Why Kittens

Eight Steps to the Practically Perfect Kitten

Kittens At Play – A Time To Develop Their Potential

What is the best way to play with my kitten?

Is it true we should not let our kittens around catnip? How old should they be before having it around?

My kitten Blossom loves to scratch my furniture. I have bought the kitty condos that are supposed to contain catnip for her to scratch, but she always goes to the couch or chair. Any hope?

I recently adopted an older kitten (he is about a year old) from the SPCA. He cries all night, and I am not able to sleep. I have tried giving him more food (he also seems to be hungry all the time), I play with him before bed, I spray him with a water bottle to try to teach him to stop, I have consistent routines that I follow, and I am FRUSTRATED!

Why does my kitten chase its tail?

Why does my kitten always bite and suck my hair?

I got my kitten when he was 4-5 months old and am having difficulty teaching him his name. Any suggestions?

My 10-month-old kittens insist on shredding any kind of paper. Why are they doing this and how can I stop it?

I have a waterbed and I want my kitten to sleep with me. Is it possible for the cat's claws to put a hole in waterbeds?

My 4-month-old kitten starts clicking his teeth extremely loudly when he's ready to attack a bug. Why is this?

I have 2 kittens from the same litter and every now and then they will 'throw' themselves into my body, especially when I am sitting or lying down. Why do they do this?

I've always wondered why kittens will occasionally take that classic 'halloween cat' stance - arched back, hair on end, sideways walk – while playing. It seems a kind of mock defense, trying to appear larger than they are and they seem to outgrow the behavior.

Why does my 14-year-old cat howl? Our vet says he is OK.

How do you know if a kitten doesn't like you? Can a kitten like someone else and not you?

Is it possible that a kitten will want to play with you but be cuddled by someone else?

Do you live with a cat?

My kitten is 5 months old and never sleeps. I leave for work at 7 AM and I keep a camera on him - all I see is a blur all day long. When I get home I play with him for 6-7 hours until I have to sleep. He may curl up and sleep for 30 minutes, but it never fails, I get pounced on (he knows how to open doors).

Why does my kitten Ashley attack my dog Cassie whenever she sees her?

I have a 7-month-old kitten, Abba, who seems to spend a great amount of time sitting in front of a wall staring at it and talking to it as if the wall will answer.

What is the best way to introduce a 10-month-old new cat to a Rottweiler and a pit bull dog so that they can learn to get along together?

My sister is going to give her children a kitten for Christmas. She also wanted to add a puppy at the same time. There shouldn’t be any territorial problems that way, right? What sex should she be looking for when it comes to both animals to give them a better chance?

I have a 3-year-old female who has never been loveable or affectionate in any way. She seems to have contempt for everybody. This is really heartbreaking for us; what can we do to make her nicer? Also, what can we do to ensure our new kitten remains loveable?

Our 5-1/2 month old kitten has a wonderful disposition. She has one habit we don't understand. She'll run over to a doorframe and jump straight up. She can now jump higher than the doorknob. She does it several times. It's quite funny but why does she do it?

We just got a second cat (a kitten) and our 1-year-old cat plays very roughly with the new kitten. When should I worry if it is too rough? There is biting going on, but it looks like play and the kitten does not seem afraid.

How old must a kitten be before it is safe to wean it from its mother?

I have two kittens and the youngest purrs extremely loud at night. I'm wondering if she has a respiratory problem?

My kitten makes little sounds now and then but does not meow - why?

I can't leave my new kitten's sight without it excessively howling or meowing. Should it be as attached to me as it is?

I have been unsuccessful at keeping my kitten off the table while I eat - how can I correct this behavior?

How do you introduce yourself to a kitten that is afraid of you? I found two kittens on my deck but they are very afraid. What can I do to help them trust me?

Do kittens like to be held?

I have a white kitten that is totally deaf. Normal surprise tactics recommended for curbing unwanted behavior don't work because he can't hear them. Do you have any suggestions for training (have tried squirt guns).

What ways to kittens like to be played with?

I am thinking about getting two kittens - is it best to have male and female or is it okay to have two of the same sex?

When my kitten meows it only blows out air but at the end it meows. Can you tell me if something is wrong with my kitten?

