Expert: Karen Craft - 12/10/2011

Question
About a week ago, my boyfriend and I adopted a 6-month-old siamese/tabby kitten from a local rescue shelter. When we got her home, our 5-year-old tabby understandably got upset and ran off into hiding. We put her in her own separate room and let our older cat adjust. A couple days ago, we opened the door to let them meet- our older cat hissed a little and walked off while the kitten just sat and watched her, which was much better then we expected. But we still keep them separate at night just in-case. But since we've done that our kitten hasn't eaten or moved off her sleeping-spot, and has become extremely aggressive at both myself and my boyfriend. She growls when we get close, and doesn't hesitate to claw or bite at us. We managed to get her to the vets, and she had a minor upper respiratory infection. We also set up a spaying/declawing date. Once home, we had to wrap her in a blanket and scruff her just to get near her mouth to give her the medication. I'm hoping she relaxes after the spaying, but is this type of behavior normal for a kitten? Or what can we possibly do to make it better.

Answer
Hi Alicia,

You have a very young cat that is thrust into a highly stressful situation. She is acting like almost any cat would. She needs time and some stability. She is in a highly protective mode. And you are not yet accepted as being safe so she will attack you. You took her to the vet to get poked and prodded and injections. Then you wrap her in a blanket and force medicine down her. So she is going be just like she is.

Get her liquid medication and add it to some wet food. Let her take it that way. Get her into a quiet safe area. She needs that to calm down. Try some Feliway Comfort Zone to relax her. And you try this stuff too.

http://www.petnaturals.com/vitamins_supplements/calming-support-softchews-cats.p

You need to reintroduce yourself to her as being safe. Try giving her treats whenever you visit her. She needs to associate you with good things. Time and good treatment are what is needed for her to calm down.

And one other thing. Please rethink about getting her declawed. You really need to read this and understand what declawing is.

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/declaw.html

You are subjecting this cat to a lot. Let her relax in her new home a bit before throwing some new stuff at her. Good luck and take care.

Ciao, Karen