Kitten in that tiresome, attention-demanding PAINFUL period - what can I do??

[CatKisser]

Found my beautiful kitten Olive aged about 4 weeks by the road in a rainstorm. She's a great kitty with a massive personality; her new trick is to retrieve toys I throw, jump on my lap and drop it for me to throw again!!

But she's now about 4 months old and so, so clingy. Obviously I love her dearly but I cannot sit down for two minutes without her climbing up my leg (WHICH BLOODY HURTS!) or trying to get on my shoulder to suckle my ear!

A couple of times I've accidentally knocked her with my foot while walking because she's always following me everywhere. She also now wont sleep on top of the duvet, but insists on sleeping under it, right up against me, which is lovely but means I don't sleep wonderfully as I'm terrified of rolling over and squishing her.

Do I just ride out this period or am I being a mug for being ruled by a tiny kitten?!

[CatKisser]

Gratuitous Cat pic!

[cozietoesie]

Sounds like every Siamese kitten I've ever had. Enjoy it!



(By the way - I've slept with kittens these many many moons and never squashed one yet. It's as if your subconscious tells you there's something there - and she's of a size now to squirm out if for some reason you're sleeping real deeply. Set yourself a regular Sunday afternoon cuddle snooze with her for winter - you won't regret it.)

[CatKisser]

Thanks Cozie, I knew you'd understand!
I think she'll calm down a bit when she's allowed outside - she'll be a right killer, I can tell already. But she's not neutered yet. Shes so bloody tiny the thought of her outside gives me cold chills actually.

[cozietoesie]

Time to have a chat with the vet about getting her neutered, I think? (Four months is getting to the right age if she's healthy and of a decent weight.) She may be tiny but imagine how awful it would be if that tinyness had to cope with a litter of kits - and once they come into season, they're often out and over the hills before you know what's happening.

She's lovely by the way. Still getting on fine with the others?

[CatKisser]

Yes, thanks, they're all much happier now. I did think for a while she'd drive Scabbers away but they all seem very content. Yes, I guess that will have to be done next month, the thought of her getting pregnant as tiny as she is is horrific. In fact surely kittens that size can't get pregnant can they? It would kill them!

[CatKisser]

Nice pic!

[cozietoesie]

.....In fact surely kittens that size can't get pregnant can they? It would kill them!.......

I'm afraid that they can - and Yes. Sometimes it does kill them - or at least severely adversely affect their health.

(Nice pic by the way. )

[flanjabelle]

Oh yes they can. Cats are prolific breeders. They are fertile from very young and can have many many litters.

[CatKisser]

Thanks -sorry, it's a bit knobbish to put "nice pic" on your own picture, but MN wouldn't let me post a pic alone!
Honestly, I take back my moan from yesterday, Olive and Snowers have had me in stitches this afternoon. She tears in, hides and waits crouched down with her arse wiggling in anticipation. Snowers than walks in and gives me a look as if to say "I know she's in here!" And the second he gets near her she leaps out, paws raised! It sounds so silly but it's really cheered me up!
(Last gratuitous pic!)
Oh and I'm about to find out how much a cat spaying is. I think Scabbers was £29 but it's more for girls, isn't it?

[Fluffycloudland77]

She's got a slightly oriental look about her at the moment, quite a triangular shaped head for a moggie.

Girls do cost more yes. Will she be microchipped too?.

[chockbic]

She is lovely and it is comical to watch them play fight.

[CatKisser]

A visiting friend recently said that, Fluffy - and remarked her personality seemed Oriental too. Obviously I know nothing of her parentage so who knows?!
God, I had forgotten micro chipping. Yes I will have to as she'll be going outside when she's all better.

[Fluffycloudland77]

My dh wants a siamese. He thinks they are laid back non-demanding cats.

Mwhahahaha.

[chockbic]

Ha about as much as a Boxer dog :D

[GoodboyBindleFeatherstone]

I don't want to alarm you, but GoodCat is STILL behaving in a similar way to your kitten and he is now 16.

It might not be a phase. Just sayin'.

[CatKisser]

Haaa, thanks for that goodboy
I shall cope - as long as I can stop her clawing her way up my leg. It KILLS!
I wouldn't change her really. So glad I didn't give her away!!

[GoodboyBindleFeatherstone]

GoodCat still climbs my legs. His claws are bigger than when he was a kitten and he's fatter.

But he's SO gorgeous n' fluffy he gets away with it.

[CatKisser]

Oh GOD that must kill!!
Luckily my other 2 have learned not to do this any more. What's even worse is when bloody Olive climbs on my shoulder to suckle my ear, because when she's does it she kneads the side of my head with her claws out. Bloody aggers!

[cozietoesie]

....My dh wants a siamese. He thinks they are laid back non-demanding cats......



Well if she has strong oriental blood in her, CatKisser, she could be given to that sort of behaviour for life. It ought to moderate a bit as she ages - but only moderate.

[CatKisser]

Lol at the Siamese comment!! I've never had one before but that's certainly not the impression ive got.

I know this is not a good thing to find funny, but yesterday I broke up with someone I've been seeing casually for six months or so. Was the right thing to do, but I was still a bit teary. He stroked all the cats in turn and said bye to them (he was a cat lover, sob!) and when he got to Olive she attached herself to his finger with her claws and made him bleed!

Good girl, Olive.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Who says cats can't be trained eh?

[Scarletohello]

Cats are v good judges of character IMO. They sense things that we just can't...

Curious to know why you broke up with your man but I guess that's another thread. Hope you are ok. Give your kitten an extra big cuddle tonight. :)

[CatKisser]

Oh it's not exciting enough to warrant it's own thread. It wasn't even a proper relationship - we'd been seeing each other casually for six months or so but he's going through a difficult divorce and asked if we could keep it quiet.
In the end I realised I didn't want to be someone's secret and nipped it in the bud. No bad feeling though, he's a nice guy and I said to get back in contact when things are a bit more sorted.
Wish I'd done it in a couple of weeks time, as I'll now be celebrating my thirtieth alone!

[sashh]

Mine's only small. She was a stray and I estimated about 6 months old but the vet said about a year.

I believe if cats get pregnant young they stop growing and I think this might have happened to her.

I have had her 2 years and she still follows me from room to room if she is in the house and not asleep.

She has spent the last couple of months sleeping on me. At night, all night but has now moved on to sleeping on the bed, not on the duvet so you might be sharing your bed for a few years. Although she did go through a phase of sleeping on the shelves.

[CatKisser]

Oh what a beautiful little thing!! She looks tiny in this pic - and you reckon she might have already had a litter?! How did you come to end up with her?