Cat has cabin fever...?

Question

I have a cat (3 year old female tortoise shell) that can come and go as she pleases (inside/outside). I live in the Midwest and we have just gotten our first big snowfall. She's been staying in the house sleeping all day now and getting up about 2 hours before the rest of the household in the mornings. She terrorizes everybody in the house. Wakes up the dogs (she does drive-by's where she runs past the dogs and swats at them), she wakes up my other cat, claws my sofa, runs throughout the house I have all wood floors so she slides around corners...she wakes up my son by running into his room, jumping on his bed and then launching herself into the leather chair and back out into the hallway, and she pulls on the shower curtain.

This is normally the time of morning that she would be outside hunting. What can I do with her to help her out during the winter months? I've had her for 3 years now, but she has never been this bad in the winter. Any ideas?

Can't close doors, she'll claw at the bottom and eventually start peeling the bottom of the doors. She's the type of cat that has to follow you into the bathroom...

I do play with her quite a bit as she is very social, we have a lot of cat toys, and they have a scratching post that I spray cat nip on.

We just want our last couple hours of sleep to be peaceful!

She CAN go outside anytime she wants. She actually goes out requently (when she's not curled up on the couch), but comes back in after about 15 minutes.

It's those early morning hours that are killin' her...nothing to hunt outside. Too much snow for her to get around. Lots of ice on the pavement, she doesn't like it.

Answer 1

hang dangling toys were she can swat at them and play with them. She will take her boredom out one the new fun toys instead of everyone else in the house. Make sure you hang them were she has room to run and ounce on them as if she were hunting them outside.

Answer 2

Draws has some personal experience there for you to consider. Can't she be confined to her own space at night? Not that she won't protest at first and eventually she would accept it.

Can't you keep doors closed to areas where you are sleeping, like your son's? Does she upset the dogs and get them to barking? What a little vixen she is!

There are two Bach flower essences I can suggest to you though I don't like to give a recommendation for something I haven't tried. For $32 it is not too big an investment to help with the problem:

Impatiens - for nervous, "high strung", impulsive animals
Vervain - for hyperactive, overly tense animals.

If you don't sense she is tense you might skip the Vervain. If you use an essence that is inappropriate for the cat it will just not have an effect and do no harm.

You need to "treat" her as many times a day and before bedtime for at least a week to ten days. If you buy the bottles just use them longer if necessary after the initial intense use. If she "relapses" and gives you all a bad night.

You treat by shaking the bottle well and putting three to four drops on the fur between her ears. If you buy both get a "treatment" bottle and mix some of each essence in the bottle and fill with a little filtered water. Sounds like it would be easy to treat her when she is sleeping around the house during the day. Get it on her four or five times a day for the first period.

The flower essences are energetic in nature and cannot harm her in any way nor have any physical effect on her.

I don't what the availability of the essences are in Ohio (my birth state and OSU). So call around to various health food stores and see if they carry the full line. You can find places to purchase them online by putting in a search for Bach flower essences. www.flowersociety.org is also a source as is greenhopeessences.com

Answer 3

Honestly cats will be okay when they are outside in the winter for a bit. I had 3 outdoor cats and in SLC we get a lot of snow. I would say outside time needs to be supervised so they don't get caught in a kitty avalanche, but 15 minutes of play time should calm her down some. If not, drug her up with some catnip.

Answer 4

Oh my gosh, I have had this same problem recently!!! We also live in the Midwest and I thought my female cat was going to drive us all insane. She even tried jumping on top of the entertainment center in the middle of a burning candle. I finally had to let her outside. Once she was out there she realized that it was really cold and wet, she didnt want to stay out too long. I think you should just let her out for a while, she will realize that she wants back in really soon. Good luck, and I know how you feel!!!

Answer 5

You can start setting a play routine with her. My kitty likes running a muck about 10pm every night, so I had to change his. Pick any time of the day that you arent really busy and play (hardcore) with your kitties and/or dog. Tire her out, that way she should sleep later in the day.
You could also try keeping her in a room of her own. Be sure to have plenty of water and food and a litter box, and some toys. This should keep her occupied for awhile.

Answer 6

Calico/Tortiseshell cats are quite different from other cats--always a bit wacky. They are also my favorite! I have never been able to make my calico cats into indoor cats--even in winter.

Let your cat go outside! She will be fine and come back in when she is ready. The only way to cure her cabin fever is to let her out. She really needs the outdoors.

Answer 7

I'm sorry but I laughed when I read your question. lol. Pyco CAT!!

My cat that I rescued used to live outside, but in the transition, he got crazy (not to that degree however). He is the only cat however, so I gave him lots of attention. I suppose if you can't give her undivided attention for a few hours a day, try closing her in a darkened room, perhaps it would calm her.