I would love some help decoding my new kitten's behaviors.

jessica991 · Feb 4, 2016

I am not a first time cat owner - I already had a 7 year old baby, her name is Tammy. Tammy does not enjoy sitting on laps or being held but does enjoy licking me, being petted, sitting next to me in bed, and chirps like a bird whenever I enter the room. She also panics when she is feeling particularly needy and I close the bathroom door on her she will claw the door and yowl until I let her in and she can sit and stare at me.

My new kittens are different and I do not understand half the things they do. They are 8 months and I picked them out at the shelter because of how much they loved to sit on my lap and be cuddled. It was a new thing for me. I brought them home and I am already head over heels in love with my new babies (Dolly and Benny) but they befuddle me.

- For starters, they no longer spend copious amounts of time on my lap. They want to run around and play or sleep under the bed. Do you think they will eventually warm up to my lap or my side again? It has been 1.5 weeks. That is not to say they never want to cuddle - just few and far between.

- I woke up in the middle of the night the other night and Dolly was pressed up against my back, her head in the nape of my neck and she was chewing on my hair, nibbling at the skin underneath, licking and purring. Why was she doing that and should I be worried that she is consuming my hair?

- Benny only comes out from under the bed for me and is such a wiggle worm. He will sit down next to me, roll over, bump is head into my leg but refuses to settle down. He will constantly get up, choose a new position, repeat the above steps, rinse and repeat until he gets up and jumps off the bed! He's also terrified of everyone else in the household and hides under the bed when they come in the room.

So...if you guys can provide any insight to these little quirks please do let me know! Sorry for all the questions and thanks in advance

lykakitty · Feb 4, 2016

First off, congrats on your new babies! These behaviors are pretty typical, actually. Cats and dogs almost always act differently at home than they did in the shelter, both because of an adjustment period being in a new place with new people and because just the environment of a shelter can stress them out and make them more lethargic, antisocial, or needy than they naturally are. Give them some time to adjust to their new home and family. Every cat has a different adjustment period and it's hard to say if or when they'll become as cuddly as they were in the shelter but as long as they're comfortable and happy I wouldn't worry.

As for the second thing, that sounds to me like suckling. Suckling is very much a comforting behavior in kittens and especially since she's in a new place I wouldn't be worried about it. After a couple more weeks if she's still doing it then I would suggest trying to wean her off of it by replacing your skin with a soft blanket or stuffed animal when she starts to do it, but she may wean herself off of it on her own. My kitten Calypso suckled when I first got her and grew out of it on her own, but not all cats do and it's not a behavior you want carrying on into adulthood. Think of it like sucking your thumb--its not a big deal when a baby does it sometimes, but once they get to a certain age you want to start discouraging it.

The third one is interesting. Head butts/bumps are a sign of affection and that combined with the rolling around may be him trying to ask you to play, or just an odd quirky way of saying he loves you. I know one of my girls rolls around and trills when she wants to play what I call the "come get me" game (she'll run off and hide and when I find her do that until I pull her out and cuddle) and him doing that and then running off may be him trying to get you to play chase or a similar game. Hiding under the bed is probably another issue of adjustment. Make sure everybody in the household gives him loves and treats so he associates everyone with nice and fun things and isn't scared of them.

jessica991 · Feb 4, 2016

LykaKitty said:
First off, congrats on your new babies! These behaviors are pretty typical, actually. Cats and dogs almost always act differently at home than they did in the shelter, both because of an adjustment period being in a new place with new people and because just the environment of a shelter can stress them out and make them more lethargic, antisocial, or needy than they naturally are. Give them some time to adjust to their new home and family. Every cat has a different adjustment period and it's hard to say if or when they'll become as cuddly as they were in the shelter but as long as they're comfortable and happy I wouldn't worry.

As for the second thing, that sounds to me like suckling. Suckling is very much a comforting behavior in kittens and especially since she's in a new place I wouldn't be worried about it. After a couple more weeks if she's still doing it then I would suggest trying to wean her off of it by replacing your skin with a soft blanket or stuffed animal when she starts to do it, but she may wean herself off of it on her own. My kitten Calypso suckled when I first got her and grew out of it on her own, but not all cats do and it's not a behavior you want carrying on into adulthood. Think of it like sucking your thumb--its not a big deal when a baby does it sometimes, but once they get to a certain age you want to start discouraging it.

