New Cat Owner, a question.

[payaza2000]

So recently I got a 3 month old kitten fro m someone in my neighborhood. I was going to adopt two but could only afford the initial vet fees for vaccinations and neutering for one, plus my apartment has a restrictive pet policy $50 added to rent per pet. However I was wondering if by not getting two I have conditioned the cat to (male-Name:Flea) to being a only cat. I ask this because in the wild cats are solitary animals, and unlike dogs (which am more familiar with) aren't pack animals. Also in the near future I anticipate getting a more demanding job with longer hours (9-10), and would hate for him to be locked up in my apartment by himself. Is there anything I can do to get my cat used to the idea of a new cat if that makes any sense. Our is he destined to be in a one cat household ?

Other quick questions:

Food: Dry our Wet, Does Brand matter? Is there really a difference in food marketed for Kittens, Adults , and Seniors?

Enrichment: Going to be an indoor only cat. What to do to enrich his life? I have bought a cat tree? Other ideas?

Sneezing: he has been sneezing on a consistent basis. I will be taking him to the vet in two weeks (Nov 9) for his rabies, neutering (Vet said he was to young at the time), and second series of distemper shots is it safe to wait till than?

Meowing: also in the morning he meows excessively before I go to work. what could this be? Do cats also have separation anxiety?

Sorry for the long post. New to cat ownership thing. Answers appreciated.

 

[catpack]

1.) Just because he is starting out as an only doesn't mean he won't appreciate a buddy later. However, I do feel the longer you wait to get another cat, the longer it could take for Flea to acclimate to another cat in the house.

Possibly a solution to this would be to become a foster parent for a local shelter or rescue. I would assume you would have to pay extra in rent; but, all other expenses would be covered.

2.) A wet food diet is better for cats if you can afford it. The main things to look for when purchasing food are: named meat as #1 ingredient (chicken, turkey, rabbit, etc.) Also, Grain-free is the ideal route to go.
Wellness, Natute's Variety Instinct, Evo and Merrick are some of the "premium" foods. Fancy Feast and Friskies (pâté form) seem to be the best in the big box stores.
Catinfo.org is a good site to read through.

3.) A cat tree is a great investment. Other ideas would be a Turbo or Star Chaser. These are great for individual play. Also, having toys in rotation so he doesn't get bored as quickly. Maybe rotate every 2 weeks or so.

4.) The constant sneezing could be a sign of a URI, a herpes flare-up or allergies. Since it has been ongoing, I would have him seen sooner than in 2 weeks. Are there any other symptoms? Runny/watery eyes, congestion, nasal discharge?

5.) Yes, cats can most definitely experience separation anxiety. It is possible that he is looking for another cat or anticipating you leaving. Does he seem to be wanting your attention? What does his and your morning routine look like? Do you have a morning play session? Since he is an only, he relies solely on you for socialization and interaction.

Not too long ago I read this quote about cats...
It basically said that while cats are not seen as pack animals, this does not mean that they are aloof. It just means that they don't constantly need another animal to interact with. They are ok having some alone time (some more than others.)

Personally, I have 3 cats who are ok with the others in the house; but, are perfectly fine being in their own space and doing their own thing (until they want to play.) My 3 youngest, however, are quite the opposite. They call for each other when they can't find someone and sleep together (or at least where they can see each other.)

 

[payaza2000]

4) No other symptoms just the occasional sneeze; maybe once or twice a day when am home. He came from a litter of like 6, and a household of two dogs. So he may of got it from them, also got fleas from them hence the name "Flea". I'll call the VET today to set up an appointment ahead of his appointment next Saturday.

5) Me and my roommates try to "play" him out at night, and we feed him also at night so he sleeps through the night. This partially works. In the morning usually at 5:30AM he wakes me up by licking my face and giving me these tiny bites. I will pull the covers over my head and avoid him till 6, at which time I get ready for work. During this time he follows me into the bathroom meowing jumping on toilet seat, waiting outside shower while I bathe. And before I go to work I give him a bowl of food.

