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"Needy" kittens
Hi All,
I was just playing string games with my Russian Blue female, Natasha. She has the sweetest face of any cat I've ever seen (all right, it's obvious I'm prejudiced). I mentioned to DH that someone had written about a kitten keeping them awake all night and that they eventually ended up shooing the kitten away. I didn't bookmark that post, but I did want to go back to it and make some observations so I'm starting a new thread instead. When 'Tasha came to us, she had upper respiratory problems and eye problems. These weren't apparent when I went to the shelter and adopted her and her cage-mate Sumo (actually Sumo picked me out). The thing is, when she was still small enough to fit in a pocket, she needed pills and eye ointment. She had also been weaned too early by the breeder since she didn't meet the breed standard. She was tossed away like garbage because she has a little white star on her chest and the last bone on the end of her tail has a little kink that you can feel if you run your hand down her tail to the end. Besides the normal things that kittens will do, such as wrestle under the dust ruffle of the bed with her brother all night, crashing into the bed and making more noise than you'd think two tiny kittens could, she liked to suck on my neck at night. Since I was still working at the time and needed some sleep, I ended up shooing her away. If I had it to do over again, I'd just do without the sleep. Tasha grew up into an introverted cat who loves affection, but will not come and get it on her own. She's also a kneader, but not on me or Lynda, she has a close relationship with an afghan that Lynda crocheted. If she's walking by, I'll always pat my leg and she'll come by for a few skritches, but will then move away. I can't really explain why she only wants a few pats and then I have to pat my leg some more to call her back for a few more skritches. Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but I'd swear that she doesn't really believe that she deserves a good skritching, "Thank you daddy, but you really don't have to skritch poor old unlovable me". Let me wind this up, I could probably go on and on, but I hope I've made my point. I wish I had it to do over again. Regards and Purrs, O J (Old John) Gritmon |
#3
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In article , Karen Chuplis
wrote: in article , O J at wrote on 2/10/05 4:53 PM: Hi All, I was just playing string games with my Russian Blue female, Natasha. She has the sweetest face of any cat I've ever seen (all right, it's obvious I'm prejudiced). I mentioned to DH that someone had written about a kitten keeping them awake all night and that they eventually ended up shooing the kitten away. I didn't bookmark that post, but I did want to go back to it and make some observations so I'm starting a new thread instead. When 'Tasha came to us, she had upper respiratory problems and eye problems. These weren't apparent when I went to the shelter and adopted her and her cage-mate Sumo (actually Sumo picked me out). The thing is, when she was still small enough to fit in a pocket, she needed pills and eye ointment. She had also been weaned too early by the breeder since she didn't meet the breed standard. She was tossed away like garbage because she has a little white star on her chest and the last bone on the end of her tail has a little kink that you can feel if you run your hand down her tail to the end. That's interesting -- Mr. Clark has that, and it is the first time I've felt it on a cat. He's a very big light orange tabby, who probably uses Garfield as a physical idea and the antithesis of Garfield for personality. I adopted him as an adult. He apparently was neutered as an adult, but has never exhibited the less desirable toncat characteristics, and is extremely parental toward four- and two-legged kittens -- and adults. He will sleep on or next to me (17+ pounds), and be sure I am bathed. |
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O J wrote: Hi All, I was just playing string games with my Russian Blue female, Natasha. snip I think needy starts at birth. My Peewee is the epitome of neediness - always has been and priobably will be. I indulged him horribly until I net DH - who is allergic to cats. Then he was banned from the bedroom (the horror!) and has since gotten over it, but is needy and whiny still. Funny - he's the second black cat I have had and they were both like that. Love him to bits, I do. -L. |
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Lyn wrote:
O J wrote: I was just playing string games with my Russian Blue female, Natasha. snip I think needy starts at birth. My Peewee is the epitome of neediness - always has been and priobably will be. I indulged him horribly until I net DH - who is allergic to cats. Then he was banned from the bedroom (the horror!) and has since gotten over it, but is needy and whiny still. Funny - he's the second black cat I have had and they were both like that. Love him to bits, I do. I don't want to get into the whole "nature vs. nurture" discussion here (I'd be happy to see it in another thread). Natasha may have been destined to be a little distant, but I'd still indulge her a lot more than I did to try to socialize her to her inborn maximum of interacting with other kitties and with people. She'll always have all the love she wants. I blame a lot of it on the breeder who didn't have the decency to let her be part of her litter till she was properly ready to be weaned by her mother. Poor little thing overcompensates by overeating too. Regards and Purrs, O J |
#6
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On 2005-02-10, O J penned:
Besides the normal things that kittens will do, such as wrestle under the dust ruffle of the bed with her brother all night, crashing into the bed and making more noise than you'd think two tiny kittens could, she liked to suck on my neck at night. Since I was still working at the time and needed some sleep, I ended up shooing her away. If I had it to do over again, I'd just do without the sleep. Tasha grew up into an introverted cat who loves affection, but will not come and get it on her own. She's also a kneader, but not on me or Lynda, she has a close relationship with an afghan that Lynda crocheted. If she's walking by, I'll always pat my leg and she'll come by for a few skritches, but will then move away. I can't really explain why she only wants a few pats and then I have to pat my leg some more to call her back for a few more skritches. Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but I'd swear that she doesn't really believe that she deserves a good skritching, "Thank you daddy, but you really don't have to skritch poor old unlovable me". I really do think that you're reading too much into it. When Oscar was a baby, she always wanted to lick my hair at night. I found it really annoying, so I always moved her off of my head. Oscar is certainly a bit skittish, but she's also very sure that she deserves attention. When she wants it, she will come to you with a big purr, and she has no doubt that you will perform. Tasha's probably just expressing her natural personality. Some cats aren't cuddlebugs. -- monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca |
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