When we feed him, we put his food bowl down on a mat but lately when he's eating he's like clawing and scratching the mat?
I thought maybe he's having trouble digesting the food? But it is wet food and we do cut it up.
Then someone mentioned to me that he's trying to hide it?
Also, when he's grooming, he seems to nibble and bite himself, is this normal? I don't think he has fleas cos he's not due for another flea treatment for another month and he hasn't been let outside once.
He's 10wks old.
2007-12-19 03:44:05 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Kittens sometimes scratch or paw at the area around their food. There are 2 hypothesis on this - First, that the kitten is trying to bury the food for safekeeping. Second, that the kitten does not particularly like its food and is trying to make it go away. No one knows for sure, but it IS awfully cute, isn't it? :-)
It is completely normal for the little guy to nibble at himself while grooming. My cat does it to ME from time to time. It doesn't mean he's ichy or has fleas, he's just practicing good grooming.
2007-12-19 03:52:24 · answer #1 · answered by Puzzle Box 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not going outside does not mean he can't get fleas. When did you last treat him and what did you use? Is he being wormed regularly? This needs to be done every 2 weeks until 3 months old, then monthly until 6 months old and 3 monthly thereafter as you would an adult cat.
Otherwise, this sounds like perfectly normal kitty behaviour, they like to claw and scratch a lot - he's very young, it's not long ago he was kneading his mother with his feet as he suckled from her so it makes sense he would still do that as he eats.
Cats will sometimes nibble a bit when grooming, but make sure he's fully covered for fleas and worms just in case - i.e don't use anything from a pet store because it doesn't work! Vet stuff only, like Frontline.
Chalice
2007-12-23 08:17:00 · answer #2 · answered by Chalice 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After my cats eat one does what your describing. I don't know if she trying to clean up the area in her mind who knows. She does it every time she eats wet food. All my cats will bite their fur when grooming and it normal part of grooming. Get a flea comb for pet store and run it over the cats fur. You will know it you have fleas. But I think it is normal behavior..
2007-12-19 11:55:37 · answer #3 · answered by Tessa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he is doing the scratching before he eats, it means he doesn't like the food, but if he is doing it after he eats, he's trying to cover it to save it for later. As far as the nibbling, it's a normal act of self grooming.
2007-12-19 12:06:03 · answer #4 · answered by golden rider 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cats do the same thing with wet or dry cat food. My son checked in our cat book and saw something on Animal Planet that discussed this behavior. It's normal. Something about burying or uncovering the food.
My older cat will nibble his skin sometimes when he's grooming. Normal.
2007-12-19 13:39:13 · answer #5 · answered by confidentgal 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some cats do this others don't, my cat not only does this put as taken to moving his water bowl around the floor with his paw when 1/2 full. needless to say I've walked into it a few times. As long as your cats not pulling his fur out when grooming don't worry about this, as it is normal behaviour.
Ann
2007-12-19 12:10:02 · answer #6 · answered by Ann 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try removing the mat and see what happens.
It is normal. My kitties do it. They are just trying to clean off the dried on chunks and bits that we cant see. Kitties have tough skin so it wont hurt him.
2007-12-19 13:24:04 · answer #7 · answered by kickindevilbutt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