Struggling with Cats behaviour

[CherryVicky29]

Really hoping I can seek some advice. I've had my Cat Ralph since he was a kitten,he's now 5 years old. He is a house cat.I had a baby back in July, she's currently 6 months old.

Before baby arrived Ralph was such an affection cat, nuzzled and cuddle up to me. Well behaved and energetic. When I was pregnant a switch flicked, he started attacking me and generally avoided me completely.

Since baby arrived his behaviour has gotten worse, I've been to vets who say it's stress and to give him time. We've tried plug ins, giving him his own space. We still interact and play with him on a daily basis in the evening but nothing seems to be calming him down.

To put in context. He is attcking peoples legs, he is destroying my carpet, he chews post and has destroyed several parcels. And the worst of his behaviour is stealing food, if anything is left on the kitchen side he's eating it. In fact he has eaten mine and my daughters chicken that was cooking on the side for lunch.

I don't know what else to do and really don't want to rehome but this is getting unfair to us and him. If he doesn't like children I'm going to have to let him go 🙁 He's also a completely black haired cat so know if I take him to a cat shelter he would probably never find a new home 😭

[Toddlerteaplease]

Try some zyklene in his food to calm him down. It works quite well.

[Toddlerteaplease]

I found pet remedy more effective that feliway.

[ScreamingValenta]

Have you had Ralph checked by the vet? I say this because when one of my cats developed a kidney issue, her behaviour changed drastically and she began food stealing. It's worth seeing if this is an underlying health problem rather than a reaction to your new baby - the baby might be a red herring.

[AlexaAmbidextra]

the baby might be a red herring.

That has made me giggle. I’m seeing a fish swaddled in a shawl. 😂

[sirmione16]

There's no reason if you've had him from kitten that he has a dislike to babies, OP, so I wouldn't put it down to that - there's no negative association for him.

Firstly consider get a basket that fits on the door to protect post.

Consider leaving dry food down all day - "free feeding" takes away any anxiety of when the next meal will be, and maybe he'll be less inclined to "steal".

Scratch posts! More of them, larger ones. Put them in spaces he'll scratch carpet/furniture and use catnip on them to attract him to them when he goes to his usual spot.

Keep playing with him, lots! The more the better as he needs to form a positive association with you, and play time and treats are the way to do that - make him realise you bring good things.

The attacking people.... Identify if there's any "hot spots" or patterns for his bad behaviour, OP.
Eg
Are there physical places he'll act up more? Doorways, certain rooms?
Often it's a territorial response, therefore if you identify there is a specific spot, you need to desensitise him to that "trigger line" as such through treats and repetition.

Lastly - be aware of your energy around him. Remember cats don't have "feelings" as such, just innate emotional response to stimuli. For example, food is good, loud sounds are bad. They're "energy mirrors", if you're fearing him or nervous around him, he'll pick up on this which will make him feel insecure and nervous therefore he'll react by attacking. (Think flight or fight response) breath through anything negative you see coming and distract him with a laser pen or toy.

Remember he needs to learn through repetition and patterns. Keep taking him down off the sides, but don't yell or scold him - as that's a negative association - take him down, distract him with a laser pen to get down and give him a treat when he's down. That way he learns that coming down is a positive thing.

[sirmione16]

PS "giving him his own space" will cause him to feel ignored or isolated, he needs to feel like he co owns the house space with you securely, and not being involved in play and attention or being secluded to one room is threatening his sense of security. You'll probably find the more of him you include and pay attention to, the more he'll feel secure and therefore hopefully reduce negative behaviour as he won't feel the need to assert himself into territory

[ScreamingValenta]

AlexaAmbidextra The cat would probably prefer a herring to a baby!

[AlexaAmbidextra]

The cat would probably prefer a herring to a baby!

😹😹😹