Purina Cat Chow: Cat Care Center: Adult Cat Care Center

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They're all grown up—it's time to start treating, and feeding, them that way. Just because they're older, however, doesn't mean they're completely self-sufficient. Adult cats have nutritional needs particular to their life stage just as kittens and senior cats do, and they need your help to meet them. The CatChow.com Adult Care Center will clue you in on what you need to know.

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Topic: Kittens and Older Cats

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Our new kitten is biting. How can we discourage this behavior?

What is the absolute earliest age to give away a kitten? I have 8 kittens that are 6 weeks old. Is it too soon for them to be adopted?

Why does my cat push up against my hand with his nose?

What is the best way to play with my kitten?

Our cat lies in the sink and waits for us to turn on the water so it can pour over her. Is this normal?

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?

What can I buy for the teething period, as my 4-1/2 month old kitten seems to be chewing on everything?

Is there anything I can do to get my kitten to cover his waste in his litter box? The smell is terrible.

My kitten digs and digs for long periods of time in the litter box and then doesn't even use it in the end of this little digging time period. I keep the litter clean so I know that can't be the problem.

Do you have any tips on taking care of a blind kitten?

How old can a kitten be before it will not get lost in the yard or run away?

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 10-month-old male that is repeatedly mounting my 18-month-old female (both are fixed). This seems to distress the female, otherwise they have a very companionable relationship. How can I curb this behavior?

I have a 12-week-old kitten and an 8-week-old one. The 8-week-old kitten will not use her little box if the older one does. Why is this? I have two separate litter boxes but my 12-week-old kitten uses them both.

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?

My 5-1/2 month old kitten likes to sleep in high places, like on top of cabinets, etc. Is that normal?

I have a ferret and we want to get a kitten. Will they get along? The ferret stays in his cage.

I found a three-week-old kitten and have decided to keep him. What do I need to do emotionally for my kitten that would have been provided by the mother cat?

My new kitten is eating the litter in his litter box. Is there something that I can do to stop this?

My two 10 month old kittens (sisters) love to dig in their Tidy Cats Litter and leave piles of litter out of the box. I have a box with a lid but that doesn't seem to help. Is there any way I can curb this activity? They are tracking litter all over the house! Why are they doing this?

Our cat is a 5-month-old American Shorthair female eating Purina Kitten Chow. What is an ideal weight for her at this time?

Do kittens get lonesome for their siblings if they are separated?

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 have two calico kittens, 5 months old. I have heard the tri-color kittens don't come into heat. Is this true?

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.

Two years ago my sister gave me a kitten. Gizmo is now two years old and every time my sister comes to our house she hisses and seems to really hate my sister. Could this be because my sister took her away from her mother? Gizmo is very affectionate with everyone but my sister.

My 13-week-old kitten's whiskers that are closest to the front of his face are thick, white and very short, almost as if he had them cut off, but he didn't. Will they grow out? Will they affect his balance and/or ability to maintain head control? While he eats well and plays energetically, sometimes when sitting still he seems to bob his head like a newborn.

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?

Why would my kitten's nose be a little dirty around the nostrils, even when I tried to clean it?

When does a kitten stop growing? I have a 4-month-old calico.

I know we should have two litter boxes for two kittens but is that the reason the kittens urinate on our beds?

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.

I have 3 eight-week-old female kittens who want my attention and will sit on my lap together and purr constantly while they are being petted. But one always jumps away after a short time. If the other two leave, she'll jump back onto my lap. Is she intimidated by the others or is she a 'one on one' kitten. How do I show attention to all three without causing any jealousy among them?

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?

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

We have found what appears to be an abandoned kitten about 10 weeks old. However, we have 2 rabbits that we frequently allow to exercise in our fenced backyard. Can the kitten be introduced to the pet rabbits? What kinds of behaviors can we expect? Will they ever get along or does natural predator/prey instinct dominate?

Is there any product that might take cat urine odor from wood?

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?

My 12 week old kitten lies on its back and makes a cooing sound when playing. What is the cooing?

Do kittens like to be held?

What ways to kittens like to be played with?

How do you teach a kitten to use the litter box?

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

Recently my cat began drinking water from everywhere but her bowl (which is always full and clean). What can I do to dissuade this behavior?

Why does my kitten try to "cover" his food as though he were in his litter box? Scratches at imaginary sand around his food.

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?

If your female cat sees a pile of clothes, then she sprays on it, how can you prevent that from happening?

