Advice for a wild cat?

Question

I adopted a ragdoll 3 years ago. She is extremely anal about food (if the bottom of the bowl is visible, she goes crazy until you add more). I can't walk around without her following me. She'll let me pick her up but isn't a huge fan of petting, although she wakes me up at night to be "lovey". She is always getting into something. If I'm in a room, she's playing in the blinds. If I try to work on the computer, she is tearing up bits of paper. Taking them away leads to her finding more. She gets into EVERYTHING unless you pay her attention 100% of the time. We've tried squirting her with water when she misbehaves, but it doesn't work. She gets crazy hyper to the point of running into walls and such and hates cat toys.

I adopted another cat about 1 year after I got this one thinking it would help her to have someone to play with. Although the two get along ok, she can become very aggressive with the other one.

I would never give her up but any advice for a slightly wild cat?

Answer 1

For the protection of the second cat, I recommend keeping the ragdoll's claws trimmed so that she can't tear him up.

Have you had the ragdoll spayed? If not, you might look to that as the reason; she may simply be displaying her brand of territorial behavior, and getting her fixed will likely relax those instincts.

Also, there's a product on the market that's sort of like a Glade Plug-In, but instead of spiffy scents, it releases some sort of pheremone that supposedly calms pets.

Answer 2

Offhand I'd say she isn't getting enough stimulation but hard to say without seeing the actual situation.
I would recommend to any cat owner "How to Be a Cat Detective" by Vicki Halls. She has been a cat behavioral therapist for years and though I've had cats all my life, the book taught me some things I had never thought about. I think it could help you to pinpoint some things you could do to make kitty (and you!) happier.
Best of luck.

Answer 3

The diffuser mentioned before sounds like it plus desexing will be your best bet. It is called a C.A.P Diffuser (cat appeasing pheromone). Here is a link to the site for one brand of them http://www.vetdepot.com/browseproducts/Feliway-Electric-Diffuser-Kit-with-Vial.html

Desexing, if not done already will slow her hormones down which will make her less agressive towards the other cat. It will also slow her metabolism, so remember not to feed her too much. I find that ignoring my cat when he screams for more food (very healthy desexed male who gets fed twice a day but wants to eats too much) works like a charm. Hope this helps. Oh, that's just one brand of the diffuser. I have one for my cat and one for my dog and I now have a calm happy household!!

Answer 4

Cherish her, it's just her personality. Not much you can do about it except come to terms with it I'm afraid.

Answer 5

try getting wilder than her.