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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

or did we get sold defective cats?

245 replies

penguingirl · 01/05/2018 18:05

Hi, first time poster/long-time lurker..

We got 2 'siamese' cats from a local rescue, about 6 weeks ago. They're brothers, about 15 months in age. They follow me around the house and make yappy noises. They try and jump on stuff, but fall down and are in fact generally pretty clumsy. They get really excited when there is cheese in the room. They don't understand how 90% of cat toys work, and look genuinely confused when we try to play with them, or try to show them how the treat (dispensing) ball works. I'm starting to wonder if they're dogs. Or aliens... AIBU?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
24
BlankTimes · 01/05/2018 19:18

Siamese cats are wonderful, those eyes are hypnotising and the way they talk all the time. I've always wanted to have at least one but other things that need care and attention just turn up on my doorstep.

Mine are all rescued waifs, one loves to carry a 9 foot long piece of thick soft rope around, she holds it in the middle in her mouth so it streams out behind her like a bridal train each side. She looks so happy when she does it. She brings it and loves you to roll it up and throw it for her, then she'll fetch it, and other things, like a dog.
Our very big tomcat (in both pics) decided he wasn't into rolling the treats dispenser around because it was far too slow, so he picked it up in his mouth and shook it from side to side, peppering the room with treats.

Yours sound as though they're institutionalised, never seen things before, give them time to explore things in their own way.

Sadly all three of mine have lactose intolerance so cheese = the splats. Our big tom goes crazy for Aldi's tuna in soy sauce and ginger, to the extent he's stood on someone's shoulder and walked down their body to get at it on their plate.

or did we get sold defective cats?
or did we get sold defective cats?
bitmynailbrokemytooth · 01/05/2018 19:18

Still settling in. They will be great.

Our cat likes cottage cheese but not regular hard cheese. He has a tiny bit of Bengal in him and is quite noisy too. I think those Eastern/Oriental breeds tend to be.

ShowOfHands · 01/05/2018 19:27

My notacat has never miaowed, hates cheese and refuses to sit on your lap. She sleeps in her bed fgs. What cat sleeps in a cat bed? If she wants something, she'll just look at you till you respond. She also sits by her cat flap, staring at the door handle, waiting for you to open the door for her.

TheWernethWife · 01/05/2018 19:28

Cool - that's Si and Am from Lady and the Tramp

Jaxhog · 01/05/2018 19:31

All cats are defective. It's part of their charm.

I have 2 cats currently. One is obsessed with cheese and sleeps in my sports bag. The other thinks he's a puppy. They've been like this for 10 years.

Our first cat would steal an extra strong mint from your mouth. Or eat them from the packet.

Original poster
penguingirl · 01/05/2018 19:34

hehehe!! I love all your replies! Especially the cheese related ones! I'll have to see if these guys like to sit on it too!!
That shower video is hilarious, as was the reaction from my 2- they leapt off the bed and then 2 little heads kept appearing around the door but they didn't quite dare come back in until I stopped playing the video!! Bless their little hearts!!
I'll try and answer some of the questions.. I think it's pretty unusual to find Siamese in a rescue and in our case it was sheer luck. We've waited over a year to be able to get kitties, and they just happened to be there in the first place we looked the minute we were in a position to get some. They'd been 'donated' due to bereavement and the person left behind not being able to cope, which is obviously really sad for them and for the cats. One of the things that the shelter stipulated was that as they had always been indoor cats they had to remain so, which I agreed to with a heavy heart as thought they'd hate it. In fact they love tearing around the house (and they do 'hunt' with a couple of small mouse toys) and show absolutely no interest in going outside, so far.
Thanks loads for all the info on Siamese, I did read up on them, and have cared for people with them, so knew what to expect. My post was very much tongue in cheek, I wanted to share some of the silliness, fun and joy having them around gives me.
Please don't worry about the jumping thing, they stretch and jump and do all the things they are supposed to, the issues are around them trying to jump up on to non-surfaces and then falling very ungracefully, ie not like a cat! They haven't hurt themselves at all, sorry if I worried any of you!
One of the other main reasons I think they're 'defective' is that they're super clingy and always affectionate- for example they've barely left my side the last 48hours as I've been really poorly and low and they've known I need cuddles. Although tbf even non-affectionate cats I've had in the past have been a bit cuddly when I've been ill/down, so I think a lot of cats are empathetic little creatures.

OP posts:
OrchidInTheSun · 01/05/2018 19:36

WHERE ARE THE PHOTOS??

DeadButDelicious · 01/05/2018 19:37

Gonna need photos OP.

