Making sure a lone kitten knows she's cat
Question:
> Yeah, I probably should not have gotten a cat yet given my job situtation, > but my officemate brought it in the 2 week old kitten with no mom. How > could I say no?
Well, you couldn’t. It would be impossible. :) I think that waiting a month to get another kitten for your baby to play with will work very well. That will give the kitten a good chance to bond with you first. When they’re so young, they will accept each other very easily. In the meantime, bonding with you is great socialization for her. :) Good luck! Congrats on your Master’s!! Eva
Response:
> I would eventually like to have two cats, so I have considered just getting > another kitten now. Being kitten season there are lots on the 6 to 8 week > range out there. But, first, springsteen hasn’t had any tests or shots yet, > and I don’t know if I should risk bringing in a new cat until this happens > (but then it will be 8 weeks – will that be too late to introduce a new cat > for the purpose of learning cat behaviors?) Also, I am at an extream state > of flux as far as living arrangements go. I have to be out of where I am > living now in 4 weeks, but I am still straightening out my job situations > (I’m about to get my master’s degree) and honestly don’t know where I will > be in a month.
My parents’ cat Oscar was abandoned at 3 weeks, and therefore didn’t have a normal kitten experience. He was a terror (biting people, scratching our legs and arms, no proper self-grooming, etc…) until he was about 2 months old, when he was introduced to my kitten Lady Jane. She was a month younger than him, but just as big (she’s always been a big cat), and she had the benefit of growing up with a litter. She taught him manners, and other "normal" cat stuff very quickly. So, I think you should be okay waiting a couple of weeks to get the new kitten, judging from my experience with Lady Jane and Oscar. -jen http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/~jsm9n/cats.html
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hi, I posted a couple of days ago about Springsteen, and me being a worried >mommy and thinking she was deaf. Still not 100% sure since loud noises have >no effect on her, but she will come out of het box when I go to the kitchen >door and call…. Not the point here.. >She is about 4 and a half weeks old. She was a rescue who was found dumped >in a cardboard box in my officemate’s yard. Never haveing had a cat *this* >small, I am reading everything I can. According to one book, she is in the >socialization phase. I’m having no problem ensuring she is socialized to >people. We have lots of visitors and she went on a weekend trip with me. >However, she hasn’t been able to meet other pets, let alone cats. On our >weekend trip she met one dog she liked, and another who was a 10 month old >Rott puppy, and bit to much for the kitten. I stayed at two different >places with her, one had one cat, the other had two. But, these were all >older cats that did *not* like having a small kitten there. So I am having >trouble finding cat role models to teach her how to be a cat. Any advice? >I would eventually like to have two cats, so I have considered just getting >another kitten now. Being kitten season there are lots on the 6 to 8 week >range out there. But, first, springsteen hasn’t had any tests or shots yet, >and I don’t know if I should risk bringing in a new cat until this happens >(but then it will be 8 weeks – will that be too late to introduce a new cat >for the purpose of learning cat behaviors?) Also, I am at an extream state >of flux as far as living arrangements go. I have to be out of where I am >living now in 4 weeks, but I am still straightening out my job situations >(I’m about to get my master’s degree) and honestly don’t know where I will >be in a month. >Yeah, I probably should not have gotten a cat yet given my job situtation, >but my officemate brought it in the 2 week old kitten with no mom. How >could I say no?
