Time out box for kitty...

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RobZip - 30 Oct 2007 02:35 GMT

Isaac is your typical rambunctious male kitte, 7 months old, neutered, but
still an ornery pain in the a.s to the older cats at times. Isaac will zero
in on one or the other as the target of his excesive play, until the subject
is actually fleeing to avoid him. Water squirts do no good, nor does
hollering his name to comand his attention.

Calling for him to quit usually gets an almost desperate look in return as
though saying, 'I'd LIKE to stop but I can't make myself quit! HELP ME! "
So, I'll intercept him and steer him into a pet carrier, close the door and
let him chill out for 15 minutes or so. He usually goes right in, curls up
and watches the activity in the room. When Issace comes out, he is very
affectionateand quite well behaved.

The aggressive torment usually does not resume quickly. It's almost like a
child who becomes over stimulated. Remove him from the opportunity to act
out and he can regain control, although he can't do it on his own. I've
heard of isolating in another room in cases of hostility, fighting etc, but
this seems to be just a matter of extreme playful urges gone awry. He gets
along with all of the other cats well and doesn't seem to have one in
particular that he torments over the others. The time out method seems to
work effectively and quickly.

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Elizabeth Blake - 30 Oct 2007 02:59 GMT

> Isaac is your typical rambunctious male kitte, 7 months old, neutered, but
> still an ornery pain in the a.s to the older cats at times. Isaac will
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> particular that he torments over the others. The time out method seems to
> work effectively and quickly.

I also have an extremely rambunctious kitty named Isaac, but my guy is about
3 years old. He loves to torment, I mean play with, my other cat, Otto.
Whenever Isaac is doing something he shouldn't he will not respond to me
until I get up and move toward him. If I pick him up to stop his behaviour
and then put him down again he will usually go right back to what he was
doing. He sometimes has a really manic look in his eyes.

He's at his worst right after he poops. It triggers something in his
demented little brain and he starts richocheting off the furniture. I do
lock him in the bedroom when he gets too wild. Sometimes he lays down and
takes a nap but usually he just rattles the doorknob, trying to get out. He
usually will be calmer after only a few minutes in the bedroom.

While Otto doesn't usually appreciate Isaac's attention I can't help but be
amused by him. He only gets a time out if he won't leave Otto alone and
Otto starts crying, or if I'm afraid he's going to knock down my armoire or
something. He's a big, powerful cat (15 pounds, all muscle - he's very
tall/long) and he goes crashing into things without a care after he poops.

--
Liz

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-Lost - 31 Oct 2007 17:51 GMT

Response from "Elizabeth Blake" <poodlebone@nospam.optonline.net>:

I was not sure who to respond to so I am replying to both at once...

>> Isaac is your typical rambunctious male kitte, 7 months old,
>> neutered, but still an ornery pain in the a.s to the older cats
>> at times. Isaac will zero in on one or the other as the target of
>> his excesive play, until the subject is actually fleeing to avoid
>> him. Water squirts do no good, nor does hollering his name to
>> comand his attention.

Same with Gabby. And it's getting worse day by day. Gabby is
probably about 6 to 8 months. He is sprouting quickly and I can see
now that my original guess of almost 6 months was not accurate.

>> Calling for him to quit usually gets an almost desperate look in
>> return as though saying, 'I'd LIKE to stop but I can't make
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>> activity in the room. When Issace comes out, he is very
>> affectionateand quite well behaved.

Sounds like Elizabeth's post where the cat has this "manic look in
his eyes." Gabby is THE EXACT SAME WAY. He gets this weird freaked
out look and constantly runs at the other animals, with his back
arched almost into a perfect upside down "V", and runs sideways
TOWARD either an animal or a human. Most times he does nothing
though. It is when everyone is calm and cool and not moving that he
attacks.

Just last night in fact my 7 year old was doing her homework on the
floor, quietly reading and Gabby leaped on top of her head and began
bunny thumping HER FACE whilst holding onto her hair with his teeth.

She managed to pull him off and shouted "STOP, NO!" And he ran and
leaped back onto her, this time latching onto her right arm that she
threw out in defense. The spouse and I sat idly for a moment to see
if she could handle it on her own... that is when we saw Gabby sink
his teeth in to her wrist and palm area and shake his head violently
WHILE bunny thumping and digging deep grooves into her forearm.

That is when she screamed out in pain, the spouse and I leaped up and
would you believe Gabby would NOT let go? I pinned Gabby's back legs
together and the spouse had to CHOKE Gabby to get him to let go. It
probably wasn't actually choking... but it was a seriously tight grip
around the neck to prompt the cat to stop.

