New rescue cat - AIBU

[SarfE4sticated]

I am a newish cat owner, only had one before this one, and she was a 8 yr old cat when we got her, calm, stolid and affectionate.

New rescue kitty is utterly bonkers, very skittish and bombs around everywhere with a slightly mad look in her eye. We are at the stage where she is to be kept in for 8 weeks, so can't let her out into the garden to explore. We play with her regularly with her ball, and parcel bow but she often goes completely wobbly bonkers and charges up and down the hallway. I assume this is normal young cat behaviour?

The only two things I would rather she didn't do are to 'play' with the curtains and try to climb them, and sit right in the middle of the kitchen table. AIBU? How do I stop her? We've only had her a week, so we're all feeling our way. Is it realistic to try to modify a cat's behaviour?

I've no idea how much she weighs, we haven't got to that level of intimacy yet. Feels very bony though.

My 2 have dry food out all the time and a couple of pouches a day between them. What age is she? We have a big cat tree, a pop up tunnel and several cardboard boxes dotted about for them. They like chasing ribbons and a laser pointer

My 2!

You've got to try and show them you're the boss even though you never will be
She looks lovely.
If it was me I'd go out in the garden with her, then feed as soon as she comes back in.

Your cat looks like a sweetheart! Does she feel very, very light when you pick her up? She might have missed a few meals in the past before she joined your family.

Some cats have a high metabolism, just like some people. I have a highly energetic girl cat who is on the go all the time and she is very light compared to some of her more sedate sisters. When I prepare chicken she always shows up because she knows I will warm up some of the trimmings for her. She likes food, she just burns it off quickly.

She is a sweetie, very skittish and light on her feet, but yes very bony. I think she didn't eat much when in rescue, and is finding her appetite now. We have a scratching post for her now, which she adores. It has a little pom pom on the top which she loves to chew as she digs her claws in the rope. It feels like a private moment for her .
Thanks for your help everyone and gorgeous pics! Much appreciated xxx

We've had a bit of a breakthrough. Skittycat jumped on my chest in the dark last night while I was looking at the laptop lying on the couch. Almost killed me, but it was lovely. Purred and rolled around on her back too

I heard that a cat's whiskers grow to the width of their body so that they can gauge as to whether or not they'll fit through small spaces. Now, not sure if this is correct.

Blimey, this cat is exhausting! every where I go she is there, and as soon as i turn around she legs it. She's behind the couch, on the high bookshelves, helping herself to the Dreamies packet. Sometimes she lets me stroke her, but then tries to bite me, and she just gets into everything. I can feel how much she is dying to get out into the garden, and she is obviously going a bit stir crazy, despite the games, toys etc. Only 5 more weeks to go.

That's it, stir crazy. They advised us to keep our cat in for a couple of weeks but he was bouncing off the walls. I went out in the garden with him to start with, that was after a couple of days being indoors. Then fed him as soon as he came back into the house. He was fine. If you're worried about her going off, what about using one of those cat leads. Although how anyone manages to get them on is a wonder to me.

Ha! I have two and they are currently bombing around snarling and playing!! Its what cats do OP at least till they mellow out at about age 7