 

[payaza2000]

Also this is just out of curiosity. I keep seeing on the internet that a critical period for kittens is like 4-9 weeks (off course I missed it,lol), period where they should be socialized with other cats, dogs, humans. That this is a critical period which determines behavior later on.

Does this mean a improperly socialized kitten will be stuck in life being a "scardy cat" if you may ? Can cats be resocialized as dogs can? And moving forward some tips for socializing Flea towards humans, and other pets. Sorry I keep bring up dogs its the animal most familiar with, and something to kinda make a comparison too.

 

[catpack]

Two thoughts on the morning meowing.
1.) He may simply be hungry. How often are you feeding him? If you do not leave dry food out for him to nibble on throughout the day, she should be fed around 4 meals a day.

2.) He is in need of some attention/interaction.

While early socialization is important, those of us who have taken to socializing feral kittens/young cats will tell you that it does not neseccarily mean they will be "scared" for life. It typically requires more patience and time for them to come around.

Example:
I have a 7 month old kitten that was rescued when he was 5/6 wks old and was very feral (growling, hissing, spitting...and terrified.) He started to make the "turn" when he was about 4 mo old (no more biting, spitting...) he would just hide when I went into the room. At 6 months he started to decide that I wasn't a threat and stopped hiding. Now at 7 months, he comes over for attention and love.

I should also note that he had always gotten along with other cats. He prefers they groom him/love on him. He'll walk up to the older cats, head down, simply wanting a good head lick. =)

 

[willowlondon]

I'm no expert on all things cat but I just wanted to say how cute the name 'Flea' is!!  Also I wouldn't worry about a "critical period" for socialisation, I would take things as they come - if he has been interacting with your housemates so far he should be reasonably ok with other humans.  There is tons of advice on introducing new cats into the home on this site so if that does become a possibility in the future, I'm sure you'll be able to find a way

Also I have two 8 month old kittens who do the exact same stuff that Flea does in the mornings, and they are a pair! I think they are vocal in the mornings because they are excited that you are up and about after a long nights sleep

 

[payaza2000]

1) Feeding him Two Cans Of Purina {wet} Kitten food a day, after I get home from work (4PM) and before I go to bed (1130-12). And before I go to work I give him a bowl full of Dry Kitten food.

2) I think it may be play. Am going to get a laser toy, and a wand toy. Question is how long should I exercise him for ?

Also called the vet and made an appointment for this Saturday at 10AM. Vet said that it could be an upper respiratory infection. Question is that if it is, waiting till Saturday isn't a big deal right? A URI isn't fatal if left un treated for a few days? If thats what he has?

 

[procat]

1) Feeding him Two Cans Of Purina {wet} Kitten food a day, after I get home from work (4PM) and before I go to bed (1130-12). And before I go to work I give him a bowl full of Dry Kitten food.

2) I think it may be play. Am going to get a laser toy, and a wand toy. Question is how long should I exercise him for ?

Also called the vet and made an appointment for this Saturday at 10AM. Vet said that it could be an upper respiratory infection. Question is that if it is, waiting till Saturday isn't a big deal right? A URI isn't fatal if left un treated for a few days? If thats what he has?

I'm going to be a bit of a party-pooper here because I had problems with my cat and laser pointers. They frustrated her to the point where she would attack herself once I stopped playing. After reading up on it, I learned why. The problem with laser pointers is, although they are great for getting them wound up, it's a no-win game for the cat. Even if they "catch the light", there's nothing tactile for them to clamp down on and "kill". Aside from the danger of eyesight damage, I also think laser pointers can cause obsessive behaviors. My mom used a laser pointer on one of her dogs and it made the thing neurotic for life. After a couple of uses on my cat I could see the same type of obsessions developing. The sound of jingling keys or my desk drawer opening will draw her from the other side of the house to search for little red dots.

As far as the length of exercise goes... I guess it depends on the cat. Mine gets bored after 5 or 10 minutes of toy interactive time, then I give her a ball, mouse, or catnip toy and just let her play herself out. She gets a lot more exercise when we play the cat version of hide-and-seek... or as I call it, stalk-and-scare-the-s***-out-of-each-other.

