New kitten advice needed urgently, please...

[whiskeysheri]

'Afternoon, all! :) My friend and I picked up her new male kitten on Sunday afternoon and for the last two nights he has cried non-stop! He seems perfectly healthy and although he hides under the sofa a lot of the time, he is very active when he comes out. He's eating okay and using his litter tray, too.

I had initially though she was exaggerating about the miaowing when I went over yesterday, but as soon as it started getting dark he was crying without even taking a breath it seemed! Apparently, her neighbours from upstairs even came down at 3 this morning to ask her to do something. It hasn't stopped today either and it's driving her mad. Any advice, anyone, please? Thanks x x

[pastafreak]

It is either seperation anxiety.....or-could he be deaf??..My young male shouts the house down-especially at night. Tho he is getting better ...they cant hear their own voice and they consequently have a "lost cat" howl

[lindapinda]

Oh dear! Poor kitten and poor everyone else !..Maybe he's been taken from his mother too early for his own personal self,even if he's 8 weeks etc? The first night we had Spike,he cuddled into a shirt my husband had been wearing,probably cos of the smell!!,but,he obviously got comfort from it. New wee kitten,must realise that dark means sleeping cuddled up to something and he's maybe very lonely?..

[LoftyLottie]

Where is he sleeping at night? Is he alone during this time?

He perhaps needs company and warmth from a living being to substitute for his mother. I have let kittens sleep with me during their initial period with us. They have soon outgrown the need for this as they become more independent.

[aka pixi]

hi ws, sounds daft but has your mate thought about leaving a teddy with the kitten? he may just be missing a snuggle up, ours loved her teddy :)

[whiskeysheri]

Thanks for your quick responses! :)

Hi, pasta. I hadn't thought about him being deaf! Thinking back, though, I don't think he is as he always looks up when we call him (not that he knows his name yet). :)

Hi, linda. That is what I thought at first, but when we went around to visit him and then pick him up, the lady told us he'd been quite happily independent from his mum for a couple of weeks and didn't bother with her or their other cat much. He was the last kitten to be collected at 8 weeks.

Hi, Lottie. He's had access to the living room and her bedroom from the first night, but usually stays under the sofa. He did go and find her once on the first night, but ran away again when he did. She gets up to him during the night, but it doesn't appear to comfort him. :(

Hi, pixi. He still seems a bit scared to have cuddles, etc at the moment. I might go and get him a little teddy that he can snuggle up to later, though, it can't hurt. Thanks. :)

[LoftyLottie]

Perhaps his own basket with a WARM hot water bottle with a soft fleecy cover will help. I have done this for several kittens. Is his eyesight OK? (A kitten with bad eyesight will usually run around with his nose close to the floor and looking down, rather than looking straight ahead). Does he appear to take an interest in things around him and want to play?

[Sweetie77]

I am sure I read somewhere that an alarm clock wrapped up in a T shirt of something reminds the kitten of the mothers heartbeat???

[whiskeysheri]

Thanks, Lottie. He has a fleecy blanket, but I'll take a hot water bottle over there later and hope he finds it. His eyesight appears fine; he jumps if the slightest movement is made that he doesn't expect. He isn't playful, though. We were told he was very playful from where we picked him from, but he hasn't shown any interest in playing yet, which I put down to him not having found his bearings in a new place yet.

I heard that, too, Sweetie. He wasn't supposed to have been bothered with other cats at home, but I guess anything is worth a try, even if it just feels like a bit of company. Thank you. :)

[LoftyLottie]

Perhaps another kitten might help?

[LoftyLottie]

That was quite a serious answer, but sounded quite flippant. Is he going to be an indoor cat (I presume your friend lives in a flat). If so, another feline friend might be a good idea and the sooner the better.

[alfieblue]

Hello whiskeysheri - it's a long time since i had kittens, but i guess the following may help - for pups I have wrapped up a warm hot water bottle in a blanket, plus cuddly toy plus an old fashioned clock (tick tock!) (wrapped up in blanket) in their bed or wherever they sleep. Its an old fashioned idea - but it does give the pet comfort - warmth, something to snuggle up to and the clock ticking, well who knows - it may sound like their mum, siblings heartbeats etc.

He sounds a little darling and he's eating and using his tray okay.

Hopefully he will settle down with plenty of TLC as your friend is giving him. :o) x

[Barmaid]

Both my cats did this when I brought them home. My older female was really bad. She cried all night for about a week. My ex husband wouldn't let her upstairs with us so I went and slept downstairs with her (I couldn't lay in bed and listen to her crying). After a while she settled and started to find her independence, although I would often wake up in the morning with a tiny fur ball curled up on my chest!!!!

[LoftyLottie]

Afternoon Alfie. I should be doing things, but here I am being lazy on AB. Hope you are OK (Apologies for using your thread Whiskey ;o) )

[whiskeysheri]

Here's Mr. Noisy: http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w12/whiskey sheri/Oscar.jpg :)

Yes, Lottie, he's going to be an indoor cat and I think she was open to the idea of maybe getting another kitten, so I might re-suggest it, thank you. :)

Thanks, alfieblue. I'm going to do all those things: the hot water bottle and ticking clock with a teddy. It really can't hurt and he's obviously not feeling comforted at the moment. It would help if was more open to affection, but we don't want to rush him and at the house he came from before they had a little girl who used to pick them up whenever she wanted. Thanks again. :)

[LoftyLottie]

Oh, Mr Noisy is really beautiful. I so would like another kitten, but I really musn't - my finances just won't allow any more vets bills - two dogs and one cat are stretching us to the limit..................... however, if one arrives on my doorstep............... ?!!!!

I am sure he will settle soon. Barmaid's reply should give you encouragement. xx

[firewatch]

wow he is stunning!!bless his little cotton socks lets hope he settles soon!

[CSIambleside]

He is gorgeous, I've love a new kitten but I don't think my two middle aged cats would stand for it !

[whiskeysheri]

Thanks, Barmaid (hi, by the way!) :) I'm going to go and kip on her sofa tonight and see if I can help.

LOL, Lottie! You might find a ginger and white bundle on your doorstep if he gets her in any more trouble with her neighbours as she's only just moved in. :) I'd have him, but Whiskey and Sheri aren't the most accomodating pair. :)

I'll try all those things tonight and let you know how we get on. Thanks again, everyone! :) x x

[alfieblue]

whiskey - what a beaut little fella!

Hope all is okay with the little man - sleeping on the sofa is a good idea just for a wee while! Have done that many times myself - ho hum - us animal lovers eh!!!

You must keep us informed how the little guy settles in. :o)xx

Good afternoon Lottie - I am doing just grand - how are you? I too am having a ummmm lazy afternoon - pup's had walkies, done hoovering, just doing veggies for dinner, and eyeing the ironing pile (hoping it will go away!!!) - Lol !

:o) xxx

[kita1]

It may be worth putting him in a cat carrier at night? I mean a travelling box type thing.

I suggest this because maybe having the run of a big place is scaring him, a bit like taking a 3 year old child from its home/bedroom and dumping it in a mansion house and leaving it.

Imagine if you were taken to a massive strange house with strange people who don't speak your language and just left to your own devices, nobody to show you where the bathroom is etc.

Maybe if you put him in a secure, smaller space it might help him sleep. After all he doesn't know what monsters are going to come and get him in the dark! AND mum has disappeared too!! I would be scared!