Hello, I recently got a new kitten. After dealing with the nightmare of becoming a human scratching post (I used fingernail clippers to clip the clear sharp points vertically) I'm now trying to figure out if I may be allergic to this new kitten, or if it is a matter of him not yet having learned to groom himself. I've had kittens and cats before, and never felt any sort of reaction, but now I seem to be plagued by the tiny floating bits of kitten fur that surround little Pato, to the point where I find myself wanting to avoid him! I notice that he doesn't appear to spend a lot of time grooming - is this a skill that kittens gradually acquire? Do they need to be taught by a mommy cat? Is there anything I should be doing to promote grooming? And is this likely to be the source of my angst, and is it temporary? If not, is there any allergy advice from similarly plagued cat lovers out there? I hate to think of my kitten not getting the attention he deserves because I have a revulsion to his fur.
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New kitten grooming help!
Replies (4)
Well, cat allergies usually come from the dried saliva and dander on the fur, not the fur itself. Lots of kittens don't get the hang of grooming right away. My cat Bubba wasn't any good at it until he was about 3 months old (before that whenever he'd try he'd just roll and fall over!) I'd say give the baby some time to get the hang of it. You could also go out and buy a soft brush and groom her yourself, this would help reduce the loose fur and dander. They also make pet wipes that you could use, which are moistend and clean the fur more deeply than brushing. Good luck and I want to see pictures!
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For allergies. If you have insurance that covers it I would go to an allergist. They can test to see if you are allergic to cats' saliva/dander or the fur. Also, if you bath your kitten starting now it will help with your allergies. I wouldn't do it more then once to twice a month. Usually once a month is fine.
Brushing the kitten will also help a lot.
How old is your kitten?
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker
Kittens do learn to groom from their mother cat. In fact, if you watch a litter grooming after they eat, they will all do it in exactly the same order as their Mom. I have several sets of siblings and they all wash the same parts at the same time in the same order. Cats shed, it is part of their job apparently. The suggestions that you got from the others is good. Start brushing him now and he will get used to it and that will help.
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PHWildCat/Tessa and 18 cats, 1 dog and even a hamster
Cat Board Monitor and Chat Host
Pet Hobbyist
Thanks to all who posted. Lots of information! I have decided to get Pato a brush, and I'll let you know how it works out. Also, little Pato has started to lick his front paws at least - a good sign! He was a found kitten, and may have been separated from his mommy when he was a little too young. I have no way of knowing for sure but I would guess he's about 9 or 10 weeks old.