 

[payaza2000]

OK.. Well I might reconsider the lazer pojntert. Don't want a neurotic Cat. Lol

 

[nbrazil]

Three months of age is just fine, assuming that your kitten had contact with his mom and/or siblings up to that time. Weeks 8-12 are the time they most often learn their "manners," making it easier for you to just reinforce them.

It is possible that SOME single kittens will go through a bratty stage if they do not have a play buddy (the most severe version is called single cat syndrome), but it is impossible to predict whether they will remain brats* or not. They are bundles of raw energy and need directed outlets or they may just express it inappropriately (as far as a human is concerned).

Play should be directed towards toys, and not YOU (or your hands), typically a wand toy or other interactive toys. This builds a bond between kitten and guardian. But since you and your roommates play with him, so that he sleeps through most of the night, you are doing very well, indeed!

The morning behavior you describe is normal (and cute). Jackson Galaxy says that every cat on the planet wakes up hungry around 6:00 am, LOL.

Now I have a bias (through experience), that two kittens are easier than one (they burn out each other's energy, leaving loving goodness for you) - but being as your finances won't support it and you have roommates to play with him - well, if you eventually want another kitten, most cats remain easy to introduce a play buddy up to a year. After that, it is very individual - and not really hard, this site has complete instructions.

What to do to enrich his life? Well, the cat tree is a good start, wand toys... and places he can hide (he will probably go through a phase where boxes and open drawers cannot be resisted) and climb up to.

I don't know enough about separation anxiety, only that it can happen. Since cats are very routine oriented, what I did was to create a small routine to comfort my guy. Basically I kissed him on the top of his head every time I left the condo. From this I gather he came to associate the kiss with a temporary separation. I'm not suggesting you kiss the guy (some would be uncomfortable), but the establishment of a routine helped me.

*Play biting, bunny kicking and toe stalking.

 

[payaza2000]

Thanks he was with his litter mates till I got him, which was at three months. He also shared the house with two large dogs. I am going to try the interactive wand toy to make play more interactive.

Also not that this applys now, since all furniture in house is worthless. But maybe hypothetically speaking I get nicer furniture how do I prevent him from clawing it. I don't believe in declawing, actually view it as wrong. But how do you deter him from clawing nice furniture, if we ever get some. Right now we have a old couch which does the job, but which he also scratches, we don't really care since were not interested in aesthetics or cosmetics.

 

[payaza2000]

IMG_20131016_184854.jpg

• payaza2000
• Oct 30, 2013

 

[nbrazil]

Thanks he was with his litter mates till I got him, which was at three months. He also shared the house with two large dogs. I am going to try the interactive wand toy to make play more interactive.

Also not that this applys now, since all furniture in house is worthless. But maybe hypothetically speaking I get nicer furniture how do I prevent him from clawing it. I don't believe in declawing, actually view it as wrong. But how do you deter him from clawing nice furniture, if we ever get some. Right now we have a old couch which does the job, but which he also scratches, we don't really care since were not interested in aesthetics or cosmetics.

IMG_20131016_184854.jpg

• payaza2000
• Oct 30, 2013

Very good to understand how important the claws are to a cat's well being. But, not to belay the obvious, but a scratching post or board is the first place to start. Some say to put catnip on it, but I found that doesn't really matter - and many kittens don't respond to it.

Basically introduce him to it (his own curious nature will lead him to investigate it) - it is likely he will give it a scratch or two immediately. Praise him. Bring him to it right after he wakes up. Cats will often stretch and scratch right after waking up.

Many scratching posts can be had for under $20 at the pet stores. But one thing I've noticed. As they get older (and heavier), they begin to really pull on the pole when they stretch before scratching and, in my case, it causes it to be less attractive by toppling it. Don't worry, that's months away. So my guys began to gravitate to the furniture.

The solution then is a really tall and sturdy scratching post like the one I just got...


