I have two kittens who are 8.5 weeks old, same litter, male /female. We've had them for a week and they seem happy here. Sorry it's long, trying to give you a clear picture. I hope I'm just being a worry wart all for nothing!
We picked these two kittens because they were very well socialized and seemed so affectionate and sweet. The boy still is, he loves to snuggle and seeks us out, wanting to be on our laps /cuddle etc. The girl did in the beginning, seemed to love to be on our laps and totally good with being petted. Now she seems to become very independent and is mostly cuddly only if she's getting sleepy. If fully alert she does not want to be touched even if not playing. Sometimes she seems to be afraid of my fingers if I try to touch her, yesterday I had to lure her to come and she tried to tap my fingers as if she didn't know what they were, and worried, but I was able to get her to eat kibble from my fingers. Later on worried again and same today. Then I left the house for 15 minutes, came in and they both came to greet me, meowing loudly and wanted to be pet, tail straight up! Other times too she seems fine, on my lap sleeping (mostly if I put her there) and purring and enjoying being pet, also getting real snuggly licking my fingers like she's wanting to nurse. But now sleeping next to me rather than on me.
I don't understand why she's getting so stand-off-ish and refusing to be touched when she was so well socialized plus loving to be cuddled on a lap.
What's the best way to handle her? We're hoping she'll come around again and become a lap cat who will enjoy cuddling with us.
Also, do I discourage or allow her to lick me? I prefer that she doesn't lick us a lot when she's older for sanitary reasons. But right now I'm allowing some since it might be partially affection and I want her to bond.
Here's a picture from a few minutes ago, and now that they're both asleep.
We picked these two kittens because they were very well socialized and seemed so affectionate and sweet. The boy still is, he loves to snuggle and seeks us out, wanting to be on our laps /cuddle etc. The girl did in the beginning, seemed to love to be on our laps and totally good with being petted. Now she seems to become very independent and is mostly cuddly only if she's getting sleepy. If fully alert she does not want to be touched even if not playing. Sometimes she seems to be afraid of my fingers if I try to touch her, yesterday I had to lure her to come and she tried to tap my fingers as if she didn't know what they were, and worried, but I was able to get her to eat kibble from my fingers. Later on worried again and same today. Then I left the house for 15 minutes, came in and they both came to greet me, meowing loudly and wanted to be pet, tail straight up! Other times too she seems fine, on my lap sleeping (mostly if I put her there) and purring and enjoying being pet, also getting real snuggly licking my fingers like she's wanting to nurse. But now sleeping next to me rather than on me.
I don't understand why she's getting so stand-off-ish and refusing to be touched when she was so well socialized plus loving to be cuddled on a lap.
What's the best way to handle her? We're hoping she'll come around again and become a lap cat who will enjoy cuddling with us.
Also, do I discourage or allow her to lick me? I prefer that she doesn't lick us a lot when she's older for sanitary reasons. But right now I'm allowing some since it might be partially affection and I want her to bond.
Here's a picture from a few minutes ago, and now that they're both asleep.
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