Hi
I have four feral 4 month old kittens living in my back yard. I trapped
them and then took them to the human society / spca last week and got the
tested, shots and fixed. The have been released and are doing great.
Someone donated a cat condo to me, and it seems like the previous owner
might have rubbed or put catnip on the top.
Once in a while a kitten will jump to the top and rub its face into the top
of the cat condo and then start freaking out a bit. When this happens the
freaked out kitten will go up to another kitten and kinda start attacking
it, not sure if they are playing out what.
Is there any way to get the catnip off? Take a damp towel and wipe it down,
or take a vacuum attachment to it?
Thanks
cybercat - 05 Nov 2007 19:07 GMT
"Tube Audio" <murphysf@hotmail.com>:
> Is there any way to get the catnip off? Take a damp towel and wipe it
> down, or take a vacuum attachment to it?
They love it. They are playing! Leave it alone.
RPSinha - 05 Nov 2007 19:45 GMT
Rub a little more catnip, but on different spots. Then they will have
different locations to go to. Otherwise leave it alone, something they
are enjoying is not a problem.
Matthew - 05 Nov 2007 20:21 GMT
it could also be that the cat is marking the area which all cats do when
they rub their face on a location. it is their way of saying it is mine
if their is no blood and bloody screams; other than get the heck of me.
They are playing.
these are also ferals cats there is a dominant social order that will
develop. the kitten might be establishing dominance but unless there is
blood or the kitten is preventing the others from eating than there is no
problem.
it also might not be catnip it might just be an odor. One of my cats gets a
whiff of a certain cleaning solution and he gets aggressive.
if you must do this you can take bleach and sanitize the area.
but make sure you wash the condo after to get the bleach smell off or they
will not use it.
> Hi
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Thanks
-Lost - 06 Nov 2007 01:29 GMT
Response from "Tube Audio" <murphysf@hotmail.com>:
> I have four feral 4 month old kittens living in my back yard. I
> trapped them and then took them to the human society / spca last
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> kitten and kinda start attacking it, not sure if they are playing
> out what.
Everyone already said it perfectly. The thing is you mentioned 2
fundamental things:
1. Feral
Even non-feral cats have a pecking order, feral cats I would assume
adhere to it much more strictly especially when they have grown up
together.
2. Catnip
Cats adore catnip assuming:
1. They are old enough to be affected by it.
2. They are affected by it at all.
> Is there any way to get the catnip off? Take a damp towel and
> wipe it down, or take a vacuum attachment to it?
I really wouldn't worry about this too much. However, I would like
to tell you this -- something to keep in mind. Kittens are a
handful. We have only had our Gabby for almost 2 months or so now I
guess and it has been an interesting time for all. There are times
we have wanted to boot him out the door then he does something that
melts our hearts.
So basically... unless you see an ear come flying off I really
wouldn't worry about their play. Although you should be aware of
their sounds. Low guttural sounds or long drawn out low mewing and
loud sharp short yowls are NOT good. The play MAY be getting too
rough. Just be there to help if things get RIDICULOUSLY out of hand
-- otherwise remember, a little domination is key to a structure.
$0.02 from a new cat's slave's perspective.

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-Lost
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