How to Cheer Up a Depressed Kitten
Kittens can be depressed for a variety of reasons. The first thing a kitten owner should suspect is a possible health problem. Parasites, cat colds, or poor nutrition, for example, can all cause a kitten to appear lethargic and unhappy. Sometimes, however, a kitten in a new home may simply appear depressed because he misses his mother and littermates.
When the cause is not physical, there are many simple things you can do to lift a kitten's spirits and help him grow into a well-adjusted adult cat.
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Instructions
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Place the kitten close to your body and cuddle him gently. Like human babies, kittens need caring touch in order to thrive. Before he came to your home, he was likely cuddled by his mother much of the time and he probably misses that. Cuddling him close will also warm him--sometimes a kitten will appear depressed if he is cold.
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Purchase a toy plush animal to act as a stand-in mom for the kitten to sleep on. Even after a kitten is weaned and box-trained, he may not have felt emotionally ready to leave his mom.
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Spray his sleeping area with a small amount cat pheromone spray (such as Feliway brand, available at pet supply stores). This contains ingredients that mimic feel-good scents cats emit and may help comfort your kitten.
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Buy cat toys and play with him often. Sometimes kittens appear depressed when they are bored. Tease him with a string or other cat toy and try to get him to chase it.
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Find your kitten another kitten for a playmate, if possible. This is especially important if you are gone for long hours during the day or night.
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Tips & Warnings
You might also try catnip--some cats are cheered with a pinch of catnip sprinkled on their bedding. Not all cats react the same way to catnip, however (and some don't react at all). Kittens, though they love attention, can also become over-stimulated by too much activity. If you have children in your home, limit interaction so that a kitten doesn't feel frightened or overwhelmed, which can also cause depression.
If toys and play do not bring a kitten quickly out of depression, he may not be feeling well physically. Always take the kitten into a veterinarian in these cases. After playtime, be sure to put away any string or cords. Kittens sometimes eat string, which can cause serious health problems.
