She is a great cat and I love her to death but (there always is a but isn't there?) she breaks everything. She loves to bat things off the counter, the ledge, the dresser, you name it she's moved it. It's getting a little upsetting she has broken, 2 candles, a vase, and a bell. Nine times out of ten she does it when I am at work. We live in a studio apartment so there is no where I can lock her in for the day (nor would I want to). I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas.
Thanks for your help!
2006-09-27 08:30:52 · 22 answers · asked by pita0202 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Oh trust me she has TONS of toys that take up most of the room. She is actually spoiled. She has at least 10 balls, mice, cat nip, sack, crazy kitty...people spoil her.
2006-09-27 08:44:56 · update #1
I have four cats, raised 3 from kittens and I collect midcentury art glass! Get some "museum wax" from an antiques dealer or online. It is used by museums to hold priceless pieces in place during earthquakes, etc.
This stuff holds like iron, so the items you stick down with it will not budge, and can be pried loose with a knife if you want to move them. My 3 kittens walked on/near/through everything I have and not one thing was moved.
Museum wax was something i found by typing it into Google, or on eBay.
Kitties will always jump and walk where they want, so glue your valuables that are breakable down..........and let the kitty roam!
2006-09-27 09:12:56 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is he a cat or a kitten. If he's a kitten, then you're going through normal phases of what will become a great cat once he's full grown at about 1 1/2 years of age. If he's already full grown, then the problem is that he doesn't have enough space to roam and be a cat. Put yourself in his position, if you were locked up inside a studio apartment 24 hours a day, wouldn't you be a little destructive also?
2006-09-27 08:36:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
To keep cats away from areas where you don't want them, one good method would be to keep a bowl of oranges or other citrus fruits in that exact spot. Cats hate the odor of citrus fruits and won't go near them. This method is highly effective and perfectly humane; the smell bothers cats enough to make them do a quick "180" but at the same time it's completely harmless to them. It can also make a quaint decoration for your house!
Bear in mind that once cats have spent enough time in a particular spot, they've already succeeded in marking that spot with their scent glands (located at the base of their tails), and will continue to return there unless you "mask" that scent with another strong compound such as ammonia (which is excellent for repelling just about any type of animal).
Take a look around your house and make a careful note of where chairs are. Remember that cats have a natural inclination to go for high spots, and chairs or other furniture provide an easier route for them. For example, if you have a valuable vase on the mantlepiece above your fireplace, make sure there are no chairs, stools, or other means around the fireplace by which your cat could reach that spot. As you may know, cats are very agile and much better climbers and jumpers than humans, but if a spot is high enough out of their reach they won't bother. Their claws are retractile so they can climb up trees fairly well but not walls. And although the scenario of a cat getting stuck up a tree and having to be rescued by firefighters has become a common stereotype, this is actually less likely to happen than you think. Most cats are intelligent enough to realize that climbing too high will make it difficult to get back down again without hurting themselves.
Your cat is simply being playful; there's nothing out of the ordinary with her behavior, and she sounds to me like a typical housecat. Haven't you tried buying her any small toys or other trinkets?...maybe she'll grow attached to these and completely forget about your vases and bells! =)
2006-09-27 08:53:00 · answer #3 · answered by Student 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try buying her some toys of her very own. They have all kinds of gizmos and gadgets at Petsmart that are designed to entertain and promote "positive" kitty behavior. My kitties are preferential to little foofballs that have been rolled in catnip. They also have a kitty condo with little springy things to bat and a ball inside a plastic track they can chase around and around. If she had some of her own toys, perhaps she will leave your things alone.
You could also try making your things less appealing to kitty. Sprinkle some black pepper around on the shelf, or use little cloth bags filled with cayenne pepper or chili powder. This will not hurt kitty, but she will not like the way these things smell, and will find her catnip toys more appealing than the stuff on the counter. I hope this helps. Good luck.
2006-09-27 08:35:48 · answer #4 · answered by Don't shop, adopt! 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
one of my cats does the same thing, but only in the morning to wake me up when he's hungry ( he also chews wires which is a whole seperate issue ), i think it's a way for them to get attention, even in your case when you're at work because he gets the attention later. test out some toys to find ones he really likes, could be anything from balled up paper to fancy things at the pet store. a laser pointer is great and inexpensive. try playing for a bit before you leave for the day and when you get home to help him burn some energy. he will probably take your lead and play with these toys on his own after a while. only discipline them if you catch them in the act otherwise they don't associate their actions with discipline and eventually may become afraid of you.
2006-09-27 08:42:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I forget the name (its like spirit gum) but there is a gummy adhesive (it looks like yellow or geen gum/silly putty) you can find at most Target/Walmarts/Michaels type stores. You stick it the bottom of stuff you have out that can break, and it keeps it stuck to the table... it works well, but won't hold up against the full weight of the cat (if it bumps it over) but will stop the cat from batting it off...
2006-09-27 08:33:35 · answer #6 · answered by Nikki T 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shes bored so she is playing with Your Toys. I have a string and small toy hanging from each door knob in my house as well as balls with bells and toy mice scattered around to keep my cats occupied while I am at work. They seldom re arrange my things now since they have their own.,
2006-09-27 08:39:26 · answer #7 · answered by kimmi_35 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a spray bottle may work, but other than than, you may just have to put away anything breakable that is small enough for her to push off the counter.
Another Idea may be to buy her things that will keep her interested. Such as fake mice, or toys that hang from a door handle.
She just may be bored and wants something to play with.
2006-09-27 08:35:28 · answer #8 · answered by msmit106 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have a cat that does the same thing. He has broken all the glasses in my house. I just dont leave anything on shelves or tables anymore that are breakable
2006-09-27 12:12:46 · answer #9 · answered by Confused 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a cammon problem. Since its a kitten it wants to play alot as instinct. I would reccomend buying a few toys and playing with it with the toys for a few hours a day. So when she wants to play when your not home she will pick the toys over your nick knacks. And to teach her to leave your things along use a squirt bottle and tell her NO
2006-09-27 08:34:42 · answer #10 · answered by Alicia Goins 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