CMOTDibbler · 01/05/2018 19:38

My new rescue cat actually sleeps in her cat bed. I have told her that she is letting down the entire species with this. I think the CPL saw us coming!

rainbowfudgee · 01/05/2018 19:39

My cat loves cheese on toast. She stole mine once Angry

hamsterchump · 01/05/2018 19:42

As an owner of two cats (read jumped up cat slave) I can tell you that all of the behaviour you've observed is normal, I don't who does cats' PR but they must have that poor bastard over a barrel for the work they're doing.

rosieposey · 01/05/2018 19:45

I have always had Siamese and orientals ( exactly the same breed, in fact I once had a chocolate point Siamese and a Havana oriental who were brothers from the same litter ) they are my favourite non-cats in the whole world.

I now have a bi-colour Oriental who is black and white. He is literally the most amazing intelligent cat in the world and is sooooo needy. He loves to sleep with us and talk to us and just generally adores people.

He usually wakes us up in the morning for a game of fetch ... pipe cleaners are his toy of choice and he drops them next to us whilst looking at us expecting us to throw it ( which we do because we are his Slaves ) im adding a photo of him on my eldest Dd.

or did we get sold defective cats?
or did we get sold defective cats?
agnurse · 01/05/2018 19:48

Siamese cats do indeed tend to be quite vocal. As far as toys, it depends on the individual cat. I used to have a grey tabby named Froggie who did not like toys. I was Froggie's toy. She would pet me with her paw when she wanted attention and would sleep on a pillow on my bed. (I had to get a second pillow for her as she would take mine otherwise.) Currently, we have an orange tabby named Mr. Bigglesworth (Biggie) who doesn't really care for toys either. Our other two cats go NUTS for the laser light and Gatsby, our grey tabby kitten (6 months old) has a mousie wand toy that is apparently HIS toy. He will play with it and then pick up the mousie in his mouth and carry it off. Biggie looks at the laser light as if to say, "What the heck is THIS and what the heck am I supposed to DO with it?" (Then we suspect Biggie thinks he's a dog. He is a rescue from the shelter and we don't know his background. He tried to make friends with a dog once. Biggie is lovely and very affectionate, but he is not the brightest crayon in the box.)

ineedamoreadultieradult · 01/05/2018 19:49

They are cats it's their job to be constantly slightly defective. I have one cat who worked out the grey dispensing ball instantly and one who gave me the evil eye until I took the treats out of the ball Nd hand fed them to her. They are not stupid however much they try and make us think otherwise.

Original poster
penguingirl · 01/05/2018 19:49

These 2 love their beds!!!

or did we get sold defective cats?
or did we get sold defective cats?
or did we get sold defective cats?
OP posts:
Thespringsthething · 01/05/2018 19:52

OMG, they are so amazing looking! So delicate. Just gorgeous. Glad they have each other as well as you.

Original poster
penguingirl · 01/05/2018 19:55

Hehe! Just to clarify, they are wonderful and amazing and we wouldn't change our 'defective' cats for anything in the world. They've settled in quicker than any other cats I've ever had and I'm madly in love with them. Other than when they keep trying to lick plastic... (they have a thing for bin bags?! Have always used one to protect area under litter tray, but these will lick it furiously and chew bits if we leave any kind of plastic anywhere?!!!)

OP posts:
SiliconHeaven · 01/05/2018 19:55

Squeeeeee

OrchidInTheSun · 01/05/2018 19:55

Cats 🐱 😻😻😻😻😻

Original poster
penguingirl · 01/05/2018 19:58

Awww, thanks thespringsthething, they are beautiful cats Grin Best cat decision ever getting siblings. I've had so many dramas in the past due to always having rescues or strays and having to go through the process of helping them love tolerate each other.

OP posts:
rosieposey · 01/05/2018 19:58

They are probably a bit stressed hence he plastic chewing as hey have gone from a their original home into rescue and are now settling down with their new family.

I can highly recommend feliway plug ins they are very good for chilling out cats and settling them in. They are beautiful Smile look like red points so very pretty indeed.

Tamingoftheglue · 01/05/2018 19:59

They are sooo pretty!

rosieposey · 01/05/2018 19:59

Gah sorry for all of the typos - phone autocorrects!

Whenwillspringfinallyarrive · 01/05/2018 20:01

I used to give one of my cats cheese with marmite smeared on it. Loved it

PenApple · 01/05/2018 20:03

If it’s any consolation my non Siamese cat’s favourite hobby is licking plastic bags Confused. She also doesn’t care for catnip, and has a personality disorder. Maybe she’s really a dog too?