The third one is interesting. Head butts/bumps are a sign of affection and that combined with the rolling around may be him trying to ask you to play, or just an odd quirky way of saying he loves you. I know one of my girls rolls around and trills when she wants to play what I call the "come get me" game (she'll run off and hide and when I find her do that until I pull her out and cuddle) and him doing that and then running off may be him trying to get you to play chase or a similar game. Hiding under the bed is probably another issue of adjustment. Make sure everybody in the household gives him loves and treats so he associates everyone with nice and fun things and isn't scared of them.

Thank you! I love them so much!

Ok, that's a good thing. The first night I got them home Benny went right under the bed and Dolly was completely placid and just melted into your lap and arms. I'm assuming she was kind of shell-shocked because of the stress she was under? I don't particularly mind if they don't return to that level of cuddliness, I just was concerned they were unhappy or didn't like me anymore...silly, I know, but I'm happy to know they consider here their home.

I thought at first maybe she was trying to groom me but it was so much like chewing it bothered me in that I was afraid it was a stressed or unhealthy kind of behavior. I'm happy to be her 'mama' but I want her to adjust and not rely on me to function as a Mom because I am not a cat, I can't provide the same level of care a cat mom can.

I think he's a little quirky. I can't figure him out. It just surprises me he refuses to just sit still and relax with me, he has to roll around the bed and bump my leg and purr, which is all cute, but he won't stop and then usually leaves to do his own thing. That's really precious that your girl has a game like that.

How cute!

I remembered another question - after they eat, both cats paw the area around their food bowl. It's super confusing because I thought they were expressing their need to eliminate because it looked like they were pawing/digging at litter. But it's the carpet. And they're litter trained. Seriously, never ever seen two cats adjust to a litter box so well. No accidents - they promptly adjusted to a box on the floor with brand new litter. When that stunk up the room, I replaced it with a fancy covered box with activated carbon and clumping litter mixed together and again, perfect/seamless adjustment. So I doubt they're prepping to have an accident. Any ideas?

lykakitty · Feb 4, 2016

They seem like pretty well-adjusted kittens all around so I wouldn't worry too much

The bowl thing is odd, I don't think I've seen that before. Maybe the floor around their bowls smells like food and they're digging for more? I'm not sure, but it's probably not really a destructive or problematic behavior.

This is kind of unrelated and nothing you've said makes me think it's a problem but a lot of people who adopt kittens together aren't aware of it so I want to make sure you are. A lot of the time littermates or kittens near the same age that get raised together develop what behaviorists and trainers call Littermate Syndrome, where they become almost codependent on each other and freak out if they're separated. It's good to have your cats bonded to each other but do make sure to give them some playtime and cuddle times separately so they don't learn to rely on the other being around 100% of the time. If in the future they have to be separated for any reason (and it could be anything, I knew a pair with it who freaked out once because one of them had to get a bath and the other was shut out of the room) you don't want them crying and clawing things up and stressing themselves out.

molly92 · Feb 4, 2016

I've seen a lot of animals be extra affectionate in a shelter setting just because they're starved for human attention. (Although sometimes it seems like they know exactly how to get adopted the fastest!) Kittens seem like they are always on the move! They usually aren't the cuddliest because they do have trouble sitting still! But you might find as they get older and calmer some of their more cuddly habits return.

I remembered another question - after they eat, both cats paw the area around their food bowl. It's super confusing because I thought they were expressing their need to eliminate because it looked like they were pawing/digging at litter. But it's the carpet. And they're litter trained. Seriously, never ever seen two cats adjust to a litter box so well. No accidents - they promptly adjusted to a box on the floor with brand new litter. When that stunk up the room, I replaced it with a fancy covered box with activated carbon and clumping litter mixed together and again, perfect/seamless adjustment. So I doubt they're prepping to have an accident. Any ideas?

