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New kitten keeping me up

Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 3:06 pm
by imafan26
I lost my cat last year November 30,2012 she was 13 years old. I have two other females 6 and 10 years old. I adopted a new kitten from the feral colony.

The kitten I wanted just had kittens so the feral feeder asked me if I would take this other one instead. I had seen it around and it would approach but I could not get more than 5 ft near it. It had been probably been born there and was on its own when it was very young. The feral feeder captured and had it spayed for me and when I went to pick the black kitten up I found out it was a boy not a girl. I hope this works out.

For a feral kitten, he is adapting very well, likes to be held and likes to climb all over me. He is still in kittenhood so he plays a lot. Unfortunately cats like to play in the middle of the night so at 1 a.m. he was chasing the ball, running and knocking things off and pulling the dust covers off the tables waking me up. It will be nice once he learns the rules and learns to play quietly at night.

Re: New kitten keeping me up

Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 3:21 pm
by applestar
Aw the little rascal sounds cute. :D

I don't know if this would work as well with a single kitten, but when we adopted our two former barn kittens, I insisted on crating them at night (large crate with a plastic shoebox litterbox in the back and food/water area in the front on one side and our old T-shirts to sleep on on the other side) until they became used to us and their new home. My kids made a big deal of making it a part of their bedtime routine. :wink:

Re: New kitten keeping me up

Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 4:04 pm
by webmaster
1. Male kitten makes an ideal addition to a house with an existing female cat. So you're good on that point.

2. New kittens should be put to bed in a small cat kennel at night for two reasons. The first reason is to gently introduce it to the older cats. Keeping it boxed at night helps alleviate cat anxieties. Cats hate change, especially any changes that can make it feel displaced. The second reason to kennel at kitten at night is to make it accustomed to sleeping at night. I know, cats are nocturnal, but it does help them transition to keeping quiet at night.

Re: New kitten keeping me up

Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 4:25 pm
by rainbowgardener
We have had a long succession of feral cats become quite tame and affectionate. At this point, it is hardwired in to them to become domesticated.

Re: New kitten keeping me up

Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 8:43 pm
by DoubleDogFarm
Congratulations on the new addition. :)

Eric

Re: New kitten keeping me up

Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 9:27 pm
by imafan26
Thanks everyone.

Its been a few years since I have had kittens in the house. I also adopted the other two cats I have from the same feral colony but they were 1 and 2 years old when I got them. One had lived at the colony since she was kitten and the other was an abandoned pet since she was already spayed and she wasn't spayed by the feral feeders. The cat that passed away was 3 years old when I got her from that same feral colony and she was also an abandoned pet.

I did actually keep him in a separate room for a few days and I had carried him and my cats both so they did get to smell each other. When he seemed to be comfortable coming around me. I left the door open, and he started exploring. I like idea of confining him probably in the room night until he gets into the routine.

I have always had female cats. They are easier to get to live together since they will stake out their territories and there is clearly a dominant cat and they are unrelated. I wasn't sure a male cat would fit in. I'm glad to hear that it might work out fine after all.

Re: New kitten keeping me up

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 12:30 am
by webmaster
I'm glad to hear that it might work out fine after all
Most definitely. Older female cat/younger male cat is the recommended pairing. ;)