Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/new addition (a new thing)

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 3/25/2009


Question
Tabbi thank you so much for ur response.  But my better half got the best of me and I took her to the vet, shes just finiky.... Nothing is wrong with her and she ate their wet vet food.  3 times today so im glad and relieved and it was money well "not" spent on making sure.

my other question is this at 10 wks of age and the possibility of her being pulled too soon from mom will the nursing stop on my 3 yr old male.  I dont want to see him sore from her doing this and he does displine bit and chatter at her when he tires of it, but the sound is annoying to me.  (Jude is actually Ava's uncle)  I read about bitter appl on my male but I dont want it to be assoicate on my cat to prevent him from cleaning himself.  anything u can suggest other then go with it.  I gently picj her up and pull her away usually putting her in front of the food until she gets the hint.  

thanks again tabbi

Answer
Jena,

I'm glad there isn't a problem with the kitten eating. If you can afford it, it's always good to have the vet check an animal if you are questioning it's health or habits.

The 'nursing' will stop. She will either grow out of it (unless it is a deep seeded emotional problem, which I doubt it is) or the male will put an end to it. He is not going to happily allow her to cause him pain. What looks painful or irritating to us is not always to a cat. No, I wouldn't put anything on him to discourage her. It is a comfort behavior prior to going to sleep...like a kid needing his stuffed animal. It also means she is loving, happy, and affectionate. Try to bear with it if you can.

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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