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New kitty, helping adjust
browneyedsquirrel
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So I just got my beautiful lil kitty today. I brought her home early this evening and she is very timid and skittish. We've shown her around and pet and held her a lot and then let her hide for a bit.
Now it is bedtime and she finally came out from under the bed when the lights went out. She's running around mewing quite pitifully. She seems content enough when I put her on my bed and pet her, but she soon jumps down and skulks about mewing.
The place I adopted her from had her living comunally with other cats for the last month or so. Is she searching for the other kitties? Is there anything to do but go to bed and let her explore and mew until she figures it out?
Now it is bedtime and she finally came out from under the bed when the lights went out. She's running around mewing quite pitifully. She seems content enough when I put her on my bed and pet her, but she soon jumps down and skulks about mewing.
The place I adopted her from had her living comunally with other cats for the last month or so. Is she searching for the other kitties? Is there anything to do but go to bed and let her explore and mew until she figures it out?
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She might be missing the other kittens, but I'm sure she's also exploring her new surroundings. Seems pretty normal to me. I'd just make sure to give her as much attention as you can, talking softly and gently and all that (which it sounds like you're doing), to make sure she's not too intimidated by her new home.
*Not actually true.
Basically, do what Taximes says. Lots of attention, let her check out her new place. Eventually, she'll become accustomed to it, and have you trained taking care of her.
Our friendly cat became shy when we moved last month. For the first two weeks he hid under the couch most of the time. We just left him alone, left his toys scattered around, and now he's fine. We think it was the carpet that threw him of the most, as he's been a city cat all his life, re: hardwood floors.
Just let the kitty get comfortable, and she'll open up once her scent is on enough furniture.
I was just worried that she was going to freak out once I fell asleep and stopped mewing back at her (we held a conversation for a good hour or so).
I finally got to bed after she curled up next to me, she seems to be better.
*Yawn* okay off to work, hope she's up for a cat nap later because I will be!
I'll post pictures if I can (gotta get a hold of a digital camera).
You might consider going back and adopting a second kitten, they get into less trouble when you're away if they have another kitten to entertain them. And it's twice the cute!
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Regardless, this sounds like pretty normal behavior. She'll calm down after a night or two.
Yep, ALL adult cats seem to go straight under the bed the first day at their new home. Different cats have different personalities -- you can almost predict what yours will be based on how long it takes them to come out from under the bed.
That way you run less of a chance off getting that psycho cat. Two will keep each other company when you're not around.
PSN: Broichan
Pictures?
I would suggest food as a lure, if she stays under the bed all the time, just put it a little ways out. Keep moving it away as she gets used to it, until it is where it was planned to be.
Same with litterbox too.
Assuming, of course, that you have the time and money to devote to another one! And then take pictures of them both! :P
I don't know why but cats seem to love empty boxes. My parents have one and she loves exploring empty boxes. Then she'll sit in one waiting and if you make scratching sounds on the outside she tries to dig through the box to get to what sounds like a mouse.
You may want to try letting the kitten lay on you a bit, or nuzzle up in the crook of your arm. HOWEVER: Be very careful about how you lay down around the cat. Make sure you're in a situation where you rolling over on to it is NOT possible.
The last thing you want to wake up to is a suffocated kitten under your chest.
--
Also, I suggest deciding on how you want to communicate with the cat. Right now is when you can encourage certain behaviors. Remember that these behaviors will get much bigger when it grows up. If you want a real communicator, I suggest making lots of small body motions, like bobbing your head, or making distinct noises (a good mew can start interspecies dialogue), such as the kitten's name, -especially- in how you intend to call it over to you.
We use these methods with our cats, and they come running from blocks away when we call.
Unfortunately I am not in a situation to take on two cats right now. Though once I move into a bigger place and have started my career I have certainly considered I might want to get another one.
My lil' darling is a year just over a year old, small female calico named Marble. I was going to link her pic from the shelter's website that I adopted her from but they already took it down
She's doing a wee bit better the past day or so. She only hides mostly during the day now and seems a little more inclined to explore at night. She has found out where I sleep and makes herself at home there when I'm sleeping.
She'll explore when I'm laying about on the floor or the couch but still spooks if I try to sit up or stand, but we'll get there. She's naturally shy so I'm trying to be as gentle as possible with her. When she's left alone for a while or if it gets really quiet she'll start mewing and I'll answer her mews and she'll sneak out to find me, it's cute because she has a very meek meow.
I noticed last night during a rowdy bout with some catnip that when she runs she has a slight limp. You can't notice it at all when she walks but it's obvious when she runs. Should I take her to the vet and have it checked out?
I wouldn't worry about it unless you feel the need to spend the money to go see a vet.
Lots of cats that come from shelters come along with a limp/injury sustained from abuse
The shelter didn't say anything about her having any accidents that would have left her with a limp, and they did tell me a little about her history of the past year at the shelter (bout with ring worm, poor thing).
I have a coupon for a free vet visit I'm supposed to use within two weeks of adoption, so I plan on taking her anyway, just curious if it was okay if I waited for a few days.
I did try feeling/examining the paw to see if there were any open wounds. I didn't see any and besides the normal finicky cat dislike of having their paws held she didn't seem to feel any pain at me touching it.
She has a grade 3 medial luxating patella that is causing the limping and if it doesn't clear up in a month or so they suggest surgery...
The vetrinarian said it could cost between $800-$1200 for the surgery. Yikes. Does anyone have any advice for me here? Is there some way to mediate cost?
When I adopted her I got a free month of ShelterCare insurance, but it doesn't cover patella luxation and I'm not sure if I could upgrade to have it cover it because it won't cover pre-existing conditions (just like every other piece of shit insurance agency for human and beast).
Does anyone have any experience with ShelterCare? Is it possible for me to upgrade without telling them about the condition since she was already signed up under the program?
How do I help my poor kitty without taking a major dent to the wallet?
Any respectable shelter would have had the cat checked out by a vet before they put it up for adoption. The one in my area will not even display an animal until it has a clean bill of health and all the paperwork to go with it.
Definitely talk to the shelter you adopted the kitty from. Also, check your adoption paperwork, it might have some options on there as well.
It may sound strange, but most of them offer a '10 day trial' type thing, where if the pet comes up with something that they didn't see before, you trade it in. Just an option, sucks man.
Lol, trial or no trial I will not be trading her in for a new cat! She's my baby and I love her, I just want to know how to make the best of the situation. I'll talk to the shelter tomorrow and see what they can do for me, if anything.
Totally understandable, hope the adoption center will be able to help.
Adopted the runt of a litter a few years back and the poor thing eventually developed a bad case of bone spurs around her back right ankle. She started limping one day just a little and it got worse pretty quick. Long story short, vet put in a pin to immobilize the joint. After the surgery her foot swelled up & looked like a clown shoe. I didn't know a cat's back foot could get that huge. Pin eventually worked it's way out after a year or so but it was in long enough to immobilize the joint permanently which is what the doc was hoping for. She's been fine ever since despite having no ability to move her ankle. The tiny little shit runs the house now. =D
If the cat ends up having to either have the corrective surgery or (worst case) an amputation she should be fine. I've also got a 3 legged cat that we adopted (theorize he was hit by a car as he arrived at humane society with a mashed leg and a cracked hip) and he gets around great. Our vet said back in vet school the joke was that cats have 3 legs and a spare.
PSN: Broichan