A month and a half ago, I adopted a kitten who was weaned from her mama too early (she was just two and a half months) because the breeder's mother is a sociopath and doesn't "feel like spaying an outdoor cat". So anyways, my friend told me about the kittens and said he thought about me when his friend (the breeder) told him she was looking to get rid of kittens. I checked them and out fell in love with all of them, and took home one of the girls.
It wasn't too rough of a patch. She was too small and clumsy, but my friend and I already had two adult cats (mine being more of an elder). And she liked to suckle on my lips/ears, knead/purr. However, I got in trouble with keeping her because my apartment complex always withholds information (nowhere it says that there's a limit on pets) so she was moved to a trusted friends and brought back when the complex said it was okay, only for them to fine me again. So she was removed longer, and my friend said she was doing just fine, she just suckled a lot but was getting along well with her friends.
I move to a new apartment with a new friend who didn't have any pets, and was looking for a roommate. The same friend who told me about the kittens. He doesn't know how to care for cats, which is fine, my elder and my kitten are my responsibility and we had some ground rules. At this point, I have her back and she adjusted to the new apartment (and my friend) very well. And I have to go visit my parents in another state, and he asked if I could take her with because he's scared of taking care of a baby and worried she would die in his care, so I agree and she comes with.
(She did very well and got along with my parents' dogs and bonded with their kitten!)
We come back, and my now ex boyfriend pops by for a visit. He doesn't like cats, and has a bit of a temper (again ex). Kitten is running around, hopping on things and jumping around, annoying the elder cat and yelling at my roommate. She comes flying by and jumps on now ex boyfriend, claws out and catches his skin, giving him a few nice scratches. He grabs her and spanks her a few times and throws her off of him. She half cowers and runs off. I told him to leave and that we'll talk later.
Since then, her tails been hanging low and she hasn't been as playful. Actually, she's been sleeping a lot, doesn't really cuddle with me like she did and never lets me out of her sight. I know a low hanging tail can mean insecurity and I wonder if from moving around so much (sadly, we'll be moving again soon because of some issues here--friend is perfect but money is a problem so I'll be moving back with my parents oh this poor baby) to my ex boyfriend hitting her has caused some problems.
I've been trying to play with her, and she'll play but not as hard. She'll suckle sometimes (it was getting annoying, and I would gently remove her when she'd wake me up) but not often (kinda thankful for, she was drawing blood) and she'll purr and meow at me. I'm just concerned she's feeling insecure and don't know how to fix it. Due to money problems, I can't afford to buy a cat tree (my elder cat never used one when my parents had her, so they got rid of it). I did buy her a few new toys, some of that Purina cat tuna and I pet her lots and snuggle her.
Is there any way I'll get her to feel secure again? Or am I being overly worried? Because the only time she goes crazy is when I'm in the shower and I've left the door open, then I hear her running around and she'll hop on the ledge of the tub, yell at me and hop down again and run out and come back.
My friend thinks I'm overreacting but this is my first time actually raising a kitten by myself (my elder cat was my parents, they gave her to me last year when she didn't adjust to their new puppy and I wanted a pet). She's three months now.
Thanks.
It wasn't too rough of a patch. She was too small and clumsy, but my friend and I already had two adult cats (mine being more of an elder). And she liked to suckle on my lips/ears, knead/purr. However, I got in trouble with keeping her because my apartment complex always withholds information (nowhere it says that there's a limit on pets) so she was moved to a trusted friends and brought back when the complex said it was okay, only for them to fine me again. So she was removed longer, and my friend said she was doing just fine, she just suckled a lot but was getting along well with her friends.
I move to a new apartment with a new friend who didn't have any pets, and was looking for a roommate. The same friend who told me about the kittens. He doesn't know how to care for cats, which is fine, my elder and my kitten are my responsibility and we had some ground rules. At this point, I have her back and she adjusted to the new apartment (and my friend) very well. And I have to go visit my parents in another state, and he asked if I could take her with because he's scared of taking care of a baby and worried she would die in his care, so I agree and she comes with.
(She did very well and got along with my parents' dogs and bonded with their kitten!)
We come back, and my now ex boyfriend pops by for a visit. He doesn't like cats, and has a bit of a temper (again ex). Kitten is running around, hopping on things and jumping around, annoying the elder cat and yelling at my roommate. She comes flying by and jumps on now ex boyfriend, claws out and catches his skin, giving him a few nice scratches. He grabs her and spanks her a few times and throws her off of him. She half cowers and runs off. I told him to leave and that we'll talk later.
Since then, her tails been hanging low and she hasn't been as playful. Actually, she's been sleeping a lot, doesn't really cuddle with me like she did and never lets me out of her sight. I know a low hanging tail can mean insecurity and I wonder if from moving around so much (sadly, we'll be moving again soon because of some issues here--friend is perfect but money is a problem so I'll be moving back with my parents oh this poor baby) to my ex boyfriend hitting her has caused some problems.
I've been trying to play with her, and she'll play but not as hard. She'll suckle sometimes (it was getting annoying, and I would gently remove her when she'd wake me up) but not often (kinda thankful for, she was drawing blood) and she'll purr and meow at me. I'm just concerned she's feeling insecure and don't know how to fix it. Due to money problems, I can't afford to buy a cat tree (my elder cat never used one when my parents had her, so they got rid of it). I did buy her a few new toys, some of that Purina cat tuna and I pet her lots and snuggle her.
Is there any way I'll get her to feel secure again? Or am I being overly worried? Because the only time she goes crazy is when I'm in the shower and I've left the door open, then I hear her running around and she'll hop on the ledge of the tub, yell at me and hop down again and run out and come back.
My friend thinks I'm overreacting but this is my first time actually raising a kitten by myself (my elder cat was my parents, they gave her to me last year when she didn't adjust to their new puppy and I wanted a pet). She's three months now.
Thanks.
