What should we do with our cat?

Question

We have had our cat for 1 1/2 years and she is wearing out her welcome! We can't have any live plants because she eats them. She poops in the box and then climbs onto the bed leaving poop from her sitting. She has destroyed two sofas by scratching. And the Christmas season is upon us and I'm afraid to put a tree up because I know she will tear it down. She is way too active. I thought she would have calmed down by now but she still acts like a kitten. Plus she is getting fat because she eats so much. My nerves are really wearing thin! I will miss her if I give her away but I think that's what will have to happen. Any suggestions? Any takers? She's a black domestic, 1yr. 9mos., energetic, spayed kitty in the Chicago area

Thanks for your answers so far. Here are the additional details.
1. She is an indoor only cat
2. We have an open floor plan, kinda like a loft so we can't really put her in a room.
3. Declawing IS painful and expensive

Answer 1

Don't declaw her. Give her away first. Please ignore the idiots who recommend declawing. Here is a great website that has info and suggestions for alternatives to declawing. Good luck!

http://www.pawproject.com/HTML/faqs.asp
Everyone should read this.

Answer 2

At 1 year and 9 months old, she is still a kitten at heart. Why did you get her if you didn't want an active, playful cat around? Don't you know that cats can be destructive when they are BORED?!

Pooping: Her tray MUST be cleaned every day or two so she doesn't start going anywhere else. If it's not clean, she won't be able to leave the tray without stepping on any poop. All female cats will squat and lift their tail while doing their business so their fur doesn't get messy. If you put some newspaper just outside the box, any poop on her feet will come off on the newspaper.

Scratching: Does she have a scratching pole? If not, get her one. They cost around $10 for a small pole on a base. Unless you want to pay $200 for a top quality one, stay around the $30 area. If she continues to scratch the sofa, pick her up and place her near the pole and get her paw to scratch it (your hand making her paw scratch the pole). Get a bottle that squirts water and always have that on hand. When she arches her back to scratch the sofa, spray her with the water and say 'NO!'.

Plants: Simple. Place the plants on the counter or on a table or somewhere where she isn't allowed to go or can't get to.

Don't put up your Christmas tree unless you want her to knock in over. Put it in a room and close the door all night so she can't get to it while you are sleeping.


You will need to get her on a food schedule. I'm assuming you leave the food out all day? Well don't. She is going to smell the food and she is going to want to eat it. Feed her 2 or 3 small meals per day. Leave her food out for 10-20 minutes and put it in the fridge or throw it away. Always have clean, fresh water available for her. Get her on a diet. Go and buy some premium diet cat food and read the label to follow feeding instructions.

Goodluck.

Answer 3

Some cats can stay in kitten mode for 2 years or better. Have you considered getting her a playmate? Does she have toys? It's odd that she gets poop places because cats (especially female) are very meticulous about cleaning themselves. If spraying her with water doesn't work, have you tried rolled up newspaper or a magazine? No don't hit her with it but when she does something she's not supposed to, slap your hand or leg with it. The sound will startle her and she will start associating the obnoxious sound with the places she's not supposed to be and will avoid it. As for the claws, have you tried soft paws nail caps? You have stay on those and keep reppalying them because at first, she will most likely figure out how to get them off. But after awhile she'll get used to them and it will save tons in furniture! Also a carpeted cat post to the ceiling can do wonders! This way she has something she can jump on and play - tieing cat toys to it will give her additional things to go after - and it will help wear her out. Cats are naturally nocturnal so giving her stuff to do at night is the best. Hopefully you can calm her down and don't have to give her away. Good luck!

Answer 4

First of all, bless your heart! You have been a saint with her!! Cats can be a handful, I would go and get her declawed if she is an indoor cat, second, change her food. She should not be leaving any stains behind when she sits, that means her food is probably canned or not digesting right, you need something to add a little bulk to her diet, second perhaps ask the vet for some Valium or something along those lines to help calm her down. If that doesn't help, find someone who can deal with her problems and give her a good home. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Eating plants could be because she needs vegetable in her diet; try cat-grass, grass grown for cats, which is safe for them to eat. It grows in a little planter like your other plants.

The kitty litter must be very clean (every day or every other day); use clumping litter, it's worth it in the end. Place a little square of carpeting in front of the litter box for her to sit on, clean and even drag herself from messy situations so she doesn't bring little surprises on your bed.

