odd cat behavior?

Question

I rescued a kitten a few months ago. She is a siamese mix, and she has some odd behaviors, just wondering if anyone out there can explain it. Since we got her she has been EXTREMELY vocal, and i understand that a lot of oriental cats are very vocal, but it is like NON STOP. She can go for an hour straight, and the only way to get her to quiet down is to pay DIRECT attention to ONLY her. Has anyone else had a cat like this? She also acts as if she is coming in and out of heat sometimes, and she is only about 4 months old. She will sometimes rub on you non stop and lay down on her tummy with her tail up and over her back. She does this for a few days, and then quits for a while. I work at a vet clinic, and the veterinarian i work for said she may have sistic ovaries, but she is too young, and too light to spay. And now she is kneeding my lap and putting her face into my leg as if she is trying to nurse. She has been doing it for about 15 minutes now. Can you explain any of this?

She is a very sweet kitten, and she makes us laugh a LOT, i just don't understand her sometimes.

My veterinarian and I don't feel it is safe to spay a cat while they are so young, AND so light, she is only 3.5 pounds.

Answer 1

That is very common in this breed. I have a siamese/calico mix. I rescued her when she was 4 weeks old. She is now several months old and she still acts the same way. Pure Siamese are very demanding cats when it comes to attention, mixing them with another breed does not diminish this quality. Mine generally likes to have her tummy rubbed and will roll over just to have that done. She is not fixed and I still have a hard time telling when she is in heat or not.

The nursing thing is quite common of cats who have been separated from their mothers to early, but it is also used by some cats as a comfort thing. Even ones who have stayed with their mother till weaning age. LOL At that point it falls in the same category as kneading. The vocal thing is very common among several breeds not just oriental cats. I have four cats total, two of which are Bangals and they are very delighted with the sound of their own voices.

Just give her lots of affection and she will settle down as she gets older. Once she realizes that she is safe and you are going to be there and not leave her, she will mellow out.

Answer 2

Yes, Siamese cats are very vocal. The kneading you are talking about is a kittenish behavior that the cat does for comfort. They do this to the mother's milk sacs to express the milk when they nurse. It is nothing more than a comforting behavior and not harmful.

Kittens-all of them, go into heat at 3 months. So your cat has already been in heat. That would explain the weird behavior she has.

There is something called "Feliway" that is a feline comforting spray that you can spray on objects around the house that promotes a comforting, calming smell to cats. You spray it on the object, not the cat. Does your cat have sufficient places to scratch her claws, such as a scratch pad? This would be one good place to spray the Feliway. Also a favorite bed or bedding where she likes to sleep, or on toys. Make sure your cat is getting enough climbing and play stimulation.

A good website to check for kitten behavior is www.kittenwise.com, which is a website that Purina foods puts out there and it lets you know what to expect from your kitten's behavior and breed. You can also ask questions of pet experts on there.

Sounds to me like your cat is mostly bored. Kittens need sufficient play stimulation in order to grow and develop.

The Feliway is available at stores like TSC Farm Stores (Tractor Supply Corp.), or Petco, Petsmart, and I saw it recently in a Super Walmart, but I'm not sure if it's available in all stores. Perhaps the vet you work for can order it for you.

Answer 3

My cat is a Himalayan which is bred from a Siamese and Persian and she is vocal, however when she wants attention she will bang the kitchen cabinet until you come out and give her attention.

You can spay her now. I had my cat done at 3 months of age. I'd get it done early before she goes into a heat. She may calm down a little bit after the spay.

Answer 4

My mom's cat is weird like that, too. She has been spayed, though. She likes to lay on her back and talks constantly, when you touch her, or even sometimes look at her. She likes to lay on her back, spread eagle, with her front paws pulled up by her face like she is dead. It's hilarious. I have had siamese all my life and some are very vocal, and some are very quiet. My siamese right now is very quiet, it is a male and he sounds like a little girl kitten, no joke. I would wait to get here spayed and see if that resolves the situation. She sounds like a very loving kitten, if you ask me. I hope things work out for you.

Answer 5

I'd keep checking about the spaying. Cats can be young when going into heat and her behavior does sound like she is in heat, My cats Vet does the spaying operation at about 4 months of age before the females go into heat. Siamese are very talkative. I don't think that spaying will help with the talking. It sounds like your little darling may like to hear her own voice.LOL Just keep on loving her for her. Give her a petting for me.

Answer 6

ALL CATS do the kneeding/marching thing! Its NORMAL, and verry cute. They usually do this before going to sleep.
I have a Siamese mix too, VERY vocal, very NORMAL. They are a talkative breed, very intelligent. You need to give her MORE attention, like ALL THE TIME! She's being vocal because she is complaining! She's trying to communicate with you! The more u ignore, the more stupid she thinks u are!
The tummy down with the bum/tail up, my cat does the same thing, i give her a massage on her lower back before her tail, she loves it!
You have a very loving intelligent cat, read up on her breed.
Also read:
http://www.amazon.com/New-Natural-Cat-Anitra-Frazier/dp/0452265177

F.Y.I.
Cats have the intelligence of a 4 year old child.
A 4 year old child can learn up to 7 languages.

THINK about that.

Your cat is smart, the more u interact the smarter she gets!

Peace & Kittens!

Answer 7

I have a (neutered) siamese mix as well, he has hundreds of sounds he makes and 'talks' constantly sometimes. There was one day he was mad at me for something or other, and went into the basement and howled non stop for over 3 hours. I finally got him to come upstairs and he was quiet after deciding to sit in my lap. He will meow at me, flip over on his side, stretch out and paw madly at the air for a few minutes. Sometimes he will roll around over and over and actually cover ground while doing so!
If he is quiet, I am suspicious he is not feeling well.
We have learned to live with him and his constant 'yelling' and accepted the fact he is a little odd. He was a stray and was orphaned at a few weeks old, his mother was killed by farm equipment and off to the SPCA he and his siblings went. I always wondered if his first few weeks did him any harm.
Glad to hear that possibly he is normal!

Answer 8

Siamese are usually very vocal and while it usually doesn't bother me, many people will not have them for that reason. I like cats and dogs, but cats are less demanding and being single I can't give a dog the attention it deserves.
Cats are generally neurotic, and so yours is perfectly "normal". I've found it easier to have 2 cats because they keep each other company, and don't have to have all your attention.

Answer 9

I have seen this in cats that lose their mother early. Often in rescues. Just give her lots and lots of TLC -- good that you work for a vet -- siamese cats are very very loving to people (sometimes very mean to other cats) and enjoy hunting. They know their people. Get the book 50 tricks to teach your cats --I did and it's a hoot my cat can roll over, play dead, shake hands, etc.

Answer 10

It certainly sounds like he needs to be checked out. Take him to the vet, just about any ailment is cheaper if it's treated early. The initial visit shouldn't cost too much, and any good vet will work with you if it's in the best interests of the animal -- payment plans and the like. If you find that whatever's wrong really is too expensive to handle, try asking your local no-kill shelter for help. They really, truly, care about animals and are likely to help you with vet costs. Some of them will even handle all the vet costs through a "guardian angel" program funded by community donations. Good luck. Take the little guy to the vet right away -- waiting costs more money in the long run, and could even cost his life.