Cat acting differently.

[Bobby1]

Hi everyone,

My first post on here. My cat has been acting strangely of late, he is probably stressed/unhappy right now but not sure how to help him. I was wondering if anyone has any tips at all? He has had a lot of change lately.

He has always been my cat really; he waits for me to get home, sleeps on my bed every night, never more than two yards away from me...
However, I have moved to a new town and the cat has stayed with my mother. Two days after I moved out my mother moved to a new house. So the cat has effectively lost an owner and its home of 6 years.

He was very much an outdoors cat before and bought home countless "presents" but now he literally will not leave the house. We lived in the countryside before but he still has space to play in his new home; there is a busy road near by and he may be scared of that (nearly died in a road accident a couple of years ago but doubt he would remember?).

He is always crying for windows to be open but wont go out. He also cries for any door to be open even if it only leads to the boiler cupboard! In fact he pretty much non-stop meows now. He has always been an affectionate cat but he is now extremely needy and always wants attention. He wakes people up in the night now by jumping on them in bed and kneading on them and meowing.

Lately he has also taken to biting things including cables and wires from laptop, TV etc. Worried he will hurt himself. I am home with him now for Xmas but will be leaving again in new year. I show him a lot of attention but don't know what else to do. Was thinking maybe toys or forcing him to go outside for a set time each day to get used to the new area (even thought of getting him a lead and taking him out !) He wont sit still for more than what seems like 20 seconds now.

Any tips or help welcome.

Thanks.

[Karen]

How old is he? It is fine that he is inside-only for now, he's probably safer that way, but maybe if you got him used to a leash and harness, he'd be happy with "walks" outside, rather than someone having to open a door or window for his perusing pleasure.

How old is he?

Definitely pick up some toys, and teach your mother how to use them to play with him. He sounds bored more than anything. Does he have a cat tree near a window? That might help, so he can look outside and watch the world, but stay safely indoors, and not be begging at doors!

[Bobby1]

Hi

Yes I definitely think he is bored, he has only been in his new home for around 2 months. He is 6 years old now so it may take him a while longer to adapt. He had a cat flap before so he could come and go as he pleased so that may be an option if it is possible here; at least then he can look even if he doesn't feel like going out. With me away for large parts of the year and my mother working he probably goes a bit overboard with the meowing/need for attention when people are around; he was a bit of a hunter cat too so I will definitely get him some toys for Xmas to see if he can entertain himself!

Thanks for the advice

[Freedom]

Keeping him as an indoor cat is the best thing for him. The life span of an outdoor cat is 3 to 5 years; indoor cats live 15 to 20 years. With a busy road nearby and him not car savvy, he won't last long going outside.

PLUS any time you relocate a cat you need to keep him in for a good long time to let him adapt to the new location; otherwise he goes out and "heads home," meaning the prior home.

He needs a cat perch / tree set up in front of a window, so he can look outside and observe birds etc. Putting a bird feeder out in the yard where he can see it will be a great thing to do too. He also needs a few scratching posts. Toys will be a good thing. Remember that dangling toys can only be used with supervision and must be put away once the human is not available to play with him. Buy some catnip and spread that on his cat perch, scratching post, and roll his toys in it. This will all help him settle.

[mon]

I have a problem. Winter here, gotta keep crazy Spicy the feral cat in the house. Gotta keep wee Mia the other cat safe cuz she HATES Mia. Didn't go so well last night. It's become a nightmare really. I think Spicy is insane, literally and I don't know what to do with her. She is SO violent, she got scared or something and violently attacked Mia when I tried to get her back in her room. I can't deal with this crap right now, my arthritis is pretty bad and I just want Spicy to dissappear. I might have to take her to a shelter somewhere cuz I am at the end of my rope here. I love her but I wanna kill her and my husband is SO done with her behavior as well. She is so old and SO nuts. I can't keep her locked in her bedroom forever can I?

[mon]

I have to go in and out of her room and clean her litter box and change her water. Like I gotta go in there 3 to 5 times a day. And she is very smart so she escapes on occasion and she even attacked me yesterday. Hate to whine but she is so very nuts.

[phesina]

Hi

Yes I definitely think he is bored, he has only been in his new home for around 2 months. He is 6 years old now so it may take him a while longer to adapt. He had a cat flap before so he could come and go as he pleased so that may be an option if it is possible here; at least then he can look even if he doesn't feel like going out. With me away for large parts of the year and my mother working he probably goes a bit overboard with the meowing/need for attention when people are around; he was a bit of a hunter cat too so I will definitely get him some toys for Xmas to see if he can entertain himself!