I wouldn’t worry about waiting a few weeks to get Springsteen a companion. Waiting until you have all the tests, shots and vet work is a very good idea before bringing in a second cat. From 2 weeks to 14 weeks is typically the socialization phase, although I would expect some variation from cat to cat. The kitten stage lasts until 9 months, but it’s sometimes longer in some breeds, such as abys. I would think you would be all right to bring in another cat at 8 weeks or later. Beaners was 12 weeks when she met my older cat Hawaii, and things turned out fine. Good luck with your new kitten! — Jaalinta Scrape out the poop from my addy to reply Visit Hawaii & the Beaners – http://members.aol.com/Jaalinta/Wacky/wcpg1.htm
Response:
Hi, I posted a couple of days ago about Springsteen, and me being a worried mommy and thinking she was deaf. Still not 100% sure since loud noises have no effect on her, but she will come out of het box when I go to the kitchen door and call…. Not the point here.. She is about 4 and a half weeks old. She was a rescue who was found dumped in a cardboard box in my officemate’s yard. Never haveing had a cat *this* small, I am reading everything I can. According to one book, she is in the socialization phase. I’m having no problem ensuring she is socialized to people. We have lots of visitors and she went on a weekend trip with me. However, she hasn’t been able to meet other pets, let alone cats. On our weekend trip she met one dog she liked, and another who was a 10 month old Rott puppy, and bit to much for the kitten. I stayed at two different places with her, one had one cat, the other had two. But, these were all older cats that did *not* like having a small kitten there. So I am having trouble finding cat role models to teach her how to be a cat. Any advice? I would eventually like to have two cats, so I have considered just getting another kitten now. Being kitten season there are lots on the 6 to 8 week range out there. But, first, springsteen hasn’t had any tests or shots yet, and I don’t know if I should risk bringing in a new cat until this happens (but then it will be 8 weeks – will that be too late to introduce a new cat for the purpose of learning cat behaviors?) Also, I am at an extream state of flux as far as living arrangements go. I have to be out of where I am living now in 4 weeks, but I am still straightening out my job situations (I’m about to get my master’s degree) and honestly don’t know where I will be in a month. Yeah, I probably should not have gotten a cat yet given my job situtation, but my officemate brought it in the 2 week old kitten with no mom. How could I say no?
Response:
> Yeah, I probably should not have gotten a cat yet given my job situtation, > but my officemate brought it in the 2 week old kitten with no mom. How > could I say no?
Well, you couldn’t. It would be impossible. :) I think that waiting a month to get another kitten for your baby to play with will work very well. That will give the kitten a good chance to bond with you first. When they’re so young, they will accept each other very easily. In the meantime, bonding with you is great socialization for her. :) Good luck! Congrats on your Master’s!! Eva
Response:
> I would eventually like to have two cats, so I have considered just getting > another kitten now. Being kitten season there are lots on the 6 to 8 week > range out there. But, first, springsteen hasn’t had any tests or shots yet, > and I don’t know if I should risk bringing in a new cat until this happens > (but then it will be 8 weeks – will that be too late to introduce a new cat > for the purpose of learning cat behaviors?) Also, I am at an extream state > of flux as far as living arrangements go. I have to be out of where I am > living now in 4 weeks, but I am still straightening out my job situations > (I’m about to get my master’s degree) and honestly don’t know where I will > be in a month.
My parents’ cat Oscar was abandoned at 3 weeks, and therefore didn’t have a normal kitten experience. He was a terror (biting people, scratching our legs and arms, no proper self-grooming, etc…) until he was about 2 months old, when he was introduced to my kitten Lady Jane. She was a month younger than him, but just as big (she’s always been a big cat), and she had the benefit of growing up with a litter. She taught him manners, and other "normal" cat stuff very quickly. So, I think you should be okay waiting a couple of weeks to get the new kitten, judging from my experience with Lady Jane and Oscar. -jen http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/~jsm9n/cats.html
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hi, I posted a couple of days ago about Springsteen, and me being a worried >mommy and thinking she was deaf. Still not 100% sure since loud noises have >no effect on her, but she will come out of het box when I go to the kitchen >door and call…. Not the point here.. >She is about 4 and a half weeks old. She was a rescue who was found dumped >in a cardboard box in my officemate’s yard. Never haveing had a cat *this* >small, I am reading everything I can. According to one book, she is in the >socialization phase. I’m having no problem ensuring she is socialized to >people. We have lots of visitors and she went on a weekend trip with me. >However, she hasn’t been able to meet other pets, let alone cats. On our >weekend trip she met one dog she liked, and another who was a 10 month old >Rott puppy, and bit to much for the kitten. I stayed at two different >places with her, one had one cat, the other had two. But, these were all >older cats that did *not* like having a small kitten there. So I am having >trouble finding cat role models to teach her how to be a cat. Any advice? >I would eventually like to have two cats, so I have considered just getting >another kitten now. Being kitten season there are lots on the 6 to 8 week >range out there. But, first, springsteen hasn’t had any tests or shots yet, >and I don’t know if I should risk bringing in a new cat until this happens >(but then it will be 8 weeks – will that be too late to introduce a new cat >for the purpose of learning cat behaviors?) Also, I am at an extream state >of flux as far as living arrangements go. I have to be out of where I am >living now in 4 weeks, but I am still straightening out my job situations >(I’m about to get my master’s degree) and honestly don’t know where I will >be in a month. >Yeah, I probably should not have gotten a cat yet given my job situtation, >but my officemate brought it in the 2 week old kitten with no mom. How >could I say no?
