Brand new to kittens, please help.

Hi everyone, let me just say I'm glad I found this site, it's a great resource. Now, onto my problems/questions.

I have had a cat before, but not a kitten. When I cared for a cat (mind you, this was YEARS ago) he was pretty self sufficient and affectionate, but was never attached to me and can go about his own business without needing me. Obviously, this isn't the case with kittens.

Yesterday afternoon, I adopted a cute little 2 month-old gray domestic kitten from a shelter. My roommate also adopted one, but she has to pick her kitten up today. In the shelter, her kitten seemed a bit more... I don't want to say aggressive, more like clingy and outspoken. My kitten, Alfie, which has been home for a total of 20 hours or so, is pretty playful, but he won't stop following me! When he sees me leave a room, he follows me, then starts clawing at my leg trying to climb up. He keeps doing it until either A) I outrun him and hide, or B) pick him up and sit down and let him play/rest on my lap. See, he's a kitten, so when I'm home I mostly don't mind having him cuddle with me, but my fear is that he'll get used to it and expect it at all times even when he's grown. Also, it's a bit problematic because I have a home studio (audio related, can get pretty loud in there) and he follows me in there. I'm not sure if that's good for his ears, as the music in the does get pretty loud, and as far as recording purposes having a cat in there can pose a problem if he bumps into mics, etc.

There's also the issue of his eating habits. He will not eat canned kitten food, nor dry kitten food. He ONLY eats tuna, and not even all that much. I've tried mixing the tuna with the canned kitten food, and the little weasel manages to pick out just the tuna and leave the rest. Also, I haven't seen him drink... at all. Sure, I've only had him for about a day, but he's been running around chasing me, playing with my shoes, the little toys I got him, his scratching post, my leg, my chairs, etc. I read somewhere that cats like fresh clean water, so I make sure to refill that bowl with fresh Aquafina, but still nothing. I tried putting him by a fountain to see if he would drink, and nothing. I'm starting to get worried, because the last thing I want for him is to dehydrate.

Next thing, last night he stayed outside of my bedroom meowing softly when I was trying to sleep. I felt bad, so I let him in. Alfie actually climbed up a computer chair and slept in a little area where he could get a view of me on my bed. A few hours later, I awoke to hear him meowing trying to get to me, so, feeling bad I picked him up and let him sleep with me. Mind you, I care about him, but I don't want to make that a habit. I can't have him sleeping with me, so I'm assuming it's because Alfie's young and wanted to be nurtured to sleep. Is there a way to ease him into sleeping in his own area outside of my room?

Finally, the new kitten comes in today. I'm wondering, will they get along? Is it a sure thing like over time and such, or is there a chance that they simply won't ever get along? My hope is that the new kitten (they're both of same age) will be good company for him so that neither of them will have to rely on sleeping near me or missing me whenever I'm out of sight. Right now, for instance, I'm not at home and am worried how he's doing right now, if he's crying and such.

Anyway, that was a lot I had to get off my chest. I just want to make sure he'll be ok, and what I can do to better take care of him. Thanks for listening, and any replies are appreciated.

Why wouldn't you want the kitten to sleep with you at night? That is the first thing that stood out, I have 7 cats and they love sleeping with me and I love when they cuddle up next to or on me and sleep. I can't imagine not letting them do that...

When you have the other new kitten, that will give them more to do because they will have each other to play with. They can entertain each other, and leave you alone a bit more. They will still come to you however for affection but it may cut back a bit because they aren't bored with nothing to do.

Don't feed your cat tuna, that is bad for him. Buy different brands and flavours of canned and dry food. Make sure it is a good quality kind from a pet store, not a grocery store brand like Friskies or Whiskas or something. Get tuna flavoured wet food maybe but please do something to get him off the tuna.

About the water, if you are positive he is not drinking then keep checking the scruff on the back of his neck, grab it and pull up gently like as if a mother cat is lifting her kitten. If the skin springs back into place he is ok, if is stays bunched up and doesn't spring back, he need to see a vet because he is dehydrated. Try buying different bowls, different shapes and sizes and colors. He may want a fountain type of dish so the water is constantly moving. Maybe he is drinking out of the toilet or a dripping sink that you do not realize?

Seeing as your kittens are so young they will probably get along fine and grow up together. Don't just plop them down next to each other and expect them to be best friends. Have someone hold each kitten and get close together and see how they react. Then if they are fine progress from there. Set them down at a distance but get ready with a blanket to throw over them if they start to fight. Go slowly and if this type of introduction doesn't work then put them into opposite rooms with a door seperating them so they can get used to the new place and each other and smell each other through the door.

