How Soon Can Newborn Kittens Be Petted?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I am fostering a mother cat who just gave birth to five kittens. As I write this, the kittens are two days old, and my little girls are dying to pet and hold them. Is this a good idea? I don’t want to see Nala, the momma cat, become resentful toward her kittens if they’ve been touched and handled. Nala’s restless, but I’ve been keeping her in a warm room with the kittens. How much... Read More
Why Don’t My Kittens Purr For Me?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I found Diva and Tater on Craigslist. They were 9 weeks old at the time, and they were healthy and happy. I brought them into a household with one 4-month-old rescue female kitten from a vet’s office. It was instant adoration! They thought of Gracie as “Mom.” They “nursed” on Gracie, who was a fixed female by then, and she seemed to love it. Both of the kittens purred and... Read More
Why Does My Kitten Constantly Lick Me?
Kitties’ note: Mama’s been having kind of a rough day today, and she said the only way she could manage to help us write our column was if we had a happy question to answer. And lucky for us, in the wee hours of the morning, this letter came through! Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I found two beautiful kittens on the side of a highway. It took me nearly an hour to get them in my car. When I got them home one was very nervous... Read More
Why Does My Kitten Suck Her Tail?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I just got a kitten three weeks ago. She’s normal in every way except that sometimes she will lay down and chew or suck on her tail. Apparently she likes it — she purrs while she does it and it puts her to sleep — but I’m a little worried about it. If I take her tail away from her mouth, she wakes up and looks everywhere for it. I’m a little lost, and I’d... Read More
Why Are My Kittens Always Crying?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: My cat, Smokey, gave birth to five kittens. They’re about 10 days old and they just started meowing loudly. It’s driving me insane! Please help! ~ Katrina These kittens, from a litter that Grammie (that's Mama's mama) fostered for our local shelter, are about three weeks old. Siouxsie: Well, Katrina, most kittens don’t make all that much noise unless there’s... Read More
What Flea Products are Safe For a Tiny Kitten?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I rescued a 3-1/2 week old kitten from someone that had no idea what they were doing and had already watched four other littermates die. I have bottle-fed a kitten about this same age before, but that was seven years ago. I’m not sure if this kitten is a boy or girl. She (I’ll use that pronoun for now) is active and healthy, but she has a very bad case of fleas. I know I can’t... Read More
I’m a New Cat Owner, and I Need Some Advice
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I have a question about my 9-month-old cat Luna. I just adopted her from someone four days ago, and she’s my first cat. She seems okay to me, she sleeps with me sometimes and lets me rub her, I’ve seen her knead my blankets, she likes to play, and she is okay in the litter box. I have been busy with work the last week — I’ve been gone for eight to thirteen hours a day.... Read More
