I think my new kitty is unhappy. :(

B

BAM

Cathlete
It's almost 3 weeks since my cat has been with me and was spayed, had shots, etc. Prior to that, she was at my bf's house for about 10 days. She was a stray and he took her in. She was a very friendly cat, enjoyed being pet, would come up on your lap and sleep. She was still this way up to a week after her surgery. Since then, she hardly likes to be pet, will not come up on anyone's lap and is just not friendly like she was. Another thing is that she likes the outdoors but I'm keeping her as an indoor cat. She's always going to the door and windows and I know she wants to go out. She really misses being outside. She's starting to meow a lot and I don't know why. I also don't have a large place and she doesn't have a lot of area to run around. My bf thinks that she feels abandoned by him because she leaves his house, goes for surgery and has pain inflicted on her then she comes to my house which is a new environment (although I did bring her to my house for a visit prior to surgery for her to get acquainted with it.) I'm not sure about his entire theory, though. But one thing at my bf's house, she would be able to go outside for very short periods and had more windows for her to look out from. One other thing, she was in heat when she went to be spayed so maybe the days prior to that she was friendly because she was in pre-heat stages. Could that be? At night, I have to keep her in the bathroom (which is quite small) because otherwise she makes noise and wakes us up. I'm still trying to figure out the foods she'll eat between canned and dry and also I'm working on finding the best cat litter. I've gotten some recommendations and am in the process of trying them. Maybe our home just isn't the best place for her. My mother isn't sure about keeping her and I'm beginning to think the same thing. Perhaps she'll be happier elsewhere. Today she's been meowing even more so and I just can't figure out why. I don't know what the best thing is to do. *sigh*

ETA: She's also sleeping more than before.

Bam
 
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Hi Amy. Yes, I do play with her and she loves it. I do it several times throughout the day when I'm home which is quite a bit.

Bam
 
We just went through something similar, taking in a stray kitten after someone else rescued him. He was really sweet and affectionate with the woman who originally took him in, but never warmed up to us. We had him for nearly 3 months, and it was just like your kitten -- meowing a lot, but nothing we did consoled him. We finally brought him back to the rescuer, and she told us that sometimes wild kittens only bond to the first person they interact with. So maybe your kitten is missing your bf?

Good luck!
 
Do you have any interactive toys to play with her? You know those wand toys with a feather or shiny thing on the end? How about a cat tree for her to climb on? Check craigslist and see if anyone near you has one they want to get rid of. She is young and probably wants to play more then she wants to cuddle. Really try to play with her at night and tire her out. Can she sleep with you or does she make too much noise? I think it sounds more like she wants some action rather than she doesn't like you. She will adjust to being an indoor kitty. It can just take time. Another toy suggestion--the laser. Good luck and don't give up her on just yet. Remember, if she was in heat recently and then spayed, her hormones must be running amuck.
 
I have no advice for you, but I wish you and your little kitty much luck with this. Hope you guys get things figured out!
 
Melclear said:
We just went through something similar, taking in a stray kitten after someone else rescued him. He was really sweet and affectionate with the woman who originally took him in, but never warmed up to us. We had him for nearly 3 months, and it was just like your kitten -- meowing a lot, but nothing we did consoled him. We finally brought him back to the rescuer, and she told us that sometimes wild kittens only bond to the first person they interact with. So maybe your kitten is missing your bf?

Good luck!
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When she first came to his house, he and I were together and she got to know the both of us. Granted, it was his house and he was there at night and first thing in the a.m. but I visited quite a bit but he still was with her more than me. Oh, and she is somewhere around a year old or a little more.

Bam
 
PhyllisG said:
Do you have any interactive toys to play with her? You know those wand toys with a feather or shiny thing on the end? How about a cat tree for her to climb on? Check craigslist and see if anyone near you has one they want to get rid of. She is young and probably wants to play more then she wants to cuddle. Really try to play with her at night and tire her out. Can she sleep with you or does she make too much noise? I think it sounds more like she wants some action rather than she doesn't like you. She will adjust to being an indoor kitty. It can just take time. Another toy suggestion--the laser. Good luck and don't give up her on just yet. Remember, if she was in heat recently and then spayed, her hormones must be running amuck.
Click to expand...

Actually I have that feather toy and I discovered the laser recently. That is the BEST thing out there. She can't get enough of it! I tried having her sleep with me but she does get too fidgety at times and creates too much noise. I don't really have enough room for a cat tree but I can look into it. I certainly know the job hormones that have run amuck can do. Maybe that is part of it. I hope the adjustment doesn't take too long to getting used to the indoors. It's just sad to watch her wishing she was out there chasing after the birds. Thank you.

Bam
 
It certainly sounds like she's not that happy (I think shutting her in the bathroom adds to the problem).

BAM said:
One other thing, she was in heat when she went to be spayed so maybe the days prior to that she was friendly because she was in pre-heat stages. Could that be?
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I think it can happen. I met a cat at the shelter that I was considering adopting, who seemed pretty sweet. Then she got spayed, and she was a total B--yatch!
 
You are wise to keep her indoors - a cat roaming outside on her own can have all kinds of bad things happen! But they do make leashes for cats, so you might try getting a leash and taking her for a walk. We did this with ours when she was young and she loved it! Best wishes! Carolyn
 
Bam, I do think it's still soon for her and she might come around. Maybe she wants another kitty friend? :)

Amy
 
Bam,

Playing is bonding too. As much as cuddling is.

Kitty has seen so many changes - being adopted at BF's place, surgery, your place. She is overwhelmed probably and may need time to adapt. .

Indoor kitties live far longer lives than kitties allowed to go out. She may need to get used to being indoors. You may think of getting her kitty toys - especially things in which she can hide/climb/swat to keep her busy.
 
i don't have a cat, but i have a bunny who recently underwent surgery and he was more active than usual after the surgery and this also lasted for about a week. the vet said this is normal and sometimes pets can go through a depression after surgery. however, it could be all the stress of the surgery and changing families and lifestyles has made him a little depressed. i would just give him lots of extra attention and if things don't get better, call the vet. maybe they can give him medication. i had a friend who had an anxious cat and needed to be put on meds for a time. i never knew they had anti depressants for animals!
 
Thanks everyone! As always, you guys are great!!!

Kathryn, I really don't like putting her in the bathroom at night. I will certainly keep trying to let her stay out and hope that she learns to chill in the evening. I need all the beauty sleep I can get! :D So you knew a kitty that did a 180 after surgery. Interesting. I hope my kitty rebounds from hers.

Carolyn, I've thought of taking her for a walk. I just wasn't sure if that would make it worse or not. Apparently it worked well for your cat. I think it's cute to take a cat for a walk but I don't see it often.........or at all! :D

<<<<<Bam, I do think it's still soon for her and she might come around. Maybe she wants another kitty friend?

Amy>>>>>

Amy, bite your tongue!!! I can barely handle THIS one!!! Of course, I'd be open to having you come over and cat sit! :p

Vee, yes she has had a lot of changes. I'm going to give things a bit more time and I hope she comes around. I'll look into seeing what toys I can get that won't overload my house. As I stated earlier, I don't have a lot of space.

lkl, I've heard of anti-depressants for cats. Geesh, I hope I don't have to add that additional expense. I spend enough on my own health and "I" don't even get results. Maybe I need more stuff to help me deal with this! Ooh, I can feel a wave of "happy" coming over me! :p

Thanks again everyone. You are all most helpful!!!

Bam
 
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