Badly behaved cat - posting for traffic

[PookieDo]

Well I don’t know if it’s exactly badly behaved but it is driving me crazy

It’s a housecat through its own choice of being afraid of the outside. It is healthy. Fed. Spay. Feliway is in the house. It has toys and humans. I cannot have a cat flap for logistical reasons (my front door is not the door to the outside world)

But every evening and through the night it walks around, wails and scratches at everything. If I relent and open the front doors, it will bolt but then come straight back when I close it and scratch the other side to come back in. It doesn’t like any doors closed and will scratch at everyone’s door or the bathroom door.

I am considering another cat (am desperate) for company but we had another cat who has now died and all it did was bully that one so I don’t think this is the answer

Anyone else wantgot a very annoying cat?

Our cat goes in the laundry all night. He sleeps in his basket. If he is out in the house he’s pacing meowing and waking everyone up. He’s generally quiet in the laundry. If you don’t have one with a good can he not be put in the bathroom or similar small room?

I really hate the way you refer to her as "it" and "they". Your cat I suspect is lacking affection and is bored. Many cats dislike closed doors. Please don't get another one.

Was trying to avoid using cats name

Have been through all of the reasons why the affection/play is lacking because it gets over excited and tries to kill you. The doors have to be closed sometimes you can’t have no closed doors EVER. Not getting another cat for reasons already discussed!

Thanks all, I wonder about changing food too. Is fussy eater, only likes fish based cat food.

I can’t just throw the cat out at night as already said if just comes back and scratches and wails this wouldn’t be fair to the cat or the neighbours

have you tried the pet forum - some experts on there who will also give great advice.

My kitten woke me up at 5am this morning and kept biting my armpit! So as I have said I am no expert. But your cat is being an asshole and you need some new strategies to calms her down and keep you all happy!

I think the first thing should be a vet check. When my eldest had a UTI he was very noisy and restless. It was a simple course of antibiotics to clear it up. Just a thought.

Apart from that she just sounds terribly bored and lonely. Perhaps try a new routine. I have five cats and one or two can be irritating with howling. I leave all doors open so they can access every room (aside from my office which they’ve thankfully accepted is a no go). It’s mostly when they’re hungry or can’t find their friends when they’re loudest. I started feeding them a supper really late right before I go to bed and then they all settle down and sleep next to me so maybe think about if she’s hungry at night?

Four is still young so lots of energy. Give dedicated play times and you may need to experiment with what toys suit. If she likes to attack get her some kicker toys that she can go to town on. Mine love a good feather wand and my hands aren’t in danger of getting scratched with that.

Maybe think about her diet too. Is it good quality and filling enough for her? Some are just loaded with cereals and unsatisying. Or I found some foods make them more hyperactive.

If she’s scratching inappropriately she needs more scratch posts. I have them dotted all over the house and replace regularly and I don’t have issues with scratching. I have the flat mats at the top of the stairs as they were starting to scratch the stair carpets and that solved the issue.

Tried harness and lead - she reacted badly to this getting on. Also it’s pouring with rain today

Also bought a Kong thing. Got fed up with it immediately. I am hoping that over time it will interest her more. Good night last night though with her and DD2 played with her ages with a pencil and a nail file (instead of DD as the prey) both of which she loves cheering

Chewing

Shoe box tape the lid down put holes in it and toys maybe some food 🤷‍♀️ mine love it they also love turning the bathroom light on and climbing a roll of carpet Pinterest is good for diy cat toys pop on over to the litter tray see what advice can be given by the cat people

She sounds stressed. Try a feliway diffuser. Works a treat for mine.

If she likes a laser/red dot I’ve bought mine one of the automatic ones from amazon for £10-£15. It’s worth the money, it runs itself for about 15mins and keeps her entertained if she’s having a particularly hyper day.

Ours doesn’t go out much due to her nervousness so we have little balls with bells in and lots of toys on strings but the red dot is by far her favourite.

She sounds like the tyrant currently ruling my house with an iron rod. She was sold to me as an indoor cat from the cats protection but she never has been. She's a nervous wreck though, and we spent a lot of time with the back door open while she built up the courage to be outside.

We've had her two years and I had the back door open for a couple of hours this morning as it's easier than constantly getting up and down to let her in. And out. Then in again for all of a minute to go straight back out. She doesn't go far but drives us demented if she doesn't get out. Is that something you could maybe trial until she gets her confidence up? All the agressive behaviour is usually worked off outside chasing leaves, staring at birds etc.

Mine also does the cuddles followed by immediate attack, I tend to give her a bit of a fuss for a couple of minutes, then refuse to give her any more because I know what's coming! There's usually an increase in the swooshing of the tail and a bit of eyeballing so at least I get some kind of warning.

I make her sound awful but we adore her so adhere to "the rules"

The attacking if stroked for too long thing - in my absolute experience with many cats and kittens over many years, this is only in cats that were taken from their mothers too young.

Too young is anything under 12-13 weeks. Many kittens are homed at 6-9 weeks in this country, and it is in weeks 10-12 when they learn from their Mum and siblings not to do this. Kittens are not completely socialised until 12-13 weeks.

I had kittens that attack like that too the ones I have now can go a bit nuts i actually found (with my old cat) relaxing my hand when he latched on and blowing a raspberry on his back/head worked for me it startled him without hurting him He soon stopped my new kittens I can click my fingers and they detach apart from one he is tricky to train

The attacking if stroked for too long thing - in my absolute experience with many cats and kittens over many years, this is only in cats that were taken from their mothers too young. I suspect that with our cat. Don't know for certain though as he came to us when he was around 7 from rescue. He regularly suckles his blanket too.

My new cat. (Since August) is gorgeous and lovely but very annoying. She has no concept of personal space when I'm in bed. And wakes me up
To knead and suckle on me. Tried shutting her out but she got the door open. She made so much noise when I put a doorstop behind the door that I relented and let her in. Mistake! Can't shut her completely down stairs because of the design of the house.