Every time we put fresh water out for our kitten, he starts to play in it, then tips the bowl over and the water goes all over the place. Is there any thing that can change this?

How can I get my 6 month old male kitten to stop spraying me. If I show attention to the other cats, he lifts his tail and sprays me! Help! I don't have the heart to yell at him because he is just a baby.

How can you tell if your kitten is male or female at the age of about two months?

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?

I want to know why my kitten is greedy because I have an adult cat that eats less.

My 7-week old kitten has a habit of climbing under the car and into the engine compartment. How do I stop him from doing that?

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?

Our new kitten sleeps in its litter box and lays half in it while it eats. It also lays in it many times a day - why is that?

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?

I have a 12-week-old kitten that suckles the end of his tail sometimes. What does it mean and how can I break him of this habit or will he grow out of it?

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?

My kitten is 10 months old and she is deaf. She seems happy all the time but when she cannot see me she 'screams' until I come into her view. Is this some kind of emotional attachment problem? What can I do to help her?

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?

Why do kittens stick out their tongues?

How do I stop my kittens from destroying my Christmas tree?

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

Why do kittens eat so much?

My one-year-old odd-eyed white cat has a habit of going outside and rolling in the dust. Is he camouflaging himself? He has been neutered and had all shots. He plays outside during the day but is in at night.

Why does my kitten drool on me?

How can you tell how old your kitten is?

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

I have 7 month old kittens that have been completely weaned with no problems. However, the mother cat 'swears' at them if they get near her (whether or not she approaches them or they approach her). If she jumps on the bed and one of them is already there she won't stay; she jumps down 'swearing' as she goes. Why is she treating them like this? She gets along fine with the other two adults who get along fine with the kittens.

I would like to know how long kitten play lasts?

My 7 month old kitten loves to sleep with me but he bites at my hair while I am asleep. He bites so hard that he actually takes hunks out sometimes - my hair is very long so I can't really tell until after I take it out of a braid. Why does he do this?

Our two kittens are twins. They look a lot alike. They have never been separated as far as we know, not even for a day. The boy cat can't seem to live without the girl. If she is hiding, he will roam around the house crying for her until he finds her. Is there any way to break him from this attachment so that he could be away for at least a little while?

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 6 month old male has a habit of flinging his feces out of the litter box. He came to me as a 'barn kitty' so it should not be the type of litter as it is the only kind he has known. He has been vet checked and is current in his shots and was neutered last week (but this has been happening prior to his neutering). Any suggestions?

Why does my 8 month old male kitten like to lick the windows when he is inside? He didn't do this when the weather was warmer, but now that it is -2 to 30 degrees it seems like that is all he does.

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?

Why does my kitten insist on throwing his dry food out of the bowl? I have tried using a regular cat food dish (he threw the food into the water side) and now I'm using a soup mug (it's deeper) and he still insists on throwing the food on the floor. He eventually eats some of the food from the floor but most gets picked up and thrown away. Any ideas?

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

Why are cats pickier than dogs are?

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

I recently got a 9-10 month old neutered male kitten to live in my workshop in an attempt to control mice. When can I expect him to learn to hunt?

Why do cats like sitting on windowsills?

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?

Ever since last night, my 9-month-old kitten has for some strange reason been drinking cold tea-no sugar out of my glass. My son poured the tea in a bowl and Teddybear went to town. This morning I was fixing myself a cup of hot herbal tea and Teddy started licking the package of Lemon Zinger from Celestial Seasonings. He bit the package a few times, but all he did was lick it. Why is this?

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?

My 3-year-old female cat seems to have adapted to my male kitten ok. He is very demanding with her. He wants to play but he also wants to sleep in her bed (he has a bed) and will jump on her and bite until she leaves. Sometimes the same thing happens when they’re eating and when she goes to the litter box he always wants to bother her. They have been fixed. He is now 7 months old and his bothering her is not getting any better. How best can this be controlled?

Is there a good guide to kitten/cat behavior available? Either online or a book.

Sometimes my kitten fluffs up the hair on his tail. I'm really curious about what that means.

My kitten just had a bad vet experience and now she doesn't like any new people. What should I do? She did not like her temperature taken (first time taken) but she acted like she got hurt this time and went berserk.

My 5-month-old kittens often leap from my lap to chase their siblings as they pass by or just to join what they are doing nearby. Unfortunately, they don't give me any warning & they leap claws extended. Is there any way I can train them not to leap from my lap with their claws extended nor jump onto my lap with them extended?

Why does the kitten nip me on the cheek when he comes to rub my face?

