Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this long post. I joined TCS about 2 months ago when we adopted Puppy. Puppy was 6 months old and very shy. The only background we were able to get on her was that she was from the streets of West Virginia and brought here by truck. She had a URI, roundworms, and pinkeye when she arrived. She was already spayed. She allowed me to hold her upon our introduction but did not play at all. Her foster home had a lot of cats, however, she did not socialize with them. We live in a 3 "person" home (David, Puppy, and I) with no other pets...well an aquarium, but u know what I mean. Puppy has EVERYTHING they make for a kitten. She is litter box trained and accepts the "self-cleaning" litter box in stride. She has multiple scratching posts, cat tree, 3 beds, a play tent, every toy, etc. She only accepts "Pit'r Pats Breath Mints" as treats, drinks only Brita Water, loves her Cheddar flavored milk treat, and will only eat Kitten Chow. She was going kinda crazy eating the area rugs in our house, but I sprayed them with NO-SCRATCH and she laid off a lot.
She has been given a clean bill of health from the vet, however, she is licking the spot beneath both shoulder blades pretty bald. We are looking into an allergy - she is a strictly indoor kitten.
The thing that concerns me is her appathy. She will play with me actively for about 20 minutes when I first wake up and for about 2o minutes before bed. By actively I mean will "chase and kill" the toys I throw for her. She meows a few times when I first see her after an extended period of time (sleeping or work) and rubs against my legs. Occasionally, if I sit on the floor she will sit on my lap. With the exception of these times she stays in her covered basket bed emerging only when she hears me in the kitchen.. She will wait for a treat, but she will not beg. If I do not provide her with one, she will simply go back to bed. Is this a happy kitten? I lay on the floor for hours a day and talk to her and when she eventually comes out I gently pet her and give her treats. I have seen other kittens at the homes of friends and family and they play a lot. I know she lays on the couch at night whike I am asleep, however, she will not come there when I am there. I have picked her up and put her on the couch with me but she jumps off. My biggest concern is that today when I came home I picked her up and she tried to bite me. I know I didn't hurt her. She could have bitten me but it was as if she was trying to WARN ME! I am a firm believer that the pets in the home ARE NOT TO BITE THE HUMANS. David says that is just how cats are. I know that my function in the relationship is to provide for my kitten. Will my kitten ever appear to be happy? Will she ever show affection? Am I being selfish in asking...WHATS IN IT FOR ME?
Thanks...this is the longest post in TCS HISTORY!!!!
She has been given a clean bill of health from the vet, however, she is licking the spot beneath both shoulder blades pretty bald. We are looking into an allergy - she is a strictly indoor kitten.
The thing that concerns me is her appathy. She will play with me actively for about 20 minutes when I first wake up and for about 2o minutes before bed. By actively I mean will "chase and kill" the toys I throw for her. She meows a few times when I first see her after an extended period of time (sleeping or work) and rubs against my legs. Occasionally, if I sit on the floor she will sit on my lap. With the exception of these times she stays in her covered basket bed emerging only when she hears me in the kitchen.. She will wait for a treat, but she will not beg. If I do not provide her with one, she will simply go back to bed. Is this a happy kitten? I lay on the floor for hours a day and talk to her and when she eventually comes out I gently pet her and give her treats. I have seen other kittens at the homes of friends and family and they play a lot. I know she lays on the couch at night whike I am asleep, however, she will not come there when I am there. I have picked her up and put her on the couch with me but she jumps off. My biggest concern is that today when I came home I picked her up and she tried to bite me. I know I didn't hurt her. She could have bitten me but it was as if she was trying to WARN ME! I am a firm believer that the pets in the home ARE NOT TO BITE THE HUMANS. David says that is just how cats are. I know that my function in the relationship is to provide for my kitten. Will my kitten ever appear to be happy? Will she ever show affection? Am I being selfish in asking...WHATS IN IT FOR ME?
Thanks...this is the longest post in TCS HISTORY!!!!