new cat owner's questions

Hi I'm new to this and I need advice.
8 weeks old Abby was adopted just a few days ago. I think she is quite healthy, but these behaviors are upsetting:

1.Abby meows constantly when using the litterbox(with lid). could she be in pain?
2.sometimes if I try to pick her up, she'd roll over on her back and scratch, kick and bite me.

Oh and she likes to sleep on my lap, which is absolutely lovely but if she gets enough sleep in the day, I'm afraid she'll be active at night. She has waken me up before. So should I wake her up every time she tries to sleep in the day? will she hate me for doing that?
Also, should the kitten have a bed? At night Abby usually sleeps in a corner under my bed. I have tried to put it in a basket with blankets but it seems that she doesn't like it... confused
Thanks

Congrats on the new fur baby! I'm not too sure about the mewing while in the litter box, but the biting and bunny kicking is so normal! Oliver absolutely loves to bunny kick things (my hand or foot, his toys, my breakfast in bed table, haha) and it's adorable! He's 3.5 years old and still does it! He's very protective of his belly (I'm thinkin that's a "boy thing") and 99% of the time you try to pet his belly, you WILL get bit and bunny kicked... as for the sleeping, cats will sleep 16 to 20 hours a day - there's no such thing as too much sleep for them! If your kitty is waking you up at night, make sure you get a good play session in with her right before bed to tire her out... We play with Oliver and his fishing rod/teaser toy for about a half hour before bed and by the end, he's definitely ready for sleep... also, your new baby has to get used to routine - once Oliver's routine got settled, he slept through the night in bed with me... He sleeps every night in bed with me, but during the day sleeps elsewhere (his favorite spot right now is my bean bag chair that looks like a ladybug), but a lot of cats are picky about beds and sleeping places, so it's not a definite need to get your baby a bed. I've tried the basket with blankets, a pad-type bed and just bought him a snuggle ball - of all of them, he's just starting to use the snuggle ball

Good luck with your new baby! And welcome to the site!

Has she been to the vet for a complete check up yet?? This is a good first step in acquiring a kitten...

Also, yes, I would say its completely normal for kittens to want to play and rabbit kick your hands..However, I wouldn't let them..play with my hands, that is...As you could end up with a cat who thinks your hands are playthings meant for shredding

Some cats do not like to be picked up either..Her environment is still very new to her.
Imagine if you were taken from the only home you had known and plunked down with a stranger! You would need some time to acclimatize and to adjust. So, for now, allow her to come to you instead of going to her...

Get her some of those interactive wand/fishing pole toys.. My boys love the cat dancer and any furry thing on a pole..

As the above poster said, tire her out at night with a good play session before bed..

But, cats will be cats and may still attempt to wake you up at 530 a.m
This is simply what cats do..Mine try..

And, allow her to pick whatever sleeping area she finds comfortable. Mine don't have special beds. My lap and any area of the house they consider theirs for sleeping
(which again, as the above poster said, cats do ALOT of). Don't wake her up when she is resting or she may become a cranky, irritable kitty

Thank you Heather, Loveysmummy for the advices. You've been very helpful

Originally Posted by Loveysmummy

allow her to come to you instead of going to her...

Click to expand...

Yep that's what I did.
And, if you think she is shy and hides in corners then you are wrong She's curious and isn't afraid of people or anything else. THAT is the reason I need to pick her up and lock her in her room sometimes: for example she'll never let me have dinner if she's around: she'll try to taste stuff first.

She's photogenic isn't she?



[edit] pictures didn't show up

Yeah a complete vet checkup sounds like a good plan. since I noticed she also sneezes occasioanlly and the boosters are due next week.
Well I can stop worrying about the cat bed and bunny kicking for now. ...as for sleeping, I think we're starting to have a good routine for 3 days: Abby goes to bed at about 9 O clock: before I do! Which means me and my feet will be left alone.
Loveysmummy: can't believe you're in Winnipeg 2. I didn't think there would be any winnipegers on TCS.

Just remember, kittens are like babies and they do require a lot of sleep as well.
Heck, even a grown cat can sleep 18 hours a day.
I'd just let her sleep whenever and keep an evening play schedule as well to help her get the idea that night time is sleep time.

She's beautiful! I am sure you are doing all the right things - and as said, do not worry about a cat bed - I have always found them a complete waste of money as cats will sleep where they want to.

She's so precious, she reminds me of my Sage.

Omigod, she's beautiful. I love her big eyes..

Actually, I think there are 3 of us so far...Hydroaxe is also from da peg.

Cheers and see you around..

Originally Posted by zew

Hi

I'm new to this and I need advice.
8 weeks old Abby was adopted just a few days ago. I think she is quite healthy, but these behaviors are upsetting:

1.Abby meows constantly when using the litterbox(with lid). could she be in pain?
2.sometimes if I try to pick her up, she'd roll over on her back and scratch, kick and bite me.

Oh and she likes to sleep on my lap, which is absolutely lovely but if she gets enough sleep in the day, I'm afraid she'll be active at night. She has waken me up before. So should I wake her up every time she tries to sleep in the day? will she hate me for doing that?
Also, should the kitten have a bed? At night Abby usually sleeps in a corner under my bed. I have tried to put it in a basket with blankets but it seems that she doesn't like it... confused

Thanks

Click to expand...

1) My cat when I first brought her home meowed using the litter box for about 2 days. I think she was just upset that she had a new home. It completely stopped after 2 days. Another cat that lived with me used to scratch the litter like a madman and meow when we first moved into our new place. That stopped after 2 days as well. Are you using different litter than her other place? I read somehwere (probably here) that it's best to use all the same things from the home where you are taking the cat for the first little while. (i.e., litter, food, etc.). It's stressful enough to move in the first place for cats, then to come to all new litter and food I'm sure they must be thinking - what the heck is this? Also, maybe try taking off the lid?

Or....it could be something more sinister, if it keeps up - take to the vet. Better to be safe than sorry.

2) Sounds normal. Give her time to adjust to you, which it sounds like you are doing.

3) LOL - sometimes that's all cats seem to do is sleep! The cat that I'm cat-sitting right now is sleeping after a hard night's work of sleeping all night! But maybe you're asking cause she's a kitten? If so, I don't know about kittens.....

4) She might eventually use the bed, she might not. No big deal. If you are fine with it, then it's fine.

She's really beautiful, welcome to the forums and you sound like a great and caring owner!