THEN we finally get him to the kennel after much scratching and going
crazy. He does not come out until a good 15-20 minutes AFTER he
stops yowling like a cat possessed.

And then he rubs over everyone like nothing has happened, loving on
everyone, and licking my hand (only).

>> The aggressive torment usually does not resume quickly. It's
>> almost like a child who becomes over stimulated. Remove him from
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>> that he torments over the others. The time out method seems to
>> work effectively and quickly.

Luckily same here. Gabby does not immediately resume. If at all, he
might go back to it after 30 minutes, maybe an hour...

The kennel treatment works quickly ONLY when Gabby wants it to. If
he is pissy or excited (not sure which sometimes) he will cry
FOREVER. So he sits until he is quiet. I attempted four times to
let him while he was in a crying fit and he bolted out each time and
ran and leaped on someone or an animal.

3 times was to give him a chance, the 4th was because I felt bad at
the horrible sounds of crying he would make.

I won't be fooled again.

> I also have an extremely rambunctious kitty named Isaac, but my
> guy is about 3 years old. He loves to torment, I mean play with,
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> the doorknob, trying to get out. He usually will be calmer after
> only a few minutes in the bedroom.

Are we talking about Gabby or Isaac? I kid you not, Gabby hops into
his litter box and immediately hunkers down like he's protecting
something. EVERY little noise makes him spin toward it with his ears
laid back. Then he begins flinging litter out of the box, defecates,
and leaps so fast and furiously from the litter box that more litter
flies everywhere and he bolts straight at WHOEVER (including animals)
is moving.

> While Otto doesn't usually appreciate Isaac's attention I can't
> help but be amused by him. He only gets a time out if he won't
> leave Otto alone and Otto starts crying, or if I'm afraid he's
> going to knock down my armoire or something. He's a big, powerful
> cat (15 pounds, all muscle - he's very tall/long) and he goes
> crashing into things without a care after he poops.

I'll be honest, I wonder if Gabby has a tumor, gland issues, or if
catnip and defecating have practically the same effect.

Once again though, I feel like killing Gabby. (Yes, literally... not
totally... but almost...)

Kenneling him is the solution for now, but it is getting really old
really quickly to have to watch his every little move -- especially
when it used to be kind affection and now its, "Stop breathing or
I'll latch on to your chest." or "Stop writing on your homework or
I'll attack your arm." or "Don't sit on the floor because then I can
and will jump on your head/face." or "Don't walk AT ALL or I will
attack your legs." or... nevermind. I'll be here all day.

Good luck to all though...

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Cory - 01 Nov 2007 07:10 GMT

My cat goes crazy pretty routinely and was diagnosed with feline
hyperesthesia. It's a psychological disorder and unfortunately poorly
understood and difficult to treat. Common symptoms are rippling skin
on the back, sudden furious grooming and then bolting away like
they're trying to escape some sudden intense discomfort. Huge dilated
pupils and unprovoked violence are also common. If you have a crazy
cat, you might want to ask your vet about it.

Cory

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-Lost - 01 Nov 2007 07:33 GMT

Response from Cory <easyas1234@hotpop.com>:

> My cat goes crazy pretty routinely and was diagnosed with feline
> hyperesthesia. It's a psychological disorder and unfortunately
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> common. If you have a crazy cat, you might want to ask your vet
> about it.

Oh jeez, I hope this is not the case. You have me REALLY worried now
though, because:

1. He does the skin rippling thing on his back. When he's not in an
upside down "V" shape he hunches his shoulders really dramatically,
hence rippling.

2. He does the whole frenzied running around back and forth, falls
to the ground in a quick fit of licking himself, and then leaps to
his feet again racing back and forth. This happens a few times a
day.

3. HUGE dilated pupils. In the past week especially I have not seen
his eyes NOT dilated or even calm looking. He always looked either
wide-eyed and crazy or about to fall asleep.

4. Of course the violence.

Would something like what you mentioned just show up out of the blue
though, and that fast? It has went downhill in about 2 weeks.

Thanks for the information, Cory.

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Elizabeth Blake - 02 Nov 2007 06:15 GMT

> My cat goes crazy pretty routinely and was diagnosed with feline
> hyperesthesia. It's a psychological disorder and unfortunately poorly
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Cory

OMG, one of the cats at work, Stinky, does this. She'll be sitting on the
floor and then her back will ripple, she'll turn around and start licking
herself like crazy and will then bolt away. Sometimes she stops to lick
some more, then continues to run. However, she is not violent at all. She
does like to jump on the other cat at work but she's always done that. I
had asked the vet about the rippling/twitching once and they said, "Oh, it's
nothing. She's just a nervous cat". But she really does seem very
uncomfortable and I feel so bad when she goes running off. Stinky doesn't
have any of the crazy behavior described by everyone who posted in this
thread, though. The twitching/licking/running is about her only crazy
behavior. She does get spooked by new people at first but eventually comes
around. She's much better about warming up to strange women than men.