The sound studio would probably be too loud for him when you have music playing. I would just lock him out of the area when you do this. Or put him into the bathroom maybe if it is decent sized. Don't make him feel like he is being punished or anything though.

I think that answers everything, feel free to ask anything else if you need to.

Originally Posted by Jen

Why wouldn't you want the kitten to sleep with you at night? That is the first thing that stood out, I have 7 cats and they love sleeping with me and I love when they cuddle up next to or on me and sleep. I can't imagine not letting them do that...

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I move around a lot in bed. Not every night, but a lot of nights. It gets on my girlfriend's nerves, and she's a full grown human, I can imagine a kitten could easily get hurt if I happen to roll over him. For his own safety, I would prefer him to hang out off my bed.

When you have the other new kitten, that will give them more to do because they will have each other to play with. They can entertain each other, and leave you alone a bit more. They will still come to you however for affection but it may cut back a bit because they aren't bored with nothing to do.

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Noted. I'll make sure the introduction isn't a rough one.

Don't feed your cat tuna, that is bad for him. Buy different brands and flavours of canned and dry food. Make sure it is a good quality kind from a pet store, not a grocery store brand like Friskies or Whiskas or something. Get tuna flavoured wet food maybe but please do something to get him off the tuna.

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I'll do that, didn't know tuna was bad for him. Are there any brands you reccommend?

About the water, if you are positive he is not drinking then keep checking the scruff on the back of his neck, grab it and pull up gently like as if a mother cat is lifting her kitten. If the skin springs back into place he is ok, if is stays bunched up and doesn't spring back, he need to see a vet because he is dehydrated. Try buying different bowls, different shapes and sizes and colors. He may want a fountain type of dish so the water is constantly moving. Maybe he is drinking out of the toilet or a dripping sink that you do not realize?

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Definitely not drinking out of the toilet. I say he hasn't been drinking, because he's been around me at nearly all times that I'm home, and he's reluctant to give it a shot. Do you think maybe if I put an ice cold glass of water down he'll lick the condensation off the side of the glass? Maybe that'll do the trick?

The sound studio would probably be too loud for him when you have music playing. I would just lock him out of the area when you do this. Or put him into the bathroom maybe if it is decent sized. Don't make him feel like he is being punished or anything though.

I think that answers everything, feel free to ask anything else if you need to.

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Do they like music at all? I suppose I can let him into the monitor room where the music is played through at low levels. As long as he doesn't jump on the equipment in there, I've no problems having him in there listening in on my lap.

Thanks for the responses.

Boy, you have a long list of things you don't want your kitten to get used to...things most of the people WISH their kitties would do! My Frantic is a lap cat...if he isn't sitting on me, he is sitting next to me or behind me on the couch. He has to be touching me. Pipsqueek sits across the room. I wish he would come sit with us, but thats not his style. I didn't raise them differently, they just have different needs. Your cat is still a kitten. Just like a human baby, the cuddling and closeness is nurturing and comforting to them.

As for sleeping with you, Frantic lies down right next to me till I fall asleep, then goes down to the foot of the bed. So did my RB kitty. I roll around so much, they've learned its the safest place.

For the water, there are fountains available in most pet supply stores. The water is moving, so its easer for the cat to see. Both of my cats love theirs.

You worried about the kitten bumping into mics. Have you ever seen a cat bump into something they didn't want to bump into??

It could be the kitten is lonely too - when the second kitten comes - he will/may have more to occupy him. For now - you are it.

Welcome to the forum!

I really wouldn't worry about you moving around on the bed and crushing him. They learn where the best spots are and aren't. That is usually one thing cats love most is to curl up in bed or under the covers with their humans. At least mine do. I toss and turn all the time and when my boyfriend is over there is hardly room for us let alone the cats and I have 7. But they lay where they find it best, don't worry so much about it, your cats will be fine.

Try everything possible to get your cat to drink. Do the things I suggested, try an ice cold cup, whatever but just keep checking to be sure he is not dehydrated. Maybe leave the water dripping in the sink into a bowl and see how he reacts to it, if he drinks from it, maybe he would prefer a fountain. If a cat gets dehydrated, you may eventually have to use a needle and IV to inject him once or twice a day with fluids and that is unpleasent for the cat and the owner.

