Does your cat have behavioral problems?

[Zee & Zoey]

I'm pretty lucky - I have seven cats and our household is relatively calm with not too many feline issues. I know that is not true for some people who have to deal with cats who have severe behavioral problems. Do your cats have problems that you can't solve to make peace in your house?

I am the writer of the blog Zee & Zoey's Chronicle Connection and I was honored by being able to interview Jackson Galaxy of "My Cat From Hell" on Animal Planet. He is a genius with cat behavior and his new show starts this January 7th at 8 pm. This is a great show if you love cats and I hope you will stop by to read my interview!!

http://zeezoey.com/blog/turning-the-exception-to-the-rule-my-interview-with-jackson-galaxy-of-my-cat-from-hell/

[sheltieluver]

I have 5 cats and for the most part everyone gets along. I have more bratty cats then cats from hell lol. They just like picking on each other once in a while.

[Teresa@Nutro]

I have three cats and for the most part they get along pretty well. They occasionally get in a small fight, but most of the time they tolerate each other pretty well. I'm very lucky because none of them are destructive; they don't scratch on my furniture or ruin any of my things. But having said that, I give them lots of toys and they have cat trees and scratching posts and also the cardboard scratchers so they don't ruin my furniture.

[Zee & Zoey]

That does make an incredible difference Teresa. We try to think like cats in our house, so we have lots of high spaces, low cubbies, toys, windows, and so much more!!

[ncj10]

I have three cats, and they are all pretty much well-behaved. Oscar is the oldest and has the BEST personality of all of them. He is incredibly sweet and loves to cuddle. G.W is a little shy, but once he comes to lay on your lap he never gets off. And Dexter...well...he's a kitten and in that "testing" stage, so he is a bit of a handful, but he's getting better. He is constantly zooming around the house and I am always switching out toys to keep him busy, but he is a handful.

[karon]

The only thing we're facing at the moment is our youngest cat (about 2 - 2.5 yrs) is now to the age where he is challenging the other 2 male cats for dominance. Nothing violent, but he'll get right up in their faces and start a staring match. You know... who's gonna blink first? The older cats don't like it. It usually ends up with a lot of growling then everybody walks away.

[Earle]

Hi Everyone,

I have always bewen a dog person, (have a dog now), then on November 7, Willie quite literally adopted us. He followed us home and invited himself in. Willie, is a small organge stripped tabby, possibly a year old according to my Vet. I know very little about cats so I need all the help I can get.

Wille, is in good health except for worms, and I hope the medication will take care of that. Got him nuetered, and he's had all his shots. So far so good.....

However, there are some problems. First, he's nocturnal. I call it "sundown syndrone" At 1 a.m. he's going full tilt, and if he gets on the bed, my feet and the dog's tail become toys, could go on and on, but you get the idea. Then he seems to want affection, and attention but doesn't seem to know what to do when he gets it. He has only gotten on my lap and curled up once since he has moved in. He claws me once in a while and has nipped me a couple of times. He plays but get bored very quickly. Has lots of toys, and he and the dog play well together. He tears paper, but deoeswn't eat it though. I love the little guy, and have no plans to give him up. My Vet thinks he is not a feral cat. I think he was dumped on the street.

Any suggestions.

Earle






Earle

[Llamalady]

I prefer not to think them as much of as problems as much more of being quirks.

[special]

Hi Everyone,

I have always bewen a dog person, (have a dog now), then on November 7, Willie quite literally adopted us. He followed us home and invited himself in. Willie, is a small organge stripped tabby, possibly a year old according to my Vet. I know very little about cats so I need all the help I can get.

Wille, is in good health except for worms, and I hope the medication will take care of that. Got him nuetered, and he's had all his shots. So far so good.....

However, there are some problems. First, he's nocturnal. I call it "sundown syndrone" At 1 a.m. he's going full tilt, and if he gets on the bed, my feet and the dog's tail become toys, could go on and on, but you get the idea. Then he seems to want affection, and attention but doesn't seem to know what to do when he gets it. He has only gotten on my lap and curled up once since he has moved in. He claws me once in a while and has nipped me a couple of times. He plays but get bored very quickly. Has lots of toys, and he and the dog play well together. He tears paper, but deoeswn't eat it though. I love the little guy, and have no plans to give him up. My Vet thinks he is not a feral cat. I think he was dumped on the street.

Any suggestions.

Earle

Earle

Thanks for rescuing the little Red Boy. Cats thrive on routine and Willie will eventually learn yours. To help him settle at night, begin interactive play times with him, at the same times every day.

At one year old he is still a kitten and needs a lot of attention from you still.

Play with him for a few minutes in the morning before you leave for the day. This will stimulate him and he will play by himself for awhile after you leave instead of immediately taking a nap. Put a bird feeder outside a window, for Cat TV. This also will keep him wakeful during the day.

Play with him when you get home, and then again right before you settle for the night. He needs you to give him these one on one times to help him stay physically and mentally active and healthy.

Soon he will come to expect these special bonding times, and once he knows he is getting this play time with you every single day at the same times, he will be much more likely to sleep through the night, or entertain himself, while you are sleeping.

PS NEVER use hands or feet as play things. ALWAYS use a toy. I can give you ideas of toys and games to play with him, if you need them.

[Earle]

Hi Special,

Thanks for the reply. Just to put things in context I live on the second floor of a four family in an safe, but working class urban area. Buddy, my beagle/basset, is probably four now, and was adopted from a shelter. I am single, with no immediate family in the area.

