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New Kitten Problem. - 7/24/2007 10:54:51 PM

popeye1250

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From: New Hampshire
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Last Friday a lady who lives in one of the other condos gave me a new kitten about 12 weeks old.
I brought him home and naturally expected him to hide behind the couch which he promptly did for the first day.
I do have another cat that's 7 years old and he doesn't seem overly interested in the new kitten.
I kind of got him to keep "Bubba" company.
Problem is it's day 5 and the kitten is still hiding behind the couch or under my bed most of the time!
He does eat and drink but if he sees me off he goes back under the couch or bed!
How do I get him to stay out more?
I've tried moving his food and water dish further out but that doesn't seem to work.
Any experts on cats here?

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RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/24/2007 11:07:54 PM

SunNMoon

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Not an expert at all, but the tip we got when we brought our cat home was to put him in just one room for the first week or so. Just to get use to the place, before having the run of the house. You might want to try leaving him in the in the bedroom for awhile (with a litter box and water ect) then letting him out in a slowly. Just a thought...you might want to ask the vet.

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Post #: 2

RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/24/2007 11:10:26 PM

Alumbrado

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As said above, too much space can be intimidating... put the new kitten in a small room they can explore without feeling like they will be too far from safety... then after a while let them move from that room to a larger area, so they can have the original room as their place to retreat to..

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RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/24/2007 11:25:29 PM

DiurnalVampire

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From: Nashville, TN
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If he is running when he sees you, you might want to try sitting really still in the room with him and letting him come check you out. You might even want to resort to bribary, like some tuna in a dish near you or something like that. Its a big change into a place that smells, looks and feels unfamiliar. Its a lot to take in, and 5 days really isnt all that long for a kitten.

Good luck
DV

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Post #: 4

RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/24/2007 11:33:21 PM

witchywoman313

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If your kitten runs from you he might not be socialized very well. Id deffinatly try to get the kitten to socialize with you more keeping him in your room and giving him treats by hand or petting him while he's eating his treat might be a place to start. Try giving him some Kitty milk as a treat, kittens LOVE milk although some say cows milk isnt good for them there are special milk products for cats. Its an excelent bribe. Again I'm not an expert, Ive had cats though and kittens.

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RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/24/2007 11:52:56 PM

dawndewdropbaby

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I wish I could help you..... sadly my cat is 17 years old and bosses me around. My kitten knowledge is long gone.

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RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/24/2007 11:56:10 PM

Jhin

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Buy him some toys and spoil him for a while, you may want to consider cleaning out a closet to make his den in, then leave the door open, smalled spaces make them comfortable, and with the door open he'll come out in time.

Just a bit of advice never corner a scared kitten, they know how to fight, and being cornered will set off alarms.

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RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/25/2007 8:06:40 AM

LuckyAlbatross

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Poor kitten.

Set up a small space just for him- preferably in a bathroom or a small unused study. His own bed, his own toys, his own litterbox. Give him time to get used to ALL the new smells without the added scary big new cat anxiety. Make sure to feed and play with him plenty.

A few days after he becomes completely secure in this new space, THEN you can open the door and introduce the cats together. Some cats play and tussle right away. Some cats fight right away. And some cats just look at eachother and hiss. Depending on how the cats get along, you can decide how long to keep them together. If they aren't doing well, go ahead and separate them again after an hour and try again the next day.

Be sure to be firm with the older cat that the younger one is not to be bullied. If the older one starts being too aggressive, tap them firmly on the nose, look them in the eye and say No. An occasional water bottle squirt can be necessary for a highly aggressive cat.

This isn't to coddle the kitten, it's to train the older cat on how to behave so that they can form a decent relationship and you won't have to worry about them fighting all the time or hurting eachother on a regular basis.

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Post #: 8

RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/25/2007 12:04:39 PM

nyrisa

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In addition to letting him have time to adapt to the new environment and the presence of an adult cat, it does also sound like he needs some intensive socialization time. He needs to learn that you won't harm him, and that wonderful things happen when you interact with him.

Keeping him confined to a small area is definitely what I'd recommend; also, hand feeding him treats several times per day. If you can't coax him to you in the small room, you may just have to catch him, then spend lots and lots of time holding him, talking softly to him, carrying him around with you as you go about your business. He will be very frightened when you first pick him up, but cradling him against your chest in a quiet room will let him see that this is a nonthreatening situation. As long as he can lurk hidden and dart out only for food and drink, you may never get him to the point of allowing touching and petting.

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Post #: 9

RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/25/2007 12:07:39 PM

popeye1250

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From: New Hampshire
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Nyrisa, I tried that but I can't catch him! lol
Everytime I see him and I go to get up out of this computer chair he bolts!

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Post #: 10

RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/25/2007 12:07:48 PM

Alumbrado

Posts: 5560
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And if all that fails, pull a sock over his head.

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Post #: 11

RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/25/2007 12:14:12 PM

MzMia

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ROFL,
Big tough guy, Popeye with a little bitty putty tat?
I just can't picture it.

Please don't torture the cat with your political views, OR I will call the
SPCA on you!
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

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Post #: 12

RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/25/2007 12:17:31 PM

Zensee

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Any chance Bubba could spend a day or two with a friend so you can connect with the kitten? He's probably feeling outnumbered amongst all the other fear triggers.

Z.

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Post #: 13

RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/25/2007 12:20:00 PM

popeye1250

Posts: 18104
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From: New Hampshire
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Yes, I could put Bubba in another bedroom for the night and let the kitten have the run of the place.

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Post #: 14

RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/25/2007 12:27:02 PM

DomMeinCT

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This site has an excellent section on acclimating your new kitten. http://www.asapcats.org/cattips.html#kitten

I had a lot of luck confining our last kitten to my bedroom, so he could sneak out and inspect me while I was quiet.

