At my wits end 😟

[Ladybird69]

Hi I’m desperate for some help. I have 2 cats ones approx 14-15 Tom moggy and the others a 4 year old raggie girl. One indoor one outdoor! The old guy is driving me crazy. He is constantly scratching on my furniture for attention especially during the hours of 1am and 8 am! I open every single door for him, nope! I give him fresh food both wet and dry, nope! Escorted him to the litter tray, nope! He doesn’t want anything! We’ve just done the whole process now! And he’s just jumped up on the settee and settled down! So he didn’t really want anything! Meanwhile I’m walking around like a zombie and also I’m disabled so keeping up and down is really difficult at times. Has anyone got any advice please. Oh there’s a cat flap that he could use to go out and fresh water. Now the raggie has started to copy him. They’re going on like a tag team! I need a miracle 💐

Could he be under-stimulated? Has he got any toys?

@ANightingale thanks for your reply. He doesn’t like toys! He just walks away. He goes outside and plays with his friend in the cul de sac! He plays with his sister in the house! He’s gradually getting worse 😟

Have you tried him with interactive toys - dangling feather etc.?

The other thing you could try is a Feliway diffuser - they have a calming effect on some cats.

Obvious question but - you refer to him as a Tom - I take it he is neutered? If by any chance he isn't, this is likely to be sexual frustration!

How long has he been like this? If it's a recent thing then unfortunately it could be feline dementia setting in so it will probably only get worse. If he's always been like this, then he has trained you well and is taking the proverbial, but it's too late now... 😂

But, as the PP said, if he isn't neutered then it's very likely that that is the problem. But I assume he is?

maybe he just needs a good scratching post ? ebay sell these

@ANightingale my raggie loves dangling feathers to play with my moggy chasing balls and playing fetch! When I try and get him to play he just looks at me as if I’m mad! I’ve got a plug-in but that’s not done anything. He’s neutered was done as a kitten! He’s always been aloof but lately he’s become cuddly and affectionate with me even sleeping in my arms!

@Museum10665 theres scratching posts all over the house and cat scratch mats by all the doors.

It might be worth taking him to the vet to rule out any physical cause - sometimes a change in behaviour can be the result of illness and he is of the sort of age, sadly, when cats can develop age-related conditions.

I was thinking dementia too

@MustBeNapTime oh no I hope not. He’s only coming up 15. It’s only been gradually over the past 2-3 months but it’s getting quite difficult now. I’ve just remembered that I have some zylkene in the cupboard maybe I could give him some! He had some for a couple of weeks few years ago when a bully cat was around! That cat has gone so it’s nothing to do with him. I’m just so desperate, it’s like having a newborn!

@MustBeNapTime ill google symptoms of cat dementia thanks

@crozzfit 😟
@ANightingale thanks he really gets stressed going to the vets. I’ll give them a ring in the morning and see what they say.

Big loops of thick sellotape or brown tape on the sofa where he scratches. It will look awful but worth it to get him out of the habit. They don't like the feeling of the tape on their paws.

@soberfabulous thanks but it’s not just the furniture that he scratches at! He scratches my bin in my bedroom! The carpets! The doors! Cupboards! Everything that’s near me at the time to get my attention. Lol I need to wrap my whole house!

Lol I tried to get a nap on the settee this afternoon and he was up in my face tapping me on the face to wake me up! Put him out and shut the door and then he started scratching at the door!