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new adopted stray sleeps ALL day...

post #1 of 27
3/19/10 at 1:27pm
Thread Starter 
Just wondering if thats normal.

I know they sleep a lot but my house cat sleeps in intervals throughout the day and night

just asking...

ALSO - (here I go)... I JUST noticed one of the pads on his paw is black. Dont know enough about cats to be sure if this is a discoloration like a birthmark or something else.

thanks again.
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post #2 of 27
3/19/10 at 2:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by m935 View Post
Just wondering if thats normal.

I know they sleep a lot but my house cat sleeps in intervals throughout the day and night

just asking...

ALSO - (here I go)... I JUST noticed one of the pads on his paw is black. Dont know enough about cats to be sure if this is a discoloration like a birthmark or something else.

thanks again.
Yep, they sleep a LOT!!!
The paw pad... they can come in any color, or in combination, or in different colors in one pad!
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post #3 of 27
3/19/10 at 2:09pm
Thread Starter 
(sigh of relief)

THANKS SO MUCH!!!
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post #4 of 27
3/19/10 at 2:24pm
maybe he's depressed and needs some stimulation
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post #5 of 27
3/19/10 at 3:24pm
If he was used to being outside, he will sleep almost all day. Cats are mostly nocturnal, but will be active in the morning and evening. The more they adapt to our schedule the more they'll be up during the day and sleep at night.

Give your kitty time. He'll spend a few more hours awake during the day eventually - bribing with treats or feeding wet food meals during the day will drag a cat out of bed, too.

As long as he does show a normal level of activity in the evening/night and doesn't seem lethargic.

It's 5:25pm here and all of my cats just woke up from their afternoon nap.
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post #6 of 27
3/19/10 at 3:48pm
Thread Starter 
Both suggestions seem good. Thing is - he started sleeping Id say 10,11am and its now 6:45!!!!

Hes been under my bed anyway - Im sure hes been awake some of that time... This was the first day ive let him out of hte crate all day also.

Thing is I work tomorrow so NOT looking forward to him waking up as I go to bed. BUT if it means hes ok - ill accept that...

thanks!
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post #7 of 27
3/19/10 at 4:06pm
Is this his first day with you? What's his story. he may have not felt safe in a long time. He may be exhausted. he may be frightened.

Any kind of change is rough for cats to cope with. It does't matter if it's something we human perceive as change for the better, the cat will still need time to adjust and adapt.
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post #8 of 27
3/19/10 at 4:32pm
I've had a couple of strays who seemed to spend most of their time time with me initially sleeping a lot. They'd been deemed healthy by the vet. Seems like they were just exhausted from life on the streets, always on guard and never being able to completely relax. They were probably feeling safe and safe secure for the first time in a long time. Could be the case with your kitty too.
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post #9 of 27
3/19/10 at 4:33pm
Thread Starter 
Its a LONG story - but he is a stray - definitely friendly (he even slept in my bed last night)!!! Ive had him here for the last week - but he did have surgery 2 Mondays ago due to what appeared to be a bad bite wound.

I KNOW hes been thru a LOT - but i just wanted to make sure especially due to his wounds that sleeping ALL day isnt something to be concerned about.

NOTE - aside from caring for ferals for 2 years ive only EVER had ONE house cat so Im still very clueless about them.

thanks
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post #10 of 27
3/19/10 at 4:39pm
Awww.... he's lucky to be with you. Sleep is healing.
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post #11 of 27
3/19/10 at 5:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by m935 View Post
Its a LONG story - but he is a stray - definitely friendly (he even slept in my bed last night)!!! Ive had him here for the last week - but he did have surgery 2 Mondays ago due to what appeared to be a bad bite wound.

I KNOW hes been thru a LOT - but i just wanted to make sure especially due to his wounds that sleeping ALL day isnt something to be concerned about.

NOTE - aside from caring for ferals for 2 years ive only EVER had ONE house cat so Im still very clueless about them.

thanks
Is he on post-surgical meds like antibiotics ? You got a vet evaluation, right? To check for Feline Leukemia, and FIV, worms, other parasites, etc. Is the cat eating and drinking ok?

I had a stray for a week once that was given a shot of Convenia for an ear abcess and a slight neck wound and had a TERRIBLE reaction to what is supposed to be a huge advance in vet science (He was also neutered the same day). The shot did work and the healing of his skin was on track. But the side effects: including extreme lethargy, decreased appetite and diarrhea or soft feces only got worse. And had to be put down unfortunately, not for that so much as for driving the house to despair with REALLY weird noises - loud howling/moaning/growling fits for 7 or 8 hours straight ALL night. A good boy that made us all nuts.

So assure yours that everything's okay, give him a big meal at night let him work off the exhaustion from all that outside living and having to fend for himself and get another vet visit if things don't improve shortly.
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post #12 of 27
3/19/10 at 6:29pm
Did he have his vaccinations? When we got Nadette from the shelter as a stray she had just had her vaccinations and she was quite subdued for about 3 weeks.
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post #13 of 27
3/20/10 at 7:13am
Thread Starter 
Awww elayman - so sorry to hear that. But I guess he was pretty miserable.

This cat (still thinking of hte perfect name)... DID wake up... and as i said it really was as I was going to bed . But i let him out of hte cage so he roamed the room, sat on my bed a bit. I wake up to any noise so I knew if got into anything Id hear it.

He did really well - this was actually the first full night I let him do that.

Yes, he did have all his tests prior to bringing him in. Not sure if hes on Convenia. I was giving him clavamox 2 days before his surgery. But he is definitely eating,drinking and going to the bathroom ok.