Now I'm not "selling" this to you, just showing what I found is working best for me. My Ragdoll now pulls down any ordinary scratching post simply by his weight when he stretches. Most cat trees have scratching posts as part of the structure... make sure he knows it. Take him to it when he wakes up from his naps.

Almost forgot, another way to get him interested in a scratching post (should he find it less than attractive) is to play with a wand toy near it so that in trying to grab the tease part of the toy he catches the post in the process. It is really funny when this happens because sometimes you can almost see the light bulb go off in their head - hey, this is great!

Handsome little guy!

 

[mservant]

So recently I got a 3 month old kitten fro m someone in my neighborhood. I was going to adopt two but could only afford the initial vet fees for vaccinations and neutering for one, plus my apartment has a restrictive pet policy $50 added to rent per pet. However I was wondering if by not getting two I have conditioned the cat to (male-Name:Flea) to being a only cat. I ask this because in the wild cats are solitary animals, and unlike dogs (which am more familiar with) aren't pack animals. Also in the near future I anticipate getting a more demanding job with longer hours (9-10), and would hate for him to be locked up in my apartment by himself. Is there anything I can do to get my cat used to the idea of a new cat if that makes any sense. Our is he destined to be in a one cat household ?

Other quick questions:

Food: Dry our Wet, Does Brand matter? Is there really a difference in food marketed for Kittens, Adults , and Seniors?

Enrichment: Going to be an indoor only cat. What to do to enrich his life? I have bought a cat tree? Other ideas?

Sneezing: he has been sneezing on a consistent basis. I will be taking him to the vet in two weeks (Nov 9) for his rabies, neutering (Vet said he was to young at the time), and second series of distemper shots is it safe to wait till than?

Meowing: also in the morning he meows excessively before I go to work. what could this be? Do cats also have separation anxiety?

Sorry for the long post. New to cat ownership thing. Answers appreciated.

Single cats in homes where you are out for long periods of the day: probably depends a lot on your cat like CatPack notes: it can be fine even with a young cat but like you are thinking about you need to leave lots of things for play and hunting as well as warmth, comfort, food and water.  When I first got Mouse I took a holiday for a few weeks and gradually built up how long I'd go out for, then went back to work and tried to get home at lunch time or not work too long a day (9 or 10 hours).  I've always done what NBrazil suggests and go for the nice associations before I go out so Mouse gets play and treats before I head out the door.   If I'm out for 10 hours I know he will be lonely and anxious about me coming back and miaowing at the door / clingy - wanting to be reassured by me kneeling down and rubbing his belly for ages.  No evidence of prolonged stress or destructive behaviour though - more like occasional play and a lot of sleeping!  I have always left loads of toys out, biscuits hidden in places he goes looking for them, and a climbing frame at the window.  And of course there's the daily routine of school kids going past outside, when the post arrives (huge excitement), and keeping an eye on birds, insects and leaves blowing in the wind all of which must be observed.

You can always introduce a playmate at any stage you feel it is needed but I'm not sure about fostering unless it is a one off thing as a way of testing the introduction and if it works kitty stays and if it doesn't the foster goes back but not to keep repeating it as that could be very stressful for Flea.

Like CatPack says, with the sneezing, it could be an infection, allergy, or related to a virus like herpes.  If it's an infection 2 weeks could be a long time. Look out for any other signs like watery eyes or brown crusting in the corners of the eyes, runny noses, or redness or bleeding around his gums as these could be other signs of a virus. 

I don't think I've ever known a cat that doesn't meow or seek attention in some way in the morning, it's one of the basic pleasures / hazards of life with felines!  The excitement of humans being up after a long night's sleep, empty bellies growling for food and unspent energy crying to be run off before you head out the door....  best route to a happy cat is to tend to all the above with the odd bit of pampering and stroking thrown in if Flea likes that sort of thing.  Mouse likes to be warmed up with a good belly rubbing session before he jumps off the bed in search of food, play, then treats before I indicate what my plans are for the day.