My 8-month-old kitten, Crackers, shows a HUGE interest in the toilet. Whenever my roommates or I use the restroom, he hops on the seat when we flush it. Do you think this is a sign that I could train my kitten to use the toilet? And if I could, how would I go about doing that?

Why does our kitten (21 Weeks) come up to us in the morning, lightly pounce on our legs and act like she will bite us? She does not use any pressure only opens her mouth to put it on our skin.

My 3 year old cat seems to be terrified of the dark, he lays at the foot of the bed until I get up, then he'll run into the lighted room to eat, as soon as I go back to bed, he's right behind me. I know cats have excellent night vision so why is he doing this? Can cats really be scared of the dark?

My kitten is 5 months old and hasn't lost any of his baby teeth. Is this weird?

I was wondering why my 7-month-old kitten is not affectionate.

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 given my kitten cat-sip every evening since I got him. Do I need to wean him off of it? How? Also, I read on your site how to tell if your pet likes you, how does my kitten know that I love him?

My one 5-month-old kitten loves to climb up on window curtains to look outside. He also waits and howls by the garage door because he wants to go out there. I am too close to a major highway and wooded area to let either of my kittens outside. How miserable will they be in the spring and summer if they aren't let outside? Is there any substitute for "outside adventures"?

I have two kittens 6 months and 5 months. Well the 5 month old will go to the bathroom and not cover up what he has done, so the other goes in and covers it, but he is nuts about it and will sit there for ever and cover it even come out and brush the floor like he is covering it, how can I stop the obsessive behavior?

I have a male cat who is about 1-1/2 year old. Recently we had gotten a kitten, the kitten is always kneading the older cat. Since we got the kitten and it started kneading the older cat, the older cat has completely stopped purring and I am concerned about this because it used to purr all the time. Why is this happening?

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?

How can I make my cat stop scratching on the furniture?

Why are kittens so curious?

How do you discourage a 10-month-old cat from climbing trees? Our cat has been up 4 different trees in the last month and will stay there for several days. We've managed to get her out, but we're afraid she will get up too high. She is an inside/outside cat no possibility of keeping her inside.

I have a 4-year-old neutered female, Callie, and am planning to bring a kitten into the household in a few weeks. I've read several strategies here that I'm going to use. One question I have is about bedding. Callie usually sleeps on my bed at the foot curled up on a blanket. I don't have a "cat bed" for her. Should I consider getting Callie her own bed, and the new kitten one as well? Any recommendations as to types of beds?

A cat's body is small, but why do they have more bones?

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

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

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.

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 a 6-month old cat. From 4 weeks to 4 months of age, he was the most affectionate cat ever. But now he doesn't even like to he held or cuddled at all. Why the sudden change in his personality?

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?

Angel is about 5 months old and when I walk toward her she runs and acts as if she is afraid of me - usually to the same spot in the house where she then lays on her side and allows me to pick her up. While I am holding her she seems ok. As soon as I put her down she runs back to the same spot (her food and water dish) and lies down and acts as if she is afraid. She has done this since she was a very small kitten. She has not been abused or injured. How can I gain her trust that I am not going to hurt her when I walk toward her?

My kitten drools when he purrs. Is that normal?

I recently adopted a 6-month-old kitten. He is very sweet but his need for constant attention and affection is driving me a bit crazy. He follows me around, jumps in my lap the minute I sit down and meows plaintively if I leave the room. Is this just a kitten behavior that he will grow out of? Is there any way I can encourage him to be more independent?

My kitten is 5-to-6 months old, and when he is sleeping on his side or back his legs twitch/shake is this normal or could something be wrong? If you get his attention and wake him up he stops right away.

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 am going to get a new kitten in a few days and I was wondering what the best way is for me to make it an outdoor cat. I do have an enclosed porch for it to sleep and for a litter box for now, but I do want it to be an outdoor cat. Can you help me?

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.

I have a 6-week-old female kitten and two children, ages 10 and 11. The kitten is very skittish. What can I do for my kitten to ease the transition from her mother and siblings and how do I help my children understand kitten behavior. They tend to hold it and play with it a lot. I think they should let her explore on her own and get used to the new surroundings.

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?

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?

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?

I have a male cat that is now a year old. He will not go out the door why is this and is this normal?

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?

We have a nine-month-old female kitten. She loves to go outside at night, she darts out the door as soon as it's dark, but she won't go out in the daytime. What's this all about? I really would like her to go out in the day, rather the night.

