New kitten help?

elise257

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I recently adopted a 7 week old kitten.
He is doing very well. Only had him a few days. Using litterbox and eating. His first day here he was very scared but he has warmed up to us. (Still not a cuddler, thinks we are trying to play when we let him).
Is it normal for him to follow me EVERYWHERE? I mean I can't even use the restroom without him crying outside the door. I also noticed that when he uses the litterbox he will dig around for a bit and meow the entire time. Is this normal? Also, if I'm not in the same room as him he tends to walk around crying until I come and pick him up. Maybe he has separation anxiety? I'm not sure if cats can have that. I do not let him sleep in my room at night because he stays up all night and try's to play with me. And advice would be helpful!
 

cynda

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Hello!  (First of all I'd like to say im sorry if i step out of place or talk like i know something i don't! i dont mean to offend!)

It sounds like you've got an attached little kitten!
In my experience with kittens it seems that usually they can be highly needy like you've said and I believe it's completely normal for your kitten to follow you all around, my very first kitten (Lil miss holiday) had done just the same as you described and I believe there shouldn't be anything wrong! 

What I can say though is maybe start playing even more with him to try to get some energy out of the way! That was my problem with Ollie and her constant meowing as a kitten she was just bored (It nearly drove me batty haha). Maybe play with him a chunk when you wake up, in the afternoon and finally before you go to bed! 

Also what and how much do you feed your kitten? I found with Catsby he preferred some wetted dry-food mixed with some chunks of wet-food since it was easier for him to eat since he was still pretty young.

As for the litterbox situation does he use it? Litter can sometimes hurt sensitive kittens paws depending on the litter type but otherwise he could just be a talkative cat! 

Since you've only had him a few days it could be he's still adjusting as well! Getting used to being away from mother can be tough for the little guys! Just give him lots of attention and play and I'm sure he might have a change in behavior! :)

Cats can in fact have separation anxiety as well! 
 
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elise257

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Thanks for the advice! I'm on leave from work at the moment so I am home all day with him. I'm constantly playing with him so he definitely gets enough action. He does tend to take a lot of naps throughout the day. Some ranging around 4 hours. He does go when he's in his litterbox so I guess he's just letting me know haha. I'm not sure how much kittens are supposed to eat but I've been leaving a full bowl of dry food all the time and then I feed him 2 servings of wet food each day. He seems to be eating fine. He's not cuddly at all, but everytime he goes to take a nap or if I'm watching tv he's not more than an arms length away from me
 
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elise257

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I also feel really horrible about keeping him out of my bedroom at night. I can hear him crying in the rest of my apartment but the only time he sleeps is when I'm not sleeping. Otherwise he thinks it's play time when I'm laying down in bed.
 

cynda

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No problem at all! And yep that may be just the case ahaha! Ollie is the same way, not a cuddler but has a very strong voice and loves to be near people! :) 

That's good that he uses his litterbox and that does sound like good feeding, so it might all just chalk up to a very talkative little guy!

I don't blame you that sounds really stressful especially for light sleepers! My newest boy Catsby does that as well be it biting, clawing, you name it! I found it's best to ignore the behavior rather than scold or give any attention at all since that's a win-win especially for a kitten. So if you'd like to have him in your room eventually, ignore the behavior and just sleep as best you can! However it is your choice, there's nothing wrong with wanting a cat-free room!

To help him a bit maybe leave some toys or the toys that can pop out treats when played with- also give him some sounds to listen to to make him a little less lonely! Also adding a bed or blanket that smells like you would be a big plus for him! 
 

Columbine

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Hi, and welcome to TCS :wavey:

7 weeks is very young for a kitten to leave him mom and littermates - 12 weeks or older is the ideal age for separation of this sort. He's just struggling with being alone, and is latching onto you so strongly as a surrogate mom and siblings in one.

If you don't want him in your room at night, you need to set up a bed for him that has something kitten sized he can snuggle up to, and probably a heat pad or similar too. This way, you're simulating the 'kitten heap' that he'll have been used to when sleeping, and helping him feel more secure. A worn shirt/vest (the stinkier the better - ideally something you've slept or worked out in) of yours could help give him security too.

Another idea for the night is to get a big crate and set that up as his 'bedroom' in your room. That way, he has the security of being near you, but you get an undisturbed night. I had a crate set up for my last rescue, as her room wasn't as cat proof as it needed to be. This was her setup

The other option would be to let the little guy in your room at night, but studiously ignore all his attempts at play. After a little while, he'll get the message and will let you sleep in peace ;) A play session followed by a meaty snack just before bed will get him ready for sleep, and will naturally reset his ciccadian rhythms so he ends up on your schedule. I did this with my girl, and she now goes to bed when I do, and pretty much sleeps through the night![article="32804"][/article]

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plan

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That's normal kitten behavior. He's full of energy, he wants to play all the time, and the bathroom thing...well, let's just say my cat is 2 years old and he STILL cries outside the bathroom door if I don't let him in with me. If I'm in the bathroom, I can see his little paws underneath the door, trying to find a way in lol.

The fact that he follows you everywhere...well, try to think of it as a compliment, because it is. He likes you. He wants to be near you. Cats are good at pretending to be aloof, but really they're highly social animals, and when you adopt a kitten and raise him from a baby, he will consider you his human. His friend. His buddy.

Also keep in mind that at 7 weeks, he really is a baby. He needs love, affection, plenty of play time, plenty of food and stimulation. Remember that things in kittenhood imprint heavily on cats, so if you give him a happy childhood, so to speak, he should be a happy cat.

I totally get the sleeping thing...I think every kitten is that way. They will attack your toes, jump on you and walk on your head while you're trying to sleep, meow at you to get you to play, meow for food, etc. Two things can really help: 1) Keeping a full bowl of dry food overnight that he can snack on, as well as a full water bowl, and 2) Feeding him a big meal before bed, then tiring him out with a good play session. It might take you the better part of an hour to get him exhausted, but it's well worth the effort because it will help you get uninterrupted sleep.

He's definitely anxious, still upset about being separated from his mom and his littermates, and that's another reason why he cries at your door and wants to be in your bedroom with you. Plus, like I said, he likes you. You're his human! Initially I intended for my kitten to sleep in his own bed too, but he pretty quickly shot that idea down. I would recommend letting your kitten sleep with you at least part of the night after he gets tired from play time...it will help him with his anxiety and will help turn him into a cuddler as he gets older.

Good luck
 
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