Thanks for the advice

Hi Bobby1, welcome to Pet Talk!

How are things going with your cat now? Karen and Sandie (Freedom) have some good suggestions. I agree it is best to keep him an indoor-only cat, MUCH safer for him. He's no doubt very confused because his whole world has changed so radically.

You might leave some clothing or other material with your scent, e.g., t-shirts you've worn or blankets or sheets or pillows you've laid on, that could be put in his bedding so he has a familiar and beloved scent to relax with. And attention and love from you and your mother will always be welcome.

The cat tree and toys suggestions are very good ideas, things to occupy his attention when no one is around. And catnip is always welcome! Perhaps a Feliway diffuser to promote a calming atmosphere too.

Best wishes for your kitty and for you and your mom too! Please keep us posted.

Pat (and my 6 cats)

[jacval60]

At the pet shop they have some spray or something you plug in the way for cats that are stress check your pet shop like petco.

Hi everyone,

My first post on here. My cat has been acting strangely of late, he is probably stressed/unhappy right now but not sure how to help him. I was wondering if anyone has any tips at all? He has had a lot of change lately.

He has always been my cat really; he waits for me to get home, sleeps on my bed every night, never more than two yards away from me...
However, I have moved to a new town and the cat has stayed with my mother. Two days after I moved out my mother moved to a new house. So the cat has effectively lost an owner and its home of 6 years.

He was very much an outdoors cat before and bought home countless "presents" but now he literally will not leave the house. We lived in the countryside before but he still has space to play in his new home; there is a busy road near by and he may be scared of that (nearly died in a road accident a couple of years ago but doubt he would remember?).

He is always crying for windows to be open but wont go out. He also cries for any door to be open even if it only leads to the boiler cupboard! In fact he pretty much non-stop meows now. He has always been an affectionate cat but he is now extremely needy and always wants attention. He wakes people up in the night now by jumping on them in bed and kneading on them and meowing.

Lately he has also taken to biting things including cables and wires from laptop, TV etc. Worried he will hurt himself. I am home with him now for Xmas but will be leaving again in new year. I show him a lot of attention but don't know what else to do. Was thinking maybe toys or forcing him to go outside for a set time each day to get used to the new area (even thought of getting him a lead and taking him out !) He wont sit still for more than what seems like 20 seconds now.

Any tips or help welcome.

Thanks.

[jacval60]

Why don't you build a area where he is penned in right outside your window so then he or she can get used to be outside. Yeah just build a frame around your window and put chicken wire around it. Eventually he or she will get used to going outside. He will have protection from other cats and will get sunshine, also put up big pieces of wood so he can lay up high. And some cat scratching posts you can always shut the window when you do not want him out there. Also make him a place in there where he can hide if another cat comes and he feels threaten. And grow him some organic wheat grass in a container cause it is healthier for cats than regular grass. Google Wheat grass to see all the benefits you and your cat will get from it. Also some of the big pet shops has something for stressed out cats.

Hi everyone,

My first post on here. My cat has been acting strangely of late, he is probably stressed/unhappy right now but not sure how to help him. I was wondering if anyone has any tips at all? He has had a lot of change lately.

He has always been my cat really; he waits for me to get home, sleeps on my bed every night, never more than two yards away from me...
However, I have moved to a new town and the cat has stayed with my mother. Two days after I moved out my mother moved to a new house. So the cat has effectively lost an owner and its home of 6 years.

He was very much an outdoors cat before and bought home countless "presents" but now he literally will not leave the house. We lived in the countryside before but he still has space to play in his new home; there is a busy road near by and he may be scared of that (nearly died in a road accident a couple of years ago but doubt he would remember?).

He is always crying for windows to be open but wont go out. He also cries for any door to be open even if it only leads to the boiler cupboard! In fact he pretty much non-stop meows now. He has always been an affectionate cat but he is now extremely needy and always wants attention. He wakes people up in the night now by jumping on them in bed and kneading on them and meowing.

Lately he has also taken to biting things including cables and wires from laptop, TV etc. Worried he will hurt himself. I am home with him now for Xmas but will be leaving again in new year. I show him a lot of attention but don't know what else to do. Was thinking maybe toys or forcing him to go outside for a set time each day to get used to the new area (even thought of getting him a lead and taking him out !) He wont sit still for more than what seems like 20 seconds now.

Any tips or help welcome.

Thanks.