posted 09-13-2003 03:43 PM         

She is VERY affectionate (her favourite is to 'shove' her face into your face and rub and cuddle) and likes to sit on laps and shoulders, etc.

She is very vocal, which can get tiresome when you don't know what she wants, but sometimes it's a good indicater for when she is hungry or needs some attention.

She only scratches the carpet (which I don't mind) and the computer chair. I haven't been able to find her a scratching post (believe it or not!). Will she eventually go for the couch?

I just don't want her to become antisocial like most of the cats I know ... right now, she's very welcoming of guests/strangers too.

Just wondering

posted 09-13-2003 04:58 PM         

My cats also attacked the couch but we found that using clear acking tape on their favourite scartching place deterred them. Guess it just didn't feel the same.

In my expereince, cats don't go from sociable to anti-social. In fact, I have seen more anti-social cats become more sociable as they have gotten older (at least compared to what they used to be)

however, I have been cats become different when another cat, animal or person/baby has moved in.....doesn't happen all the time (esp in the case of people) but it can happen.

posted 09-15-2003 10:09 AM         

A friend has a cat who he spoiled rotten as a baby. Always held him cradled, talked to him constantly, etc. He is now about a year old and BIG but still tries to fit in laps and likes to be cradled like a baby. He is a VERY lovey cat.

So, give your kitten a lot of attention and talk to her lots and she will probably stay nice and lovey. Get her spayed, too, at earliest convenience. Some say it helps them retain their kitten-like qualities if done earlier, but I have no proof of that.

posted 09-16-2003 11:06 AM         

I think the official recommendation now is 12-16 weeks.

My friend's cat was neutered at 3 months with no problems. My new puppy was spayed before she left the shelter. She was about 3 months as well. We picked her up the day after the surgery and she seemed totally fine - no pain at all.

posted 09-17-2003 12:42 PM         

Check out this page: http://www.alleycat.org/pdf/early.pdf

Here is a brief excerpt from that paper:

"However, early-age spay/neuter has been endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The AVMA states that they "...support the concept of early (eight to 16 weeks of age) spays and castrations in dogs and cats, in an effort to stem the overpopulation problem in these species."

"…kittens and puppies sterilized as early as seven weeks of age suffer no medical or behavioral side effects. [His] report also stated that puppies and kittens sterilized before twelve weeks of age had fewer complications from surgery than those over twelve weeks."

Here is another page about early spay/neuter for cats. Be sure to notice there are multiple pages (links at the bottom): http://www.catvet.homestead.com/EarlyAlter.html

Oh, and there are definite health benefits to getting a female spayed before her first heat. It lessens all sorts of cancer risks, etc.