Expert: Becky - 7/27/2006

Question
Hi.

I have a 13 week old half siamese kitten. I got her at nine weeks and she seems to be healthy and happy in every way but two.

The first behavior is ...I'm not sure how to put it delicately..she passes gas. quite often and it smells horrible. She eats and goes to bathroom normally, gives no indication that she is in any way ill, and most times she doesn't even appear to have noticed that it happened. "Silent but deadly" i would have to say. I guess im wanting to know, is this normal and just something she will grow out of? or is she just going to be a "farty cat"? or could there be a problem?

The other behaviour, i hate to call it a problem because it seems to stem from affection, she has a tendency to suck and gnaw on my fingers and toes. It most often happens just as i go to bed at night. She will rub her face against mine, do a lot of purring and then immediately seek out my hand to start sucking and chewing on a finger. If it wasn't rather uncomfortable for me, i'd not worry about it. And i hesitate to correct her if she *is* simply being affectionate and seeing me as "her mommy"  

Answer
Hi Layla,
Maybe you should try a different brand of cat food.  That may be the gassy problem. If you are feeding a canned food, then that is probably the problem.  Try changing brands.  My cats smell up the litter box something awful, and I have to scoop it two or three times a day, but there isn't a gassy problem.

As far as her sucking on your fingers, this is a sign of contentment. She is correlating you with her mother, as kittens are very content when nursing.  My cats will "knead" on me and if their nails haven't been trimmed, it is "ouchy".  It really is a sweet thing that she is doing, but I understand it can be irritating.  Gently remove her and love on her and maybe she will stop doing it.  It means she is very happy, by the way.

God Bless,
Becky