Need Help? Behavior is AWFUL.

[Mel]

My cat is just... terribly behaved. I can train my dog, but the cat? I have no idea!

Let's start with the fact that he needs a TON of exercise, but I can't get him to move at all. He is grossly overweight, but I can't exactly take him for a walk. Usually, he comes over, snuggles with me for a very short time, gets tired of me, walks away. The end. That's all the activity he gets.

Recently, he's been ALL OVER me. I can't do anything without him harrassing me. Its sweet when he wants to cuddle, but when he has to be all over me at all times, its enough. He sits on my computer. He sits on my books or magazines if I'm trying to read. He gets under my feet when I'm trying to walk, jumps in my lap when I'm on the toilet, jumps in the sink while I'm washing my hands or whatever... its getting old.

He is awful at night. He cannot sleep with me because he sits on my head and purrs loudly all night. While this is annoying for most people, I have a condition where vibrations make me physically ill if it is close enough to my ear. So purring right in my ear non stop makes me vomit and gives me seizure-like attacks. No good. But if I lock him out of the room, he sits at the door and meows for HOURS, and bangs on the door. He literally beats on the door over and over. If I just ignore him, he keeps on. For literally hours, he sits out side the door, banging and crying. This morning it was FOUR hours.

He can open every door in the house except the bathroom & the bedroom. I try to lock him in the bathroom so I can sleep, but he still cries loudly. Also, if I leave him in the bathroom, he pees in the tub and poops on the floor. Its kind of a "I'll show you" thing.

He also is terrible about chewing. He chews through everything - boxes (cardboard & plastic), wires, cords, bags. Since he can open the cabinets, he gets into ALL my food, because he eats through all of the packaging. He wrecks tons of expensive electronics by chewing up the cords. He also has eaten quite a bit of my dog's dog food, chewed through the plastic container and heavy duty bag to get to it.

And on top of everything else! He is MEAN. My dog is very good with him, she is gentle and doesn't chase him or anything. But if he even sees her, he goes up to her and scratches and hisses and has a fit. He is mean to every animal he meets. And people! If anyone tries to pet him, he is sweet and cuddles until POW - he gives you a good bite. He's enjoying being petted, but somehow feels the need to bite. Nothing is different. Just bite!

And today, for no reason at all, he pulled my dishtowel off of the counter and then peed on it. WTH?

Its like he does this to punish me. I'm not sure for what? I don't know what to do. If I was the kind of person who rehomed pets that weren't working out, I would. But I feel like you get an animal, you keep it for life. Period. I just don't know what to do with him. He's giving me the BITE look now...I'm just waiting for it.

HELP!?!

[Kendalle]

i have a cat like that!! not peeing and pooping on everything but the bitting, the snuggles, and what not... you need to go to the doctor i realise this may sound rediculous, but you should go for a check up. Our cat gets like that when you start to get sick, it might be a week or so before you realise it but he knows. and some cats have been found to have found cancer or seizers and things.


and for the bitting and exersise get some leather gloves and attack back... flip him upside down get his belly get his feet let him bit and kick and play rough challenge him until he is really fighting to get away from you every day. dont get mad when he bites, fight back like a cat would... then when you are done stop and make him leave the room... i know it sounds doubt full that it would make his behavior better by letting him bit more but it really helped our cat and that is how cats deal with it, you have to be more dominent of your cat

as for the cupboard baby locks? we actually rubber banded our handles on ours for a while so he could open them up and stick his head in and it would spring back shut on his face (not that hard) and it was always like an instant no/spanken


as for training... greenies work well for my cat. he comes and sits on command if you shake the greeny container (we have them in a yogurt cup)

and for chewing threw everything, maybe some chicken flavored raw hides for small dogs? and you can use bitter tasting spray on things for a while and he might stop chewing... ours chews plants... and plastic bags (he eats the handles off of everything) and to annoy us he will sit and lick a bag for hours

maybe you could get some challenging toys for him... if he really likes greenies and chewing maybe you could get a rawhide ball or kong and have some in it


and if your cat is on diet food... ours ate twice as much and gained weight....

