No kiddin about sleepless nights...

ciera23

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As you all know Salem came home Saturday morning. He has been bouncing off the walls since he arrived (although he was supposed to have restricted activity for 7-10 days) YEAH RIGHT!!! Anyway, someone mentioned that I should be ready for some sleepless nights... well that is the truth! He slept in my arms all night the first night, last night he was anxious and slept here and there but kept getting up. Now, he is trying to jump the gate between my living room and kitchen (that just started last night). I have only been away from him for about 3 hrs on Sunday and I kept him in my bathroom while I was gone. I am afraid of him getting into things when I am not at home. I feel so bad putting him in there but it's pretty big and like my mom said, it's much bigger than the cage he was in plus he is only in there for short increments.
Everytime I go into the kitchen or out to my porch, I can hear him in here bawling!!! Makes me feel bad! I have to go to school tonight for 1 1/2 hrs so I will have to leave him and I already feel bad about it.
Do you think he will be better when his sister gets home on Wednesday?
Has anyone else put their kittens in a small room while they were gone?
I was thinking about buying the bitter apple spray to put on cords so he quits going by them, has anyone done that and does it work?

Thanks so much all for the advice!!!
 

jcat

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I can sympathize! We got Jamie when he was 10 weeks old, and he "bounced" till he was about 18 months old. I put him in the spare bedroom at first when nobody was home, because I didn't trust him on the spiral steps (which I ended up "securing" with tablecloths, ), but that just taught him how to open doors. Salem might tire more easily once he has his sister to chase around with.
 

vespacat

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Why not kitty-proof your place and let your cat explore? Pack away your breakables... you have a kitten in the house now.


I think it might cause him more stress being kept in a small room, especially if he hears someone outside. Does your mother have a cat? I just don't buy into that reasoning.
 
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ciera23

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Yeah I am trying to kittenproof this place. I bought this stuff to wrap the electrical cords in but it didn't work that well so I am going back today to get a different kind. I worry most about the wires than anything else. I am working on cleaning out my bedroom so I can keep them in there while I am gone. I used to keep Jessie in there too while I was gone.
Yes my mom has had cats all her life too.
I am just being precautious so he doesn't get hurt. It's not like I am putting him in a little kennel, I just want to make sure he is safe from any harm. Once he and his sister get comfortable here at home, then I would keep them in the bedroom. I am a worrywart bigtime!!
 

sweets

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I used to put my boys in the bathroom when I went to work. It was safer for them. (I kittenproofed first) When I got home we had a romp to work off some energy. As they got older, I increased their space to include more rooms. They didn't have the run of the house till they were a few months old.
 

rosehawke

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There used to be a bitter apple ointment which worked well for electrical cords, and did indeed stop any ill-advised chewing and also trained kitties that such is a not a nice thing to put in your mouth. I don't know if it's still available or not. Surely it is? I'll be looking for some soon, I know
....
 

eatrawfish

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Man, when I first got my kitties they kept us up all night too! They were almost 1 so I'd thought I avoided that kitten-ness, but I kept waking up to them WRESTLING on top of us at like 3am. We locked them out every now and then, but they would dig at the carpet. Eventually they settled down. Although Sylvester still brings her favorite toys and plays with them on top of us (or meows loudly to demand that we play fetch with her).

New kitties are so much fun.
 

februa

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Ikea sells these really great long tube things that are excellent for keeping cords together in....Ive been lucky and had kitties that ignored cords (after a couple of tries and a couple of hisses) and been decent through the night except suddenly deciding to sleep on my head....hmm....good luck
 
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ciera23

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Originally Posted by Sweets

I used to put my boys in the bathroom when I went to work. It was safer for them. (I kittenproofed first) When I got home we had a romp to work off some energy. As they got older, I increased their space to include more rooms. They didn't have the run of the house till they were a few months old.
Thanks, that makes me feel better. When I put him in there, I put down a special treat so he doesn't think that he is being punished. When I got home tonight, he was sleeping on the toilet seat (it's got a soft cover on it).
I think that sounds like a good idea, I will increase the space as time goes on.
 
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ciera23

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Originally Posted by RoseHawke

There used to be a bitter apple ointment which worked well for electrical cords, and did indeed stop any ill-advised chewing and also trained kitties that such is a not a nice thing to put in your mouth. I don't know if it's still available or not. Surely it is? I'll be looking for some soon, I know
....
That would be great! I am going to look for the ointment. I hope I can find some!! Thanks for the tip!
 

byclops

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Increasing their space gradually is a great idea. And remember, if you have to confine him, it's not punishment - it's for his safetly
In fact, my boys are still more than content to follow me down to the "kitten room" when they're getting a bit rowdy at night and I need a good sleep! (It's our laundry which is a nice size, has their food, water fountain, litter, a basket and a kitty condo).
 

carolcat

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IMHO much much better to be safe than sorry. When Jasper was little, he was confined to his "safe room" while I was away and at night. I found it impossible to find "everything" that a kitten can get into and get into trouble with and get rid of it! I allowed him free run of the house except for closets and one bedroom after he was about 4 months old, but only when I was at home and paying attention. If I got tied up on the phone or what ever, he went back to the safe room. He was very inquisitive and loved wriggling into tight spots that I had to have hubbys help in getting him out of :p. It won't be for SOOO long after all, they do grow quickly and then won't be able to fit into the "tight spots" anymore. Good luck with him and best wishes as you enjoy his babyhood, they grow up much to fast IMO, or maybe not if they are lil devils ;-).
 

vespacat

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It sounds like you're doing a great job... Keep it up!
Originally Posted by ciera23

Yeah I am trying to kittenproof this place. I bought this stuff to wrap the electrical cords in but it didn't work that well so I am going back today to get a different kind. I worry most about the wires than anything else. I am working on cleaning out my bedroom so I can keep them in there while I am gone. I used to keep Jessie in there too while I was gone.
Yes my mom has had cats all her life too.
I am just being precautious so he doesn't get hurt. It's not like I am putting him in a little kennel, I just want to make sure he is safe from any harm. Once he and his sister get comfortable here at home, then I would keep them in the bedroom. I am a worrywart bigtime!!
 
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