny enough, sometimes, I only have to pull the thing out and she takes off. Her main trouble is being up on the desk when she's not suppose to. But soon as the bottle is away, she's back at it.

I really need two of those things.

One of mine is like that too. I have 2 spray bottles that I keep in the 2 most troublesome rooms in my apartment.

That kitten tends to be more responsive to me saying "no" or even just glaring at her (like she'll jump off the kitchen counter when I giver her a look, lol) than to the spray bottle.

What's funny is that they're smart, and they know what they arent supposed to be doing, they just dont really care. My kittens know they arent allowed on the kitchen counter, so when they hear me coming toward the kitchen, they jump off.

blueyes

01-09-2007, 11:22 AM

What about a name for the little guy?

EmberMae

01-09-2007, 11:54 AM

What's funny is that they're smart, and they know what they arent supposed to be doing, they just dont really care. My kittens know they arent allowed on the kitchen counter, so when they hear me coming toward the kitchen, they jump off.
My kittens are too smart. I can't train them to do anything. They know as soon as I'm not there they can get away with it. I had to keep them in the guest room when I wasn't home during the month of December because otherwise they would climb the Christmas tree. And yes I got to the point that they wouldn't go near the tree when I was in the room, but as soon as I wasn't, they were up in that tree.

Oh and training them to use a scratching post is just hellish when you're only home and awake 4 hours a day, I'm just not there to reinforce often enough. I'm thinking of getting them those plastic claw covers because they're ruining my couch.

CTGirl

01-09-2007, 11:56 AM

Oh and training them to use a scratching post is just hellish when you're only home and awake 4 hours a day, I'm just not there to reinforce often enough. I'm thinking of getting them those plastic claw covers because they're ruining my couch.

Thats interesting. Mine have one of those big kitty condo thingies, and they have never scratched anything but that.

blueyes

01-09-2007, 12:08 PM

Herbie's got a scratching post that he uses in front of other people, but not me. I actually caught him using it for the first time last month and laughed out loud. The only piece of furniture he actually tries to scratch on is this craptacular ottoman that I think was created before the Dawn of Time and he leaves everything else alone. But I mostly just keep his claws trimmed short enough so they don't do any real damage to the ancient ottoman (or me).

Trim. Teh. Claws.

kacie231

01-10-2007, 12:01 AM

Yay! I adore cats, and there is probably nothing cuter in this world than a kitten. My cat is really outgoing and funny, he is able to get people who swear they hate cats to lighten up. My cat (who is almost 3) loves playing with water - he doesn't actually like to be bathed (which I've done twice and is really difficult but kinda funny), but if a faucet is leaking, he loves to try to drink the water drips and he is constantly jumping the the sink. It's a bad habit...the spray bottle actually works though because he HATES to be sprayed.

Anyways, heres a few tips that I have learned from my kitty (doesn't necessarily apply to all cats):
- Make sure to keep toilet lids down - I have caught my kitty drinking out of the toilet (gross, I know). Also, it's a hazard for kittens esp. b/c they can fall in.
- If you have shoe boxes or other boxes around, leave them by the cat to see if he'll play in them. My cat loves to squeeze itself into spaces like sinks/boxes/a kitty bed which is too small for him but he loves it
- Try not to use your hand as toys when play with the cat (waving your hand in front of the cat like a mouse for example). Instead, use cat toys...the vet told me that using your hands encourages biting and it's a hard habit to stop.
- Buy Pounces (and shake them up when trying to get the cat to come to you)...my cats like them a lot (yeah, I have another cat too but she is very shy and spends a lot of times outdoor...not as friendly but still a sweetheart).

Congrats on your new little kitten!

arrow

01-10-2007, 11:07 PM

Awww... thanks everyone for the kitten pointers and stories!!
I'll update on the name, when it happens. :)

sondra_finchley

01-11-2007, 12:56 AM

I am soooooo jealous- I want cats so bad and I cant have any until I 1) find a job 2) find a place to live and 3) A comes back in May so we can pick out kittens/cats together. Maybe this is how that baby-longing thing is supposed to work.

Cats are the best! Can you put up pictures on here at all?