Conference misery::feline_v1

454.0. "Little sucker abandoned at MLO" by EMIRFI::KEENER () Wed Jan 21 1987 17:17

    Some clod dropped a tiny kitten at MLO which was discovered by one
    of our technicians who immediately said "Ellen will know what to
    do" and into the office he came.  I immediately found a babysitter
    for long enough to run across to the drug store to get an eye dropper
    and we warmed some milk for him.  He went home that night (my other
    cats were not overjoyed - the 10 yr. mama did come around quickly
    and helped to clean him but her 9 yr. old son still gives him the
    evil eye but doesn't attack or hurt him.
    
    He was about two weeks old - eyes were open but legs were not under
    him but out the the side and ears were very small and way down on
    his head and he fit easily in one hand.
    
    He screamed enough to get the attention of most of Building 6 if
    I put him down, so I tucked him in a large cowl-neck collar on my
    blouse and he settled down and slept while I worked at the terminal,
    went to petty cash and the main street lobby to pick up travel tickets.
    
    I know it's probably my fault, but he is now 5 months old - quite
    a character, so ugly that he's cute and has ears big enough for
    a lion and, according the the vet, that first day "imprinted" me
    as his mother.  Every hear of such a thing?  He is a suckler (obviously
    he was away from mama too early) but he only tries to suck on me
    and then only on my neck.  He doesn't like to go anywhere but home
    - and actually panics if he is not at home unless I am with him.
    
    I have raised kittens with eyedroppers, etc. before - including
    a two day old kitten that we fed every two hours while moving from
    Florida to Alaska, but I've never seen such possesive behavior -
    I'll take any suggestions on how to cure his obsession - it just
    doesn't seem healthy on his part.  Aside from that he seems as normal
    as any cat.
    
    Ellen
    
    P.S. Last time I posted was a reply to Note #88 and FYI - Pepper
    is alive and well.  I drove over to feed her while everyone was
    on vacation for a couple weeks around Christmas and New Years.
    
      

    According to the Nature program on cat behavior, our cats do see
    us as surrogate parents.  I have no ideas on how to correct his
    behavior.  Sounds like this little guy could give all the aloof
    cats of the world a bad name!
    Jo

    
    Cats do have a tendency to take possesion of the house and it's
    inhabitance.
    
    prc

    I have one kitty (almost a year old now) who likes to suck on my
    ear.  She usually does it at night/early morning only.  I suspect
    that is because that's when she can find me in the 'flat' position
    where whe can get at my ear.  Favorite position is me flat on my
    back, but she has learned how to find the earlobe when I am sleeping
    on my side.  I have been trying to 'wean' her.  I have let her know
    that I really don't like it by gently removing her from the ear.
    (I tried pushing hard/quick once, and she accidently bit me.)
    She used to struggle to get right back and suck, but now she
    understands that 'enough is enough' and usually at least waits an
    hour or so before trying again.  
    
    Her latest substitute is to shove her nose against my face or chin
    and purr.  My face seems to be a bit damp after these sessions.
    Not sure which is better.
    
    I guess the advice is to try to change the kitty's behavior slowly
    otherwise you might have other behavior problems!
    
    Good luck.
    Sally