New Kitten - Lots of Questions

Hi Everyone,

Me and my boyfriend just adopted a 4 month male kitten yesterday. He's wonderful! So loving, he follows you all around the house and keeps head butting you.

Anyways, we keep showing him the litter box and scratch his paws in it. We don't know if he is litter trained coming from the shelter. Well when we put him in it he just wants to keep being petted and then just jumps out. It hasn't seemed like he needs to go to the bathroom yet. We put him in the litter box about 5 times last night and nothing. Well he slept in the bedroom with us and we woke up to a nice surprise on my boyfriends work clothes. We don't remember if we shut the door or not? That could be the issue. But we took the kittens number 2 mess and put it in the litter box and showed him, he acted like it was nothing and just hopped out.

He is getting fixed today so hopefully he will use the box. Any tips? Do we just keep putting him in there and after he is done eating?

Another question is: I have NEVER been allergic to any animal ever in my life. Just 3 years ago I had two cats. Well all of a sudden I am breaking out in hives and I itch and my eye gets red. Only when the kitten is by me. Can you develop allergies later in life? Do you think the kitten may need a bath coming from the shelter and maybe they used a flea powder and I'm alergic to that? I dont and wont get rid of this kitten. Any ideas for myself to stop breaking out and itching??

Hi and Welome!
I'm sure lots of people will be around with helpful hints!

My first reccomendation for the litter training is to lock him in a small room with food, water and litterbox when you aren't home or at night when you can't supervise him. (try to keep the litterbox as far from the food and water as possible) This will encourage him to use the litterbox (he does have to learn still i'm sure). He will quickly learn that he likes using the litterbox more than the floor! He probably found your boyfriends clothes a nice soft place to go!

He may not like the litter you have so you may have to try other kinds, but chances are if you keep him in a small space with the litter, instinct will kick in!

You can develop allergies later in a life, and regardless if it's allergies or somethign from teh shelter a bath WILL help. If you search allergies you willg et tons of helpful advice on sharing your home with the cat, and likely your body will get used to his dander, but in the mean time some anti-histamines should help, as well as regular grooming and wiping down of the cat (and as hard as it is) maybe keepingh im out of your bedroom!

Congratulations on your new addition! You must post photos!!!!

I would confine the kitten to one room with a washable surface (tile floor) with the food/water and litter pan for awhile. Whenever you bring in a new pet, it takes awhile to get used to things. Remember at the shelter they only had a small cage - its overwhelming to have access to the entire house in the first few weeks you bring them home.

As far as allergies - I would wash the kitten in some quality kitten/cat shampoo (not Hartz stuff). Only use shampoo for cats - never for dogs or puppies.

If you still seem to be allergic, I suggest you wipe down your cat daily with distilled drinking water on the coat. It will help cut the allergic reactions. And maybe pick up some OTC allergy meds too.

Thanks everyone for the recommendations. I will certainly do this when he comes home today from the vet.

GoldenKitty: Aww your Bengal is cute - I miss mine!! I had two of them.. Now the new kitty is just a plain ol kitty

A lot of people who are having reactions to a cat (especially a new cat) are actually having reactions to the brand of litter, or some other environmental pollutant. So I, too, think a bath would really help you out with the allergies. If you keep having allergies, consider switching to a low-dust, scent-free litter.

I always keep new cats confined for a while, to develop good litterbox habits. A large dog crate wil work, or you can keep him in the bathroom after taking all rugs and towels out (so he doesn't have any options except the litterbox).

Originally Posted by Lettec

GoldenKitty: Aww your Bengal is cute - I miss mine!! I had two of them.. Now the new kitty is just a plain ol kitty

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Charlie is an Ocicat, not a Bengal

Will forgive you - I get people at shows saying "ohh is that a Bengal" - Also have another Ocicat (cinnamon) - when I get better pics will have a new picture with both Charlie and Jack together (and maybe get "ocicat" in the picture too).

Originally Posted by Lettec

Thanks everyone for the recommendations. I will certainly do this when he comes home today from the vet.

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Just wanted to check in and see how the new addition is doing!