more on kitties

[owlmoose]

We got the kittens home around 2pm. Spent some time hanging out with them in the downstairs bathroom. By the third time I was in, they were both out of the carrier, wandering around, and boy kitty was already asking to explore some more. So we opened the bathroom door. They are both quite nervous, and a bit skittish around us if we move too quickly or make too much noise, and they are cautious about venturing too far into the house. But I think they are getting used to us and settling in. They both arch up and push into my hand when I pet them, rather than shrinking away. Boy kitty is rather bolder than girl kitty. He's also more vocal -- he has a high-pitched squeak which seems to pass for a meow. Girl kitty occaaionally makes this weird rumbling noise that sounds rather like a growl, but her body language doesn't indicate unhappiness when she makes it.


This shoelace is a big hit.

The litter box may be an issue; I caught girl kitty peeing on the bathmat, when the box was only few steps away. I dumped her in the box with minimal trauma, I think, but I don't want to set up bad patterns. They're spending tonight shut up in the downstairs bathroom, just for everyone's peace of mind, but we can't do that forever. T is already worrying; I say let's see how tonight goes before we flip. They've just been through a serious trauma, after all, despite how well they seem to be holding up. Being taken suddenly from the only home you've ever known is bound to disrupt anyone's toilet habits.

Comments

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

T actually wrote the foster father last night and he got back to us with lots of good suggestions. Turns out the litter brand he was using is one of the types we used to use for Nadia and we still have most of a box. So we'll mix it in together, see how that goes.

So here's the complicating factor. Kitty boy is using the box quite happily, no issues. What if we turn everything upside down in order to get the girl to use it and turn him off in the process?

[luvmoose.livejournal.com]

If he's happy with it now, he's less picky than she is and should be fine.

[anzubird.livejournal.com]

If she keeps it up, you may also want to try getting her her own litter box. It sounds as if they were sharing happily before, but perhaps in a new place she needs a little more security/ independence.

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

There will definitely be two litter boxes eventually, one upstairs and one downstairs. Just so they don't have to travel.

I just noticed that every single userpic in a comment to this entry is a picture of an animal. (I almost said "a cat", but then I looked again and saw the a spider upthread.)