Having a problem with my cat, help!?

Question

I've been having a serious problem with my cat lately, I need advice.

When he was a kitten, he was well behaved and loveable, but the older he got the more bratty be became. He's such a handful, I don't know what to do.

He yowls at the mailman something fierce, who is actually frightened of him (silly man) and won't enter our yard anymore.

His appetite has become enormous, I'm not sure how he manages it but he eats about 50 cans of cat food each day. This is way more than the books advise feeding him but I feel bad when he's hungry.

He has a tendency to jump up on me when I come home from work, which can knock me over if I'm not careful (he must weigh at least 400 pounds).

Some of the neighbors have demanded that I stop letting him out at night as their pets have been going missing. (Though I don't see how that can be his fault)

I've tried following the advice from books on cats, but none of it seems to help. What should I do?

Answer 1

Find him another cat his size, a female. wait til she comes in heat. Let the complaints roll in. That'll teach em.

Answer 2

First, you need to start your cat on a diet. You should only feed him once or twice a day. If you feed him twice, only give him half the can. He will yowl and complain, but it's just like a child throwing a tantrum. It will pass if you stay the course. Once you re-establish control, you might be able to work on some of his other problems.

As far as the mailman goes, he's probably emitting negative energy and the cat detects that. It doesn't have to be about your cat, it can be about anything. In any case, get a beware of cat sign! :)

If you can, carry a small squirt bottle with you and when the cat jumps, yowls, or does anything else bad, squirt him. Cats CAN be trained, it's just a lot harder and different from dogs. And if water doesn't work, add some cayenne pepper to the mix.

If your neighbors don't like your cat, they need to cat-proof their own yards. They can find items like that at pet stores and home improvement centers.

Answer 3

You've been given some good advice here.

Feed him less- and choose a good dry food for him, and make sure he has lots of water. When he gets hungry enough, he'll eat it.

Set down rules, and make them stick. That's hard with a cat, I know. But it's important if you want him to have a long, healthy life.

Keep him inside! I've known too many nutcases who think running over pets is a sport. Or else he could get poisonned: There are people who do that to control pests and strays.

If it hasn't been done yet, neuter him. It could well be that he's smelling all those females and wants at them.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I have a over weight cat and diet is everything. It is just like humans if you eat McDonald's everyday and not work out and not eat healthy you begin to be lazy, tired, and even irritable. So my advice is feed you cat IAMS weight control and you cat will feel better and more likely to be nice.
To control how much food it eats during the day kick him outside during the day when it is nice and when most cats like to sleep. He might want to relax in the sun. Then at night bring him in when he is most likely to be hungry and kill things to eat. He will most likely be a lot nicer. You can also use treats/ "Whiskers wet food pouches" to reward being good or let him know that you love him once and a while.

Answer 5

First of all, feed him less. 1 1\2 In the morning,and in the evening.
Second of all, stop letting him get away with stuff! Your letting him
do whatever he wants,so that's why he's turned in to a big spoiled
brat! Get a little spray bottle and whenever he does something you don't like, spray him in the face or yell "NO!" but, never, ever
hit him or he'll never trust you again!And tell the neighbors they're
blameing your cat because they can't admit they don't take care of they're pets!

Answer 6

50 cans a day and 400lbs? Hmmmmm!? sounds like you have a tiger or a male african lion. tigers and lions belong at the zoo or better yet they should be running free in the jungle. your mailman should be frightened of him. try getting a book on "big cats", "or "jungle cats". i hope you have a big place, and it wont be long before you go missing if you are only feeding him canned cat food, try an antelope or something big it will hold his appetite longer.

Answer 7

1 Neuter him
2 Agreed with neighbours - dont let him out, cats who are out, especially at night face terrible risks- and cats who are upsetting the neighbours face even bigger risks, its only a matter of time before one of them makes him disappear...
3 Stop feeding him canned food - this is terrible for their teeth and is very fattening - sure the cans tell you to feed 1 can per day but that is marketing stratagy, at most an adult cat only needs 1 teaspoon of canned a day, free choice dry should be available all the time and as he is chubby use a SENIOR or LITE formula
4 low quality cat foods make cats eat more since they have more filler and ultimately they are more fattening since they put more fat in their foods to make it more tastey and to give the pets a glossy coat - dont feed ANY food from grocery or Wal mart - they all are WAY TOO High in filler

Answer 8

The cat should be eating dry food can food is not the best for them. If it eats that much get it checked for worms and buy cat toys and cat climbing accessories for this cat. As far as it's outdoor routine is concerned cats are natural predators try providing toys, ramps, hanging ropes, maybe even a cat bed, supply items for the cat to amuse itself with while outside.

Answer 9

Get him neutered immediately and then offer him to the nearest zoo; I think he might be either a dog in disguise, or a panther who got lost. Do not let your grannie visit when the cat is about, and wear shin guards. An asestos suit might be a good idea ( for you, not the cat).

Answer 10

yeah ok I think you need to get a cage for your pet puma? and start feeding it better food than tinned cat food try sheep or half a cow each day .....but geez they make great burgular alarms and if you take it in the car its also a great anti theft device