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 |
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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. |
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Sheila
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Sheila Segurson, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
Director of Outreach and Research
Maddie's Fund
Pleasanton CA
9258608284
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-30-2023 06:29 AM
From: Mary Davidson
Subject: Looking for help with issues I'm having with the mom cat and kitten that I adopted after fostering them.
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.
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Mary Davidson
volunteer foster home
Austin Humane Society
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