[Mel]

I've tried the baby locks but apparently I'm doing it wrong, because he makes them fall off. :/

He doesn't like ANY treats. Sure, if he's hungry, treats are okay, but if hes only a little hungry or not at all, he doesn't care a lick.

I've tried flipping him when he bites, and usually put his own paw between my hand and his mouth, but he just bites himself trying to get to me.

I've taken him to the vet numerous times, but they just say he's fat and needs to lose weight. They KEEP telling me to get a kitten, someone for him to play with and therefore, lose weight. But if the kitten is going to act like this too, I CANNOT have another. If the kitten would be well behaved, fine, but I'm assuming she'll pick up his habits and be a jerk too. And this has been going on... all of his life. Except the clingy bit.

A little bit of background - my ex used to slam him into the wall when he was a kitten. His little head just isn't all there. And shortly after we got him and my ex started doing that, I made him my ex. And then my old roommates used to give him beer and god knows what else. So he's just not all right. He's not too bad, but sometimes he'll full out attack for absolutely no reason. Claws out, biting, vicious, etc.

[Kendalle]

i said you should go to the doctor...

and keep attacking him until he really wants away..

thats horrible about your ex and roomy, we got a new kitten and he doesnt at like our other cat at all...

my cat hates treats too, except greenies.. its odd. so if you havent tried them you might want to ours goes CRAZY for them

our cat finds it fun to get us when we are sleeping. full out attack when you are sleeping and then runs away, he is declawed but hes 20 lbs amazingly stong toes and big evil teeth... hes gotten alot better though and it works well to flip him over and attack him.... like pinching lightly on his neck and feet and not letting him up... i found that i can have my hand on his chest to the ground and he can kick my arm full force for a min or two then gives up and hes fine after that.. my hands have gotten used to him bitting enough that i can just let him bite my hand when i really annoy him and it gives him pleasure and then hes fine....


and hint to make a very angry cat love you.. hold him on your lap budda style... and scratch between the sholder blades HARD makes him go gaga and you can do anything to him

[LuvMeTrue]

**** mel i know we have talked about your cat before and i have given you suggestions to try to fix some of the issues that you were having but u have tired them and they didn't work. Reading about your cat makes me appreciate my hyper annie kitten since she all button does is run around like a crazed lunatic. I really wish i could give you tips on how to get your monster under control.

The abuse that your ex and roomates gave him when he was a kitten probably triggered his behavour now,but since i do not have any training in the field i can not be sure but that is what it seems like to me. He didn't feel safe and loved as a kitten so he probably has a bit of a trust issue, even thought it wasn't necessarily you that abused him.

For the weight issue have you tried the cat food that is ment for over weight cats. No idea if they work since for the longest time mine looked like they were under weight and they are now starting to fill out and look healthy.

Again i wish i could help you with your problems but i have no idea what you could try that would get him to calm down. maybe try the pherimone(sp?) stuff and see if maybe some of his behavour is stress related. that is the only other thing i can think of.

[Formula86]

You can try to use Feliway (pheromones) diffusers and spray.

Also, I think the rubber bands on the cabinets are a good idea, but it sounds like your cat will chew or eat them and that's dangerous! Plus, your other animals could chew or eat them.

Have you thought about switching vets? From what you've said, it doesn't sound like they are very interested in your problems. Do they know the cat's FULL history (of abuse)? They should. If they do and still aren't helping you, I'd find another vet.

I think maybe a head scan is in order. ??? Sounds like there can be some brain damage or something.

BIG HUGS to you!!!!!!!! I know how much it sucks to have animals problems that are mental and not physical. It's so hard, and you just want to be able to TALK to your pets and ask them what's going on. I hope things work out for you.

[Flower Girl]

I hope that the advice given above helps you, my cat is a little large (extra cuddly, my vet says!) and he's turned grumpy since he got older attacking me one min then loving me the next.

I really hope you can get your cat sorted because it's not much fun for you or the cat!

I do think you should try to find a vet that understands. I changed mine because my old one was a sarcastic idiot! My new vet is great with all my pets and they get to go on the bus!!!!

[Mel]

We've been to three different vets. And yeah, he eats rubber bands.

