Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/kitten

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 6/20/2008


Question
hi,
I have a problem with my 3 months old female kitten. when she poops, sometimes it sticks on her rear end hair!! its so disgusting!! is there a way I can prevent this?? I was told to shave her bum's hair! is that a good idea??
also, I noticed that she doen't eat that much?? she hates tuna, chicken ,beef, rice, mashed carrots. she only eats cat food nuggets, otherwise she's active and playful. is that normal??

thanks in advance

Answer
Blaze,

Trim the fur on her backend. She will grow out of it as she gets taller and learns how to coordinate balancing when she poops. That is a common problem.

I have a 'vegetarian' cat who will NEVER touch meat, cooked or raw!Some cats only like cat food. Some prefer wet food and some will only eat dry food. Get a good quality kitten chow, like Iams, for the first year, and keep a bowl full all the time. That way she can nibble when she is hungry.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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