About 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).
Education/Credentials ***********
Awards and Honors * One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
Question I just rescued a kitten a week and a half ago. He was infested with fleas and underweight. I have been giving him baths and feeding him a special high fat diet recommended by the vet. The vet and I believe he was a feral. He is approximately 5 weeks old. I had to isolate him initially but frequently went in the room to care for him. He is skittish and hides most of the time however will purr and let you pet him when you pick him up. I have another rescued kitten approximately 10 weeks old that he has started playing with. My problem is that a couple of days ago he started sleeping with me in my bed and has pooped on the bed next to me approximately 3 nights in a row. The litter box is in my bedroom and is cleaned almost immediately after anyone uses it. The kitten uses this box throughout the day with no accidents. I have washed all the linen and went as far as flipping the mattress and changing the linens entirely to a new set, including the comforter. I would hate to have to banish him from my bedroom where the other kitten sleeps as I know they like to sleep together. What could the problem be?? How can I correct it while still socializing him? I rescue kittens all the time and have never encounter this problem.
Answer Jill,
Is there a night light in the bedroom? Little kittens do not go far to use the litterbox and for some reason the kitten may be afraid to jump off the bed in the dark and look for the litterbox. I would try having a night light and see if that helps his 'accidents'.
You may want to get a big dog crate that will fit a small litterbox and keep both kittens in it at night next to your bed. That will help him get used to using a litterbox at night.
For further, and future, reference on feral behavior here is a link that has a GOOD 4-part article on ferals that should be of help to you.
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into your address bar)
