Expert: Melissa Burg, Veterinary Technician - 10/17/2010

Question
Hi I already asked this question.  But I put the wrong age by mistake.  I feel the age here makes a big difference.  The kitty is a 15 WEEK Maine Coon kitten.

Just for background, we have always had 2-3 super affectionate cats in our house.  Me and my husband live a quiet and happy life.  We have always adored kitties and they know it.  Both my older kitties are kewl with our new Maine Coon.  And we will often find all three sleeping together on my couch.  My new baby absolutely adores my other 2 kitties.

We got our new 15 week old Maine Coon kitty a couple of months ago.  He is 5 1/2 months old now.  He flew here via plane in the passenger cabin.  The breeder said he was quiet during the trip.   I noticed that he had very bad breath.  And his gums and mouth checked out perfectly at the vets.     

The first night behavior was odd, but understandable.  And he would get extremely jumpy with every minor noise.  And hid under the bed a lot.  We could coax him out gently at times.  But kept him closed in the bedroom for security for about a week.  And made sure that a family member was always with him. (Trying to forge a good start as a loving kitty.) Letting him out for short but increasingly longer visits with our other kitties.

The first morning, and at various times throughout the day, he was super loving and affectionate.  But other times he would run away from us. This was the start of his odd behavior.

Now, months later, he has behavior that constantly swings from one extreme to the next.  For many days he is the most sweetest loving cat that head butts and loves you to death while on your chest.  Following us from room to room.  And meowing "I love you" every time he sees your face.  He loves to startle me with peek a boo games.  LOL...

Then for days, he becomes, Mr. don't touch me.  The main problem is TOUCHING.  He is still the same extra sweet well behaved cat.  He sleeps on beds and furniture.  Loves the other cats.  But will run under our bed if you touch him while he is on the floor.  If he is on a bed etc... he will get up and move a foot away.  But not mean about it in any way.  He is still happy, but odd.

He is a gentile kitty that wouldn't ever use his claws or bite us.  He doesn't like to be held for long. When I set him down, he walks away slowly or sits down next to me.  Depending upon this mood.

He did have some bad gingivitis from some major teething. I check his mouth often due to the breath problem.  And got antibiotics.  All he has now is a red line.  But his swinging behavior is still there.  

When we got him, our daughter was living with us temporarily.  But she would go to her boyfriends city for days at a time.  When she was gone, he was sweeter.  When she came back he was not.  When she moved out for good, he became the sweetest of all time and for the longest time. Or was this coincidence?  My daughter is loved by all cats just like us.  And my older female is "her clingy baby" when my daughter is home.  

So he was SUPER sweet before his vet visit.  When I gave him meds he swung the other way for 2 days.  When I realized that one med was alcohol based on raw gums, I took the med away and he became somewhat sweet again.  But then for no reason, became the opposite again.  Maybe resentment over the continuing antibiotic?  Now remember, he is a sweet pushover and will let me do it with little fuss.  He just doesn't like it.  Today, he has one day of his antibiotic left.  And he jumped on my lap at 11PM for the first time in 2 days for some love.  And is now sleeping 2 feet away from me.

What is wrong with him?  This is the big question.  Is he super sensitive?  Is he bipolar?  Is it his gingivitis?  Was the "perfect breeder", not interacting with him like she said? (I was referred to her by an excellent breeder that is friends with her.)   He was raised under foot.  But I have to admit that the breeders personality can swing a bit.  

I am terrified to get him neutered.  He may hate me for life. Would I sound silly asking for him to be the first surgical case of the day?  And to get him out as quick as possible? And maybe even give him anti anxiety meds pre and post op?

I am also worried about brushing his teeth.  (I am starting as soon as the toothpaste arrives in the mail.)   Since his personality changes so easily.

Please help me, I have never had a kitten like this in all my years.  

Answer
The first thing I am going to tell you to do is relax. There are so many people that want the least amount of stress as possible while away from them, but the fact is the more you stress the more he is going to stress.

The other main thing that worries me is that he may have come from a kitten mill...yes they do exist. That would explain all his mood swings and behavior changes.

This is the one thing I want to enforce on you..DO NOT be afraid of making him mad. You've already lost the battle if you act like this. Let him have his hissy fits, he'll get over it. When he realizes that his behavior doesn't attract any special attention from you, he'll start to become a normal cat, well as normal as any can be.

Don't be afraid to get him neutered or brush his teeth; also which makes me think he came from a kitten mill as at his age his teeth should still be perfect.

I hope this makes you feel a little better about things.