My nine week old kitten will not clean herself. She will go to lick and then stop. Is this normal?

Question

Im tired of her dirty mouth, bottom, and paws.

Answer 1

Lack of grooming is unnatural. This behavior is learned from the mother, and can be lacking in kittens who were separated from the mother, without having access to a nuturing cat, too early in life.

My next question would be...Have you given her a bath without a thorough rinse? Treated her for fleas? I've seen a lot of folks propose using dish soap bathings for kittens with fleas, but the taste of that soap lingers on the fur and can discourage the kitten from grooming. It's the same as if you took a sip of dish soap. I've seen some posters suggesting some other vile home concoctions for flea treatment too. I'm not suggesting you did this, but if you did, it could have created the problem.

Other than that, there may be an underlying health reason. Sick cats sometimes stop grooming themselves. It would not be harmful for you to use a warm, soft, damp cloth to wipe her down, to clean the soiled areas Gently, of course.

Answer 2

Nine weeks old and they are still used to their mother doing all the work. She will get the hang of it soon.the dirty bottom is the worst. My daughter and I used to wipe her bottom with a wet paper towel. I would say by 4 months she will be good at it. Ours is 5 months and she is finally better.

Answer 3

there is an excellent type of loose pores and skin on the again of the neck of a kitten or cat. it really is for the momcat to p.c.. up the kitten and flow it. The older kitten is playing momcat and grooming babycat. that is hardwired into the cats mind (groom your self and something smaller.) Cats like each human beings to smell alike. they could be quick associates.

Answer 4

My cat was the same way for about a month when I first got him, now he is the cleanest cat in the world. I think it is just still young and its natural instinct to clean himself has not yet kicked in, it will eventually, at that age they are used to mom cat cleaning them

Answer 5

YEs