I am pretty sure my two "kids" play together while I am gone. The two have been observed grooming each other so I think all is well on that front.

Willie, as a whole is doing better. He helps me cook and wash dishes. He is beginning to respond to his name, and occasionally comes when called. I do agree with you there needs to be set playtimes, and I will initiate same today. He uses his litter box well, and is full of curiosity. The kitchen windows look out on a tree which during the summer is crawling with birds and squirrels. He loves attention. He3 is nota finicky eater.

Suggestions for games, toys, and activities will be really appreciated.

Thgere's a book at the Vet's office called "Thinking Like A Cat" I think I'll buy it.

Earle

[catandb33]

My cat is pretty grumpy most of the time and he hates strangers... i just think he isnt that friendly

[special]

Hi Special,

Thanks for the reply. Just to put things in context I live on the second floor of a four family in an safe, but working class urban area. Buddy, my beagle/basset, is probably four now, and was adopted from a shelter. I am single, with no immediate family in the area.

I am pretty sure my two "kids" play together while I am gone. The two have been observed grooming each other so I think all is well on that front.

Willie, as a whole is doing better. He helps me cook and wash dishes. He is beginning to respond to his name, and occasionally comes when called. I do agree with you there needs to be set playtimes, and I will initiate same today. He uses his litter box well, and is full of curiosity. The kitchen windows look out on a tree which during the summer is crawling with birds and squirrels. He loves attention. He3 is nota finicky eater.

Suggestions for games, toys, and activities will be really appreciated.

Thgere's a book at the Vet's office called "Thinking Like A Cat" I think I'll buy it.

Earle

You're welcome :) Here is a list of some of the favorite Games we play.

String on a stick games: Any type of long wand with a string on the end. Some cats like a thick shoe lace, or a leather boot lace, or a strip of fleece. Drag along the floor and up and down furniture (especially the cat tree) for chasing, and flip it into the air for leaping, or dangle it for jumping.

***(Don't leave strings-on-a-stick toys out when you are not there to supervise. ESPECIALLY anything with elastic)

Or..lay a newspaper flat on the ground. (or use a throw rug) Slowly pull the string part under the newspaper to entice kitty to stalk and pounce. You can also use the stick end for this game and play Catch The Bump Under The Rug.

Feather on a stick toys. Be creative with it, dragging it under things, or sit on the floor and drag it around your body. Be patient. Make it act like a furtive prey.

I use a variety of feather wand toys and string on a stick toys, rotating them to keep the cats interested.

Crumpled paper balls. Crumple it noisily to incite interest, then toss it to be chased down. I keep a box full of used envelopes, the kind with the cellophane windows, for this purpose. The cellophane makes the Crumpled Paper Balls wonderfully crinkly. Some cats like to chase them down, others prefer to play Catch with them. Toss the paper ball to the cat in a way he can leap and catch it, (or just sit up and catch it), or bat it as it goes by.

Cats like to stalk and hunt and pounce. I have one cat who won't play with anything unless it is hiding under a rug or newspaper.

Jingly ball toys, also for tossing to be chased down. Juice jug rings. I never had a cat play with one until The Kitten came, but she loves them. (just check them periodically for wear and tear and throw them away if they get chewed up)

Bouncy balls ("super balls"). Tossed to bounce up onto something, cats chase and leap up after them.

Hide and peek: I hide behind the couch or around a corner of a wall and peek out at the cat playing the game. Every time I peek, the cat has moved stealthily closer, until finally when I peek the cat has launched him or her self at me!

And of course don't forget the laser pen-red dot. Seems cats either love this or ignore it. I have one who ignores it, and three who love it. I don't use it every day.

Remember to have at least one Box Fort around the house. One Fort, (tipped on it's side with the flaps hanging down) and one upright for jumping into and out of.

My cats know when it's Game time. I sit on the floor and they swarm. But we play at other times too. I keep a box of toys handy for tossing, when I am busy in the kitchen or on the computer, for example. Then I gather them all up and keep the box handy. Cats LOVE cardboard boxes.

Certain cats have favorite toys that may or may not be interactive. My senior boy has his Fur Mice, which he keeps in a special pile. He plays with them on his own, but sometimes invites me to play Fetch with him. The Kitten has her Furry Balls. She keeps them in a special spot on the roof of a Box Fort. They are not interactive, my only job is to gather them and put them back where they belong after she has played with them.

One of my girls has a tennis ball that she likes to chase and bunny kick into submission. I am NOT TO TOUCH this tennis ball, ever. I discovered this one time when she was playing with it and it rolled near me. Thinking to join the Game, I rolled it for her. I got such a Look, if looks could kill....... LOL! And then she didn't play with that ball for weeks. She did finally start playing with it again, I was so relieved I hadn't spoiled it for her permanently!

Oh wait..one more thing, my cats go CRAZY over these. I get them at the dollar store in the party favor section:

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv291/brightlight44/593cc501-1.jpg

[Earle]

Once again Special, thank you so much. I trust your brood knows how lucky they are to have you as a human. Great ideas and all of them are doable in a limited amount of space. I"m going to try some of them out, and let you know how things went.

Willie, has one catnip mouse which he loves, his others he can't be bothered with. I have a hunch Buddy, got into them.

Please keep in touch, I can be emailed at caneman1000@live.com, and no I do not use a cane. That handle is a long story. Very long.


Earle:)