I wouldn’t worry about waiting a few weeks to get Springsteen a companion. Waiting until you have all the tests, shots and vet work is a very good idea before bringing in a second cat. From 2 weeks to 14 weeks is typically the socialization phase, although I would expect some variation from cat to cat. The kitten stage lasts until 9 months, but it’s sometimes longer in some breeds, such as abys. I would think you would be all right to bring in another cat at 8 weeks or later. Beaners was 12 weeks when she met my older cat Hawaii, and things turned out fine. Good luck with your new kitten! — Jaalinta Scrape out the poop from my addy to reply Visit Hawaii & the Beaners – http://members.aol.com/Jaalinta/Wacky/wcpg1.htm
Response:
Hi, I posted a couple of days ago about Springsteen, and me being a worried mommy and thinking she was deaf. Still not 100% sure since loud noises have no effect on her, but she will come out of het box when I go to the kitchen door and call…. Not the point here.. She is about 4 and a half weeks old. She was a rescue who was found dumped in a cardboard box in my officemate’s yard. Never haveing had a cat *this* small, I am reading everything I can. According to one book, she is in the socialization phase. I’m having no problem ensuring she is socialized to people. We have lots of visitors and she went on a weekend trip with me. However, she hasn’t been able to meet other pets, let alone cats. On our weekend trip she met one dog she liked, and another who was a 10 month old Rott puppy, and bit to much for the kitten. I stayed at two different places with her, one had one cat, the other had two. But, these were all older cats that did *not* like having a small kitten there. So I am having trouble finding cat role models to teach her how to be a cat. Any advice? I would eventually like to have two cats, so I have considered just getting another kitten now. Being kitten season there are lots on the 6 to 8 week range out there. But, first, springsteen hasn’t had any tests or shots yet, and I don’t know if I should risk bringing in a new cat until this happens (but then it will be 8 weeks – will that be too late to introduce a new cat for the purpose of learning cat behaviors?) Also, I am at an extream state of flux as far as living arrangements go. I have to be out of where I am living now in 4 weeks, but I am still straightening out my job situations (I’m about to get my master’s degree) and honestly don’t know where I will be in a month. Yeah, I probably should not have gotten a cat yet given my job situtation, but my officemate brought it in the 2 week old kitten with no mom. How could I say no?
Response:
> Yeah, I probably should not have gotten a cat yet given my job situtation, > but my officemate brought it in the 2 week old kitten with no mom. How > could I say no?
Well, you couldn’t. It would be impossible. :) I think that waiting a month to get another kitten for your baby to play with will work very well. That will give the kitten a good chance to bond with you first. When they’re so young, they will accept each other very easily. In the meantime, bonding with you is great socialization for her. :) Good luck! Congrats on your Master’s!! Eva
Response:
> I would eventually like to have two cats, so I have considered just getting > another kitten now. Being kitten season there are lots on the 6 to 8 week > range out there. But, first, springsteen hasn’t had any tests or shots yet, > and I don’t know if I should risk bringing in a new cat until this happens > (but then it will be 8 weeks – will that be too late to introduce a new cat > for the purpose of learning cat behaviors?) Also, I am at an extream state > of flux as far as living arrangements go. I have to be out of where I am > living now in 4 weeks, but I am still straightening out my job situations > (I’m about to get my master’s degree) and honestly don’t know where I will > be in a month.
