Kitten acting strange

Sounds like you just got the kitten.. In any case, you might want to get her checked out with a vet to rule out any problems.
Congrats on your new bundle of joy! She's going to be the light of your life!!

As for the "McDonalds Food", quit getting the crap wet food and get the good stuff. The extra money you spend on the good stuff versus the crap will more than make up the difference in price as they will poop less, poop won't stink as much and they will eat less because their body will absorb more nutrients. If you use the crap food, you may as well scrape the insides of your sink disposal and feed it that.

Also, is it a reputable breeder? If so, call them up and ask them what might be wrong. Also, get the cat checked out at the vet.

One more thing, if I may...why not a shelter kitten? Especially since this is your first pet.

Not all wet food is bad! Check around your area and find a natural pet store that sells the better quality food and talk to someone there. Or even on our forums we have some great food advice! I would try to get the kitten on a great quality dry and wet food and feed a bit of both!

I'd say for right now feed her what she'll eat. But, in general, wet food is better for cats than dry food. Many feline nutritionists refer to all dry food as "kitty crack."

We are up to our hips in kittens at our shelter, and putting them to sleep every day.

About your meowing kitty- sounds like the breeder isn't really on the up-and-up based on the thirty some cats this kitten was living with. Especially with the pedigreed cats, ethical breeders breed selectively and have only a few kittens to choose from. Their house doesn't smell (as you indicate) their tom house might smell but they are usually housed in a different area to stop "unwanted" breedings from happening.

Sounds like a BYB to me and your kitty has grown up knowing that her needs are being neglected. Start feeding and doing things with her including play time on a schedule every day. Stay to the schedule and kitty will realize that life is finally good again. And get her spayed if she isn't already.

About the cruddy food- start mixing it with a better high-end canned food. Feed both wet and dry to her. Just remember more expensive canned food does not mean it is better. Cats are pure carnivores, so look for a food that provides more meat then filler.

Good luck-

If she was with 30+ cats and she is new to your home, it is normal for her to walk around meowing endlessly unless she is getting attention. She is in a new place, everything in her life has been turned upside down. She doesn't know what's happening or why or if this is good or what.

Play with her as much as you can, pet her when she needs it, and get her to a vet as soon as possible.

Hello and welcome to TCS! Congratulations on your new furbaby, though I am sorry that you had to support a BYB to get her.

Welcome also to the world of sharing your life with a cat. There's nothing better!

But she's yours now. As was said above, she cries all the time because she is used to being surrounded by other cats and she doesn't' know why she isn't anymore. But she will adjust to your home.

It seems awfully rough on her to shut her away alone at night. She is probably used to sleeping in a pile of cats. What do you have in there for her comfort?

She should be litter trained by now so messing in the house should not be an issue. I'd be letting her sleep with me, frankly.

Just kitten proof your house first, if you haven't already.

Definitely get her to the vet for a check up. Do the food transition very slowly, and get her on a canned food that doesn't contain a lot of junk. Read labels.

Please keep us posted, what's her name?

Just like baby proofing (or puppy if you're more familiar with that). Anything that can fit in her mouth may very well end up there. Keep little stuff picked up, lock cabinets to keep her out of food/trash, if you notice her bothering cords try bitter apple spray or cover them.
And most importantly, she'll want to go up. Anything breakable needs to be put up or behind cabinet doors if you want it to survive a kitten. Keep your kitchen counters cleaned off.

Get her some cat furniture soon. A nice tall cat tree with scratching posts on it will be perfect.

Toys: Anything that cannot fit completely in her mouth or have parts that can be chewed off. Any mice toys need need eyes, ears, and tails removed. No wire toys or toys with plastic bits that can be chewed off. Strings/wand toys can only be played with under close supervision and must be securely put away when done. (look into getting a laser pointer for her)
Be careful with anything with tiny bells, even inside balls. Sometimes they can be batted hard up against a wall and break open.

Safe to leave out toys are soft (fabric) balls or any ball larger than her mouth. Practice golf balls are good - they're lightweight and larger than a golf ball. They're also fairly cheap.
"Pillow" like toys are safe and so are wadded up paper balls. Large plastic drink lids (such as on sports drinks) make a decent toy, too. If she doesn't prove to be too destructive you could let her have crinkle ball toys.

Some cats like variations of turbo scratcher type toys.

This article may help you!

http://www.thecatsite.com/Care/18/Br...a-New-Cat.html

Here are more articles that you may find helpful.

http://www.thecatsite.com/Cats/Cat_Care.html

http://www.thecatsite.com/Cats/Cat_Behavior.html

How old is your kitty?

Also, because she is not litterbox trained, get a litter called Kitten Attract as soon as you can, and make sure you clean the box every day, and it has lower sides for her to go in and out easily - this litter performs miracles training a kitten!
You should actually have two boxes if at all possible

Congrats on the new baby!

I agree with everyone else.



It almost sounds like you think all wet cat food is junk. That is not true, wet is actually way better for cats than dry is. The main thing is that you look for a food that has meats listed as the first few ingredients. Aviod any by-products, those can be any part of the animal. Organs are actually good for cats, but byproducts can be head/feet and other grossness. Almost any food you can buy at a grocery store is junk food.

That said, give her what she will eat. If she wants the junk food give it to her until you find something better that she WILL eat, it may be McDonalds but it does have the proper vitamins/nutrients to keep a cat alive. Most cats love baked chicken, and any kind of fish if you want to try that too. She can't live off it though, it is not a complete diet for a cat.



I hate to say it, but you said that you pick her up and give her attention when she meows. This may be the problem, she has learned that if she cries that she will get attention. Or she is just a bored kitten, some toys I would suggest are "Da Bird," a laser toy (don't shine it in her eyes tho), fur mice, crinkle balls, and anything that makes a noise.

Play with her as much as possible so that she is not bored. Kittens are VERY entergetic, it takes a lot to entertain them.

Congrats on the kitty, sorry your breeder sucked though. If you even want to buy another cat from a breeder, I know some people on here that would help you find a great one.

Good luck!

She definitely needs to be played with frequently, but it also depends upon how old the kitten is as regards the holding and comforting her. If she came from a large cat family, she is lonely. When you have a new baby at home, you hold and comfort them, provide them stimulation and feed them. It is the same with a new little kitten. As she gets older and more comfortable and confident in the environment, then it's time to work on making sure you don't respond to every meow and help them learn that crying doesn't get them attention every time. But when first at home, especially if very young (which I suspect this little baby is), the reassurance is important.

Not ALL breeders. We were referring to the more shady/underworld side of the breeding and selling of animals. Hence the term "back yard breeders". There are lots of reputable breeders out there. We have quite a few on here.

What was wrong with her?

Glad to know you both are doing better! Welcome to the crazy, wonderful world of owning a cat! Prepare for lots of laughs, love, and stories to tell everyone!

That's a good sign, she obviously really loves your attention. My kittens took much longer to feel comfortable around us.

I don't know the MacDonalds brand so wouldn't know about it being unhealthy but I think as she's young it's best to just get her eating then when she's settled you can slowly get her eating what you think is best. allow her to get used to one food by itself (whichever she likes best) before mixing. If you're really unsure about what you're giving her though, just check with the vet. you could also contact the breeders in case she's used to another food they forgot to tell you about, as it sounds like they have too many cats to keep track of who's eating what easily.

She had worms and a skin infection, or did she have ringworm? Ringworm is a fungus, not a worm. Can be tough to get rid of, but as long as you follow your vet's protocol she should do fine. Glad she is doing better. She's a dollbaby!