How big is your Tort? Kittens (and grown) will try to bat the tort around. My cats don't bother my Guys at all. You do need to cover your tort enclosure as you don't want the cat to use it as a litter box. And, until you can judge the interaction between the two - you need to be watching...
Have you really looked close at the ground to see if he has burrowed down? I have had my 3 - 12 to 14" - dig down and leaving the top soil/grass looking like it was not touched. If it is that cold - he might have dug down to get warm. What kind of fence surrounds the area? Wood, Chainlink...
Tasting and Eating are two different things.
Depending on where you read about both types of plants - Monkey Grass and Spider Plants - some articles say either, or both, can be toxic to "Animals", others say they are not.
Tort's are just like any other living thing, including Humans. Even Siblings can grow at different rates - some have growing spurts, others grow a little each year. As long as the "Runt" appears healthy - eating, active, etc, I wouldn't worry about it. As others have written - watch out for...
I think 20% is a high figure. Is your Vet taking that % from the ones that come into his clinic, or Wild Born, Store bought??? if from his Clinic - many owners don't know when it is almost too late to even save a Tort. Most Tort's are bought from Pet Shops especially when the Kid's see a Tort...
Does Murphy stay in your room all the time? Or, just at night/cold weather? I used to have a cream made for rubbing on/into their shell (can't find the name now) for Dry shell. Also, "mite off" spray if inside with the dry heat from heater. It works well to moisten shell and skin and kill...
Tort's, like us and any living thing, can go a good while without food, But they (and us) need to be hydrated. Dehydration will shut down the Digestion system & and other body systems. If you force food and he is de-hydrated - it will do more harm than good. I know nothing about Reptoboost...
I've tried that but the pasture next to the enclosure is much higher and slops down toward the Tort's. If it "ever" dries enough, I am putting wood planks to redirect any water run-off. I have them inside now (they have a room of their own inside) as temps went from 70's to 20's within 24...
I live in "Rainy" Louisiana. My outside enclosure for 3 - 20++lbs Sulcata's (Curly, Larry and Moe) is 10' X 30'. After some yard and house work, their area holds water after heavy rains. Bottom is dirt. I need something (Mulch??) to raise the bottom Level. I thought that you shouldn't...