My cat sucks on blankets like she is nursing - what does this mean?

Should I isolate my kitten and puppy from each other when I leave home? They play well together when I am at home but I worry about them getting too rough.

I just got my kitten and she's a little afraid of my hands. How long does it usually take for a kitten to get used to you as their friend?

How many hours per day should a 7-8 week old kitten sleep?

Why does my kitten constantly wash my face?

Why would my male kitten be trying to bite my older male every time he sees him?

Do kittens hiccup?

What does it mean when a kitten makes a sound that is a cross between a purr and a meow? Is it happy, scared or what?

What kind of toy can my kitten play with?

My kitten tends to sleep either on my head or my chest when I'm sleeping. I'm just curious to know why some cats do this?

Can cats play with feathers?

Why does my 7-month-old kitten jump up to lick the glass every time I sit down with a glass and when I am sweating he kisses my nose and licks it and tries to lick my whole face?

I have a year-old male cat who was neutered at 4 months of age. For the past month, he has been trying to mate with me. He grabs my wrist and tries to mate with my elbow and kneads with his front and hind feed. He only does it when I'm asleep and my arm is covered with a sheet or blanket. Lately, if my arm isn't available he uses my leg.

Our 7-month-old male cat is very wild. He runs full force and jumps on everything. Why?

We have a 2-year-old cat and an 8-month-old kitten and we are interested in purchasing a Bengal leopard (a baby leopard will be about 350 pounds). We want to make sure that our two existing cats will be able to adapt to the leopard. Any advice? (Neither of the cats is neutered.)

Why do kittens stick out their tongues?

Why does my kitten (or cat) put her toys in the water dish?

We adopted a 12-week-old kitten and need to know the best way to assimilate the cat into the new house. We have 9 and 13-year-old children. The house is busy until 8 AM and then empty until 2 PM. What is the best way for the cat to get to know the house and become a good, clean pet?

If I am planning on having a baby and getting a kitten for my daughter, what precautions should I take?

I am planning to get a kitten in the near future and am looking for one that will be extremely cuddly, affectionate and get along with my Mastiff. Are there any certain clues or hints I can look for when I hold or choose from a litter?

What do you do when an eight-week-old kitten insists on trying to climb up drapes? She seems to be trying to teach her brother to do this also.

How come a kitten licks or chews on its owner's clothes?

My kitten will not leave my 14-year-old cat alone. The kitten will eat his food and fight with him. I'm afraid that when they're 'playing' that the kitten will seriously harm the older cat. How can I tame the kitten down and get her to stop fighting the older cat?

I would like to know how long kitten play lasts?

Last night I adopted a new 9 week old kitten. About how long does it take a kitten to adjust? He's been staying in a little bed I made for him to sleep, under an end table (where he hid all night) in my living room. He hasn't come out all day or visited his kitty box.

I received a 10 week old kitten about two weeks ago and we hardly ever see her. She stays in hiding most of the day and will make few appearances to play for a few minutes but when she is out and we try to pet her she gets scared and runs away. When she lets us hold and pet her she is very loving and loves to be brushed, but this only lasts about 10 minutes before hiding again; and it doesn't seem like she is eating much, if at all. Why is she doing these things?

My kittens are sisters who play and wrestle together. The problem is the more dominate one (Stormy) doesn't like to give up even when her sister (Sunshine) is on her back pinned down and "screaming." I don't mind them wrestling but I don't like the "never give up" attitude of Stormy. True, Sunshine starts the wrestling sometimes but Stormy doesn't seem to realize when Sunshine is ready to play on her own. What can I do?

What things do I need to do to teach my kitten what the word "NO" means?

What do I do if my 8-month-old kitten is frightened of me and cries if I hold him?

My two eight week old kittens love to climb in the cage of my guinea pig. The guinea pig doesn't seem to mind but I am concerned that it might think that the kittens are other guinea pigs. Is it safe for my kittens to be in the cage with my guinea pig? Since all three pets are males does it pose a threat and do you think that the guinea pig would ever make the mistake of trying to mate with one of the kittens?