You don't need hundreds of expensive toys, though we all probably give in and buy them.  The odd cardboard box,  big paper bag (no handles for getting heads stuck in), some biscuits left in strategic places where you don't mind Flea ferreting about and leaving a few crumbs, and a couple of toy mice or similar along with a scratching post / climbing frame can keep most playful felines fairly busy when they're on their own.  Remember not to leave any toys that have string or elastic on lying about - including anything hanging on climbing frames - they get tangles up, and it's a good idea to make sure the climbing frame is fixed to the floor or wall so it can't topple over (flying cats leaping on to the top will pull them over)!

If you do get a laser, or someone gives one to you,  play with it but at certain points, or at the end of the session coordinate the dot with a biscuit or treat that Flea likes so he gets a tangible reward.  Yes, cats do get stressed and bored with them but for some reason still appear at the slightest hint of that key-jingle. 

With length of play, 10 minutes might be enough in the morning, but will need a couple of longer sessions in the evening on that basis.  Cats are not distance runners and stamina creatures, they are stealth and speed.  They go for strategy and sudden bursts so you go for getting their interest, drawing them out, then super fast activity till they lay down panting a bit, rest and then start up again.  Flea will let you know when he's had enough, and if he hasn't he will bring toys to you or keep biting at you and wrapping himself round your legs. This house is also a great fan of ProCat's cat hide and seek!

Originally Posted by NBrazil  

NBrazil, are you saying Mouse is a brat!!!! 

    

     He is a genuine single kitten spoiled by his cat momma even before he got to me but he is a total honey boy.  However, there is no doubt that he was a bundle of raw energy that needed directed outlets, and oh boy did he like biting!  He just needed to be taught what hurt humans and what didn't, and that it was definitely not OK to jump up at sitting OR standing humans' heads and plant his furry belly in their face.....  Flea sounds like a very well behaved little guy who likes to have fun.  He looks V cute in his photo too with those big white bunny paw back legs. 

  

 

[nbrazil]

Nah, I'm not saying that Mouse is a brat (and it was tongue in cheek, anyway)... all I'm saying is that SOME kittens that do not have a playmate require extra effort to keep them from forming bad habits - such as play biting.

In my case, due to health reasons, I did not have the energy to devote to dealing with this and his energy towards me in playful biting, foot pouncing, etc. I strained mightily to provide a total of an hour of hard playtime each day to no avail. Used all the correct techniques, to no avail. I knew that with time there was a good chance he would settle down, but he was beating me up and hurting my health in the process. I felt I couldn't wait the six or more months without serious consequences to my health (I chose a Ragdoll because I wanted a mellow cat - ah, but nobody warned me that kittens are always kittens no matter the breed). A sister totally solved the problem! Right now I'm laughing at their nightly olympics - energy that would have been directed at me.

I guess because I had never heard of single cat syndrome I felt that others should at least be aware of it as a possibility. Brat was meant as a generic term, not meaning spoiled, but leave us say, without manners. I'm sorry if you took it any other way.

 

[petcrazy76]

Our cat Peanut was an only cat until he was 9. Then we got Angel and they did great together (until Angel decided she was ruler of the house. They're starting to get along again though.) Even though Peanut was an only cat for 9 years he was great with Angel once they were introduced. They've never snuggled together, but he lets Angel clean him and they used to tear the house up playing. (At 13 he doesn't seem interested in moving that fast anymore. )

Your kitty sounds just like baby Peanut. He needed to be around me all morning. Sat outside the shower, layed in the sink, followed me to breakfast. As he got older he didn't need to be so close all the time like he did as a kitten. We found that Peanut loved to jump and when he did it would tire him out faster. For awhile we played with him before work for a few minutes and would play jumping games so he would tire out before work.

 

[petcrazy76]

Just thought of something else. Kittens grow fast so kitten food is designed to give them what their growing bodies need. Senior food is usually lower calorie food. Seniors don't play as much so some get pretty chunky if they stay on adult food. I would definitely choose a kitten food for now.

