Hi there,
I'm new to this forum and also new to cat ownership. I have two kids and a husband and we recently brought home a male kitten from a local breeder. We have had him three months and he is six months old now.
I have several questions about his health and behaviour so I was really relieved to find this forum.
1) since the day we brought him home he has had a really red bum, sometimes even bloody. I have had him to the vet three times and we are trying him on a new gastrointestinal food I'm hoping will help. Any other tips or ideas if anyone has experienced this are welcome since it seems befuddling to the vet. He was neutered a month ago and that didn't seem to make a difference (not that I expected it to).
2) We left him overnight once and he pooped on our bed. Occasionally we do go away for the night. Any thoughts on how to help him through that absence? We had someone come to the house to play for half an hour for the one day, but I think it's the night that upsets him most with all of us away. Maybe the better question is when can we leave him overnight (was he too young for that yet?) and what tips do people have for cat care when you go away? And any tips for a cat that poops on a bed in case it happens again?
3) We have been using soft paws but I'm wondering if these are teaching him bad nail etiquette. When they fall off he seems to scratch and puncture more than I wonder if he would if he learned when it's appropriate to extend your claws. Any feedback on these?
Thank you for taking the time to read my long post and questions. Looking forward to hearing the thoughts of some seasoned cat owners.
I'm new to this forum and also new to cat ownership. I have two kids and a husband and we recently brought home a male kitten from a local breeder. We have had him three months and he is six months old now.
I have several questions about his health and behaviour so I was really relieved to find this forum.
1) since the day we brought him home he has had a really red bum, sometimes even bloody. I have had him to the vet three times and we are trying him on a new gastrointestinal food I'm hoping will help. Any other tips or ideas if anyone has experienced this are welcome since it seems befuddling to the vet. He was neutered a month ago and that didn't seem to make a difference (not that I expected it to).
2) We left him overnight once and he pooped on our bed. Occasionally we do go away for the night. Any thoughts on how to help him through that absence? We had someone come to the house to play for half an hour for the one day, but I think it's the night that upsets him most with all of us away. Maybe the better question is when can we leave him overnight (was he too young for that yet?) and what tips do people have for cat care when you go away? And any tips for a cat that poops on a bed in case it happens again?
3) We have been using soft paws but I'm wondering if these are teaching him bad nail etiquette. When they fall off he seems to scratch and puncture more than I wonder if he would if he learned when it's appropriate to extend your claws. Any feedback on these?
Thank you for taking the time to read my long post and questions. Looking forward to hearing the thoughts of some seasoned cat owners.