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Post #: 15

RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/25/2007 12:31:26 PM

Zensee

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Joined: 9/4/2004
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Yes, putting Bubba in another room for a while might help.

BTW - sitting or laying on the floor makes people a little less threatening and perhaps more approachable. Also, looking directly into a cat's eyes may be perceived as an agressive challenge. Cats actually tend to become curious about people who ignore them, which is why cats often gravitate to the people in a room who are afraid of cats while avoiding all the people making smoochy noises at them.

Avoid eye contact, speak softly with a higher pitch, grab a book, surround yourself with (cat) treats and settle in for a bit of a wait.

Z.

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Post #: 16

RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/25/2007 12:34:48 PM

LotusSong

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I agree. Put him in your laundry room or bathroom with a comfy bed, litter box, food and water. Limit his space as the whole house with another cat lurking about is intimidating.

After about a week, leave the door open to wherever you have confined him. He'll start to venture out on his own and have a safe place to run back to.

I just added an adult male cat to my brood of 4. (He actually pushed his way through the front door one morning and refuses to leave). I had him set up in my laundry room as I suggested. It's been about 3 weeks now and he has incorporated himself gradually.

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Post #: 17

RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/25/2007 12:43:52 PM

nyrisa

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Joined: 11/20/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250

Nyrisa, I tried that but I can't catch him! lol
Everytime I see him and I go to get up out of this computer chair he bolts!

**laughing** I had that same situation with a wild kitten once. I ended up putting the food and water nearer and nearer to the bathroom, then finally inside the bathroom, and I tied a long cord around the door handle, then hid around the door in the next room. Once the kitten went into the bathroom, a tug on the rope shut the door, and he was confined to a small room. I felt like Steve Irwin, Crocodile Hunter. *L*

For a while, it was a kitty rodeo, with him running around the room, frightened. I gave him the rest of that day to settle down, then I began the process of taming him. No food was left in the bathroom, I brought in food several times a day, so seeing me arrive meant sustenance. I sat quietly on the toilet seat and read a book, with the food dish about 2 feet from my feet.

Eventually, in the small room, I was able to catch him, and begin accustoming him to my touch. I'd pick him up, pet him for a few minutes, then set him down next to the food and go on with my reading. He found out that nothing awful happened, that I only "inconvenienced him" for a few minutes, then he got to eat. From that point on, the taming progressed rapidly, with longer sessions of petting. When he would come to me to take a treat from my hand, and let me pet him, then I began leaving the bathroom door open to let him have more freedom, but still made sure regular petting and treat sessions happened several times per day.

Good luck with your kitty, and I am glad to see someone willing to put forth the effort to win an animal's trust.

_____________________________

A true lady takes off her dignity with her clothes and does her whorish best. At other times you can be as modest and dignified as your persona requires. Robert Heinlein

The last thing I want to do is hurt you...but it is still on my list.

(in reply to popeye1250)

Post #: 18

RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/25/2007 3:06:52 PM

brightspot

Posts: 3052
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I have people I know who have taken in Ferral (wild, no human contact) and most of them even turn around but it takes time. It also has happened when I have brought a new kitten home too, although their coming out process dosen't take as long as a ferral.

My mom took in a ferral kitten and it hide under the bathtub for two weeks. We just put her food, water and cat box close to the tub and left her alone. This way she was under there but secretly watched everyone in the house. Under the tub was cool because when people were in there doing whatever business she was able to watch them close up and get a feeling for their trustworthiness.

After two weeks she slowly began to venture out and test things. Before long she was intermingling and beginning to let people pet her and trust was slowly built, she became and is a very loveable outgoing cat now.

My suggestion would be to bascially tend to her needs; food, water and catbox and leave her a lone, but whenever in her presence talk kindly to her but don't look at her.
I am almost certain she will come around, it might take time, sometimes a lot of time but she will come around as soon as she has figured out the place, people and other animals aren't out to Get Her. That really right now is her biggest fear.

Good-Luck Popeye, hope it works out, just be as paitient as you can.

Missy.

< Message edited by brightspot -- 7/25/2007 3:15:25 PM >

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Post #: 19

RE: New Kitten Problem. - 7/25/2007 3:10:36 PM

LuckyAlbatross

Posts: 19224
Joined: 10/25/2005
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quote:

ORIGINAL: nyrisa
**laughing** I had that same situation with a wild kitten once. I ended up putting the food and water nearer and nearer to the bathroom, then finally inside the bathroom, and I tied a long cord around the door handle, then hid around the door in the next room. Once the kitten went into the bathroom, a tug on the rope shut the door, and he was confined to a small room. I felt like Steve Irwin, Crocodile Hunter. *L*

For a while, it was a kitty rodeo, with him running around the room, frightened. I gave him the rest of that day to settle down, then I began the process of taming him. No food was left in the bathroom, I brought in food several times a day, so seeing me arrive meant sustenance. I sat quietly on the toilet seat and read a book, with the food dish about 2 feet from my feet.

Eventually, in the small room, I was able to catch him, and begin accustoming him to my touch. I'd pick him up, pet him for a few minutes, then set him down next to the food and go on with my reading. He found out that nothing awful happened, that I only "inconvenienced him" for a few minutes, then he got to eat. From that point on, the taming progressed rapidly, with longer sessions of petting. When he would come to me to take a treat from my hand, and let me pet him, then I began leaving the bathroom door open to let him have more freedom, but still made sure regular petting and treat sessions happened several times per day.

Good luck with your kitty, and I am glad to see someone willing to put forth the effort to win an animal's trust.

Aww now THAT is kitten care and maintenence I really applaud and respect!

_____________________________

Find stable partners, not a stable of partners.

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Post #: 20

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