[smootchick]

Hello all,

I've had cats since I was a child, but I've never had such behavior problems from two kitties in my entire life! I got Moxie and Switch (two girls) last summer and they are now full-grown adults.

Recently they've been acting extremely obnoxious for no apparent reason. They are climbing onto the fridge, entertainment center, pushing towels onto the floor in the linen closet, and clawing up spots in the carpet on the stairs. Moxie worries me the most because she's recently discovered that she can jump over a 3-foot wall on our second floor onto a platform beside the stairs that puts her about 10-15 feet above the living room floor. I'm so afraid she's going to try to jump down and hurt herself whenmy significant other or I aren't home at some point.

In general we discipline the cats when we see them doing something we disapprove of. By discipline I mean that we've tried sternly calling their names, spraying them with a squirt bottle, or tapping their butts when they're misbehaving. They seem to know when they're doing something wrong because they'll look guilty or run away. But none of these methods are working to prevent them from misbehaving.

Can anyone offer some advice on how to teach them not to do these potentially harmful things? We just don't know how to handle them as of late!

 

[Padunk]

Stomping my feet helps...

Mine get really mischevious when they're hungry, perhaps thats when they act up the most?

 

[smootchick]

I've already eliminated that option. I make sure they always have a good supply of dry food out.

Being bored is another suggestion people might make, but again... I've bought them all kinds of toys (play mice, scratching posts, ball and hoop thingees) for them to play with! I honestly can't figure it out!

 

[Jeanie]

I clap my hands and say NO!

 

[mismodliz]

there are many ways to discipline, but what I've learned is that Stephen just likes the attention. I think she purposely does stuff she shouldn't b/c it entertains her to watch me stomp, clap, yell "no", etc. :roll: she can be an annoying little bugger!

 

[Wayne]

My cats have been acting up also, for the past several days. Personally, I believe that they are more in tune with Lunar phases and Zodiacal positions than we are. :? . Yesterday, and for the past several days, they were running around and knocking things off the shelves. Last night when I went to bed, I noticed that Chrissie was laying in my place, as if to let me know about something, as he always sleeps on his section of the covers. When I picked him up, I noticed that his underside was all crusty. It became apparent that he and a few others had been in my bathroom and knocked over a bottle of detergent -it was all over the floor. Apparently, he ran into the bathroom, playing, and slipped on the detergent, and slid into it. I also noticed that Amy and Moon Shadow, had the same stuff on them. I have tried to wipe it off with a wet cloth, doing some good. Most other times they are more peaceful, however, I cannot get after them beause they are not allowed outside, so I let them run and play whenever they want. Of course, the detergent was my fault because I did not put it away properly.

 

[tio]

In 2001, I had the same problem with Smootchick. 3 cats named Ot, La and Mit nearly destroyed my house! :lol: They pull the tissue roll, scratched my clothes, climbeb onto the TV and nibbled the electric wire. I didn't know the real reason but I think they need time and space to play together. I rounded up them into an empty room and let them play freely with some balls, strings and an old sofa. If they trifle outside "their own room", I thrash a pan or clap and yell "Meow". Then, their bahavior was better. Smootchick, if it's possible, let them go to a backyard, maybe they need personal freedom.

 

[Jeanie]

tio, it's great that you have a room where the cats can run around and have fun! I worry about the string, however, because they often swallow or choke on string, narrow ribbon, etc. I used to let my cats go outside, but our road is so busy now-( and the area is semi-rural!) that I can't do that any more. I wish I could get someone to build a play yard for my cats with a kitty door leading into the house. That would be so nice for them.

I guess our cats have moon madness or they're picking up on all the activitiies of the Christmas season! My two are chasing each other all over the house!

 

[Pepe&Penelope]

Must be the moon! :lol:
The other day Pepe managed to knock over our Christmas tree, knock down the shelves on our bookcase and everything that was on them (which left a huge gash in our wooden coffee table below), and break three glasses and our butter dish into smithereens - all in the space of 2 days.
What a bad cat! :shock:
They have also been chasing each other like crazy all over the apartment - like possesed little demons :twisted: