Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The litter tray

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

Cat not interested in much

8 replies

Princechanting · 11/10/2022 13:13

I got a rescue cat a year ago - she’s 10 years old now. I didn’t get much background on her as her owner died but they did say she loves to go outside, loves kids, uses a cat flap.

None of these things seem true.

She was terrified of my child for ages and still isn’t that keen.

She absolutely refuses to use the cat flap I had installed.

When I first got her she went out exploring in the evening but now but has retreated to staying within a metre of the house waiting for me to let her back in.

She has no interest at all in toys, I have bought loads of different ones and she doesn’t give a shit. Occasionally she’ll play for a minute or so if I dangle some wool.

she’s a very nervous and alert cat although does love me and comes to sit on me (if I stay very still!)

Am I doing something wrong? Or does she just want to wander about the house and sleep and not go outside. I hate to think she’s bored or depressed but don’t know what the solution is if she won’t play and won’t go outside.

We do have quite a few other cats around and some have actually wandered in the house when she’s been here so don’t know if this is a factor but I can’t stop them being around!

any advice

OP posts:
Mumsgirls · 11/10/2022 20:45

Need a cat flap that excludes intruders, she has to feel safe in her home.Sureflap works on her chip

Blubbergalore · 11/10/2022 21:10

Oh my goodness, this sounds very much like our new cat who we've had for three months now. He's six years old and we were told he was used to going out but he doesn't venture out of our very small garden, he just sits in the middle of the lawn for a bit then comes straight back in. He's not interested in any of the toys I've tried but like yours will have a little bat but only if I actually dangle some string over him if he's lying down but not for long, it's as if he just can't be bothered. He is a sweetie and we love him dearly and he does like a snuggle but he doesn't seem to enjoy much, even food - he sits back until I've put the food down, waits a few moments then just saunters over whereas all my previous cats would dance round my feet. He too is very alert and nervous and is overgrooming.
So sorry I have no answers for you but will be watching this thread.

Princechanting · 12/10/2022 14:02

Oh absolutely I got a stage of the art microchip one that cost £350 to fry and install! She used it once. Then refused. Even when I sat for ages holding it open for her.

The cats came in during the summer through windows and open back doors! One of them has no shame. I think she feels safe here generally. She just wanders around sleeping anywhere, follows me a lot so definitely bonded. Just doesn’t want to DO anything

OP posts:
Princechanting · 12/10/2022 14:06

@Blubbergalore i have spent SO much on toys, scratching mats, posts, climbing towers. She literally is not interested. I remember the disdain on her face at the flipping fish toy…..

OP posts:
PeloFondo · 12/10/2022 14:16

Mine just wants to cuddle. He pops in and out briefly but his ideal situation is me, on the sofa and that's it! I think some are more active than others

Blubbergalore · 12/10/2022 15:07

@Princechanting , haha yes the flipping fish toy, he just ran away from it. I have just filled a huge bag full of rejected toys and scratching poles/mats to give to my son for his cats. What about a laser pen? Big fat no to that from mine too, he didn't react at all, if I didn't know better I'd have suspected poor eyesight but that's definitely not the case - in all seriousness I think he just cba and is basically lazy. And like @PeloFondo says, not all cats are the same. But like you I have just been concerned that he wasn't happy as all my previous cats have played enthusiastically.

Princechanting · 12/10/2022 17:09

@Blubbergalore it’s just hard as I don’t know if she was always like this as only got her when she was 9. Rescue centre said that the deceased owner’s daughter said she was always roaming outside and going in to see the neighbours’ children. I think that’s a different cat as she is TERRIFIED of new people, literally panicking and hiding.

she seems to love me though - and she tolerates my daughter and allows her to stroke her now so maybe she’s just a lazy little happy cat

OP posts:
Princechanting · 12/10/2022 17:13

And yes you’re right on the fish. First reaction was terror. Then after a while disdain.

As she occasionally likes plain wool which she’ll sometimes play with I bought some upgraded ones with feathers and a little furry thing on the end. Hates them. Hates them.

it worries me that she’s getting less active though. When I first got her she would chase the wool from room to room. Now she’ll only play with it lying on her back. I took her to vet and he gave me ibuprofen to see if it was pain/ arthritis but it made no difference.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page