Cat trashing the house

[MrsPerfect12]

I'm looking for suggestions to help out my mum.
Her cat/kitten is just over a year old.
He is pulling up the carpets and pulling fibres out the carpet in almost every room - I'm not joking when I say they need replaced.
He is keeping her awake at nights either howling at her door, scraping to get in then climbs the curtains and jumps back on to her bed (at 3am)
He is an indoor cat but refuses to go out, we've tried and he's terrified and runs back in. He had been neutered. He has scratching mats of various types which he does use, tower frame and every toy imaginable.
Will he calm down? What can I do with regards to the carpets. We don't want to replace for this to happen again. Any suggestions. My mum is in her 70's and was hoping for a lap cat 🤣🤣🤣 instead she has a mischief maker that keeps her awake at night.

I feel your pain!
Ours ripped carpets especially if doors were closed. All the stairs were a scratching mat! Curtain poles ripped from the walls where they ran up and clung swinging round looking at you
Sofa arms.
Bannisters
And then pissed wherever they felt.
We love them though but literally thousands of pounds spent on replacements in their 12 years.
Still going strong!

Oh god, been there!

Is he being played with in the evening before bed? This can help but make it a solid effort not just a brief 5m or so.

Consider shutting him in the kitchen or somewhere at night where he can do the lease damage. Access to the catalase at night also helpful,along with toys and scratching tree.

He might get over his fear of outdoors if she spends time out there when weather warms up in spring.

Also make sure he isn't getting hungry at night. I've had a couple of cats who would be deliberately naughty when they were hungry or bored (any attention is good attention).

Oh and he might calm down but after a couple of years not months!

Are the scratching mats and posts in the areas where he pulls at the carpet? Move them around and see if it helps.

If he is bouncing off the walls at night get your mum to play with him using wand toys at bedtime, then a feed/biscuits. Basically its a hunt, eat, sleep routine. He needs to get exhausted so maybe two lots of ten minute plays. Some cats like the feather wands, others like soft toy wands but it must be interactive with a human to keep the interest up. Maybe even hide some biscuits in a cat version of a dog Kong?

Water spray for scratching where he shouldn't can be effective too

@BobbieT1999

Oh and he might calm down but after a couple of years not months!

I was rather afraid of that 🙈😂😂😂

Thank you for the suggestions, she does play with him but I'll suggest a big play at bedtime. I've just found some sticky stuff you put on the carpet almost like double sided tape as a deterrent. Might see if that helps.

A couple of photos 💙

You make a lovely couple @MrsPerfect12

And the kitten is adorable!

I didn't mean to put my own photo up. I've reported it 😂😂😂

🤣🤣

He is a catten so he is going to be playful for a while still.

Is he fixed? If not, that can calm a cat down a lot.

Have a big, pre-bedtime play to tire him out. Bring playtime to him rather than always waiting for him to initiative it.

How does he react to food? If it gives him a food coma rather than a sugar high (or kitty equivalent) try to alter his meal times accordingly.

Water spray works on some cats, as does double sided sticky tape. Contact paper works out cheaper. Although, I had one furball who would completely ignore both. She had a very strong personality!

Good luck!

It's gonna be a long time before he calms down Your poor mum. Is there any way you could take him off her hands, if she's willing to let him go? I've got a young cat, nearly 1 year old and I thank the Lord that he has my other youngish cat to pester the life out of, plus the other neighbourhood cats when he's out & about. Plenty of play and putting him in another room at bedtime, where hopefully, your mum won't hear him. It's he pestering for food? Make sure he always has access to dry food during the day and night.

Young cats and kittens are pretty much always better in pairs or with other animals in the house.

They need playmates and generally human company isn't enough or is available at the wrong times (cats are most active at dawn and dusk).

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

Young cats and kittens are pretty much always better in pairs or with other animals in the house.

They need playmates and generally human company isn't enough or is available at the wrong times (cats are most active at dawn and dusk).

Yes, I was going to suggest a companion, though they may not get on, or even worse - get on very well and tag team playing like crazy at all hours! 😄 Does he have enough high surfaces for climbing? Enough litter trays? Does he like cat TV (try YouTube channels)? Toys with batteries fir interactivity?

A bedtime routine may also work well - like pp said, play/eat/sleep - and into an enclosed space for the sleep bit.

He's a cutie, I hope she finds a good solution for him. 😻