It sounds like they're instinctively trying to "bury" their food. Supposedly cats do this to keep other cats from finding it or to keep predators from smelling it and finding them. Not all cats do it, some do it very consistently, and some only do it when they're uneasy about something. So they may stop after they feel more at home, but if they don't it's nothing to worry about.

plan · Feb 4, 2016

Just to add my $0.02 :

My cat was a hardcore suckler when I got him as a kitten, and the behavior continued full-on for another 5 or 6 months, then it started to ease down. Now, a few months shy of his 2nd birthday, he rarely ever tries to "nurse" on me.

But when he was young, he would sit on my chest or shoulder and go to town on my right earlobe. I mean, it would hurt, that's how much he was nursing on it. He would purr like crazy, make loud slurping noises, and knead my cheek and neck as he "nursed" from my earlobe. He was also very insistent about it, and if I wouldn't let him near my ear, he'd just try coming at it from a different angle. It could go on for hours if I let it.

The good thing about it, like I said, is that the behavior has pretty much disappeared entirely. Now he might try it every month or two, and doesn't nurse for very long if I let him. Hopefully your cat will calm down with the nursing as she gets more comfortable in your home, realizes it's now her home too, and starts to feel safe around your family. It sounds like she's just a little stressed and is trying to calm herself, as others have said.

Good luck

donutte · Feb 4, 2016

I got my boys back in July when they were about 8 weeks old. They were from a stray litter that was found. About two weeks after I got them, Oscar started suckling on his brother! And it continues to this day, although it just happens maybe a few times a week in the middle of the night. But it used to be every time Oliver was laying down! They are almost 9 months now and pretty well adjusted

catlover73 · Feb 4, 2016

I don't think that your kittens are prepping to have an accident on your carpet. I think they are pretending to bury their food which is harmless and they may grow out of it. One of my adult cats is a messy eater he takes his dry food out of the bowl and tries to bury it into my bathroom floor. I just sweep up the food a couple times a day.

The other behaviors you are describing are normal kitten behavior. I have had all 4 of my cats since they were various aged kittens. They have all gone through stages where they are constantly wanting to cuddle and then being more focused on play and sleep. Once they are settled in they may become more cuddly. They are probably busy exploring their environment. One of my cats is around three years old now and I got him when he was a kitten. He was very cuddly when he was a baby. He then bonded with the other cats and became much more independent and decided he would hang out in the area we were in but not in our laps or next to us. He has gone back to being more cuddly lately and has started sleeping on my bed again. I think cats just go through stages between being independent and cuddly. Apollo was my cat when he was younger but has become more of my hubby's cat over time. At times he only wants to cuddle with me when I am going to bed. He still hangs out with me and asks for attention but he definitely cuddles more with my hubby now.

louann jude · Feb 4, 2016

My kitten is almost 9 months old and she does the floor thing. She does it at almost after ever meal since I brought her home. She does it especially when she likes something. What I find cute is when she really likes something she will growl while eating.

foxxycat · Feb 4, 2016

I have a cat who buries her food if she doesn't like it. She will eat a bit but then will try to cover it with whatever is near it. I have to be careful when I put the dish down and make sure I move the rug I keep under them otherwise she has pulled the throw rug up and put it in her dish of wet food lol. Makes a mess but hey no big deal.

My other kitty does that when she is fussy about eating. Usually when she has allergy flareup or a cold. I try to get her to not do it But I just sweep up whatever kibble she spills. She used to eat wet food all the time. Now its rare she will eat It so no more rug pulled into the dish.

As far as cuddly yes they go through stages. I had one cat years ago when I first held her in the shelter she rubbed her head back and forth under my chin like she was telling me that I need to take her home. She never did this again. She was friendly but not really a lap cat. But always slept near my head but not on me.

Sounds like they will probably go through a few phases until they reach a year old.

jessica991 · Feb 5, 2016

Thanks to everyone for their replies, I am feeling much more reassured about my quirky kitties

I would love some help decoding my new kitten's behaviors.

jessica991

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lykakitty

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jessica991

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lykakitty

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molly92

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plan

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donutte

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catlover73

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louann jude

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