We take the two cats at work to a different vet now so I'll ask about this.
She does seem to be very happy & content otherwise.

--
Liz

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Elizabeth Blake - 02 Nov 2007 06:24 GMT

> Sounds like Elizabeth's post where the cat has this "manic look in
> his eyes." Gabby is THE EXACT SAME WAY. He gets this weird freaked
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> though. It is when everyone is calm and cool and not moving that he
> attacks.

Your Gabby sounds very different than my Isaac. Isaac jumps on my other
cat, but in a playful way although he can take his play too far. But he
does not do it in a vicious/attack manner. He also does not attack me or
any other people. He's definitely worst right after he poops. I had posted
about that here once and other people replied that their cats do the exact
same thing, so I don't worry about it. I just fear for my material
possessions because he's knocked down some pretty heavy things.

Gabby definitely sounds like he needs more than a time out, especially if
he's attacking your daughter. Friends of mine has a cat that I take care of
when they're away (along with their other two cats) and Phineus will be
rubbing up against my legs and purring one minute, and then sinking his
teeth and claws into my flesh the next. Once he "turns", there's no calming
him down. He's done some serious damage to my legs in the past. When I
feed them, the first thing I do is get Phineus' food ready and then lock him
in the bedroom. He eats separate from the other 2 because he's massive and
will gobble his food and then push the other cats away from theirs. Phineus
does not come out of the bedroom until I'm ready to leave. Being locked up
often will piss him off even if he was calm before, but I feel safer and I
don't care if he's mad when I'm leaving.

I hope you can figure out why Gabby does the things he does. That goes
beyong having a lot of extra energy to burn.

--
Liz

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-Lost - 02 Nov 2007 13:15 GMT

Response from "Elizabeth Blake" <poodlebone@nospam.optonline.net>:

>> Sounds like Elizabeth's post where the cat has this "manic look
>> in his eyes." Gabby is THE EXACT SAME WAY. He gets this weird
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> worry about it. I just fear for my material possessions because
> he's knocked down some pretty heavy things.

It starts out that way with Gabby too, at least I think so.

I have noticed with me for example I have gotten to where I remove
him from my presence, or brush him off, or actually pick him up and
toss him a foot or two away... and he comes back with a vengeance.
As if he has to get the last word and bite harder.

> Gabby definitely sounds like he needs more than a time out,
> especially if he's attacking your daughter.

http://img159.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gabbyattacks2alu7.jpg
http://img161.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gabbyattacks2bnk3.jpg

The first one was slightly in the dark and immediately after Gabby
got a hold of her. That entire bit of damage happened in under 5-10
seconds.

The second one is with more lights on and after a thorough washing.

Notice how deep the groove is he cut into the side of her wrist? Or
the large chunks hanging from her palm? It looks much worse in
reality I assure you.

Also, this is not the first time he has done serious damage. It is
now the 6th time. And I am wondering how much more I can take. I
have innocent children walking around, sitting quietly, or doing
their homework praying the cat does not land on them. This actually
happened as my daughter was sitting on the floor doing her daily
reading.

I remember when we first got Gabby we would grin and bear it and
would excuse everything he does. Now everyone walks on egg shells
and constantly glances at him to make sure he isn't getting ready to
pounce.

We have barely had Gabby 2 months and this crap is getting
exponentially worse.

> Friends of mine has a cat that I take care of when they're away
> (along with their other two cats) and Phineus will be rubbing up
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> will piss him off even if he was calm before, but I feel safer and
> I don't care if he's mad when I'm leaving.

I feel the same way about Gabby. It may not be right but he needs to
be separated sometimes. I fear though that his energy level is
rising from having to sit for an hour.

> I hope you can figure out why Gabby does the things he does. That
> goes beyong having a lot of extra energy to burn.

Me too. The thing is, I have already looked for a home for Gabby and
so far there are none. Either no one wants him or the refuge is
full, and the pounds euthanize their animals.

It is only out of a desire to see him not lose his life that he isn't
on the chopping block already.

I felt slightly optimistic at first when I started writing this
response, but now I feel dismally low. I think we are at our wit's
ends and I am SERIOUSLY tired of everyone and every animal in this
house being fearful of what the crazy cat is going to do next.

As usual though I imagine there will be another ten attacks before we
actually do anything drastic. I only hope that when the bow finally
breaks that a nice home is waiting in the wings...

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