Provide scratching post or other small carpeting for your cat to scratch with her nails. Lure her to that carpet with some catnip and give her some treats after she uses it. Spray her with water when you see her scratching any of your furniture; or give her a bath if she defies you. Sometimes they just want some attention.

Cut down her eating, else she will get health issues which will cost you emotional pain and money. It could explain her messy problems in the litter box.

If you can, don't have her de-clawed - I personally think that is cruel. Get a nail trimmer for cats, or take her to get trimmed and/or groomed once in a while at a pet centre.

Answer 6

Give her away because you're obviously not interested at all in your cat. One of the first things most people learn is that plants need to be hung out of a cat's reach. You can also trim their butt fur, which you obviously don't.

She's not eating too much, you are FEEDING her too much.

Seriously hon, either be responsible, or not, but don't take anymore pets into the house unless you are ready for the responsibility that goes along with them.

Answer 7

She is still young and is in her kitten stage. She will outgrow it, and become more docile with age. For the mean time, giving her a quick spritz with a spray bottle when she does something undesirable will deter her from repeating the action. Good luck!

Answer 8

Does she go outside any? If not she may need that to run off some of the energy. Maybe getting her a playmate will help. Also get a scratching post that has catnip in it and she won't scratch your couch.

Answer 9

There are m any solutions... even if one is giving her up. If clawing is a problem you can get her declawed, it is painless. Is there a place you can put her after she uses the catbox? Or a room to put her free of plants and furniture while you are away?

Answer 10

If you're trying to scold at your kitten for climbing/attacking your Christmas Tree, these are some possible ways to say (Dont touch the tree):

A) Put a barrier of some sort around your Christmass Tree to prevent your cat from making contact

B) I'm sure there are some kinds of materials they sell that repel cats (Liquids?) that you can use (NOT ON YOUR CAT). You could put it on your Christmas Tree or around it to prevent your cat from coming near.

C) (IF) You'r Christmas Tree is in a room that you dont use very much (that has a door) just close the door when no ones using it or when someones in it.

D) Keep watch and everytime you see your cat going near the Christmas Tree, carry him/her away.

E) Occupy your cat, you could get him/her a scratching post, a self automated toy, a remote controlled mouse (Yes they do sell those, I know for a fact ((I have one)) ).

F) This isnt exactly my best choice...Shut her up in a room with marbles and toys that she could play with, and someone to play with (I wouldnt though)

G) Get/Make something that would grab your cat's attention from the tree (You could take some boxes and make a play house or a tunnel of some sort, or buy a post or play pen)

H) Again, not the best choice, move you Christmas Tree to a basement or attic (Somewhere that you dont use) until (A couple days before?) Christmas Eve or Chrismas

I) If there are ornaments and other strings and catchy things on your Christmas tree remove them until Christmas Eve- You could have a family get-to-gether and hang them back up again

J) Punish your cat (Not harshly) everytime he jumps on your tree, spray it, flick it's nose, toss it (GENTLY) away, ect

Some solutions (Above) arent even saying (NO). They're just other ways to prevent your cat from attacking your Christmas Tree.

How ever if you're cat keeps eating smaller plants, other ways of saying (Dont eat plants!) are:

A) Spraying the plant(s) with repelant

B) Moving the plant(s) to a higher area, unreachable for your kitten

C) Flicking your kitten's nose when ever he/she tries to eat or damage the plant

D) When ever your kitten tries to eat part of the plant, pry open (Not harshly) his/her mouth and take the remaining plant out of his/her mouth and push your kitten away

E) Either put something near your plant(s) to scare your cat every time he/she gets near it, or scare your cat yourself when ever your cat gets near the plant

As you can see there are many possible ways to prevent your cat from doing something wrong without scolding at your cat, or scolding your cat in many diffrent ways to prevent him/her from doing something wrong.

Other ways to scold at your cat may include:

A) Locking your cat in a room (Not for long, the least you could do is put a couple of toys and needed items ((Such as litter box, food, ect.)) in the room) whenever she/he does something wrong repeatedly.

B) Shake him/her GENTLY, for a few SECONDS. Do NOT (I repeat ((!NOT!)) shake your cat brutally AND for more then three seconds at the maximum when ever he/she does something wrong repeatedly.

C) Puting a leash on your cat (Do not put a short leash on your cat unless needed or for serious safety reasons) until he/she learns not to do what ever he/she is doing wrong.

So there are many solutions. Scolding or not, you'r cat will just have to learn either way!

Have a nice day and remember treat your cat with utmost patience and love!