Strange Kitten Behavior.

[dlangland]

I still don't know what to think about this. I figure my female to be roughly 4 1/2 months old. I live in a huge old farm house where she has open run of both stories, except can only get in either of my enclosed porches or basement if I allow her in. She used to always snuggle in bed with me, yet about 3 nights ago, I started to realize, I don't where she slept. She only joined me towards early morning, and she seemed really cold for I turn my heat down at night. She has a little bed, but if I woke up at night, she was never in it. She seems to only like it during the daytime.

Last night, I woke up at 12:30 and heard her creeping in. She jumped into bed, and I let her under the covers by my chest and stomach. I thought I had heard purring, but never like that from her before this...This was different. It was close to 2 hours of heavy breathing and continual purring while I just kept petting her and telling her it was alright. Her heartbeat seemed real rapid, too. She is not sick today or anything. It's just life as usual today, and she has all her shots. It's more like I have this feeling I missed something very exciting, and she was trying to tell me that. I could tell from her breathing exactly when she went to sleep, yet she continued to do that weird, exceptionally heavy purr. It worried me for a bit, then, I thought, no, no...I knew I smelled something on her breath, and it was not her kitten food..Then it came to me, yet maybe I am making it up in my mind. I question whether she has been stalking mice and finally found one. She seems to have a newer fascination fo the kitchen lately. I caught one mouse here right after I first moved, and everyone always says where there is one, there are more, yet I haven't seen any traces...But she has been staying up all night doing something. Do you suppose it could be true, or should I be worried? Deb

[Kathy]

Could you keep her in your bedroom for one night so she doesn't have access to the rest of the house? That way, when she snuggles down; you could listen for that same breathing/purring. If it's not happening when she doesn't have access to the rest of the house-she's probably hunting-either real or imaginary prey during the night. ;D

I'm assuming you don't have mouse/rat bait out anywhere-even in the barns/sheds.
I learned the hard way that if a cat eats a mouse that's just eaten that poison bait-it can make them very sick or even kill them.

Good Luck, those kittens can find some interesting things to get into.

[dlangland]

Thank you. I have thought about that the last few nights. The only time she goes outside is on nice days, and she just stays right with me by my back steps or trots around following me as I work preparing the gardens, working on the exterior of the house, or in my garage. The reason I decided to keep her as an indoor cat, although she was intended as an outdoor mouser, is that I see 3-4 other real large cats cross my property and go in out of my barns, sitting in my shelterbelts both night and day. For that reason, I don't haven't put any bait out. I know they come for a reason. No, like I said, there has just been a change of behavior these last few nights. It might just be a growing phase. I know when she is sleeping with me, she acts like a little watch dog, waking up when she sees or hears someone drive by. I'll figure it out. It still seems even at this age, once each night when she was sleeping with me, I would hear her get up to either eat or drink in the night, though, and I hate to move all that stuff to my bedroom, but I can. Deb

[Kathy]

I forgot to ask-is she spayed? I wonder if her maturity may be affecting her. Mine are close to 6 mos and they have turned into holy terrors who are always on guard &/or ready to attack any perceived prey.

They go in to be spayed within the next month. 3 X $130 is why I had to wait this long.
It will be interesting if that calms them down a bit.

[dlangland]

No, Kathy, not yet. In fact, when I last had her to the vet for booster shots, my vet said he wanted her to be at least 5 months old, but then said we could do it as early as the end of this month since she is in good health, otherwise by mid-Feb. I was thinking I should just call for an appointment for hopefully sometime next wk. to just get it over with. Thank you, Deb.

[bbird]

I bet it's because she isn't spayed yet. Seems kitties are starting to go in heat younger and younger these days (sorry...had this conversation today about young girls, lol)

But really, our female cat was about that age when she would really start panting when we petted her. So, off to the vet's we went. Our vet said it should be done before they are 5 months old but I waited since she was a small kitty.

Enjoy your kitty!

[dlangland]

I made an appoointment for her procedure bright and early Monday morning. It will be good to get that over with. Thanks to everyone for all their help. Deb

[Kathy]

dlangland said:

I made an appoointment for her procedure bright and early Monday morning. It will be good to get that over with. Thanks to everyone for all their help. Deb

I'm sure she'll do fine. Those young ones seem to bounce back very quickly.

I've had so many dogs & cats spayed and neutered over the years. One year my vet receipts totalled over $3000 out of pocket for altering. They weren't all my pets though; I did rescue work in conjunction with the local shelter.

[dlangland]

You have all been so very supportive. I certainly appreciate it. This morning, I dropped Kitty Cat off at the vets for her little female procedure, then I don't know what possessed me. I was feeling so blue and worried already yesterday. It was hard since I usually feed and change her water first thing each morning before I even make my coffee. She just couldn't understand why I was being so mean, going back and forth between where her food usually is and the cupboard I keep her food in. She sat so very sweet on my lap in the truck again. A friend runs his own shop in town. I stopped, walked in, and just said I need a hug...I could tell he was thinking, No, now what's wrong? I said I am just so very worried about her, but I know she'll be fine. Today, I am trying to catch up on all my chores and projects so I can just sit and bond with her tomorrow once I pick her up. It is so very quiet here today without her underfoot, I almost don't know how to be. Crazy. Deb