When you choose a brand, read the ingredients. I feed wet and dry foods. My old dry food was made of corn, chicken by-product, chicken flavoring etc. Corn is a filler. You really don't want that as one of your top ingredients. And try to find something that lists actual meat. Chicken instead of by-product or flavoring. If the top 5 ingredients sound gross to you, look at another brand.

That's my opinion anyway, based on the food research I've done. We use Natural Balance because my cats love the flavor and Peanut is SUPER picky. There are plenty of good brands available though. Just stay away from generic store brands. They usually aren't the best.

 

[mservant]

 
Nah, I'm not saying that Mouse is a brat (and it was tongue in cheek, anyway)... all I'm saying is that SOME kittens that do not have a playmate require extra effort to keep them from forming bad habits - such as play biting.

I guess because I had never heard of single cat syndrome I felt that others should at least be aware of it as a possibility. Brat was meant as a generic term, not meaning spoiled, but leave us say, without manners. I'm sorry if you took it any other way.

No offense taken, sorry I was being tongue in cheek too!  Mouse is a fine example of the single cat biting syndrome.  I did a lot of reading to check out the impact on kitten development before agreeing to adopt Mouse as I had a feeling not having siblings would have to affect something.  It is well evidenced that the main impact is the lack of feedback on bite pressure: they don't get told when they bite too much and too hard so the humans around them have to do it.  I can vouch for the fact that this is the case and also that they can learn and stop once they are in a consistent home - at least where they have had an otherwise well nurtured cat upbringing from their fur momma before being adopted.  You are absolutely correct in thinking it is hard work, and good to make sure people know about it.  Flea should be fine as this refers to cats who had no siblings from birth to weaning and separation from the parents and litter mates, not lone cats in households after that period.

If Flea had been a single kitten without birth siblings I would have raised the issue of adding another cat in to household as he would be more likely to find it difficult - e.g.  I would be very cautious with Mouse as he has never learned how to interact with any cat other than his mother.     

I think Petcrazy is right in that a single cat will often follow their human companion about a lot more, and it may diminish with age but they definitely look to their significant human for more interaction and company than a muti-cat household.  More than one cat can be a lot less demanding in many ways but payaza2000, you are right to think about the ability to manage the increased costs of general day to day things plus vet care.

 

[tnyc]

OK.. Well I might reconsider the lazer pojntert. Don't want a neurotic Cat. Lol

All great posts so far! I do want to add that laser pointers are GREAT but don't rely on them obviously. A few times a week is fine, and make sure you give them a treat afterwards. I think what was said earlier was about how the laser chase never ends in a real kill, so giving the cat a reward will help ease the possible frustration.

I read that at least 2 play sessions of 15 min is required per day. I would do more, but I don't think it's necessary. Single cats get VERY creative with their play, I've noticed. Because they don't have a buddy, they come up with some funny stuff. 

As for singlehood, I think it depends on your cat... some cats are more independent and some freak out. One of my friends single cats would tear out the carpet, poop and pee all over the owner's stuff if he was gone for too long. I would just wait and see how it goes. Most likely he should be fine! I know most people preach the 2 kitties rule, but I don't think it's necessary in every case....

2 of my best purchases so far: the Cat Dancer Cat Charmer (a plastic rod with a colorful dangly piece of fleece at the end), and the Smart Cat Ultimate Scratching Post. Both are available on Amazon.

Enjoy the kitteh!!!!

 

[stewball]

I enjoyed that. I only feed my cats dry food. I leave it down all the time and I don't get woken up for food but by sheer naughtiness.
When you take him to the vet I'd get his claws clipped so they're not so pointy and sharp. My vets clips my kitties on a regular basis. I can't because I have shaky hands.
The scratch tree I have has places for them to sit and hide besides plenty of scratching places. There also is s very cheap cardboard box made especially for scratching and my 2 love it and I just bought them a round slightly decorated sort of mat also for scratching and so they don't need to scratch the furniture.
The toy my little one loves is a soft small ball. He's got a few.
Keep up the good work and letting us know how everything is. Good luck.