Dear Simba,
I have a purebred cat and was wondering when she should get
pregnant for the first time. I would like to give one of her
kittens to my mother. Marcus
Dear Marcus,
It is usually best to wait until your cat is physically mature
before you breed her. While she may experience her first heat as soon as 4-6 months of age, she
will not be in best shape to give birth safely until 12-14
months. Consider adopting a kitten for your mom, there are so
many little bundles of joy out there just waiting for a home.
Simba
Our senior has become a bit lethargic
since the our kitten arrived. She is no doubt depressed. What do
I do? - Blue in Boston
Dear Blue in Boston,
While having a new kitten is a lot of fun, make it a point to
let your older cat know she is still loved and cared for.
Play with her. She probably feels a
bit alone being that she is no longer the center of attention.
Simba
Dear Simba,
kitten is 2-months old and i cannot keep her off the kitchen
counters. I have tried the spray bottle and that does not work
she seems to "like" the water. What can i do?
Hi,
When she jumps on the counter, remove her from the counter while
firmly and audibly saying the word "no". Be consistent and firm in your use of this
word. Do not pet her or in any way encourage her behavior
while she is on the counter. Be affectionate only when she
is not on the counter and do not pet her immediately following
her removal (wait a few minutes). You can also try
MultiVet SSSCAT Cat Training Aid. Check out the letters in
Misbehaving Kitties for more
training tips! Simba
Simba-
I have noticed that my cat drools. Why is that? K.K
Dear K.K,
Drooling is caused by a variety of things. Gum/teeth problems are amongst the most
common of causes. Nausea caused by kidney or intestinal problems
can also cause excessive salivation, as can nervousness/stress
and reactions to medicine. Your best bet is to have your vet rule
out the bad stuff. Keep me posted. Simba
Dear
Simba,
I have five, 3-week old kittens; how can I determine their
genders at this so young of age. I am trying to find good homes
for them and some people want male and others want females. -
Confused
Dear Confused,
The female kitten's reproductive organs are very close to the
rectum while the male's testes are between the rectum and the
male organ, such that the male's organ is much further away
from the rectum than the female's. - Simba
Can kittens and cats have 1% milk. Does
it do a kitten good? - Milk Fan
Dear Milk Fan,
Be aware that most adult cats and some kittens are lactose
intolerant, thus their drinking milk may result in loose stools. Cream may make a
better choice than milk. It contains less lactose and cats can
handle butterfat without problem. Simba
Simba
Our kitten loves to follow the moving red dot from the laser
pointer. Are these safe around cats?
Hi,
You are right in being concerned. While many folks are unaware,
these laser pointers can be dangerous
to your cat. Try using a flashlight instead, cats love
these in the dark or dim light. Many stores have ones that carry
red, blue, green lenses. This way, you can have your colored fun
without the laser danger. Simba
Hi Simba,
What is the life span for cats? I have two that are brother and
sister and they are going on 12 years our age. I do not know what
that is in Cat years. Floie
Dear Floie,
The average life span of an indoor cat ranges from 14-20 human
years. Using a cat Aging
Table, your cats are the equivalent of 64 human years old.
Simba
hi simba. i wonder how good is kittens
memory i have 15 weeks old Siamese. YK
Dear YK,
Kittens are notorious for their short memories! Because of that
it is often necessary to correct kitties for the same things over
and over again. Kittens learn only when certain behavior is
rewarded or punished on a consistent basis. At 15 weeks yours is
still a very young cat. He knows who you are and sees you as his
primary care taker. Just the same he will be a rambunctious
little kitten full of life and mischief. Simba
Are kittens
suppose to have a cold wet nose or a dry warm nose? And does one
or the other mean that the kitten could be sick? -
Wondering
Dear Wondering
A cold, wet nose is just one sign of good health and is by
no means a complete indicator. Even a healthy kitten can have a
warm, dry nose occasionally. The thing to note is that regardless
of the nose, you need to watch out for symptoms and should visit
your vet if you think your kitten may be sick. Simba
What is the normal respiration rate for
a 10 week old kitten?
Hi,
A cat breathes an average of 20-30 times per minute. This
will vary by the amount of exercise it has just had and its
emotional state, amongst other factors. Because cats can be quiet
breathers, monitor your kitten’s breathing by placing your
hand on your kitten’s chest. Simba
I have 2 new 4 1/2-month-old kittens.
They are outdoor cats so they sleep on my porch. I have a light
on the porch. Should they sleep with the light on or off?
Kittyz
Dear Kittyz,
The light does not matter. Cats can sleep upwards of 14-18 hours
per day. Your kittens will sleep with or without it and without
problem. Your Pal, Simba
What is a cat's normal temperature?
- JB
Dear JB,
Cats have a normal temperature of 99-102 degrees
Fahrenheit. If you believe that your cat or kitten is
suffering a fever or has too low a body temperature go to your
vet or local animal hospital right away! - Your Pal, Simba
Dear Simba,
My name is Kanga, I am a 5-month old gray tabby. I have a loose
tooth and I was wondering if I should tell my mommy, 'cause I
do not want her to be concerned if it is not a problem.
:-)Thanks, - Kanga, the Kitten
Dear Kanga, Kittens usually lose their baby teeth when they are ~6 months
old. The loose tooth is
perfectly normal. I would nonetheless encourage you to have mommy
to take you to regular dental checkups. Remind her also to brush
your teeth when they grow in. - Your Pal, Simba
Hello,
I had my kitty spayed a week ago and she now has a hard knot
about the diameter of a dime where the incision was made. Is this
normal? - DecoGirl
Dear Deco Girl,
The Kitten's wound should be clean with the edges together
with the skin be normal with a slightly pink or red hue(this may
appear like a bruise on pale cats).Call your vet. Talking to him
or her is the only way to get peace of mind. - Your Pal,
Simba
What are a healthy cat's vital signs
(pulse, respiration, and temperature)? C
Hi C,
Here are the facts. Normal temperature is 99'F-102'F, a
normal pulse is 160-240 beats per minute (avg of 195). Normal
respiration is 20-30 per minute. Simba