We were decieved!!!

Ok. not trying to be mean here, but can you explain to me WHY you want a cat? The fluffy-ball kitten stage only lasts a few months and then that cutie grows into .... a cat! And cats, if well taken care of can live 15 years. So you have three months of "cute" and 14 years of CAT!

Three month-old cats are not big. They are still babies. They are "kittens" technically until a year old. They should be eating a high-quality kitten food until then, and allowed to eat as much as they want. Would you deprive a growing child of food just out of FEAR that they will be chubby? Especially in the first year of life? This makes no sense. Kittens actually need MORE food than adults. And NO kitten should be taken from mom and sibbies before 8 weeks. They need that socialization and they still occasionally suckle on mom for comfort.. just like a baby needs a pacifier sometimes. 12 weeks is better.

RE:adult rescue cats.. .yes many of them come from bad home situations and some have emotional issues. I volunteer with a rescue - I can can attest to the fact that cats kept in cages and only let out 2x a day, bored and stressed from being in that environment, will put on weight. If you don't like grown cats, don't have a kitten. It is a lifetime commitment.

Food: ask Sharky on here - she is our resident nutrition expert. Dry food is actually more likely to PUT extra weight on a cat (not kitten) because it often is higher in carboydrates than wet food. We all know what carbs do to people - well - can happen with cats, too.

Behavior: kittens are NUTS! mrblanche on here (Mike) once decribed them perfectly as -- toddlers with ninja skills and the common sense of a soda cracker. They will scratch, they will climb, they will bite, they will get into trouble. They need to be taught ... as others have said, through positive reinforcement. Yelling and, god forbid, hitting... will just terrorize them and cause more problems.

The "whining" at food time - aw jeez - lots of cats do that. Our shelter can't afford to feed wet food, we take donations from PetSmart (storefront adoption center) in dry food. I give my furry charges wet on my cleaning shift once a week. As soon as that can is popped open and they can smell the food, the "supper serenade" starts. One cat got my routine down and when he knew wet food time was approaching he would start the vocalizing, pace back and forth, go over to the cabinet where the wet food is and start pawing. He would practically climb me to get to the food. And he was NOT a kitten, but a BIG white and black cat. (Not fat, BIG!) And I have to tell you, he is a WONderful cat. If I could, I would take him!

Bendy straws do work with the redirected biting... so would kitty kongs.. straw toys with nip in them.

Please do not use a squirt bottle.. water can get in their ears and eyes and cause problems.

Honestly, if you don't want all the work involved with raising a kitten to be a proper, well-adjusted, well socialized cat, and that is what you're doing, then you should find someone who would LOVE to have her and rehome her.

Originally Posted by tweetykiss

Now Pam says in her book that first time cat owners should get an adult cat but I am afraid of aggressive cats with that one.

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Actually, getting an adult cat should eliminate that problem. You'll be able to see what kind of personality the cat has already, and if it's a mean or aggressive cat you don't get that one.

I used to feed this cat twice a day but now I only do it once a day. PetSmart told me to use SpaSelect, but if it is a food that gets cats fat, I will switch diets. I give her dry food. I only give her moist food once a week if that. That is the cat treat. Also as soon as I get the can out, she starts vocalizing right away. She won't stop whining until the food is in her dish. My cat is a real whiner. But I guess that is better than hissing and growling. What causes the hissing and growling so I can make sure it never comes to that. Because if it does, she is moving out.

Thanks for the tips everyone.

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No matter what size your kitty is, she's still a kitten. She should be free fed, or if you can't handle that, feed her at least 3-4 times a day. Of course she cries until you feed her. She's probably starving. She's not going to get fat as long as she's active. You should check out some of the threads in the nutrition forum. The general consensus seems to be that feeding a dry diet only is more likely to cause obesity than feeding wet. In fact, many people recommend changing a fat cat to a wet diet to help him/her lose weight.

You seem to be set on having a cute tiny kitten. I'm just wondering what you're planning to do with the poor kitty when it grows up and stops being tiny and cute.

I usually tell people not to give up on their kitties. However, in your case I think that unless you make some significant adjustments in your attitude you should not keep this kitten. IMO you should give her back, or if the people won't take her back, give her to someone who will really love her and care for her.

Originally Posted by Going Nova

It really sounds as if you probably shouldn't have a cat. Why do you even want a kitten?

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I'm going to have to agree with this completely.

After reading your responses, unless I'm interpreting them wrong, you don't appear ready to have a cat as a pet.

As a breeder, I certainly wouldn't allow you to have one of my cats, based on your responses here.

To be completely honest, an aquarium might be a better choice for you. If you're new to pet ownership, it could be a good segway into being a responsible owner.