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?

How do I know when my kitten is happy?

My seven-week-old female kitten meows for hours after I leave her alone to go to work in the morning. We have bonded well and play for at least an hour before I depart. Unfortunately, a neighbor keeps complaining to the leasing office about the meowing. What should I expect from kitten in the future regarding the meowing in my absence. Will it continue or cease with age and comfort in the surroundings?

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?

Why does my two-month-old kitten's tail twitch constantly as if he is having spasms? His tail will stand straight up and the hair on it also stands up when it happens. This happens all the time.

How can you tell that your kitten is a happy kitten?

When a kitten wags its tail, what does it mean - when just the tip is wagging and when the whole tail is?

Why do my kittens growl when we try to pet them while they are eating canned cat food?

After bringing my kittens home from their vet visit yesterday, they have been very lethargic. They cry when I pick them up and just seem to want to sleep. They are normally very active. Could the inoculations cause this behavior?

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.

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

How often should I hold my new kitten? Do kittens like to be held?

When can I allow my new 4-month-old kitten to go outdoors alone, I have three older cats that go in and out using a cat door?

My fourteen-week-old kitten likes to play with toys that move or hang. Every time she actually gets one between her paws, she starts pushing her nose into it. She isn't smelling the toy, but I don't know what she is doing. What is she doing?

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?

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?

My kitten is afraid of me and/or all people when standing up, yet, when laying down or sitting she'll be friendly. How can I get her to stop fearing us when standing up?

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?

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?

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 a nine-month-old kitten and 2 older cats. My kitten always seems hungry but I'm concerned he's getting over weight. What can I do to help him?

I have an 8 month old cat I adopted a month and a half ago. I taught her to walk on leash and harness, and she loves outside. Now she always wants to be out. She will whine for hours by the door and try to dart out every time it is opened. She even jumps up and tries to open the doorknob. While the latter is comical I don’t appreciate her meowing in my face while I'm trying to study. I'm afraid to let her out by herself because I live in a small apt complex next to a busy road and I know she doesn’t know any better to stay out of the street. She has two windows she can look out, one all day and night. Is there any ways to make inside as interesting for her?

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?

My kitten is 7 months old. Ever since I adopted her when she was one month old, she will freak out for no reason. I cannot tell whether she is in this mood or not, and I will pick her up, and she will immediately try to get away from me. When she tries to get away, it is fast, and she will really injure (scratch) me, or whoever is holding her. The only thing that has set it off (apparently) was the vacuum, but she has only freaked out as a result of the vacuum a couple of times.

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.

We adopted 2 kittens at the same time - female 6 weeks old and male at 12 weeks old. They get along great. They are 100% indoor cats. The male was always the quieter of the 2 - the female was always moving & playing - never resting. We had the male declawed at 5 months - nothing changed on his personality. When the female was 5 months we had her spayed and declawed. The female personality has also changed - she seems very quiet and doesn't play nearly as hard as she use to. She actually now tries to hide from the male many times because he wants to play and she doesn't. It has been 4 weeks since her surgery and 3 weeks since they have been back home. They are both very healthy kittens. Any idea and will she get back to her "old" self?

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?

recently rescued an abandoned kitten a few months ago. He has been neutered and has gotten his first series of shots. He is happy & healthy. One day while preparing dinner I was cutting stems from broccoli and a piece shot across the kitchen and the kitten went crazy. He was acting as if he caught a mouse, he was tossing it around, running with it in his mouth. He will chew on it but not eat it, I know he may be ingesting some. Is this harmful for him? It seems to be his toy of choice.

We have a 5-month-old kitten. We found her in the road when she was about 3 or 4 weeks old. She was in the middle of a busy highway. We took her to the vet and brought her home. My question is what do we have to do to get her to warm up to us? She is still very timid and hides; she will come out to play with our other cats that seem to like her

My Kitten is 3 months old and is very hyper, I was wondering if when he gets fixed if he is going to calm down at all or if he will be the same?

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?

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

After a kitten opens its eyes, how long does it take for the kitten to have normal vision?

My kitten plays whenever she's awake. What’s wrong with her?

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Balanced nutrition for cats of all ages

Created for the unique needs of indoor cats

Ringworm is actually not a worm at all. It is a fungal skin infection found in cats and dogs that can be transmissible to humans. Most commonly found in long-haired kittens, it may appear as a red crusty hairless circular area on the skin, but can take on many appearances. If you suspect your pet has ringworm, see your vet for this treatable condition.

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