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Looking for help with issues I'm having with the mom cat and kitten that I adopted after fostering them.

  • 1.  Looking for help with issues I'm having with the mom cat and kitten that I adopted after fostering them.

    Posted 06-30-2023 11:21 AM

    I foster this mom and kitten in December 2022. I decided to adopt both the mom and the kitten early in 2023.  I'm having several issues with the kitten, mom is doing fine.  Mama cat and kitten have never been apart.  The kitten is the more dominate cat.

    The kitten started peeing out of the litter box about 3 weeks ago.  I was hoping it was a one time concern and tried to come up with a theory on why it happened.  This doesn't happen all the time, but it has now happened several times and best I can tell mostly in the same place.  I threw away my futon and bought a new one.  This time I bought a waterproof cover and washable cover to allow me to wash it.  Now I'm reading that just washing with baking soda and detergent will not work.  There was one other place that I know she peed which I also removed.  I have a black light arriving today to see if there are actually other places.  I'm very concerned that I'm not going to be able to get this under control.

    My second issue is this kitten bites.  I have been very careful not to play with her using my hands.  She will come to me looking for affection and when I pet her or rub her chin she purrs then she bites me.  I then stop petting her, wait a few minutes and try again but this has not been very successful.

    The kitten will be 7 months on July 14. 

    I'm not sure how to post this so that it's going to the correct group. 



    ------------------------------
    Mary Davidson
    volunteer foster home
    Austin Humane Society
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  • 2.  RE: Looking for help with issues I'm having with the mom cat and kitten that I adopted after fostering them.

    Posted 06-30-2023 03:55 PM

    Hi Mary,

    Thanks for posting. Sounds like your kitten has been a bit frustrating lately, thanks for reaching out!

    Has the kitten been spayed or neutered?  How often do you scoop the litter box and what kind of litter do you use? 

    First steps for a new problem are usually to take your kitten in for an exam to make sure there isn't a medical cause for the behavior. Next, practice good litter box hygiene, which means having at least two litter boxes in your home if you have two cats, scooping the box at least once per day, and emptying the box out completely and cleaning it with dish soap once weekly.  Make sure the boxes are in locations that are quiet and easily accessible to your cats when they need to use them.

    Let me know if any of these suggestions help. 

    Regarding the biting, some cats have very specific preferences for how they like to be touched, and it sounds like your kitten might be this type of cat.  Here's a handout that might be helpful: Cats - Overstimulation

    Maddie's Fund remove preview
    Cats - Overstimulation
    Does your cat behave aggressively when you pet or handle them? Overstimulation refers to a cat's normal response to being touched in areas or ways the cat finds uncomfortable, or that have gone on for too long. Many cats exhibit overstimulation or petting-induced aggression.
    View this on Maddie's Fund >

    Sheila

     



    ------------------------------
    Sheila Segurson, DVM
    Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
    Director of Outreach and Research
    Maddie's Fund
    Pleasanton CA
    9258608284
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Looking for help with issues I'm having with the mom cat and kitten that I adopted after fostering them.

    Posted 07-01-2023 05:01 AM

    Thank you! I did read up on over stimulation and that seem to be the problem.  I tried to be slow and very gentle and she cuddled for about an hour without biting.

    She has been spayed at a very young age because she was adopted through a humane society facility that requires spaying before they allow cats/kittens to be adopted. I requested to wait until she was older but the facility policy would not allow me to go longer then 10 weeks.  Because mama cat went into heat when her kitten was 7 weeks.  Mama cat became unmanageable so policy required that I have both mama & kitten spayed at the same time meant I had to have the kitten spayed at 8 weeks.  I do wish they had a little more flexibility with these requirements.  I adopted both mama & kitten but I remain concerned about the consequences of very young spay/neuter requirement for kittens, especially when I was willing to continue foster until the kitten was older but I wanted the mama spayed because her behavior was very disruptive, so I was forced to have the kitten spayed. Our cats are indoor only and a cat in heat is not a happy cat.

    The Spruce Pets

    A female cat should not be neutered until after her first oestrus period. Growth metabolism might be stunted as a result. The eventual urethral diameter might be constricted, particularly in male cats, causing eventual urinary tract problems. Female cats, in particular, might later develop incontinence as a result.Jul 7, 2022
    Falls Road Animal Hospital
    Each pet is unique and your vet will be able to offer advice on when you should have your cat spayed or neutered. However, we typically recommend spaying or neutering kittens at around five to six months old. Jul 8, 2021


    ------------------------------
    Mary Davidson
    volunteer foster home
    Austin Humane Society
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    Original Message


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