As some of you may know, I recently fostered a cat and her litter for a friend of a friend and me and my roommates decided to adopt one of the kittens. We named him (sir) Cuddlefluff(s) though I usually call him Fluffy or kitty.
I thought the adoption fell through because they decided to take the kitten back and sell him. I take it they changed their mind again?
Anyway, I now share the main/master bedroom (which has a private bathroom) with my roommate and we usually keep our kitten in our room. We never let him leave our room unattended because I have houseplants (basil I grew from seeds (which I don't want to be destroyed), 2 snake plants, and golden pothos). The snake plants are mildly toxic but are difficult to chew (very fibrous) so I don't worry so much but the golden pothos is soft and more poisonous so I have to make sure no one ever takes a bite out of it. I'm considering on putting the pothos on the table (which is next to it) though I will have to figure out how to position the grow lights so that my basil grows as fast as possible. I thought that it was impossible for the kitten to reach the leaves because I have the pothos in a big clay pot with the vines grown on a moss pole, not draping down but my kitten is growing fast and is an avid climber.
Do you have a room where you can keep the plants in and keep the kitten out? You won't be able to rely on keeping them high up or in a place you think is inaccessible. If a cat decides to climb up somewhere, they're going to climb. It's been an adventure, figuring out all the places Maddy can get to.
Our kitty has slowly decreased his biting and scratching though he still clings to my leg (which hurts because he can dig his claws in) whenever I leave the room without letting him out (at least if he is awake). He loves to cuddle up with me, often times sleeping on my head or neck (which can make it difficult for me to breathe if I hadn't taken my allergy medicine).
Do you have further advice,
@Valka D'Ur and
@Lexicus? When should we take the kitten to the vet? I noticed him sneezing every once in a while.
1. Re the clawing: If you don't know how to trim the kitten's claws, you need to learn. It's essential to keep them trimmed, because if they're allowed to grow, they can hurt themselves when they scratch, and they'll definitely hurt you even when they're just kneading.
Some cats don't mind having their claws trimmed. Others howl like they're being murdered. I've generally found it's easier to start when the cat is sleeping; with luck by the time they're fully awake, you'll be at least half done.
2. As others have said, take the kitten to the vet ASAP to be checked for parasites and general health. Distemper/rabies shots can and should be administered at 8 weeks of age (vets will not do this for kittens younger than 8 weeks). If feline leukemia vaccinations are offered, that's a good idea as well.
3. Neutering is usually done at some point between 4-6 months. Trust me, you and the cat will be better off if you get this done. Once a male cat starts spraying, they'll always spray, so it's best to get the operation over before they start. Otherwise your home will smell terrible, and he'll be more prone to wander. And you don't want some irate neighbor ringing your doorbell, informing you that you're about to have grandkittens.
4. Getting him used to wearing a collar would be a good idea, even if he's never allowed outside. Cats can always escape, and a collar would tell people that he's not a stray. Having an ID tag would be best as well. Most vets offer microchipping or a tattoo with the spay/neuter, so I'd advise taking them up on that.
She also doesn't appreciate my taste in music.
Aww, what a pretty cat!
It's interesting, what cats like. My Siamese cat liked Strauss waltzes (she'd come and listen while I had my Strauss record on; it's one of the records I'd listen to while working on my Doodle-Art pictures).
Here’s a picture from last night:
Have you tried Whiskas cat milk? Maddy loves that stuff.
