she is scratching around her bowl, as if she is burying something... she isn't urinating on the bowl or anything like that, she just seems kind of lost. she eats and drinks because when we come home we see her food and water levels lower. just wondering... she has a slight slight bit of her sniffling/cold leftover from the kennel. Also, would giving her small amounts of skim milk affect something like this? the vet said it was bad, but didn't explain why.
2007-04-10 16:11:59 · 7 answers · asked by katiemljoplin 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Your kitten is behaving normally. In sixty years I've had quite a few kittens, and all of them did what yours is doing now and then. This behavior always stopped as the kittens grew older. They could see their bowl easily, but kittens are baby creatures, and like all babies are easily distracted. They're curious and they're busy, busy, busy. She's probably just fooling around like babies of all species - humans included - just naturally do.
As for the skim milk - it shouldn't hurt her, but it's not the best for her either. She's nine weeks old and does not need milk anymore. Feed her as the vet recommends. Yeah, I know, kittens will gobble up any milk you set in front of them, but that does not mean you should feed it to them. If you feel you must, please make it whole milk, and give her only a tablespoonful a day, and don't give it to her cold - that can make her little tummy hurt! Let it at least warm up to room temperature! And next time you visit the vet with her - ask why he recommends against milk!
2007-04-10 16:31:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cats are 7 years old, and they will still scratch around their dishes when they are finished eating, as if to say "I'm done, lets get rid of the rest!" They will scratch around the water bowl if the water needs to be changed too. I've found that they don't do it as often if they aren't fed on the ground though- just a crazy cat quirk I think!
Make sure she's on good quality food, and the water is changed regularly and her dishes are cleaned frequently.
I've noticed that my cats can't tell where the water level is in their dish either. I guess some part of their visual system makes it difficult. Some cats will stick their paw in to get an idea, others will move in slowly until they find the water!
Watch the sniffling- if it doesn't improve she should go visit the vet again, but it sounds like you're taking good care of her!
Milk isn't ideal for cats- as mentioned, it can give them diarrhea. Cats do not have the enzyme lactase to break down lactose in milk. However, some cats seem to have this ability (seen a lot in barn cats actually!)... I will let my cats lick a bit of milk off my finger occasionally.. tiny amounts shouldn't hurt, but a lot is not great. Clean water is much better!
Have fun with your kitten!
2007-04-10 16:47:32 · answer #2 · answered by ~Kali~ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've had a lot of cats that do that quite often. I think it's what they do when they don't like the food you give them. You know what else they bury--well this is a cat making the comparison between her food and that.
If kitty has a cold, then maybe the food just doesn't seem good to her. Be careful, because colds from a kennel can turn into something really bad.
The milk will give your cat diarrhea. Once they have been weened, they lose the ability to take milk, and the lactose in cow's milk bothers cats the way it bothers some people. There are special "milk" substitutes for kitties, and they seem to like it and do okay on it. But they don't need it.
Try changing the food and then watch to see if the scratching stops when the cold clears up. If it doesn't clear up, better go back to the vet.
2007-04-10 16:27:02 · answer #3 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do not give milk alot of cats are lactose intolerant and they do not need milk once they are weaned if you are feeding them a dry cat food.
Scratching at the floor need bowls is usally because they are trying to bury the food (usual in orientals/siamese/burmese/devon Rex and similar) or often they like playing with the water or as they prefer water that hasn't ben lieing stagment they stir it up bit.
Sniffles form the kennels sounds suspiciously like cat flu (Rhinotrachetitis & Calicivirus) or chlymdia and should see a vet if beocmes worse or a discharge developes.
2007-04-10 16:29:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do not want to give a kitten cows milk. It can cause her to get the runs. It is just very unhealthy. If you feel you have to give milk, give goats milk, or kitten replacement milk. Also, my cats will scratch around the water if it gets a little fur in it. I do agree that a saucer is better for a small kitten, but with water it is hard to make sure they will have enough, if you are not home.
2007-04-10 16:25:57 · answer #5 · answered by bonnie g 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of my cats have done the same thing and i tried figuring it out and came up with: it's just thier nature. they are trying to cover it up so they can come back to it later. i have 3 cats at my parents house and 2 are 10 years old and one is 6 and all of them do it. the want to keep it for themselves so they try to hide it.
2007-04-10 16:49:51 · answer #6 · answered by co in az 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try a saucer instead till she is a lot bigger good luck.
2007-04-10 16:19:33 · answer #7 · answered by dixie58 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