New "Mom" Question About Six Week Old Kitten

Hi, there! I just adopted a kitten from one of our neighbors - he just turned 6 weeks this week - and I had a question or two about him.

My parents have a cat - I'm married now and live away from them - and so I've been around an adult cat for most of my life. He was three when he adopted us. But this kitten stuff is so new and I'm so worried that I'll scar him for life...

When I brought him home yesterday, he hissed at everything he didn't like. He growled at our dog and seemed to be overwhelmed - which I'm sure he was! I decided just to let him explore and kind of left him alone for a while. Eventually, when I got ready to go to bed, he cried and cried. I picked him up and put him on the bed to sleep...but he burrowed down under the covers and wedged himself between my feet. I was so scared I was going to crush him accidentally in the night, I barely slept! LOL

Now, he cries if I'm not in the same room with him. He hasn't used the litter box at all, although I know he did use it with the momma cat's house. He hasn't eaten very much either.

Is he just overwhelmed and scared?

Mandylynn
(Overprotective Parent of Liam)

Sounds like he has some separation anxiety going on. His little world just got rocked when he separated from his mom and littermates. Keep snuggling and playing with him and get him on a regular feeding schedule.

This may sound odd, but is there a littermate that you could go back and adopt so that he has a friend his size?

Originally Posted by Momofmany

This may sound odd, but is there a littermate that you could go back and adopt so that he has a friend his size?

Click to expand...

Unfortunately, all his littermates were adopted out long before I was able to pick him out. He was the last of the group to be chosen!

Right now he's cuddled up to me and purring like mad. Maybe he's geting used to me? lol

Thanks for your help. I'm going to try the things you suggested.

Mandylynn

It may take Liam a while to adjust but it sure sounds like you are on the right track with him. I'm sure that in a couple of days he won't be hissing at everything anymore. As far as the litterbox is concerned just keep placing him in it from time to time..just to reinforce it's location to him.

He is terribly young to be separated - 10-12 weeks is usually considered minimum so of course he is scared, like a child taken away from its mom and left in a strange place. Is there any chance he could go back to mom for a few weeks? If she is close then you could visit a lot and get him used to your smell. If not, then rather than let him explore a huge world I would give him a small room to get used to first, not to overwhelm him. Spend lots of time with him, talking and stroking to make him think you are a good thing and his new mom. If he wants to sleep with you at night, let him, he needs the comfort and it is unlikely you would hurt him. I got Dushka as an orphan at 3 weeks and she has slept in my bed, under my arm, almost every night since. They move fast if you turn over, if they are healthy. Good luck with him - as he is so young he will bond very closely with you.