I imagine you are starting to dislike us for the responses you are getting.....but the reality of the matter is that you must decide if you are willing to deal with this kitty for the next 15-20 years through thick & thin. I've volunteered in the shelter for a mere 4 years - I cannot begin to tell you the tears I've shed as I hold a kitty I selected to kill because of "issues" that wound up with the kitty in the shelter (while the new family probably got a new cute kitten).

I've held kittens, a mere 6 weeks old, while they are euthanized because of health issues that if mommy had been spayed, they would've been spared 6 weeks of a painful existence.

I've got cats who bite, who spray, who scratch my furniture, the old/senior kitties.....I take in the "problem children" no one else wants as I can - so they don't have to die. Your kitten is an angel by comparison.

What it comes down to - is now is the time to decide - are you willing to keep this kitten, deal with her for 20 more years, get her spayed & other necessary medical care - or is it best to re-home her?

Originally Posted by tweetykiss

Now Pam says in her book that first time cat owners should get an adult cat but I am afraid of aggressive cats with that one.

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Well, when you start with an adult, you already know how they're going to turn out...you can handpick one that's not aggressive.

Originally Posted by tweetykiss

Ebrill, I am sorry that the litter lost their mother. What did she die of? How did you end up with the kitties?

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She was hit by a car while out stretching her legs. She was our cat, so there was only one thing we could do: spoil the kittens in her memory. I got a lot of the responsibility for that, because the kittens were already used to me--the mama cat had them on my bed first thing one morning, I mean I woke up to see her with the first kitten half out, and she let me keep the first ones warm while she was squeezing the rest out. I'll tell you what, having to wake up for midnight feedings at 16 is an excellent form of birth control Little kittens are hard to raise.

Fortunately, there was another litter of kittens born about the same time at my aunt and uncle's place, so we mixed the litters for a while every day from when they were about 4 weeks old, so the kittens still got to learn how to be cats.

I have had kitties my whole life ... The youngest one has left this earth was 15 yrs old the other two were nearly 19 and 19.5 .... It is a long term commitment .

IMHO adult cats are like 3-5 year olds , kittens are toddlers ... I love cats and when I lost my Kandie I went for a 6 month old cat . Love him to death but he chewed , clawed , bite and scratched , my 15 month olds did the same minus the biting . I would suggest reading lots of books on kittens and kitten care. PLEASE do not breed this cat but spay her, I have 5 cats 4 of which likely would not be alive still if I did not take them...

It sounds to me as though the OP was in love with the idea of having a 'sweet little kitten' and never bothered to educate herself on the realities of cat ownership.

Cats are not toys, they are not fashion accessories, they are not decorative objects--they are living, breathing, feeling creatures who need to be loved, nurtured, respected, and cared for.

If you are not willing to do that, you should not have a cat, or any pet, for that matter.

Get yourself down to your public library--your taxes are paying for it, you might as well use it--and start doing a little research on cat care.

I am not being mean but you sound like you should not have cats.
I got my Coco at 6 weeks old and she is now 17.
Any kitten will grow up.
What will you do when they turn ugly to you?
Get rid of them?

I am so sorry, and don't want to be mean, but my chin is dropping more and more with each of your posts.
Yous should NOT have kittens or cats - if you want a forever cute non biting, non responsive, non scratching kitten, please go ahead and buy a stuffed one. What is the plan once this kitten grows up? Give it to the HS? Abandon it? Breed to have a house full of cute little kittens???
Please, do yourself and the kitten a favor and return it to the previous owner. She would not given to you had she know your thoughts and feelings about it - she was responsible enough to keep him for these 3 months, and I bet the last thing on her mind is that you are going to turn him to the humane society.
Please return this kitten, and do not get another one.

I just realized what this thread reminds me of...I once wrote a story where one of the characters got a kitten that would magically be six weeks old forever.

Originally Posted by ebrillblaiddes

I just realized what this thread reminds me of...I once wrote a story where one of the characters got a kitten that would magically be six weeks old forever.

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Sounds like some form of torture! Personally, I prefer cats to kittens for all of the reasons already stated by everyone else - you can hold onto your sanity better when you have a cat that can actually keep itself entertained.

I hope she never has a baby if she can't cope with a kitten.

I am so sorry you are having trouble. Looking at your previous posts regarding your husbands medical problems and him hurting your cat, http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=194016 , maybe it would be better for your cat to rethink your situation.

In my opinion it would not be a good time to breed your kitten as you posted http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=193464 because that is a tremendous amount of work and expense.

I hope your husband's medical problems are resolved and I hope you can get your kitten the care and food it needs to grow. TCS has the most knowledge in one place for cat care. Others have given you great advice. Wishing you all the best.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Sounds like some form of torture!

Personally, I prefer cats to kittens for all of the reasons already stated by everyone else - you can hold onto your sanity better when you have a cat that can actually keep itself entertained.

