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How can I help my cat to not miss the outdoors? Really don't want to get rid of him, but he chews on everything now!
I have a male cat, who is just around three years old. He's neutered, but not declawed. I've had him since he was about two months old. While he was a kitten, he had a cord chewing problem, and will sometimes attack my legs/hands. Once I moved to a larger apartment, it went away. New apartment was also on a quiet street with yard, so I would let him out about once a day. Never had an issue with this, he loved it! Most of his bad behavior went away, and he was a great cat while indoors. Then I moved to a small place again. Busy street, so I don't feel comfortable letting him out. The bad news : his aggressive behavior is back; he claws screens, drinks out of the sink while ignoring his water bowl, rips paper, and chews on cords. I try to play with him, but nothing seems to help (he never "goes" outside his box). Is there some kind of cat-calming action I can take? Very attached to him and I can't imagine giving him up. I've tried water bottle, etc. He also gets bored with toys quickly.
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Member 1031823
on Apr 25th 2011
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in Aggression
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Be aware that a cat given up for "bad" behavior will probably not be rehomed. Plastic tubing with an imbedded scent that is disagreeable to cats can be purchased. Google it. Put important papers away so he doesn't destroy them and toss the newspaper before he shreds it. Izzie does the same thing and I bundle it up for the recycling box before he has a chance to make confetti out of it. If he drinks out of the sink...so? He's not doing any damage. Izzie's been known to sample toidy water. The big issue is him wanting to go outside. Unfortunately, once a cat has the taste of the outdoors, it's almost impossible to keep him in but I understand your concerns. I've lost 2 cats outside. He may be bored with the smaller place. Do NOT play with him with your hands or feet, but DO play with him as often as you can with "hands-off" toys like feather teasers, laser lights, etc. Wear him out. If he is truly aggressive, there is kitty prozac which is given in conjunction with behavior counsel.
Izadore (Izzie)
answered on 4/25/11.
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A certain amount of collateral damage is involved in keeping a cat, in most cases. Your kitty sounds bored and underexercised, so I agree with Izzie that you should try interactive toys like Da Bird, and also provide a cat tree if you don't have one. Does he have a window he can look out at the great outdoors from? If not, set up a cat tree or a special cat ledge so he can look outside. He WILL quiet down as he ages, and once he's an old boy, you may well look back on his energetic days with nostalgia. He's just being a cat, and is not trying to be "bad." As Izzie says, giving up a cat with behavioral problems is usually bad news for the cat. Rather than punishing him with the water bottle, etc., try to figure out ways to deter his bad behavior--cord protectors--or learn to live with it (drinking from the sink). Living with cats takes a bit of a compromise on both sides.
Harvard
answered on 4/29/11.
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