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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I'm not an evil cat murdering psycho

56 replies

shareacokewithnoone · 17/09/2014 21:25

I love cats. Have two of them. We all used to live together in a pretty cottage in the country and enjoyed life.

Then, I moved. Hopefully this is temporary but for now I'm living in an equally pretty apartment that happens to be a) on the 3rd floor and b) on a main road. This means the cats don't go out.

I don't know whether it's living in such close quarters but they are driving me INSANE. They EAT - fucking hell, excuse my French, but they can get through 10 pouches of cat food a day, easily. It costs a fortune. They treat me like the title in my OP though - retreat in terror when I come in the kitchen Hmm and at night chase each other keeping me awake half the night. The other half the night I spend emptying litter trays.

Has ANYONE got any tips as seriously I do still love them but I can just feel my frustration rising as they keep wrecking stuff/pissing on stuff/ keeping me awake/ treating me like I'm a psycho - I am going mad!

OP posts:
TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 17/09/2014 21:27

Move or rehome them. You can't bring outdoor cats indoors, you were mad to even consider it!

10 pouches a day? They'll be dead from obesity by Christmas!

WorraLiberty · 17/09/2014 21:30

10 pouches?

Have you checked them for worms?

Alisvolatpropiis · 17/09/2014 21:33

I think most cats would eat that much if you let them.

They probably did, only they were hitting up all their other houses to get it, when they were able to go out.

Original poster
shareacokewithnoone · 17/09/2014 21:33

Tread, great, I'll do that tomorrow! After all, the cats homes have got loads of places and they desperately need cats as there are loads of people wanting one. Haha, why didn't I think of that. Not like they'd be put to sleep, or anything.

Hmm

Worra, fairly sure it isn't worms. They are worked regularly and I see the 'evidence' in their litter tray! They are just greedy.

OP posts:
Original poster
shareacokewithnoone · 17/09/2014 21:34

I suspect the same, Ali!

Bizarrely they aren't overweight. I think they are just naturally 'petite' cats.

OP posts:
usualsuspect333 · 17/09/2014 21:36

They must be going crazy because they can't go out.

Not really their fault if they are used to going out.

PenisesAreNotPink · 17/09/2014 21:36

They're bored shitless after having the thrills and spills of outside

You need to build a mental fort, with tiers and stairs up the walls.

With catnip and rough surfaces to scratch.

Or can a mate take them til you move?

usualsuspect333 · 17/09/2014 21:37

How long until you move?

Isitraining · 17/09/2014 21:39

We had a plug in "prozac" for cats from the vet when we had to live in a flat for 6 months between houses with our 2 cats and 1 small dog. I think it may have helped. At least you don't have the dog hoovering up the contents of the litter tray if you don't get there fast enough!

BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 17/09/2014 21:42

If they're pissing on stuff this is classic stress behaviour. When they had access to outside it's possible they didn't have that much direct contact but now they're confined in a small space with no outside access it's too much for them. Separate them as much as you can. Definitely separate them at night

And the ten pouches a day is over-feeding them. No indoors cats need that much food. They are probably scoffing that much out of boredom.

Do you have play-time with them every day? Maybe look into one of those teaser-wands like they sell on PurrsInOurHearts with the feathers on the end. Best fiver I ever spent. My boy Stanley goes bonkers for it and will chase it until exhausted if I let him

Original poster
shareacokewithnoone · 17/09/2014 21:43

Not until after Christmas. Please don't suggest rehoming though. It isn't an option. Even if the cat rescue centres here weren't full to bursting, I can't guarantee they would find a loving home. They are very timid cats, used to be loving to me, but shy and they would be utterly terrified leaving me and possibly each other (they are a brother and sister.) The male cat has had health problems and they are long-haired cats and black and white which are difficult to rehome.

I was a bit sarky I know but it genuinely isn't the case that hundreds of people are impatiently waiting to give a loving home to two adult annoying cats.

