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Tips for naughty indoor cat

24 replies

MissHoney85 · 03/07/2020 17:50

In December we acquired a Burmese kitten, having recently lost a cat to the road and already having a 4 year old moggie. We knew when we got the Burmese that as a breed they have little road sense and he would have to be an indoor cat at least until we move somewhere further from a road (which we are planning to this year, though obviously those plans are a little thrown now).

The kitten is a real handful (good job he's cute!) and is becoming increasingly naughty and destructive. He torments our other cat and his worst habit is chewing cables - he went through two yesterday alone. This results in him being banned from several rooms in the house, which increases his boredom in a vicious circle. I think he really needs to go outside to use some energy and get some stimulation, but my OH is dead against it as he witnessed our last cat being run over and is understandably traumatised. So I'm thinking that while we are waiting to move, we need to make the house as stimulating as possible for him. He's pure muscle and has so much energy. He has a cat tree and some toys (he mainly likes kicker toys and feathers on sticks) but I'm looking for ideas of other cat toys that work well to provide long term stimulation. Any other ideas welcome!

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bitofasleuth · 03/07/2020 17:59

Has he been neutered yet?

MissHoney85 · 03/07/2020 18:20

Yes about a month ago - was delayed because of lockdown. It's helped a bit but not been the magic cure we were hoping for...

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SimonJT · 03/07/2020 18:25

How much time per day does he have active play with his slaves?

MissHoney85 · 03/07/2020 18:30

Probably about 3-4 5 minute bursts through the day. This is definitely something we could do more of! He just never seems to tire out 😰

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dementedpixie · 03/07/2020 18:33

could you get a cat harness and take him outside on a leash? Lazer pen?

SimonJT · 03/07/2020 18:38

@MissHoney85

Probably about 3-4 5 minute bursts through the day. This is definitely something we could do more of! He just never seems to tire out 😰
Thats probably your issue.

I have an indoor cat (adult) and she has at least an hour of active play per day (not in one session), when she was a kitten it was easily two hours.

An indoor cat is a bit like a dog, if you had a dog you would dedicate at least an hour per day to walkies. Its the same with cats but you swap walkies for playtime.

Kittens are like toddlers on redbull, but decent play sessions do help.

MissHoney85 · 03/07/2020 18:40

@SimonJT yes you're probably right! We're both around all day now WFH so no excuse really.

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thenewaveragebear1983 · 03/07/2020 18:45

We have an indoor cat (ragdoll, also not very streetwise!) she's 5 months old now and we take her outside every day for 30-60 mins (in 2 sessions). She rarely tries to leave the garden but isn't interested in us, she just scampers about. She is so much calmer in the evening if she's had a good mooch about outside. I wouldn't worry about a harness, just sit outside with a coffee for a bit.
(It's one of my favourite things to do in lockdown!)

thenewaveragebear1983 · 03/07/2020 18:45

We have an indoor cat (ragdoll, also not very streetwise!) she's 5 months old now and we take her outside every day for 30-60 mins (in 2 sessions). She rarely tries to leave the garden but isn't interested in us, she just scampers about. She is so much calmer in the evening if she's had a good mooch about outside. I wouldn't worry about a harness, just sit outside with a coffee for a bit.
(It's one of my favourite things to do in lockdown!)

MissHoney85 · 03/07/2020 18:49

@thenewaveragebear1983 I'm not sure if trust this one to stay in the garden, he moves like water when he wants to! We've thought about a harness, he kind of tolerates things on him, bit I'm not sure if giving him a taste of freedom would help or make his frustration worse...

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ChewChewIsMySpiritAnimal · 03/07/2020 18:54

Have you got a garden you could build a cat run in?

IlanaWexler · 03/07/2020 18:59

Rubbing Tabasco on cables should stop her biting them.

Do you have a cat tree for her to play on?

IlanaWexler · 03/07/2020 19:01

@thenewaveragebear1983 Ooh you're brave. We have 2 ragdolls but I don't let them in the garden - I'd be scared they'd disappear over a fence and never be seen again!

IlanaWexler · 03/07/2020 19:01

@thenewaveragebear1983 Ooh you're brave. We have 2 ragdolls but I don't let them in the garden - I'd be scared they'd disappear over a fence and never be seen again!

thenewaveragebear1983 · 03/07/2020 19:05

@IlanaWexler we've got other cats though so it's impossible to keep her in, and she was becoming destructive. I've trained her to scratch on her post now not the furniture although she does meow for a treat once she's scratched! She did go next door once, over the fence, through a building site, through their half built extension and into their house!! No fear at all! Luckily the builders saw her go in.

MissHoney85 · 03/07/2020 19:05

@ChewChewIsMySpiritAnimal yes but we're in the middle of trying to move so probably not the time to start a project like that. Also I'm not sure if giving him a limited taste of freedom will be enough. I'm worried it might make his frustration worse if he knows the outside is out there and really fun!

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MissHoney85 · 03/07/2020 19:10

@IlanaWexler Tabasco is an idea, I've suggested things like that before though and OH isn't keen. We've tied as many of them away as possible but he always manages to find them. Usually the most expensive and hardest to replace ones!

He does have a cat tree. My OH even extended it with higher levels as he loves to get as high up as he possibly can!

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SimonJT · 03/07/2020 19:11

Chewing is satisfying for kittens, plastic tent pegs are good for a chewer to chomp on.

MissHoney85 · 03/07/2020 19:14

@SimonJT that's a really good idea, he definitely loves to chew and could do with some acceptable chewing material

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mynameisntlouise · 03/07/2020 19:35

I second a laser pen, minimal effort from humans needed and you can leave it on a coffee table and have a few minutes play whenever you're around. Or maybe one of those toys where a little mouse or something moves round on a stick by itself?

SimonJT · 03/07/2020 19:38

You can get hands free laser pens when you’re feeling lazy, but cats get bored of lasers if they aren’t rewarded for their effort as most toys enable a ‘kill’ at the end.

MissHoney85 · 03/07/2020 19:50

Yes he does love a laser, but I always feel it's not as satisfying for him as a toy he can bite down on and get really physical with. It is a good quick fix though and the other cat will join in the play which I think is good for them.

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