Food aggression and other 8week old kitten questions

[CoveredInCats]

Hi all,

I agreed to 'temporarily' look after my friend's newly adopted 8 week old kittens a few days ago. Friend received some life shattering news the night she brought the kittens home and just didn't feel fit to look after them as well as they deserved. Owner of the mum cat refused to take them back.

There's a chance these guys will be here for anything up to a few weeks to a few months. My friend will decide if she can have them back or if she will be finding a new owner for them.

She's going to be paying for their upkeep and has supplied all the necessities for them.

I've had cats before so sort of know what I'm doing, but never kittens this young.

They don't have fleas and apparently received flea treatment from their old owner (likely rubbish). No worms in their litter tray contents as far as I can see.

Fully weaned and litter tray trained.

Very playful and hyperactive. Lots and lots of play fighting! Then quickly exhausted and mewing to come up onto our laps to be cuddled to sleep.

Okay - so questions:

1. little boy cat was reluctant to eat on his first and wasn't using the litter tray (though did explore it and sniff it). We were a bit concerned but now know why! The little girl cat growls at her brother if he comes near the plate. And will scratch me and hiss if i go near it when she's eating. The little boy will only go eat when the girl is finished but looks pretty on edge when he's near the plate (probably expecting his sis to come and swipe him!)
   
   How do i deal with this food aggression in a kitten so little? I've tried putting the food plates in different rooms but the little girl then takes ownership of both plates.
   
   
2. I'm arranging a vet appointment for them next week and friend wants an idea of cost so i can do a bank transfer. Vets4Pets do a £49 kitten package which includes first round of jabs and flea/worm advice. Is this worth it? What are the absolute necessities they need? Can i get vet/worm preventative stuff myself instead of through the vets (which will be pricey). I'm not sure if the usual stuff is appropriate for kittens.
   
   
3. When they're in the hyper mode, they treat our toes and fingers like toys! They pounce at them and gently swipe (not anything painful or crazed like they do to each other during play fighting). How can we discourage this? When they are sleepy, they allow us to stroke them just fine and will often purr.
   
   
4. They seem unable to navigate our downstairs! When we first brought them home, we kept them in the bathroom (which is upstairs) for the day so it wasn't too overwhelming for them. Then we brought them downstairs. We have a living room downstairs and a short narrow hallway that leads to the small kitchen. They keep wandering in to the kitchen and remaining there, plonking themselves down on the washing pile ready to be loaded in to the machine! We keep having to lift them them into the living room where there is a lot more room for them to play and run around. If we don't lift them in, they just mew for us from the kitchen. It's like they don't know how to find us.
   Should we continue carrying them in or just let them live happily in the kitchen?
   
   
5. We live in a fourth floor maisonette. No option for them to be outside. So while they are here with me, they will be indoor kittens. My friend has a lovely big house with a garden in a quiet street - perfect for outdoor cats. Will their initial indoor confinement with me affect their ability to be outdoorsy when they eventually return to my friend?
   
   Thanks so much for any advice. I realise i've asked quite a lot.

[KingJoffreysRestingCuntface]

The girl kitty doesn't share food.

£49 is pretty good.

Your toes and fingers are toys. You'll toughen up and get used to the pain.

Kitties really like sleeping in washing. One of those things. Try putting a box in your lounge. Boxes are irresistible to kitties. Or just put them down the front of your top, that's where sensible women store kitties.

They'll be fine staying in and then learning to go outdoors.

[stressystressy]

Girl cats are nearly always the boss of the mens - feed them separately if you feel that the boy kitten isn't eating enough, otherwise he'll just have to learn to wait. Don't touch them while they're eating.

Prescription deflea and deworming stuff is better than the stuff you can buy yourself, and in kittens it's more important you get the dosage right. The fact that the seller of the kittens refused to take them back suggests they didn't do many of the things they probably should have.

When they are in made, hyper kitten mode, only play with them with toys. A wand with feathers is a good one, and wear socks or slippers. I've never minded having my hand mauled and disembowelled like "prey", but if you'll be given these kittens back your friend might be unimpressed that you've not curbed this. Hands aren't toys.

All the carrying will be confusing. They need to work out the lay of the land themselves as it is all down to scent. They expand their known area in the house by rubbing their cheeks in things and depositing scent/pheromones all over. When we have fosters we confine them to one room then gradually expand that area a room at a time hike always allowing them the option to return to the safe room. If they like the kitchen then leave them there, they'll gradually move through the house.

Cats/kittens don't need to be trained to go outside really. They'll be fine when your friend ultimately takes them back and allows them out.

Good luck!

[TheCatOfAthenry]

I recently got a 5 week old kitten whose mum was sick so he was quite small even for such a young age. Now 10 weeks, bold as brass and incredibly cute.

If these kittens like attention, and it sounds like they do, say "no biting" and withdraw attention for 30 seconds when they use your hand as a toy. It's cute in kittens but may become less cute as they grow up! Biscuit now rarely bites.

Re the food, you may need to bring him back to the upstairs bathroom with a bowl, or consider leaving dry food out in 3 bowls at a time. Consider a third litter tray too (one for each cat plus one).

Otherwise, enjoy!

[Fluffycloudland77]

1. You probably have them for life.
   
2. You need vet flea/worm meds. Otc veers from ineffective to poisonous.
   
3. Toys on sticks to distract them. Laser pointers. Ping pong balls.
   
4. Yes it might, they'll have no road sense. If they go back.
   
   Is the female a tortoiseshell?

[CoveredInCats]

Thank you all so much for the replies and advice.

We were lounging about in the living room this morning and they came toddling in from the kitchen all by themselves! One after the other.

They do seem to be rather on edge a lot of the time. They get a fright and do a little jump with sudden movements and new sounds. But i suppose that's normal. They've been in 3 homes since the start of their lives. They're bound to be a bit suspicious of everything.

I'll call the vets on Monday and get them booked in then for this kitten starter package thing. That'll be the injections sorted and a prescription of flea and worm treatment. Just not sure who to register the kittens under. I'll maybe just explain that my address is temporary and they may be moving to another vets in a few weeks/months.

I'll continue to feed them separately and not go near them when they're eating either. I had no idea cats were so territorial over food. I was sure it was just a dog thing.

We have two litter trays but will pick up another today. It'll be a bit cramped having three downstairs. Is it okay to pop one upstairs if i show them where it is? They've managed to hop up and down the stairs a few times following DD but usually remain downstairs.

Not tortoiseshell, no. Do they have a reputation? Just black and white moggies. I'll try to attach a picture.

[TheCatOfAthenry]

Yes, we need a picture!

Use your address, don't think it matters too much.

Upstairs for litter tray fine. I have the same setup.

Here are my kitties.

[CoveredInCats]

Oh adorable!

Your first B/W one looks a lot like my old cat. Absolutely lovely.

Here are the rascals who have taken over my downstairs. The little girl has the white nose. She fell asleep suspended between my two knees yesterday. I couldn't move for an hour

Girl cat is in the first two photos, and boy cat is the third (we've taken to calling the boy Kit and the girl Kat for now).

[TheCatOfAthenry]

@CoveredInCats they are fabulous! I think you should refuse to part with them ever.