What are normal sounds for a kitten/cat to make? Can they learn how to make cheetah sounds from watching the Discovery Channel? My kitten makes sounds that are like a mother cheetah calling her kittens to her toys and her play sock. After she 'finds' the sock she drags it to me like a lion does a kill (between her legs), for a game of fetch... Are these normal cat behaviors?

My nine-month-old kitten climbs on the back of a chair to get on my kitchen counter at night. There is an opening in the wall like a large window. I've tried some stay off spray; it worked for a while. She also plays in the kid’s bathtub. Why does she do this?

I have a 6-week-old kitten. She is very social... maybe too much. Whenever there are guests in the house she jumps on them without thinking about it twice. What can I do to avoid this behavior?

Whenever my kitten smells a strange scent on me he will open his mouth like he is panting, except his tongue is still in his mouth. What causes this and is it normal?

Why is my kitten so wild?

I have two little female kittens named Tiger and Elvis. Just wanted to know if they understand what I’m saying to them. Like when I tell them that I love them?

How come small kittens sometimes want to bite your ears?

My kitten has started to meow all the time if she's not being held. Prior to her getting pregnant she was very independent. Should I be worried or even take her to her vet?

I adopted a 3 yr. old Calico and we have become fast friends over the past 10 months - she has learned to trust me, sleeps with me and shows plenty of playful, affectionate behavior. I am single and am gone weekdays, all day. I thought I would get a younger cat or kitten for her to play with during the days when I'm gone. Given my lack of time for kitty training, what would be the youngest age appropriate - and would this threaten Callie's feeling of security with me?

We adopted two cats a year and half ago. One is yellow and the other black, they are brothers. Why are they so different - does it have anything to do with their color?

I have found two siblings stray kittens about 3-4 months old who are very attached. I would like to keep only one but do not want to separate them if it will cause them any distress. Will they adjust or be better off if I can find someone to keep them together?

I'm trying to adopt a new puppy and kitten at the same time. Could you give insight on what steps to take as far as ages, living conditions and so forth? The puppy is going to be a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Does the kind of kitten make a difference? Please tell me if this is a bad idea. If so, which one should I get first?

I am worried about a kitten scratching at my older dog’s eyes! My Mom said that cats do go for dog’s eyes. Is this true?

My 9-month old kitten puts his toy mice in his food bowl. Why? Sometimes 2 or 3 at a time.

What is it about used Q-tips that my kitten likes? We certainly don't encourage this behavior, but inevitably he gets hold of them – perhaps sneaking into the bathroom during the middle of the night - and he eats off the cotton tips and uses the paper sticks as "chew toys"!

I have a kitten that is 9 months old and she has the nasty habit of chewing my daughter's pacifiers - my 5 months old’s pacifiers more than my 22 month old’s. How can I get her to stop chewing on the pacifiers?

Why are kittens so afraid of the bad weather and why do they hide when it hits.

I am thinking about moving to a new apartment. What are some ways to make this move easier on my kittens? Pettie and Sassy are almost 8 months old now. We found them abandoned just after weaning, so I worry they will be nervous about all the changes.

Why does my ten-month-old kitten bite?

I am interested in training my 4 month old kitten to do tricks. I know that this is possible, but I've heard that the usual training methods, like with dogs, doesn’t work. Do you have any suggestions?

My husband and I just love our kitten so much that we kiss her constantly. Do kittens like this or do they get annoyed by it and most importantly, is it safe for them and us?

Why is my kitten so clumsy? He is always falling off my bed because he gets sidetracked on me or something...is this normal kitten behavior? My husband just says he is dumb - I don’t believe that.

Why does my kitten sometimes act like a dog? He’s never really been around one.

Sometimes Jennifer slobbers as I am petting her; I am told that kittens sometimes forget to swallow, since they are so relaxed and happy you are petting them, is this true? She loves to snuggle next to me with her little head on my arm.

My husband and I are both in the military, and in a few months we are both leaving and are unable to take Nina. Nina is going to stay with my mother and her male kitten (Nina and Pumpkin are about the same age). Nina will not be with me for over a year and then we are relocating and Nina will have to go to quarantine for 30 days. I am uncertain whether this will be okay. I am afraid that she will grieve herself to death (particularly for those 30 days). What is you recommendation?

