we just adopted the cutest lil kitty. she's about 13 weeks. any tips?

Question

we were giving her water , but she wasn't really drinking it. one day she drank some milk out of my mug on the table and she drank alot so i gave her some in her bowl, and it was gone in s few hours, where as the water would stay for a day or 2. is she supposed to drink milk? when does she go in heat? @ what age can i get her spayded?

Answer 1

Hi Mimi...cats only need water and in general are not large consumers of water. Although many cats do like milk, cows milk is bad for cats as it causes bowel distress and the end result is diarrhoea and/or vomiting. Cats are lactose intolerant and are missing the digestive enyzmes to break down the lactose in dairy products. More on why cats shouldn't have dairy: http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1276&articleid=1183

Most human foods can be very toxic to cats therefore it's always best to feed cat food or cat treats specfically designed for them to prevent any accidental ingestion of toxic ingredients. Here's a list of some of the foods which are to be avoided, but please keep in mind that this isn't a complete list just some examples:
http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1276&articleid=1029

Additionally, many cats shouldn't be fed any table scraps as it can contribute to many health problems such as diabetes, feline obesity and other health problems. More reasons why cats shouldn't be fed any table scraps:
http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1399&articleid=833

Another danger many people are unaware of is tuna. Tuna causes enteritis in cats and vitamin deficiences. More details about the dangers of tuna: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmBiHPKUa.2nPrlleDB1SxEjzKIX?qid=20061130105524AANEtn7

Female cats will come into heat approximately between 5-7 months and should ideally be spayed around 6 months. Many vets will perform early spays so long as the cat weighs a minimum of 2/3 pounds. More on feline spay: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_the_feline_spay.html
More on early spaying: http://cats.about.com/cs/spayneuter/a/earlyneuter.htm
Most shelters will perform low fee or free spays. If you are located within the USA consider ringing 1-800 SPAY USA http://spayusa.org to locate the closest shelter.

Websites on how to best care for your kitten:
http://www.kittencare.com/
http://placervillevet.com/kitten_care.htm
http://www.catchow.com/KittenCareCenterHome.aspx

Dangers for kittens/cats:
http://www.cat-world.com.au/cat-worlddangers.htm
http://www.petplace.com/cats/kitten-hazards/page1.aspx
http://cats.about.com/library/howto/htkittenproof.htm

Answer 2

Congratulations on your new kitty! I have a 13 week old, 9 month old and an 8 week old so I have been through all that with almost all of them.
Make sure you do not give her any cow milk. It can give her diarrhea and an upset stomach.
She will drink when she wants, make sure it's always fresh. My 9 month old is very picky. The water can't be more than a few hours old or she will refuse to drink and instead, jump up on the sink and drink water from there! Just make sure there is always water available for her. It's OK to give kitten/cat milk which you can buy from a pet or almost any grocery store.
She will go in heat at around 6-8 months so make sure she is spayed before then. She will try to escape from your house with any chance she gets.
You can spay her now if you want. We got our 9 month old from our Vets' adoption "agency" so she was already spayed before we got her at 15 weeks old.

Goodluck!

Answer 3

If it's milk human drinks, be careful. Most kittens will have a reaction to human milk such as an upset stomach. It's not really made for their digestive system though they may like it.

Most pet stores, stores with a pet section and vets offices offer milk for kittens/cats. Though by 13 weeks, they should be weaned off of the milk. Maybe you can do what some do for babies...use the kitten formula and slowly introduce more and more water versus formula. Eventually, it will get use to water. Or you can just give it water and when it becomes thirsty, it will drink. At one point, when my cat was a kitten, she drank water from the toilet more than her water bowl. So make sure you keep the lid down.

I adopted my cat at 8 weeks and she was already spayed. The earlier the better. Check with the Humane Society or City Hall office because in some states, they offer a reduced spay coupon which you can use at certain vet's office.

Answer 4

milk can upset her stomach. Give her water and she will drink when she is ready. Cats can go into heat and become pregnant as young as 3 months. If she is 13 weeks old she is old enough to get spayed. it is a good idea to do so befor her first heat if possible. It can save her from some types of cancer when she is older. Your vet may not fix her while she is in heat and most likley will not fix her if she is pregnant. You will have to wait until she has the kittens.

Answer 5

Oh, congratulations on your new kitten! Anyway, just a little bit of milk is fine, but dont get her to drink that instead of water; it can cause bad breath, stomach aches, and sickness if the kitten will drink nothing but milk. Most importantly, DO NOT PUT BABY HUMAN-FORMULA IN THE MILK! I had a friend who gave one of her cat's kittens to someone who gave it baby human milk formula, and the kitten died within 3 days.

Spaying is a good idea after six months. The kitten is nearly done growing at that age, and can handle intensive surgery such as spaying. I hope you found this helpful! Good luck!

Answer 6

1. Cats can drink milk until 2 months. Giving them milk at 13 weeks can damage their liver. Give her a lot of water.
2. Do not shampoo her. She is way to young, instead bath her with a wash cloth.
3. Secure sections and small places in your house where your cat can get in.
4. Put away any dried plants, plastic, tinsle, and foods away at night.
5. Do not move her litterbox. This confuses them.
6. Do not use scented or dusty cat litter. Dust causes infections and scented makes the cat not want to use the litterbox which cause them to potty on the floor.
7. Keep water clean, change it atleast 2 times a day
8. Give your cat a lot of attention and play time, although cats are independant they need a little mommy and me time.
9. If not keeping your cat inside, put a collar with ID tag on your cat.
10. Set a proper feeding schedule, that way your cat can remind you if you forget. DO NOT PUT IT TOO EARLY!

Answer 7

dont keep on feeding milk because that will become a habit dogs and cats usually are scared when they come into a new home...i dont know about the heat but you can spay a cat or dog i think when it is 5 or 7 months but that i think so take your own risk or you can be sure by asking a vet

Answer 8

She's probably just drinking more milk because thats what she would be drinking from her mom right now. I would give her both options so you can find out when she's done with milk.
She should be okay in heat, just make sure you watch her the first couple times you let her out. She has to learn how to get back home.
I'm not sure at what age you can get her spayed at, I would talk to your vet.

Answer 9

Jeremy! confirm the kittens are feed 4-5 circumstances an afternoon (via their mom). they might desire to have a comfortable mattress section. and you shouldnt shield him too plenty till hes approximately 2 months previous...i understand they're lovable yet ya gotta wait!

Answer 10

Its normal for kittens to like milk... It tasted better to the kitten;).. Oh and she will go into heat at about 8 months and that is the time to get her fixed.. FAST unless you want a box more of kittens