For food, everyone has their own opinions, Nutro Natural is good, I feed Chicken Soup for the Cat Lovers Soul, there's also Wellness and many many more that are good quality. Just make sure the first few ingredients are meats, not by-products or meal or corn and rice. They are carnivores, they need the human grade meats. Should be very low in magnesium and ash as well. It will help keep the vet bills down because their overall health will be better. Good quality food is expensive but it is worth it. I forget what is in tuna that makes large amounts of it bad, maybe someone else does, but I know it is not good to feed the cat for a long period of time. Slowly work him off of it.

As far as music goes, at the shelter I work at, we leave soothing classical or light rock or talk shows on at all times. So the cats get used to human voices and sounds. It isn't necessary but if there is loud music in your home often then just go by how the cat is reacting. If he is hiding the whole time, or cowered in the corner or looking terrified, then maybe put him into a seperate room. But like I said, don't make him feel like he is being punished.

My Charcoal used to be really clingy as a kitten. He is slowly outgrowing it. He sleeps on the bed with us but he used to sleep on my neck or on my head..lol HE learned to move to the top pillow and sleep there to avoid my husband's tossing and turning at night. In fact, all four of them sleep on the pillow above my head now to avoid his tossing. They will learn where to sleep and not sleep.

Char never drinks out of a water bowl, he refused. He will drink out of cups if you leave them laying around so maybe try doing that with a cup of water and see how yours reacts. We also bought the kittens a Catit water fountain and all four of them like to drink out of that as well so maybe buying a fountain for him will get him to drink water.

Nutro is what I feed mine and they all love it. I also give them canned food once a day. Tuna is bad for the kitty like someone else said.

Charcoal was an only cat for 6 months and was lonely and meowing at night until we got the other three and now they are quiet at night with the exception of chasing each other. So I agree that the other kitten will help. Just make sure to introduce them like Jen said.

try giving him an ice cube to play with, he'll get some moisture from that. or failing that buy tuna in spring water (NOT brine) and offer him the drained water. but sure this isnt a long term thing.

tunas bad for cats because its high in sodium and low in taurine. it has no vitamins to speak of. a bit like us eating mcdonalds 24/7. cats can also get addicted to it because its a very smelly food and cats seem to like smelly foods.

dont worry about him only eating tuna. when you were a kid and went to say your grandmas and had the choice of a healthy dinner or candy you would pick the candy. the tunas a novelty for him. he wont let himself starve to death. buy the best quality kitten food you can for him and offer it to him with nothing else. he'll soon eat when he's hungrey.

sadly he will probably grow out of wanting to love you all the time. cats got through a 'teenage' stage where they positivly resent you. enjoy it while it lasts.

as for sleeping on your bed. you wont squash him. i'm a wriggly sleeper and my cat and kitten have learnt to deal with it. the kitten will get lonely if he has to sleep alone and might also get cold as he's used to snuggling with siblings.

oh and for the water thing- i have a catit fountain i got for £10 from ebay.

check ebay or amazon.com for cat water fountains. they make drinking water more fun.

Regarding the sleeping thing: that should be the last of your worries. I have a pretty bizarre sleep disorder where I sleepwalk, push around on the bed under the pillows, act out nightmares in my sleep -- and to this day, I've never harmed my cats. And ALL SIX of mine sleep with me --- one of them sleeps right ON me! They get used to your "human movements" and would much prefer your warm body next to some pillow somewhere outside the bedroom.

Re: tuna, very bad for kitty. It causes urinary tract problems. And you do NOT want to deal with that. Try a high quality canned cat food. And I agree with the water fountain --- and also place several bowls of water around your house.

Regarding affection of a kitten -- Some NEVER grow out of this. My cat Hammie, who is my youngest, is nicknamed "hemorrhoid" because he is always on our butts. He follows us EVERYWHERE. He's the one who sleeps directly on me. Snickers & Dusty also follow me everywhere and practically will pull your arms down to be petted. Some cats are just "like that" --- very affectionate and always wanting to be loving their humans! I think I'd fall over dead if I didn't get all the love & stuff I get from my cats. So enjoy it and I hope your cat continues to be loving versus aloof.

And regarding your music --- try to catproof the room a bit so he doesn't knock the mics down. Unless you can find some way to keep him out of the room altogether? I highly doubt loud music an hurt a cat's ears. If so, then all of mine would be totally deaf. Cats are pretty hardy.

Re: your new kitten getting along with your old kitten - I guess it depends on if the cats came from a multi-cat household or not? My cats get along swimmingly, they're from all over the place & also all different ages. Occasionally the fur will fly when my two Alpha males fight... I just have to separate Snickers & Hammie until one of them chills out. But all in all I think cats do depend on each other for playtime & snuggling, from what I've seen, mine would be lost without each other!