Adoption Problems
I bet you thought this had to do with Addy but - HAHA - not this time! No, this time it has to do with the adoption of our two new cats which by the way we can’t actually officially adopt until they’ve been sterilized. That day will come for Anna on Monday but Sticky, being a boy, has a bit longer to wait.
Our kitties get along really well together, everyone has adjusted to each other beautifully and they could care less about the dogs and the dogs about them. They are all using the litter box just fine and Life is Good in kittyworld.
But we are starting to notice some unusual behaviors in our new furbabies.
For instance? Anna, who is more of an adult than a juvenile, keep stealing Addison’s bottles and chewing OFF the nipples. Yesterday we found TWO chewed off nipples and only one bottle. What the heck? Then yesterday Tony caught her incessantly chewing on the tags from Addy’s taggie blanket. Add to that her seemingly overwhelming desire for people food. Scraps. She is right up in your face when you eat, waiting. Is this stray cat behavior? Or pet cat behavior? I’ve never seen a cat that acts so much like a dog (except a cat I had once for a very short period of time 13 years ago that actually played fetch). And have I mentioned that I’m not a dog person? Figures. Otherwise, though, Anna’s personality is lovely. She is Garfield Jr., lazing around underfoot. Occasionally she will mother the kitten, bathe him, play with him and otherwise teach him some manners. And also how to chew off nipples, I suppose.
Then there is the kitten who is just a precious little thing. The shelter had no idea how old he was but I think their estimate was something like 5 weeks old. Its been so long since I’ve fostered kittens that I have no idea how old he might be. This is only relevant because he has started incessantly sucking on the boys fingers. I guess he must have been weaned too soon. They don’t mind so I guess its all good but it is just weird. I’ve done some research online and except the possibility of using this here catsifier, which - um, no - there isn’t much that can or needs to be done. He’ll either outgrow it or he won’t outgrow it. Whatever. He’s not peeing on my carpet and that is what matters most. 
June 7th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Yeah, you had me going with that title.
I have one cat that loves bagels and yogurt and stands over my bowl when I eat cereal at night. And another cat who stands under the table at dinner time and meows incessantly begging for scraps. So I think it’s not that unusual of behavior. The nipple thing is a bit odd though. But I did have a cat who used to take our hair things (which ultimately led to his death when he swallowed one, unfortunately).
Oh and the nursing thing… the last two cats we got we had to adopt together because they were sister/brother and extremely bonded - to the point where they ‘nursed’ (basically pacifying) off of each other… they did it for months. It was a little weird but cute and eventually they stopped altogether. Oh and when I was a kid I had a cat who used to suck on our earlobes. Hee, I have a lot of weird cat stories, don’t I?
June 7th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
One of my best friends has a siamese looking cat that was found in a field at a teeny tiny age. He was weened too soon too. Six years later he STILL sucks her EARLOBE ~ yuck!
June 7th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
I had a cat that would “nurse” from my dog! She didn’t mind. It was hilarious. I’ll have to dig up a picture and show you.
June 10th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
When I first got my cat…he wasn’t weaned at all. He used to suck my hair. Even now, at 11 years old and 13lbs, he still nuzzles in my hair for comfort. Am I nuts for loving it??