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I think they're fun at that age...old enough to not need to be dropper-fed if mama cat isn't around (soft kitten food of course but they can just...eat it), young enough to still look a little goofy when they bounce around because their heads are still big for the rest of them, very bouncy...anyway, I like them. But they're supposed to grow up, of course.

Ok, I don't understand how a 12 week old (3 months) could be seen as anything but a kitten? 12 weeks (3 months) is still quite small, pet shops won't take them until they're 8 weeks, and they aren't really supposed to leave their mothers until they're 8-12 weeks old anyway.

I really don't see how you've been deceived? Some people believe that a kitten shouldn't be separated from it's mother when it's a teeny weeny baby as you put it - they should be totally weened, active and very near toilet trained or toilet trained by the time they're separated and ready to go to new homes.

When I was reading your post, I was expecting you to say the kitten was 6 months, now that'd be deception, but cats aren't out of infancy until they're 8 - 12 months +. I have a 8 - 10 week old kitten atm, and believe me, she has been trying it on scratching stuff and playing with stuff since she was 7/8 weeks.It's kitten behavior - naughty babies, and can be trained out of them, it's not an end of the world thing, it will and can change.

You know what - by the tone of your post, I really believe you need to find this kitten a new home NOW with someone who will love her and has more tolerance. She's still young enough that people will be happy to take her from you, or give her back to the people who gave her to you - because if you resent her now, you're not the right person to be caring for her. This isn't saying you're a bad person, it's saying if you can't handle her, find someone who can.

Also, as for getting another kitten? Look, if you want a kitten that doesn't play nip, doesn't scratch your furniture to begin with, that doesn't cry (like a baby should!), and doesn't exhibit NORMAL KITTEN/BABY BEHAVIOR - then try a stuffed animal or Neopets.com or get yourself a Tamigochi as Virtual pets might be more your cup of tea.

I got a kitten when he was only 4 weeks old, his mother rejected him and the people who owned the mom cat put him outside because they didn't want to be bothered. A lady I worked with at the time took him in and started looking for a home for him because she already had all the animals she could handle. As soon as he settled in and got over being scared, he behaved like your kitten. Getting a tiny baby just means a longer period of kitten behavior. It should never be done except in a situation where something happens to the momma cat.

Originally Posted by Denice

I got a kitten when he was only 4 weeks old, his mother rejected him and the people who owned the mom cat put him outside because they didn't want to be bothered.

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:O OK. Um. Wow.
*puts on boots*
Point me in the general direction of their backsides please. I sense a need for kicking.

As an ex-breeder BELIEVE me - kittens are no where near ready to leave home under 10 weeks old. They may look cuter but at that age they still have a lot to learn from each other. Many bad kitten behaviors are found in kittens taken too soon.

They are not totally weaned at 8 weeks, not 100% reliable with litter pan and are more apt to bite and scratch as they have to learn proper manners from mom and siblings.

All my show/pedigree cats were gotten at 4 months or older. They were well adjusted by that age, not afraid of the new house, totally weaned and 100% reliable with a litter pan. They were social, quickly adapted to the new house, cats, dogs, etc.

I also bred Cornish Rexes and they never left my home before 4 months old - no way were they capable of being in a new home at 8 weeks old. I also had all shots done before they left.

Kittens will still nurse up to 8 weeks old and they need the important 2-4 weeks more of staying with mom to be healthy mentally and physically.

Kittens are still kittens for about a year. They grow quickly and I see nothing wrong with rehoming them at 3-4 months old. The owner was a good one. Honestly if you have little experience with kittens, you do NOT want one that is 8 weeks old.

I have been reading some of TweetyKiss' other posts and comments. I am going to make an appeal to her directly -- if she is still reading here.

Please rehome Avalon, please. With all that's going on in your environment and your overall attitude about cats, I think she will be happier and less tense (bitey, hissy and pooping out of fear) someplace else.

It's obvious that your hubby is quite ill and doesn't like the cat. I am afraid he is going to hurt her.

Avalon knows it too - trust me. That is why she is following your cleaning lady around. They are not stupid; they know.

We have quite a few TCS members in Chicagoland. I would put a post asking if anyone can take her or knows of someone who can take her - into a cat-friendly home. If I lived there, I would take her into rescue and make sure she got a home with the right kind of atmosphere.

I just want to add that perhaps this isn't the right time for you to have a pet anyway with your husband's issues and your BIL being such a negative person as well toward the cat.

This baby kitten, and yes it is a baby, needs a better environment than that and it needs more food than what it is getting. Unless you have a Siamese cat that is talking for the sake of talking, cats will not cry for no reason. The kitten is hungry.

Please, if you have any love at all for animals, give this kitten back to the original owner and explain that this just isn't the right time for you right now to take this kitten.