You are here:

Cats/My cat's behavior.

Advertisement

Expert: - 10/27/2008


Question
Some random person gave me my cat when it was still a baby. I had to hand feed it the bottle. Well now that he is almost two years old , he doesn't play with any toys I provide him with. He just stares at my hand. He is smart enough to tell it is me moving the object. It is like he is bored. I do let him go outside once in awhile because I don't know how to entertain him. He loves attention and he loves to be pet. The thing is, he does not purr anymore. Some say it is because he is unhappy.

Answer
Liz,

Having hand reared a large number of orphaned and abandoned kittens in my lifetime I have seen reactions to hand rearing differ based on the age, personality, age that the kitten was orphaned/abandoned. I have a few questions for you so that I can have a clearer picture of what's happening here.

- Has this kitten been seen recently by a vet?

- How old was this kitten when you began caring for him?

- Does this kitten have any health related issues that you are aware of?

- When did your kitty stop purring? Do you know why?

- Have you tried playing with interactive toys for this kitty? Some cats aren't big on toys that they can play with independently and prefer the interaction and company of their caregiver.

If you can describe a typical day in this baby's health it would help me to figure out what's going on. In some cases when a kitten is raised by someone who hasn't got a fair amount of experience different things can happen. There are a number of different reasons for the behavior you are describing. I would suggest that you keep this kitty indoors for now to avoid the hazards that he could potentially fall victim to and become injured or ill as a result...I would appreciate it if you could provide me with as much history about this baby as possible...Personality, type of diet and other factors may be important to getting to the bottom of this mystery.

Cats

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Ali

Expertise

I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.