Have I ‘spoiled’ my cat? Is it possible?

[ButIloveher]

I love my cat. She has the best food, lots of play, lots of cuddles. She isn’t naughty, and so is never told ‘no’. I have never, ever raised my voice or hurt or scared her in any way.

My cat and I visit my mum regularly and my mum is far stricter than I am about things like my cat not being allowed to jump on the coffee table in the living room or scratch the carpet (I don’t have carpets in my house so not an issue).
I don’t scare my cat, I just tell her to ‘get down’ from the table - she knows exactly what I mean, she doesn’t like it and she will lash out and scratch me! Even if I haven’t touched her. And the same with the carpet. I will say ‘no’, she will ignore me, I will approach to pick her up and she will attack my legs!
We are back to being best friends 30 seconds later, she is lying on my chest right now.

My mum says she is aggressive like this and resistant to correction because I have spoiled her. Have I? I didn't think you could spoil a cat. It makes me sad to think it is my fault when all I have done is lover her. Can I do anything about it? She is now 4 years old.

I find the idea of taking cats visiting a strange idea, as PP have said you need to get a cat sitter. When I’ve gone away, on the very rare occasion, if it’s just overnight then I’d have an automatic feeder. Anything long a friend or family popping in. Mine would be too traumatised by the idea of being taken out of their home which is what your cat is clearly displaying.

For what it's worth, my cat spends the days when I'm in the office at my parents house and we routinely stay over. He's done it ever since he was a kitten and it's his second territory. I guess it's a little different to visiting a place because he seems to just see it as a second home. He's a ragdoll and hates being on his own so this works well. So some cats are happier being with their owners or company in general than being left at home.

Mine copes really well with going to my parents. If she didn’t I wouldn’t do it. We have the whole top floor of their house. I get relegated to second him as she loves my mum.

Penelope just hides from a cat sitter.

To teach it not to attack you when it’s discommoded?

This is horrible and cruel advice. Please don’t spray your cat with water. She’s not stupid. As others have mentioned she’s stressed out about being out of her environment.

I don't think you can spoil a cat like you can kids. However I do distract or tell him off a bit if he scratches the sofa. He only does it to get my attention to play with him, so unfortuately it sort of works!

My (indoor) cat is very attached to me now and if I had someone I visited regularly for a longer time period I'd consider taking him. He'd be more upset with being away from me, even with a cat or house sitter looking after him, than a new house. He's curious and friendly and when he first came to me settled in quite fast. Current foster cat was totally unfazed and confident when he arrived and just wandered about being nosey! Whereas I've had cats that spent days hiding under the bed or in a wardrobe when in a new place. So some cats are fine with 'visiting' and some aren't.

Get a cat sitter - they are not as attached to you as you think. I use Trustedhousesitter.com. Annual fee then the actual sitting is free.

a lot of stupid people ‘recommend’ this.