Angry cat messing around the home
Susan_A1951
Posts: 1,081 Forum Member
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I like to think I am a fairly sensible dog owner. I have also had many cats over the last 20 years. But my present cat defeats me.
He was a rescue - around 4 years old. At least two homes - and long stint as a caged rescue cat - and reading between the lines later - I realise that he had already been returned at least once - and I was his last hope.
Very traumatised at first - he spent the first month I had him under a duvet in the spare bedroom - I never even saw him.
Gradually he gained confidence and is now the most loving cat I have ever had - he is sitting beside me now as I type - purring his head off. I've had him for two years now.
But - any visitors - and he hides. He never goes out - his life is between his feed bowl and his cushion.
My problem is - he demands food from me constantly - 24 hours a day. I feed him last thing before I go to bed - but at 5am - he is yowling downstairs demanding more food and attention. And when he doesn't get it - he urinates and messes on any soft furnishing. I always make sure he has a clean litter tray and he uses it happily during the day. But at night - when he doesn't get what he wants, he messes cushions, rugs and carpets.
I think I can understand such behaviour in a dog - but not a cat. Any thoughts?
He was a rescue - around 4 years old. At least two homes - and long stint as a caged rescue cat - and reading between the lines later - I realise that he had already been returned at least once - and I was his last hope.
Very traumatised at first - he spent the first month I had him under a duvet in the spare bedroom - I never even saw him.
Gradually he gained confidence and is now the most loving cat I have ever had - he is sitting beside me now as I type - purring his head off. I've had him for two years now.
But - any visitors - and he hides. He never goes out - his life is between his feed bowl and his cushion.
My problem is - he demands food from me constantly - 24 hours a day. I feed him last thing before I go to bed - but at 5am - he is yowling downstairs demanding more food and attention. And when he doesn't get it - he urinates and messes on any soft furnishing. I always make sure he has a clean litter tray and he uses it happily during the day. But at night - when he doesn't get what he wants, he messes cushions, rugs and carpets.
I think I can understand such behaviour in a dog - but not a cat. Any thoughts?
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Comments
If there's nothing medically wrong I'd get a trickle feeder for dry food, and she can access it whenever she wants, see if that helps
I realise it is an anxiety thing - and he gets stressed when I am not around - just wish there was a gentle way to deal with it. A dog is so much easier to deal with. He seems in good health - a bit over weight, but then he doesn't get much exercise - I don't even know how old he is.
I avoid the vet unless it becomes really necessary. Last time I brought out the cat box he fled for the bedroom and I had to upend all the furniture to get hold of him - even then as a last resort he tried to climb into a pillowcase to escape...obviously some very bad associations! It was months before he stopped flinching every time I made a sudden movement. I've had cats for 40 years, including other rescues, but never one like this. But as said, he is so loving when he is relaxed and happy.
Have you tried leaving some dry food out at night so he doesn't panic?
I tried feliway at the beginning of our relationship...lol. I guess there is really no simple answer here - but it is good to share. xx TY.
In the end - I guess this is really a success story in some ways - and one I wanted to share. The first month he was with me, I never saw him - he hid under a duvet in my spare room - and I would slip under the duvet with him and listen to him cuddle up on my feet and purr - but retreat in terror everytime I lifted the covers. He has never clawed me except the times I had to take him to the vet, he had a weeping sore on his back from a flea allergy from the rescue home when I first had him - it took a year for it to heal and he still has a bald spot. It was weeks before he came downstairs in his own time and ever since then has lived on my breakfast bar demanding food, or sitting on a cushion beside my computer - where he is now. He escapes anytime a visitor calls. He is terrified of a vacuum cleaner, but ignores a hair dryer a few feet away.
I guess I just have to cope with the messing at night when he feel abandoned and angry - but he doesn't half destroy my settees at night - and messes on my cushions! Oh well - it is all washable. BTW - I also have a black lab - and he is absolutely fine with him - growls if he gets too close - but otherwise no problems.