What should I do if my 8week old kitten cries? We tried grabbing him from the scruff of the neck and it worked but is it safe?

I have an 8 month old kitten that seems to be very happy and well adjusted, but does not (and never has) kneaded me when he lays down on me. I thought all cats did this?

We are debating about getting a cat or a kitten. We have two boys ages 3 & 4. I'm an at-home mom. Do you suggest getting a kitten, or would it be best to get a full-grown cat. I've heard two different opinions, and was curious to what you thought, since you are a "kitten expert."

My kitten, now almost 6 months old, was neutered, per local humane society pre-adoption requirements, at 8 weeks of age. He has a well-rounded personality but I notice he does not want to sleep with me these days and would prefer to go out with the older boys (3 other cats) and prowl. How can I keep his attention these days? I'd prefer he stayed in at night.

Why does my kitten try to lick my clothes? It’s really annoying.

I have a cat that is scared of almost anything and she is always outside. What should I do to make her more social?

Why are kittens so scared of you when you try to pet them?

Is it true that tabby cats are better with kids than non-tabby cats are?

How much time do you need to play with a kitten?

I once saw an article that talked of the "meanings" of each kind of "meow," but I have neither found that article again nor any info on the web. Can you post or forward some info on this? Thank you for being involved in this site.

My kitten knocks everything off the counter or table...its not like he is interested in it but just wants to knock it down. Is this normal?

What do kittens love besides food?

I have a 5-month-old female kitten. This may seem like a stupid question, but my kitten can be sound asleep in the living room (or any room), then jump up, and as fast as it can, run to another room and lay back down and go back to sleep. Is she having a bad dream, or is she just nuts?

What is a good kitten for a child?

I just received a kitten as a Mother's Day Gift. He is 8 weeks old. I have three children all 6 years old and younger. How do I go about making every one adjust to each other with out stressing the kitten out and hurting my girl's feelings?

How can I keep my 6-week-old kitten from scratching my 2-year-old daughter? Is there anything that I can do?

I found a newborn kitten abandoned in our treehouse 2 weeks ago. I have been feeding him with kitten formula and getting him to eliminate after the feedings. I have two small children and they love the kitten. How much personal stimulation should the kitten get; and how will the socialization be as an orphan kitten vs. having mother and siblings to grow with him?

My 9-month-old kitten is fairly normal, but occasionally will fly through the room, climb furniture, jump on the counters, etc. This behavior only lasts a couple of minutes, then he returns to being our "normal" loving kitten. I'm just curious as to what causes these outbursts of energy?

I have an 8-month-old kitten. When he was small my roommate would hold him until he was just screaming to get down. Now he hates to be held or petted unless it is his idea. No one has held him down for months, but he will absolutely not let you pick him up for any reason. Before this happened he would let you pick him up for short periods of time. My question is do you think that he will ever grow out of this behavior?

I was given a kitten and was told that the kitten was about 6-7 weeks old. The first night at my house the kitten curled up in bed with my boyfriend and I, I think to hide from my older cat (1-year). Now the older cat and kitten are best friends, but the kitten won't come near my boyfriend and I. If you go to pet her she runs away. We thought she just needed to adjust to the new environment, but she runs around here like she owns the place. Will she ever warm up to us or is there something we can do?

When do kittens learn to purr?

My kitten (about 8 mo. old) jumps into our bathroom sink and runs with his front paws, like he is exercising and his back paws stand still. His ears go back and he purrs loud while doing it. He does it almost every day and does it for a couple minutes. And then he lies down in the sink when he is done. It is really kind of cute and funny. Any idea why he might be doing this?

How do I know when my kitten is happy?

My daughter and I just got a kitten and would like to know how can we make sure he sleeps on his bed. We don't really even where to begin on making him comfortable. I have some bedding for him, but what do I do now? He just can't stay in one place for long.

I recently became "Mommy" to a 6-week old kitten. My husband doesn't like cats, but Phaedra has decided that she likes him! She follows him around, plays with his feet, and wants to sit with him. Why? My sister says she just wants to pester him because she knows he doesn't like her. I think she's trying to get him to like her. What do you think?

When I breathe, it scares my 8-month old cat because it sounds like I'm hissing. Can you please tell me if and how I can train her not to be so frightened at that sound?

Any tips on how to introduce a kitten (age 7 weeks) to 2 female boxers (ages 3 and 4). All are in the house together. They don't seem to like her much. The "stare" really worries me.

I adopted a 10-week old kitten in January and he moved in with my roommate's two older kittens. They got along well. Then I moved to a one-cat household -- a five-year-old cat. My kitten quickly adjusted. He also has people to play with during the day. I am moving out in two months -- to live alone. This means that Spaz will be alone most of the day. What can I do to not make him angry with me and not be too lonely? I have heard that I should get fish (aquarium) and put a bird feeder outside my window. He already has a ton of toys.

My friend and I both adopted kittens from the same litter. They are twins and are absolutely indistinguishable! When we have play dates, is there a good way to "mark" one, neither will keep a collar on?

Any tips on how to get our kitten to sleep through the night? He gets up every morning at 5:30 -- it wouldn't be so bad, but he wakes the baby, too, so everyone's up early. We live in a relatively small apartment, so we cannot shut him in a basement or anything. There are no doors to close, aside from the bedroom doors, but we hear him through the doors.

What type of music should I put on for my kitten so she will be relaxed?

My 12-week-old kitten seems very lovable with my husband and myself. My sister came to visit for a few hours one afternoon. The kitten was sleeping on the sofa and my sister gently pet her and when she realized that it was a stranger petting her, she hissed and growled but did not run. Later she did retreat to another room, but now whenever my husband or I try and take her to the sofa, she hisses and growls at us. Why is she this way and will she always be so anti-social? Can we change her behavior?

I recently adopted a nine month old spayed female calico/Siamese mix from an animal hospital. She's lived in a cage for most of her life with little interaction with people. I visited her 4 times before deciding to take her home. She was friendly, laid in my arms, rubbed into my neck and purred. I took her home where I have a 7-year-old neutered male. The first night she remained cuddly. Once she became friendly with my male cat she stopped interacting with humans altogether. If we make a move toward her she runs. Sometimes if we look at her too long she runs. We're so disappointed. We thought we were adopting another sweet lovable kitty and she doesn't want any part of us. She's totally enamored with my other cat and just follows him around. What are we to do to get her involved with us?

Is it possible to train a kitten and if so how do I go about finding a training center close to my home. I have looked in the phone book and have no success?

What cat would do the best around other cats and dogs?

My 3-month-old kitten Mickey loves to play with my German Shorthaired Pointer, Sadie. Sadie loves Mickey. However, Mickey sometimes bites and plays rough. When Sadie growls and snaps at Mickey as a warning he doesn't understand it as such and continues playing. Sadie has NEVER harmed any of our cats. But I am afraid because of Mickey's misunderstanding her he may get hurt. Is there anything I can do to make him understand that growling means stop?

My kitten is very afraid of the hair dryer. She has broken leashes trying to get away from it and I don't want dirt to stick to her wet fur. How can I make her less afraid of the hair dryer?

I have a kitten (15-16 weeks old) and I have a question on how to treat it. Like I have a friend that comes over a lot and we play with it, the problem is I always tell my friend to stop playing with it because he's tired, how would you know like if he's happy, sad, tired, sleepy, excited etc.?

How do I help a skittish kitten to feel safe and loved if we can’t catch it. We have tried everything and it only hides. My family thinks it’s the cutest little kitty they have ever seen and we want him to trust us.

My kitten and my puppy play really rough now, but they are too young to hurt each other. I'm worried that as they get older they will keep playing rough and they may seriously hurt one another without meaning to.

What do some of a kitten’s facial expressions mean?

Hi, um how do you convince someone to get a kitten?

How can I get my kitten (Chloe) to play with my six-month-old, but not use her claws when they're playing together?

Why do kittens or adults cats get behind open drawers because you never know when there and you shut the drawer on them?

What is the best way to have a kitten adjust to being without another kitten and adjusting to a new place, surroundings and "family"?

We have a 10 wk old female kitten that seems to have joined the household with two 3-yr. old male cats fairly well. Our question is - whenever they try to groom her, she lets them for a minute and then bites them all over. She does this when they aren't paying attention as well. Is she only playing and is this typical, or is something else going on?

I have a 5 month old cat, and every time we go somewhere we put her in her pet taxi. Even when we go to work. So my question is how old can a cat be to leave it out in the house all the time. Because I have read that you don't leave a kitten unattended. We would like to know this, because we want to start leaving her out.

How do you name your kitten?

How come when I pet my 6 month old kitten as soon as I get to the very end of his back (by his tail) his hind legs go up? I think it's a little strange but I have always noticed that all cats seem to do this...do you know why?

How can I calm my kitten down when he is excited?

How do I keep my kitten from getting on my son's face when he is sleeping? My son usually takes a bottle of milk when he goes to bed and he doesn't like taking anything else. I'm expecting my second baby soon and I would like to break the kitten of what he is doing before the baby arrives. I don't want to get rid of the kitten.

What kind of kitten would be good for a very active household?

I got a kitten and I'm not sure how he's going to react with a ferret. Please tell me what to do.

Since I'm just a 12-year-old kid, I can't have my name on my kitten's I.D. tag. Is there any place that I can?

My 9-week-old kitten tries to be in physical contact with me constantly. As soon as I sit down she jumps in my lap. If I get up she is under my feet while I walk, and as I sit down she jumps up in my lap again. If I go in a room and shut the door, she waits on the other side. She doesn't paw or cry to get in, but she doesn't leave either. I feel bad leaving her there, but sometimes I need to do things that work better without a kitten in my lap. I don't want to anti-socialize her, but this seems like too much. Will she outgrow this phase and become more independent? What is the minimum amount of time a day I should be sure to spend with her?

Is it safe for kittens to play with string?

My kitten's 8 weeks old and I've had him for 2 weeks. During this time, he's always ‘attacking’ my other 2-year-old female cat and pouncing on her for no reason. Is this just playing or an aggressive behavior? He also growls and makes funny noises when I try playing ‘fishing rod’ with him. Is this aggressiveness or kittenish characteristics? Does gender makes a difference in such behaviors?

I got a baby kitten for my birthday and we think that it may have been mistreated, she is very loving but we cannot play with her in any way without her attacking. We have been taking her to the vet for what they call socialization therapy and the vet thinks she is hopeless...she is not afraid of water in any form, coins in a can or loud noises and I don't believe in hitting. What should I do?

My new 11-week old kitten seems to have nightmares when she sleeps. She constantly twitches in her sleep (her legs and mouth) and sometimes meows and hisses in her sleep. Is this normal? Should we be concerned? She is perfectly happy and loved when she is awake.

Whenever I am near my 7 month old kitten (especially when sitting down) she slowly walks around me in circles, rubbing her furry little body against me, she'll pause and whack me with her tail, she purrs while doing this. Why does she do this and what does it mean?

I have two new kittens and they only play with each other. I think this is because my little four-year-old son is too rough with them. Is this bad, and why don't they play with me?

Why does my kitten meow a lot? When I feed, rub him and just show my love he just meows a lot?

Is it safe to let your kitten have tinfoil?

My 4-month-old kitten has started to climb up my leg. I would like to know how to stop this. It's painful!

Often when my 8-week-old kitten is playing with my hands, she has her back arched with her hair standing on end. Her claws are out and she sidewinds. Is this normal? What does this mean?

Why does my kitten suck on my hair?

We recently adopted a kitten whose mother was killed when she was a merely 10 days old. We have been bottled feeding her and cuddling her as much as possible. What kind of negative effects is this going to have on our kitten? We got her for our 2-yr. old daughter. We want her to definitely be a house cat, not ever seeing the outdoors by her self. Can you give me any suggest on how to care for her?

I am thinking about getting my daughter a kitten for Christmas. What kind do you recommend?

You say one should determine whether the resident cat is social and likes the companionship of other cats or prefers to be solitary. How would I go about determining which type my 9-month-old spayed female cat is?

My kitten is getting in the habit of running under my feet. Why do cats do this? I am afraid I will actually step on him one day when I am not paying attention.

Tiger will stretch and try to open the door! He plays with the doorknob as if he knows that, that is how to open it?

Every morning my 4-month kitten waits for me to wake up and begins to lick my eyes and forehead. She is insistent. I have to cover my face or get out of bed. If I cover my face she patiently waits until it is uncovered. If I let her have her way, it goes on for 5-6 minutes before she stops. Why?

I've put a lot of thought into this question and I wanted to know what I could do to be a better cat owner. My friend said that I'm not a good cat person, because I had a stray cat and I kind of scared it and my friend said that I wasn't good to house cats, but am good to stray cats. I have a cat name Sapphire and I want to be the best cat person ever. My question is how do I be the best cat person?

Help! My 14-week-old kitten's behavior is getting worse. She has gotten to the point that when you tell her no about doing something, she waits until your back is turned and then she will run up your back, claws fully extended and then takes off and hides. Is there anything I can do to make her stop and be nice?

We recently got 2 cats that previously lived outdoors at my brother's house. The 5-month-old cat is still terribly afraid of us. After an entire week she still keeps her tail to the ground (always) and seems to be more scared than she was the first day or two. We cannot even get to her now to try to pet her or anything. The 2.5 month old kitten is slowly adjusting and will play with toys with us but Junie, the 5 month old, never will play and stays as far as possible from us. My main concern is her tail being down and how she walks very low to the ground when we are nearby; she seems scared and not happy. What can we do to help her feel safe and maybe even happy?

What are necessary qualities for a family adopting two kittens?

I recently adopted two kittens from the humane society. They are now three months old, male and from the same litter. One is very affectionate and loving, but the other does not seem to want to be picked up or touched. When we first brought them home when they were seven weeks old, he would lick my face when I picked him up. I have given him lots of love, but now he seems to be becoming more distant. What happened?

Would it be right to take a kitten on a plane?

What if you have birds and a dog?

Help! When getting ready to leave for work and when I come home at night-one minute my 8 mos. old kitten is under foot like a miniature mountain lion, the next, she wants to cuddle. (or vice versa) I frequently let her go along if it's not all day. (I ask if she wants to go and she responds, "Meow, meow and runs to get her leash then sits while I put her sweater on. (She is not allowed out unattended.) This wild cat behavior terrifies my granddaughters and I find it annoying.

Our kitten, Gordita, (6 mo.) has this obsession with my girlfriend's hair. She tries to eat it whenever she can. I mean she will drool while she stares at the hair. We've tried different shampoo with no affect. Gordita does not show this behavior to any one else. The rest of the kittens from this litter do not have this behavior. Any ideas?

Is there anyway to teach a cat to stay?

We have recently adopted a 4-month old kitten. When I am sleeping or lying on the couch watching TV, the kitten will start rooting around in my hair and purring very loudly. There are times when he nips at my ear. If I try to move away, he moves right with me and seems to get agitated that I am moving away from him. He only does it to me. He hasn't tried this with my husband or the children. What is he doing and why?

We just got a 4-month-old kitten and I can’t get him to use scratch pad. It’s a Turbo scratcher with a ball for him to play with a pad in middle. He’s scratching everything else BUT that. Our other cat always used it.

We have a new 5-month-old male kitten. When he sleeps with me, he tries to cuddle up directly in my face. It is almost as if he is trying to suffocate me. How might I remedy this problem?

Why does a kitten cry when you hold it?

I found a kitten when it was 5 weeks home and he is now almost 16 weeks old. He was a stray and 4 weeks ago I found his brother and sister at the same spot. The male is adjusting fine but the female hides all day and hisses? Why does she hide all the time when the others don’t?

I have a couple of kittens (siblings), six months old. I was wondering how do I get them to recognize their names when being called. They have been ignoring me when I call them. Everywhere one goes, the other follows, how do I get them to recognize their name separately?

My 9-month-old kitten hisses at kids, he never bites or comes after them, he just hisses at them and runs and hides, and my other cat is just fine with kids. What is the matter with him? I have had them both since they were born so I know a child has never abused them.

Since I got my kitten she doesn't come to me and she doesn't like anyone to touch her and if anyone touches her she runs away and hides. What can I do to make her like me?