OP posts:
usualsuspect333 · 17/09/2014 21:43

Can you give them some dry food. I leave a bowl of dry food out all the time for my cat. He just eats it whenever he fancies it.

BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 17/09/2014 21:44

Felliway plug-in

Original poster
shareacokewithnoone · 17/09/2014 21:45

It is- every cloud, then!

Thanks. I agree they are probably bored! I have tried to provide them with some stuff but will get them some more. It's upsetting to see how they are becoming mistrustful and annoyed with me.

When I left the cottage we were in temporary accommodation for 6 weeks and the cats came too naturally and they barely 'spoke' to me then, spent ALL their time outside. Now I thought we could bond again but we aren't, they won't come near me Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
shareacokewithnoone · 17/09/2014 21:46

Usual yeah, I think that will help. That way I'll know if they are hungry or greedy, honestly they behave like I've starved them for weeks on end!

OP posts:
HaveTeaWillSurvive · 17/09/2014 21:51

Might be worth giving these a go:

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B000OLWWDI?vs=1

Our cats loved them - really bouncy and go in random ways, helped with boredom when they were temporarily flat cats.

BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 17/09/2014 21:51

Shareacoke: they are very stressed. If they were timid to start with the very close and enforced proximity won't lessen that. Think about providing them with perches so they can get up off the floor and escape from each other's company. Feliway. Play-time. Boxes to play/hide in. Put them in separate rooms at night.

gentlehoney · 17/09/2014 21:53

I think they will get used to not going outside, and you will learn to sleep through it. (mine batter each other up and down the stairs all night for fun) I dont know why you are changing litter trays at night though? It seems above and beyond the call of duty!
Just put a litter tray in each room, keep your bedroom door firmly shut, and only give them dried food and bowls of water everywhere.
Your cats sound lovely. I wonder why it is difficult to sell or rehome black ones?

Original poster
shareacokewithnoone · 17/09/2014 21:54

Ooh thanks tea will order some.

They do have a big bay window they can sit in and enjoy the sun okay they knock my flowers and photos over, I can live with this! and those igloo baskets to hide in which are rejected in favour of my bed and the flat has fun hidey holes like the airing cupboard and the shelves in the wardrobe.

It is a very nice apartment. I can see it isn't as much fun as the outside world but tbf they don't tend to go out much in the winter.

OP posts:
Original poster
shareacokewithnoone · 17/09/2014 21:56

They are lovely really Grin Just bloody annoying!

The litter tray thing is because they won't use it once they or their brother or sister has been in it so I just flush the poo down the loo as otherwise they'd poo in the kitchen Hmm nice! (Also it smells horrible!)

Separate rooms is great i. Theory but in practice would mean locking one in the tiny kitchen or shower room as there is one very large room with arches rather than doors and this is the lounge and bedroom, you see. Plus they are weird and annoy each other but then miaow like mad if split up worse than children!

OP posts:
maddening · 17/09/2014 22:00

Have you tried feliway?

maddening · 17/09/2014 22:02

What about play tunnels? And piles of scrunched up paper with catnip toys hidden in?

usualsuspect333 · 17/09/2014 22:02

Can you put a few litter trays around?

TSSDNCOP · 17/09/2014 22:03

Your vet might be able to suggest foster carers, with more outside access ,that would take them until you're in your new place.

They're playing you with the food though. I have TSSBoy who complains of constant gnawing hunger in his stalag like living conditions, but even he can't chow down more than two in a day.

awsomer · 17/09/2014 22:04

Get a skinny cat ball feeder! Our indoor cat has it and loves it. It's a ball you put dry food (and treats) in and it has little holes in it, the cat has to bat it about to get the food out. It keeps ours entertained and active.

We also make sure we play with her pretty much every evening. Then before we go to bed we hide little toys around the place. We keep the toys in a box that has catnip in so she's really drawn to them. We never keep the same toys out for more then a few days either, we keep rotating them.