My parents’ cat Oscar was abandoned at 3 weeks, and therefore didn’t have a normal kitten experience. He was a terror (biting people, scratching our legs and arms, no proper self-grooming, etc…) until he was about 2 months old, when he was introduced to my kitten Lady Jane. She was a month younger than him, but just as big (she’s always been a big cat), and she had the benefit of growing up with a litter. She taught him manners, and other "normal" cat stuff very quickly. So, I think you should be okay waiting a couple of weeks to get the new kitten, judging from my experience with Lady Jane and Oscar. -jen http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/~jsm9n/cats.html
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hi, I posted a couple of days ago about Springsteen, and me being a worried >mommy and thinking she was deaf. Still not 100% sure since loud noises have >no effect on her, but she will come out of het box when I go to the kitchen >door and call…. Not the point here.. >She is about 4 and a half weeks old. She was a rescue who was found dumped >in a cardboard box in my officemate’s yard. Never haveing had a cat *this* >small, I am reading everything I can. According to one book, she is in the >socialization phase. I’m having no problem ensuring she is socialized to >people. We have lots of visitors and she went on a weekend trip with me. >However, she hasn’t been able to meet other pets, let alone cats. On our >weekend trip she met one dog she liked, and another who was a 10 month old >Rott puppy, and bit to much for the kitten. I stayed at two different >places with her, one had one cat, the other had two. But, these were all >older cats that did *not* like having a small kitten there. So I am having >trouble finding cat role models to teach her how to be a cat. Any advice? >I would eventually like to have two cats, so I have considered just getting >another kitten now. Being kitten season there are lots on the 6 to 8 week >range out there. But, first, springsteen hasn’t had any tests or shots yet, >and I don’t know if I should risk bringing in a new cat until this happens >(but then it will be 8 weeks – will that be too late to introduce a new cat >for the purpose of learning cat behaviors?) Also, I am at an extream state >of flux as far as living arrangements go. I have to be out of where I am >living now in 4 weeks, but I am still straightening out my job situations >(I’m about to get my master’s degree) and honestly don’t know where I will >be in a month. >Yeah, I probably should not have gotten a cat yet given my job situtation, >but my officemate brought it in the 2 week old kitten with no mom. How >could I say no?
I wouldn’t worry about waiting a few weeks to get Springsteen a companion. Waiting until you have all the tests, shots and vet work is a very good idea before bringing in a second cat. From 2 weeks to 14 weeks is typically the socialization phase, although I would expect some variation from cat to cat. The kitten stage lasts until 9 months, but it’s sometimes longer in some breeds, such as abys. I would think you would be all right to bring in another cat at 8 weeks or later. Beaners was 12 weeks when she met my older cat Hawaii, and things turned out fine. Good luck with your new kitten! — Jaalinta Scrape out the poop from my addy to reply Visit Hawaii & the Beaners – http://members.aol.com/Jaalinta/Wacky/wcpg1.htm
Response:
Hi, I posted a couple of days ago about Springsteen, and me being a worried mommy and thinking she was deaf. Still not 100% sure since loud noises have no effect on her, but she will come out of het box when I go to the kitchen door and call…. Not the point here.. She is about 4 and a half weeks old. She was a rescue who was found dumped in a cardboard box in my officemate’s yard. Never haveing had a cat *this* small, I am reading everything I can. According to one book, she is in the socialization phase. I’m having no problem ensuring she is socialized to people. We have lots of visitors and she went on a weekend trip with me. However, she hasn’t been able to meet other pets, let alone cats. On our weekend trip she met one dog she liked, and another who was a 10 month old Rott puppy, and bit to much for the kitten. I stayed at two different places with her, one had one cat, the other had two. But, these were all older cats that did *not* like having a small kitten there. So I am having trouble finding cat role models to teach her how to be a cat. Any advice? I would eventually like to have two cats, so I have considered just getting another kitten now. Being kitten season there are lots on the 6 to 8 week range out there. But, first, springsteen hasn’t had any tests or shots yet, and I don’t know if I should risk bringing in a new cat until this happens (but then it will be 8 weeks – will that be too late to introduce a new cat for the purpose of learning cat behaviors?) Also, I am at an extream state of flux as far as living arrangements go. I have to be out of where I am living now in 4 weeks, but I am still straightening out my job situations (I’m about to get my master’s degree) and honestly don’t know where I will be in a month. Yeah, I probably should not have gotten a cat yet given my job situtation, but my officemate brought it in the 2 week old kitten with no mom. How could I say no?
Response:
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