This morning my cat came into the room while he was in the crate they just stared for a few seconds and my cat left.... so still anticipating a full introduction.

Thanks guys!!!
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post #14 of 27
3/20/10 at 7:18am
Glad he's doing better! He'll let you know what his name is.
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post #15 of 27
3/20/10 at 7:21am
Antiobiotics, surgery, getting used to life inside and switching up their internal clocks will make them sleep a lot during the day, I wouldn't worry too much as long as he is not too sluggish/lethargic when awake and eating/drinking and using the litterbox
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post #16 of 27
3/20/10 at 8:26am
Thread Starter 
thanks again...

thinking between Max (wild things name)

houdini

Jack (captian jack - and his wild adventures)

casper - (cause he's so friendly) not too fond of this one though

this cat disappeared for an entire year (most likely someone else had him). but his life and our relationship has been a crazy/great one... so finding a fitting name isnt easy for me...

My other cats name is Tigger so I was trying to find something even that would fit with his name - another cartoon character maybe??

any ideas???
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post #17 of 27
3/20/10 at 8:42am
I always find naming animals so hard, and then give them 100 nicknames that I use instead of their real names

I always call Quincy 'Bear Bear' or Trouble and Autumn is BooBear and Princess, the others have lots of nicknames but I do use their names, at least shortened versions of them.

Take your time and come up with one you love, they don't care what you call them as long as you love them
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post #18 of 27
3/20/10 at 9:21am
The average cat "sleeps" about 18 hours per day. As someone else said, in the wild they would sleep much of the daylight away. But they're not really "nocturnal," which means "active at night." They are "crepuscular," which means most active at dawn and dusk. A lot of animals are that way.

But you'll find your cat sleeping a sleep that is very light much of the time.

If he slept on your bed, that's an excellent indication that he is truly a stray, and not feral. He was once somebody's baby.
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post #19 of 27
3/20/10 at 3:31pm
When Bonaparte showed up at my house a couple of years ago and followed me inside, he ate a huge meal, found a sofa and slept for over a week, getting up only to eat and use a litterbox. He was obviously a stray who had been on the road a long time and was just physically and emotionally exhausted. Now he is one of the most active of my cats. So I would just give your little boy time to come to terms with finding a home.
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post #20 of 27
3/20/10 at 5:45pm
Yes, a cat that's used to being inside and is suddenly outside will sleep very poorly outside. He won't know where it's safe to sleep, so he'll be at least partially awake all the time. After just a few days of that, he'll be exhausted and will need to sleep a lot in order to catch up and restore himself.
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post #21 of 27
3/20/10 at 8:41pm
I am glad he is doing well. Bless you for taking him in. The sleeping is normal. I was taking care of a stray for 2 years before I got him inside. He had 2 shelters, one was heated for the winter, and alot of places to sleep and hide. But when I finally brought him home he slept for 2 days! He would get up when I fed him in the morning and then crawl right back into his bed. He only got up to use the litter box. Now he is fine. I think he just felt safe enough to sleep soundly.
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post #22 of 27
3/20/10 at 9:30pm
It could be Thanksgiving Dinner Effect. Humans get drowsy after larger-than-usual meals (like Thanksgiving dinner)...well, for a stray cat, any proper housecat meal is going to be larger than usual, which leads to needing time to relax and sleep it off. If it's that, it should clear up as his system adapts to having enough food.
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post #23 of 27
3/21/10 at 11:28am
He's inside with you! This is the kitty that showed up in like.... well - earlier in the year right?

Everyone's already said what I would - he just needs the rest, poor fella.

I'm glad your resident kitty doesn't seem too upset. it continues to go well. And you have a little dog too, right? Hope that goes well as well!



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post #24 of 27
3/21/10 at 11:29am
Oh wait - I saw in Orpheygene's (sp?) thread that the intro to the dog went well. So YAY!!!!!
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post #25 of 27
3/21/10 at 3:19pm
Thread Starter 
WOW - thanks so much again for all the support and well wishing

Hes still sleeping alot - and last night slept ALL night IN my bed. I had to keep my other cat and my dog out though... just to let him rest - cause they also sleep there and didnt want to cause an issue so soon.

My dog does jump at him from time to time... but i know she just wants to play - the cat will have to get used to that. But he does hiss at her...

My resident cat has been slowly coming in the room - they just stare at each other - no sounds at all. Today as he was walking out of hte room - the new cat came out from my bed and started to follow. Im assuming this is all good....

Yes, I know for sure hes a stray- upsets me he had a home and was outside (for the worst winter EVER). I was going to bring him in then but didnt think it would work - until he was attacked and I had too.

And yes LDG this is the cat I wrote SOOO many posts about. He was gone for like 14 months and came back - im assuming thats probably when he had a home...

thanks again!!
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post #26 of 27
3/23/10 at 12:12pm
Bless you for taking him in! Be sure to give the resident kitty extra attention so no jealousy issues come up.

I'm looking forward to reading updates about Jack/Casper/Lazarus
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post #27 of 27
3/24/10 at 7:59am
Thread Starter 
yeah.. still dont have a name for him. Just keep calling him "buddy" but I really dont like it.

Theyve been doing well although my bf said buddy was crying this morning. I didnt get all the info - hopefully a door was shut - otherwise have no clue what to do if THAT continues.

He also chased my resident cat this morning a few times - one time he got caught in front of a wall and just hissed while buddy stood back a bit.

Im ASSUMING he was trying to play - I mean he didnt go after him to attack. but i really didnt understand WHAT he was doing.
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