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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / January 2005cat behaving badly
"Calvin" moved in with us about a year ago; he just turned two. He is a very intelligent cat, which is charming, but he's a terror at night. About 4:00 in the morning he starts raising all kinds of heck- scratching doors, tearing into trash, attempting (with some success) to tear open bags of cat food, pancake mix, and most especially plastic bags. My mother has tried the water squirter but he's so used to it now that he ignores it. I have to use a sound machine at night just so i can get some rest. Any sughgestions? Get him kitty prozac? We've had a succession of felines, but none was ever this naughty. >From: tjbscotch@webtv.net (Cat Riv) >Get him kitty prozac? We've had >a succession of felines, but none was ever this naughty. I would not suggest drugging the cat. Have you considered a playmate for him? A second cat might be just what he needs. Also, try to keep him as active as possible during the day so he'll sleep through the night. You could try using one of those interactive wand toys about 1/2 hour before bedtime. Do you have a cat tree? I put ours right in front of a window and my cats love to run up and down it and look outside at the wildlife. As to getting into the garbage, what I use is a small plastic garbage can (20 gallon) which I line with a regular size garbage bag. The lid locks on so the cats cannot get into it. As far as the food, don't you have a cupboard to keep it in so the cat can't get into it? If he can get into the cupboard, you could always try child proof locks. Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecatjournal.com/articles/claws.htm > "Calvin" moved in with us about a year ago; he just turned two. He is a > very intelligent cat, which is charming, but he's a terror at night. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > can get some rest. Any sughgestions? Get him kitty prozac? We've had > a succession of felines, but none was ever this naughty. He'll grow out of much of it. I presume after the first time you put the bags of attractive contents where he couldn't get at them, didn't you? Priscilla  Signature"It is very, very dangerous to treat any human, lowest of the low even, with contempt and arrogant whatever. The Lord takes this kind of treatment very, very personal." - QBaal in newsgroup alt.religion.christian.episcopal tjbscotch@webtv.net (Cat Riv) >Date: 1/8/2005 10:51 PM Eastern writes >"Calvin" moved in with us about a year ago; he just turned two. He is a >very intelligent cat, which is charming, but he's a terror at night. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >that he ignores it. I have to use a sound machine at night just so i >can get some rest. Cats sleep during the day & are awake at night...so, before YOU go to bed, play with him for a while (to tire him out)..cat-proof the house..don't leave garbage bags around, etc. Also....do Net searches re cat behavior & cat health to help you. Buy him some toys and have him sleep in the bathroom or washroom at night. Make sure the cats littler is in there and stuff. > tjbscotch@webtv.net (Cat Riv) > >Date: 1/8/2005 10:51 PM Eastern writes [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >tear open bags of cat food, pancake mix, and most especially plastic > >bags. Could he be waking up hungry? As an experiment, what about leaving a big bowl of cat food out, and see how much of it he eats and whether he still tries to open bags of food. If he's attracted by pancake mix, that might suggest a mineral deficiency. Consult your vet about a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement? > Cats sleep during the day & are awake at night.. Mm. I don't recall any of our cats having a 4.00 schedule. Sometimes they stay out late, and sleep late the next morning. ...so, before YOU go to bed, play with him for a while (to tire him out) It might be worth trying, but by 4.00 am the cat would probably be rested again. >..cat-proof the house..don't leave > garbage bags around, etc. Always a good idea, but if the cat has energy he needs some way to work it off. Margaret Thanks to all who volunteered their suggestions. We've cat-proofed the whole place, and he always has access to his foodn, water, toys, and his kitty box. We play with him to try tire him out. It's frustrating, yet hilarious, that no matter what we do he continues to come up with new plans to cause a ruckus. Then, he'll tilt his head to the side and put on that who, me? face. Hopelly, he will grow out of his michevious ph. But he's only two :-) > "Calvin" moved in with us about a year ago; he just turned two. He is a > very intelligent cat, which is charming, but he's a terror at night. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > can get some rest. Any sughgestions? Get him kitty prozac? We've had > a succession of felines, but none was ever this naughty. He needs a playmate! Intelligent animals need interaction. When you're sleeping, he doesn't get it, so he wakes you up. I have a very smart cat that did the same kinds of things when he was a kitten. Getting him a brother (I specifically looked for a docile companion) was the best thing I ever did. He still bugs me occasionally around dawn but it doesn't last very long. Good luck! > He needs a playmate! Intelligent animals need interaction. When you're > sleeping, he doesn't get it, so he wakes you up. I have a very smart cat > that did the same kinds of things when he was a kitten. Getting him a > brother (I specifically looked for a docile companion) was the best thing I > ever did. He still bugs me occasionally around dawn but it doesn't last > very long. Good luck! Maybe. If you try to bring a new cat into the house, be prepared, follow the online advice about how to (slowly) introduce cats, and ... well ... not all cats like companionship. At two he should be flexible enough to adapt, though. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* >"Calvin" moved in with us about a year ago; he just turned two. He is a >very intelligent cat, which is charming, but he's a terror at night. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >can get some rest. Any sughgestions? Get him kitty prozac? We've had >a succession of felines, but none was ever this naughty. It may take a while to adjust his schedule, but try playing him really hard before bed to make him more tired. Also, do you feed in the morning? Is he trying to get you up, or is he just entertaining himself? If he is trying to get you up for food, then stop feeding the morning. Either feed later in the morning, feed at night, and/or have kibble available all night so that he can help himself. Signature-- Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com
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