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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

How do you stop them scrabbling??

28 replies

LanguidLobster · 16/02/2018 19:17

She's well fed, she's been taken out for a romp, she's now in the spare room (and hers is larger than mine).

It's only been 20 mins and all I can hear is frantic little paws scrabbling at the door.

How do you make it stop...?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 16/02/2018 19:19

Is she shut in a room? Open the door ?

chemenger · 16/02/2018 19:20

She wants to be with you, presumably, that’s why they call them companion animals. Why have you shut her away?

OhCarrieMathison · 16/02/2018 19:23

Poor Doggy. She's feeling lonely.

Original poster
LanguidLobster · 16/02/2018 19:23

She clambers all over me all the time.

You're making me feel mean now, ok I'll let her out. I just like a little time away from her.

OP posts:
Original poster
LanguidLobster · 16/02/2018 19:47

I didn't mean to imply that she's always shut in one room, just that if I want an hour's peace I put her in another room for a while!

Then the scrabbling starts

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 16/02/2018 19:49

Is it not a cat rather than a dog?

Original poster
LanguidLobster · 16/02/2018 19:52

Yes she's a cat :)

OP posts:
Icequeen01 · 16/02/2018 19:56

Mine would get really anxious if I locked them in a room even for a short time. I used to have a Velcro cat, I know it can be annoying but she's obviously very attached to you.

IHaveBrilloHair · 16/02/2018 19:59

Keep her with you.

Original poster
LanguidLobster · 16/02/2018 20:00

IceQ really...?

She is snoring away next to me now. I hadn't realised you can't leave them for a short while.

OP posts:
Icequeen01 · 16/02/2018 20:09

It's not so much about leaving them (I work full time so they don't see me during the day), it's more about putting them in another room if they know we are around Smile

andanothernamechange · 16/02/2018 20:13

Cats hate to be shut in. They like to know and be able see their escape route should a predator come in.

I would let her be around and let her be with you. If she gets too annoying then just gently put her down on the floor. Repeat till she gets the message (or doesnot!)

ineedamoreadultieradult · 16/02/2018 20:16

You can leave a cat when you go out that's not a problem as you are out and they know you are not there. To shut them in a different room to you when you are in is just bizarre!

BIWI · 16/02/2018 20:20

Why would you shut her in? That's cruel!

Do you give her any freedom to come and go as she pleases - either in or out of the house? Cats are independent souls and they need to be given this kind of freedom

dementedpixie · 16/02/2018 20:53

My cats get the run of the house apart from the bathrooms. I've never shut them in a separate room except when they were kittens and got shut in the kitchen/ diner overnight

Original poster
LanguidLobster · 16/02/2018 21:10

She doesn't have as much freedom as she used to as we have a smaller house now with no garden and there are heavy swing doors, so I try to manage it as best I can with taking her on supervised trips outside (it's on a cobbled lane so I don't want her to get frightened).

I thought it would be ok to put her in another room for up to an hour. Don't some people keep the bedroom free at nights? She wouldn't let me get away with that!

OP posts:
sportyfool · 16/02/2018 21:11

Oh poor baby , she wants to be with you !!

dementedpixie · 16/02/2018 21:13

Our bedroom doors are open at night but the cats don't tend to sleep on the beds

BIWI · 16/02/2018 21:18

Our cats have the complete run of the house, but also a cat flap.

They tend to stay in at night, but they very rarely sleep on our bed.

IHaveBrilloHair · 16/02/2018 21:22

Mine have the run of the house.

Original poster
LanguidLobster · 16/02/2018 21:27

I guess I could get some door wedges.

It was starting to drive me a bit mad having to get up to open doors all the time like a butler so I sometimes put her in one room for a short time! With litter tray, food bowls

OP posts:
Allergictoironing · 16/02/2018 21:29

Mine have the run of the house apart from the spare bedroom that has all my work clothes on the bed - my employers may be great, but turning up smothered in cat floof wouldn't be appreciated.

They tend not to sleep on my bed but do like to be on the floor in there to keep an eye on me. As they are indoors only cats, I shut them in the (large) living room when I have a delivery or put the dustbins out and they are always pacing up and down by the door when I open it after only 5 mins. Restriction in any way makes them panic, especially poor Boycat.

BIWI · 16/02/2018 21:33

Please don't shut her in Sad

Original poster
LanguidLobster · 16/02/2018 21:36

Ok, it does drive me a bit mental when she frequently decides she wants to swap rooms and do door duties then she decides a few seconds later she wants to come back in.

I need door wedges.

OP posts:
Mummyoftwo91 · 16/02/2018 21:49

Why don't you own things to keep your doors open? I have doors like this also and a cat

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