My kitten Aria is about 8 weeks old, adopted from the Humane Society. I am trying to start her habits of day/night early by isolating her in the bathroom but I make sure the light is off, and we are quiet. I usually don't go to bed until about an hour later, but I try to get her to understand that about 11pm until 9am is "nighttime." Is this ok, would this be a good way to influence her daily habit?

I had always thought that tail swishing from a cat was a sign of aggression or that they are upset, like a warning. However, my male 9-month-old kitten was cuddling with me today and purring was almost asleep in fact in my arms. He was swishing his tail back and forth though at the same time, almost wagging it like a dog; did this mean he was happy? He seemed very content. Can they also do this as a sign of happiness?

I have a male cat and a female cat. Punkin (male) is SOOO jealous. He has scared Muffin (female) in that she acts scared to even get in my lap because when she gets down he will attack her. Yet they play together and sleep together well. He just goes on the attack after I have played with her.

If your mom gets you a new kitten at young age then can you get rid of them if they have been with you for 2 years? Or do you think it would break their heart to get rid of it no matter what?

We have two 6 mo. old kittens that love to go outside to play after dark. They run from side to side of the yard and will occasionally go across the street. Neither one is interested in going beyond the garage during the day. Why don't they enjoy going out to play as much during the day?

I live on 10 acres in the forest. I have two female cats (6yrs) that are sisters and friends. A wild cat came into our lives 3 yrs ago. 2 yrs ago I got him fixed and he is now friendly to me and appears jealous of other two getting attention. All three live outside. Stray cat is male and chases off my cats when he is in the mood, but not always...what can I do to encourage them all to get along...I am a dog person and don’t know much about cats.

I have a 7 month old gray tabby and a 7month old black/white cat (both females) the tabby cat is very possessive of me, whether it is with the other kitty or my 5yr old daughter. If I'm in the same room with the tabby and not paying attention to her, she knocks things off counters, climbs up my leg (not declawed yet), etc. what can I do to make her not so possessive. She loves playing with the other kitten they are best friends. She just ignores my daughter.

There was an answer to a question about how much time you should spend playing with your kitten and the answer was two play sessions. How long should these play sessions last?

My cats are not acting well together. They keep hissing and fighting at each other and I'm afraid something is wrong.

Soon we will be moving across country and are driving down there. We are going to take out 8-month indoor cat with us. I was just wondering if there were any precautions we should take. Should we start walking him on a harness ahead of time so he gets used to it? Should he be in a cat carrier for the entire ride?

How long does it take for a kitten to learn something?

I was just wondering if you have any tips or suggestions for when I take my 10-month-old kitten on vacation. We will be driving and will be one the road for 7.5 hours.

What should my kitten act like at the age of 7-10 months?

I have a one-year-old male red point Siamese kitten/cat. He is extremely healthy & playful. However, he only likes to play with those little fur mice or other fur-covered toys (rather than balls or feathers). He usually plays with them until they are completely shredded (in under one day), and then eats the pieces of fur. I am pretty sure that this isn't too good for him, but hate to take away his favorite play toys. Our vet said it was "hunting behavior" but that he shouldn't be eating the toys. Any thoughts?

I got a kitten when she was a newborn so most of her life she has been with me. She is about 8 months old and the sweetest thing in the world. I have a nice size house, one floor for living and basement and attic. She used to sleep in my room only now I notice quite often she will lie in the middle of the house like she is watching or guarding something. Is she seeing something that we can’t or she just loves the different places in her house now?

I have just acquired a 3 month old Lilac point Siamese kitten, a male. I have five other cats, 4 females and a male, all Siamese. I am worried because I have had him 3 days and so far he is still scared of me. When I isolate him, he is fine, but when he is allowed to roam around the house, he runs away from me. This is the first kitten I have gotten that has not warmed up to me right away. What am I doing wrong?

Is it okay to give your cat a scare every once in a while...to keep him on his toes?

We just adopted an adorable 5-month-old kitten. The kitten has been to the vet and he said she is in good health, clean, etc. My 8-year-old daughter would like to let the kitten sleep on her bed with her...what do you think? Is it safe for both child and kitten?