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Cats/needy kitten

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Expert: - 9/20/2008


Question
I took on a 4 week old male kitten who is now 9 months old,i called him barney,he seems to be very dependant on me,crying until i pick him up and cuddle him,he rubs his face around mine and i have to give him little kisses around his face if not he wont calm down,when i go to bed he has to sleep as near to my face as he can get if not again he starts to cry,is this normal?

Answer
Laura,

The behavior is very common in kittens who have been separated from their siblings and mother too early. I usually recommend that kittens stay with their family unit until they are at least 10-12 weeks old to prevent such behavior. There really isn't anything that you can do to fix the issue because there isn't any way to replace the lost time with mom and siblings. You can try a homeopathic remedy called Bach's Rescue Remedy which is a very safe blend of flower essences designed to calm and reassure. This may help to alleviate some of this kitty's anxiety. You can usually find Rescue Remedy in health food/natural health stores and it's often sold for roughly $15 CAN. I would recommend that you try putting 8 drops of Rescue Remedy into this little guy's fresh water each morning, you may see a fair difference in his needy behavior in a fairly short period of time. It's also possible that the needy/clingy behavior you are seeing is going to be a permanent part of this kitty's personality, you may find that developing a routine and providing this little guy with something to cuddle with such as a soft stuffed animal may help to shift the focus off of you just a bit....Luckily this little guy hasn't developed other common behaviors like sucking on hair, blankets, clothing, human body parts, other pets in the home, etc and he doesn't sound grabby compared to some that I've fostered....Unfortunately this need for attention and reassurance may well be a permanent part of this kitty's personality and the only real way to prevent such behaviors in future is to insist that the kittens stay with mom for at least 10-12 weeks, this allows you to provide a home to a much more confident and self assured kitty.

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Ali

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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.

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