He is actually on a very extreme diet, and had lost a little weight, until he discovered the dog food.

If we could get the darn litter box issue under control, I could live with the rest. But my GOD, waking up every day to the smell of cat urine and crap. Having to carefully watch where I put my feet, what I pick up, what I want to wear, because more often than not, its soiled. I mean, my bathtub is currently useless because of all the cat hair and urine and crap in it, the darn thing won't drain. I'm going to have to have the plumber come out to see if he can get it to go down. Its AWFUL.

The only other suggestion the vet has given me is to let him be an indoor/outdoor cat. Before I bought this house, I looked at a couple out in the country...and that would have been great. But we are only two streets up from a VERY busy street, and there are huge stray dogs everywhere... so outside is a no go.

As a kitten, yes, he was abused, but we didn't stay with that jerk too long. And he knew that he could hide with me and I'd protect him. And my roommates were last year, so he was about one...but I really don't know all of what they gave him. But I'd lock him in MY room while I was gone after I figured it out, so it didn't happen tooooo often.

I just don't know what to do with him. My aunt has offered to let him be a 'barn cat' at her farm out in the country, but I really don't want to do that... he wouldn't know what was going on, he'd be stupid and get stepped on by the horses, he wouldn't get any attn or love... It would suck for him.

[Kendalle]

do you have a fenced yard? my aunt used to put her cat on a harness and hook her out side sometimes.. she would lay and watch the birds and things

or maybe you could actually get it to walk with you on a lead and harness

[Mel]

I tried to get him to walk on a harness, and he just sat as flat as he could on the floor and made me drag him. I thought about the fenced in yard, but I was afraid he'd escape. The harness AND the yard might work though. Though he might just be angry and lay down. I'll give it a try though!

[C_Wilson]

Quote: A little bit of background - my ex used to slam him into the wall when he was a kitten. His little head just isn't all there. And shortly after we got him and my ex started doing that, I made him my ex. And then my old roommates used to give him beer and god knows what else.

Sounds to me like your cat may have brain damage from the slamming into the wall and the alcohol. Alcohol is not meant for animals, but unfortunately many people find it amusing to intoxicate animals and children. Years ago I worked with a vet and humane society in NV, and saw the effects of abuse on many types of animals. Your vet might want to do a scan to determine if there is damage, tumor, clot, or cancer on the brain causing this unusual behaviour, then proceed to finding some treatment if possible. Good luck.

[Mel]

Poor little guy.

But I don't know know any vets that do that kind of scan...And even if they found anything, there isn't anything to do in that case but put him to sleep, right?

[Kendalle]

even if he gets really mad and lays down so what, let him stay out there a while he will eventually see that you dont care if he is lying down and get up and check out his space just make sure there isnt anything he can get hurt on

[Riddick]

My cat does the howling at the door and banging EVERY SINGLE NIGHT as well...what I have found to work for him, is that every night before bed I give him a little bit of wet food (like half a teaspoon) and load my squirt gun (with water) the wet food seems to do the trick, it makes him content, and if I hear him howling and banging, he gets a face full of water...and if he doesn't stop after like the 3rd time I squirt him...I chase him around the house squirting him for about 2 minutes, and then he shuts up. I would deff try a squirt gun or spray bottle. as for the wet food....maybe find a light formula...good luck

oh and for the litter box, look for a kind of litter called Cat Attract, it's supposed to attract the cats to use there litter box, I have no idea how, but it's been proven like 98% effective, and everyone who buys it from us always comes back with positive feedback, and look for Comfort Zone as well, it's a plug in kind of thing that is supposed to be soothing for cats

[Mel]

I've tried squirting him, but he just bites me.

Happy to know its not just my cat!! He KNOWS he's bad - when I get to the door, he runs and hides under the sofa.

He LIKES his box - after I cleaned it yesterday, he's been obsessed with it. He's gone probably thirty times, and that's just when I'm home, which isn't that often. But then he went in the tub too. >.<

I think we're going to the vet again. He's just a mess, and they've seen him numerous times for the same issues, but I keep hoping they'll find something treatable.