I have two Himalayn kittens. The male (Desi)I got from a family who raised them in a home full of kids and other animals. The female (Lucy) I purchased from a breeder who kept them in an old hen house on her farm. The female is the strangest cat I have ever come across...I need to know if something is wrong with her..could it be cross breeding or is she just plain retarded?
She doesn't play or frolic like a kitten. She stays in one area of our kitten 24/7. She likes to be petted but doesnt come looking for attention. She'll be okay if I move her to another place but first chance she gets, its right back to her spot in the kitchen. Now, get this! She SLEEPS in the kitty litter box and lately I can't get her to get OUT of the kitty litter box...Even when I try to clean it, she tries to keep jumping back into it. Now shes in there all the time, day and night. She doesnt act sickly or anything like that. When the male tries to play, she will respond somewhat but not like a normal kitten would. Very rarely does she meow and if she does, its so quiet that you barely hear her. PLEASE does anyone know whats wrong with Lucy???
hate to say it but if you were a client and brought this kitten in with that problem i would just scratch my head and say i had no idea--which i say now
My 3 year old used to sleep in the litter box as well. I took this as a need for coverage/shelter and provided her with a bed as such. She's outgrown it but that would be my first guess. As to why Lucy keeps reverting back to the same spot in your kitchen, I would think it's where she feels safest right now.
It took my 2 year old almost a year to put a voice to her meows. She used to just open her mouth and a click would come out. To this day though her mews aren't as strong as my other cats.
If your kittens have had a full vet exam from your own personal vet, not a shelter or breeder, and everything medically/physically is fine, I would think just to give it time.
dont see mention of the obvious here, perhaps i missed a detail ruling it out..but....
lethargy and staying in litter box for long periods of time (sleeping or not) are obvious signs of a possible urinary blockage or infection.
are you sure this cat is urinating properly?
does she drink normal amounts of water?
has this cat been seen by a vet recently?
is she on a special diet? (what are you feeding her and how much)
this spot in the kitchen, is it a soft place that might be similar to laying in the litter box?
i agree with Cleo pending any medical issues Lucy may have, then im sure she is trying to adjust from the move to a new home. if its behavior (adjustment to new home), your going to need to keep a calm environment for her and give her attention that appears to keep her happy. if she likes the kitchen, hang out there and spend some time with her as much as you can.
I also have 2 Himmi's and my female is quite odd, as well. I love her with all of my heart, but she is not an overly affectionate cat.
She will allow us to pet her but only on her terms! She is nice girl, just very independent. She is the pickiest eater on the planet.
She will not eat anything except for Purina Cat Chow. When we first got her, we bought expensive cat food. She turned her nose up. We tried several brands. She wouldn;t touch them.
We finally tried Purina and she loved it. One day, I was sick as a dog. I realized we were out of cat food and I was too sick to get to the store. I opened a can of tuna (I was desperate...cats shouldn't have this), thinking she would be in heaven. WRONG! She wouldn't touch it! Have you ever heard of a cat not eating tuna?
She won't eat cheese, chicken, steak, baked haddock...NOTHING! I have never seen anything like it.
ANyway, sorry for the ramble. I am a bit concerned because with your girl being a kitten, she should definitely be more playful. I would have her checked at the vet. Is this kitten brand new to your home? How long have you had her? Maybe she is scared and not ready to venture out as much as your other kitty. But have medical issues ruled out for sure.
As far as sleeping in the litterbox, I don't think this is a problem. Maybe she feels secure in there?
Himmis are a bit strange overall, IMO. But that makes them even more loveable. I have always loved this breed, even as a child. We had persians my entire life. There is something about them. Well, any cats! I just love them so much.
I always say that if I ever win the lottery or come into money, I would start a rescue home for animals (no kill of course). They would be my life (along with my daughter, of course). I would treat them like gold and spoil them forever. I really hope that I have the chance to do this someday.....
My first concern would be a health issue, and I would take this little one to the vet. The fact that she was kept in a hen house means that she probably had little socializing with humans in the crucial time of her life between 2-6 weeks old is when it should at least start, and then continue. If she doesn't have that, she has no idea what humans really are and that may be part of it.
About her sleeping in the litterbox, perhaps you can get her a covered litterbox, put bedding down inside and put that on the spot where she feels the most secure to see if she will sleep in there? But I would really get her to a vet to rule out health issues first.
The smallest feline is a masterpiece.
Leonardo da Vinci
One of my cats loved to play in the litterbox when he was a baby. I have no idea why...I guess the texture of Johnny Cat is more interesting than a boring carpet or floor.
It's good to have a the kitten checked out and have your vet get to know your cat from babyhood to adulthood.
It she was wasn't socialized with other cats and had little human contact/playing she just might be used to her own devices. Definitely play with her a lot, she needs it and the exercise. Have her watch the other kitten play and she'll learn from that, too.
If she doesn't have any medical problems, I agree with everyone else -- it could be she's adjusting [don't know how long you've had her]or her upbringing. Or it could be personality. I have 3 cats and each one has a different personality. They all belong to the same species and have a lot in common, but they definitely have their own personalities.
Jack is very intelligent and affectionate. He loves to play and he does a lot of interacting with my husband and me. He has a nervous tail that's always going (does anyone know WHY this is?). He also howls at the top of his lungs when he picks up his toys.
On the other hand, Miss Kitty is VERY mellow. She's very quiet and didn't meow for over a year. We thought she couldn't meow and we were so surprised when one day she finally did meow. She also really wasn't that playful at first. She's an extremely lovable cat -- so sweet and a devoted mother to her baby who lives with us. She's very sociable and she's the only one who comes out when we have company. She has actually slept with overnight guests!!
My baby is Poopie and she is a totally different kind of cat--nothing at all like her mommy, Miss Kitty. Poopie is not what you would call affectionate, but she's very playful and very funny. I believe she is a Turkish Van and she loves water. Poopie was mostly raised by her mommy because we were at work during the day. She adores her mom, but can do without people. She thinks we're KITCHEN HELP! She has very definite likes/dislikes and a mind of her own.
I guess what I'm getting at is that, like people, cats have their own little personalities. Just like people, we have different types of relationships with them and we love them for different reasons. I think this is one of the things that makes cats (and animals in general) so interesting.
