Question:
I always wanted a cat with personality, well I have one. She is about 1 1/2 years old. My biggest problems are that she wakes me up every morning at 4am and wants to play. If I ignore her, look out. She will do everything in her power to drive me nuts. She knows just what does it too. I do not know what to do. I have tried to put her in her room and lock the cat door and all I hear is her scraping at the door non stop. I feel awful doing this but I need to sleep. Any suggestions?
Also, I watch my nieces alot on the weekends. I am having a big problem with her being jealous. She was fine one day and the next morning when she realized my niece was still here she cornered my niece and started hissing. My niece was pinned to the wall and was so scared. I felt awful and torn. I know my niece did nothing wrong because she was just playing a computer game paying no attention to the cat. My other niece I was dressing after a bath and the cat walked up behind her and scratched her. Please help.
Answer:
This is a young, high energy cat who probably doesn't have a lot to do. Cats are nocturnal by nature; she's just revving up at 4 a.m. It can take a while to adapt to our schedules. Cats are also predators, and she has nothing to hunt. She needs to get those instincts operating in a more acceptable mode.
She needs a playmate, the kids aren't cooperating, and guess what--tag, you're IT! :)
Kitty needs some serious playtime. A session before bed, to really wear her out, followed by a little canned food or baby food snack, will help her sleep through the night. See http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=012 for suggestions on toys and how to structure your play sessions. This special type of play engages the hunter instinct and plays it through to its satisfying end. Nothing better for a cat!
When she has regular play sessions to look forward to, she'll be less interested in stalking the kids.
Cheers,
Dr. Jean
Jean Hofve, DVM
www.littlebigcat.com
www.spiritessence.com
Boulder, Colorado
Answer:
I have never had a cat that needed so much attention. We do play with her and I give her treats. I cannot get her to eat canned food but she loves her treats. She even likes to play fetch. We find foil balls and wire ties in bed with us all the time we through them and she gets them. She is a cool cat. I will try playing with her right before bed. Right now she is trying to get my attention by knocking things off the desk. Thanks for the help.
Answer:
Hi!
I've got the same problem!
Check out my question I posted today:
Keep in touch! - maybe we can help each other!
Eva
Answer:
I now have no bed. She has managed to put about 20 holes in our waterbed due to trying to get the toy mouse that she stuck on the side of the bed. But with all she has done I still love her. She is my buddy. Although, I am thinking of getting her declawed.
Answer:
anakin, I know you are having trouble with her right now, but before you consider declawing, please consider your other options.
Here are some previous threads that discuss the issue in depth (very in depth )
There are other options such as Softpaws, sticky paws and other distraction /diversion tactics.
Thanks Des for the fabulous sig!
Visit my gerbil breeding and development site at www.gerbilbreeding.com
Answer:
i read about the cat being jealous and was wondering i have a baby due in april and i have two kittens about 3 months old will they get jealous of the baby?
Answer:
This is a good question. We have two kittens and I would like to be pregnant within next 1-2 years. How do they get along? Cats and babies? Is there any risk of the baby getting some kind of disease?
Eva
Answer:
The questions you have regarding the cat with kids is the same thing I am going through. If she is like this now with my nieces when they are only over a weekend what is she going to do when I decide to have a child. I do not want to wait until she is to old to declaw her and then wish I did. She has literally walked up and scratched my niece on the leg. I was right there and she was not provoked by my niece. The look on her face was like she was marking her ground. I don't know what to do. I love her but I dont like having to yell at her or locking her up. That is not what I got her for.
Answer:
Yes, that worries me to. How can you make sure they don't hurt the baby? This will be pretty tough....
~ev~

Answer:
Why don't you check this out?
http://www.softpaws.com/
Thanks Des for the fabulous sig!
Visit my gerbil breeding and development site at www.gerbilbreeding.com
Answer:
I don't really think those are saved for the cats. Someone said here earlier that they are like fake nails for women - the nail can't breathe and gets bad.
In any case, this my be the only option. I would never ever declaw our cats! That's for sure...
~ev~

Answer:
You've got to discipline your cat if they keep trying to wake you up in the middle of the night. Kick them out and do not let them in if they keep meowing. Try putting a towel under the door so the cat can't reach in and scratch like crazy. Open the door and give them a light spanking and saying "NO" or spraying water. Over time my cats are wonderful now and sleep with me whenever I go to sleep no matter what time it is.
As for the children thing, you have to discipline your cat not to do that and try putting the cat in the restroom for awhile and spraying water at them right afterwards. Cats hate water so it should help some. I hope you don't have to declaw your cats, there are other ways like Softpaws and training. Good Luck!
~Km~
Answer:
As for Soft Paws, it is not the same as fake nails for women. Cats shed their nails periodically, whereas humans don't. I think that Soft Paws would be a good way to go until you can get her to stop this aggressive behaviour.
When you put her in the washroom, it would just be simplest to remove the toilet paper roll when you leave the room = no mess ! You have to be consistent. If she realizes that crying is going to get her out of the bathroom, then she will do it. Have you tried shaking a can of pennies instead of the water bottle? Loud noises often stop cats from doing things you don't want them to.
Thanks Des for the fabulous sig!
Visit my gerbil breeding and development site at www.gerbilbreeding.com