New Kitten - Very very scared!!

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lottielou

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Hello Everyone!

Just got a new kitten yesterday, and I know it's perfectly normal for new kittens to be a bit frightened, but this one seems to be taking it to the extreme! He shakes like a leaf, and if we go anywhere near his hiding place he hisses and growls.

When I've had kittens before they've always hidden away for a few hours but then ventured out? Is there anything I should be doing to put him more at ease?

He's also miaowing constantly, I think he might be trying to call his mum? He's used his tray and is eating fine.

Any advice?
 
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goldenkitty45

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How old is the kitten? Where did you get him from? Sounds like he's very young (less then 10-12 weeks old) and may have had some kind of recent trama.
 
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lottielou

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He's just gone 8 weeks according the guy in the pet store, is that too young? He can eat fine on his own, but I think they only had the litter in the store yesterday, perhaps he's not used to being away from his mum yet? Is there anything we can do to make it less scary for him?
 
mrblanche

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He is probably suffering from separation anxiety, being by himself for the first time. All of a sudden he's in your huge (to him) house, without a single furry friend, and big animals (you) are trying to catch him and eat him (at least, that's what he thinks). Keeping him in a small room, like a bathroom, with his food and water, and possibly a radio playing softly, might help calm him down.
 
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goldenkitty45

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Many pet shop kittens are from out of state kitten mills. Those mills do not socialize the kittens and because they have to get them to the pet shop at a "cute age" of 8 weeks, the kittens are taken sooner from mom - maybe as young as 5-6 weeks old.

This puts them at a lot of risks. Hopefully your kitten will adjust as he gets older. You need to do your best to socialize him slowly. He may never be a friendly cat to strangers cause of his early upbringing. Time and patience will help him. Sit on the floor and play with him - that way you won't be so "big" to him. Offer him tiny treats of boiled chicken to show him you are friendly and not someone to be afraid of.

I wish you luck with him. But learn from your mistakes. 1. Don't buy kittens from pet shops and 2. Don't adopt kittens younger then 10-12 weeks old minimum.

Kittens need very important socialization between birth and 3 months old if you want a mentally healthy kitten who has had the proper socialization with mom, siblings, and people.
 
trillcat

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Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Many pet shop kittens are from out of state kitten mills. Those mills do not socialize the kittens and because they have to get them to the pet shop at a "cute age" of 8 weeks, the kittens are taken sooner from mom - maybe as young as 5-6 weeks old.

This puts them at a lot of risks. Hopefully your kitten will adjust as he gets older. You need to do your best to socialize him slowly. He may never be a friendly cat to strangers cause of his early upbringing. Time and patience will help him. Sit on the floor and play with him - that way you won't be so "big" to him. Offer him tiny treats of boiled chicken to show him you are friendly and not someone to be afraid of.

I wish you luck with him. But learn from your mistakes. 1. Don't buy kittens from pet shops and 2. Don't adopt kittens younger then 10-12 weeks old minimum.

Kittens need very important socialization between birth and 3 months old if you want a mentally healthy kitten who has had the proper socialization with mom, siblings, and people.
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Very sad but very true.
There are lots of things you can do to reassure the little guy. Catnip toys are great, as well as snacks (everyone loves snacks) String toys work well, just don't leave them out when not playing, they can eat them and that is not good. Putting him in a small room as Mrblanche suggested may sound mean, but it is more comforting to a cat to be in a smaller space at first. Lay on the floor near where he hides, do not grab at him or look him in the eyes. Just be there, read a book, surf on your laptop if you have one, talk softly out loud as you read or surf. do cat like things, stretch with gusto, flop on your back and have a bit of a roll around, follow that up with a big yawn. If you look at the kitty, do it with half closed eyes and blink very slowly, that is a sign of non agression. Nap on the floor, bring a comfy blanket and have a snooze, or pretend to, leave the blanket there so he gets used to your scent.
You will win him over in no time, good luck and keep up posted!
 
laureen227

laureen227

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you might try some soft toys/animals about his size for him to snuggle up to. i did that for Firefox, my orphaned kitten [she was around 4-5 weeks old]. here's a pic of her w/her pseudo-littermates:

also, the petstore might have these: snuggle kitty. i've seen them locally at my Petsmart.
 
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