Crazy Cats!!!

[ANUSHIKA]

i have a tortoiseshell cat who i love loads and wouldn't swap her for the world ,however she is very aggresive, she can be very loving but her favourite hobbies involve bitting , scratching , attacking guests especially feet, she jumps on doors and sits there till someone passes and then flies on to the sofa like a cat possesed, most of the time its funny but not thoughout the night any sensible suggestions?????p.s we have tried water but she actually likes it and has now taken to turning the tap on herself so she can have a wash normally at 6.00 in the morning!!

[Squirrel]

She sounds like a very clever cat indeed - an evil genius, perhaps. Our cat was already quite placid when we got him from the rescue centre, but he had quite a few bad habits, such as clawing down the wallpaper and licking the taps. He stopped doing those particular things after about a week (although whether it was because we told him off or because he got bored is debatable). Finding a suitable punishment may be the first thing to do. For some cats I know, talking sternly is enough, but for others you might have to shout, pick them up by the scruff, or spray water. Sometimes they'll do something if they realise it gets your attention - like tearing your flesh - and after a while they seem think this is a perfectly acceptable way of getting noticed. Ignoring them is meant to help, and you can't be too soft on them, like me, because then they never stop it! Also, in our house, my dad seems to be the only one the cat will listen to (presumably out of fear). For example, if the cat is hoping to eat a fish out of the pond, a furtive look on his face, he will stop instantly at the sight of my dad, because he must know it's worth a smack and a good telling off if he's caught...perhaps ask someone with a loud voice to discipline your cat?

P.S. I know this sounds obvious, but do you let the cat outside whenever she wants, i.e. a cat flap? Running around would use up some of her energy, with any luck.

[ANUSHIKA]

thankyou for your response it was very helpful, we have tried that there is 3 people in our household and one of us is always playing with her. when she was very little we taught her how to play fetch and she is always playing this with her little ball, my boyf also is constantly shouting at her or tapping her for something but although she stops whatever mischief she is doing at the time , she does tend to hit back with her paw and then run of and hide and as soon as you walk past her she latches onto whatever limbs she can, (my cat obv holds grudges). She has alway got attention from us she sleeps on the bed with us, there is always someone in with her and perhaps i have to come to the conclusion that I have spoiled her and its my own doing or that she just is a naughty cat and hope that she mellows out in later life(fingers crossed) :)

[Squirrel]

Your posts make me smile :-)

One other thing that might work is a cat behaviour book or web site. The professionals might know what to do, even if it just means purchasing a mild cat sedative.

Some web sites:

http://www.ivillage.com/topics/pets/0,10707,167006
,00.html

http://www.valleyhumane.org/know/catbehavior/index
2.cfm

http://www.hsus.org/ace/14563

...And about a million others. It seems to quite a common problem.

[pussing]

I have a tortoiseshell cat who I love to bits. She is friendly to the point of being clingy, always wanting to sit on my knee and just generally be around me. But she also has a crabby side. My vet said it was because of the ginger colour in her. He said it's like a redhead - fiery. I don't know if I believe it, but it's a sort of explanation. PS: What is your cats name?

[ANUSHIKA]

My fiesty little cat is called Taz would u believe i named her after the Tazmanian devil character perhaps its my fault because she feels pressure to live up to her name (lol)!! thanks you all for you answers they have been helpful :)

[ANUSHIKA]

Forgot to say before but Taz is also very clingy she cried if one of us is out of the room and follows us everywhere even when I go to have a bath she sits on the side waiting for me although she is not really one for being stroked, she will cry if she can't find which room I am in. I too have wondered if it is perhaps just in a tortoise shell nature ot be naughty!! perhaps i will never know :)

[honkytonkman]

Just one thought, please don't pick up your cat by the scruff of the neck, as suggested. It hurts the cat. Mother cats do it to kittens as they small and the shoulder skin doesn't get a huge weight hanging of it.. unlike with an adult cat. If you like, get someone to pick you by your scalp.., it's the same sensation. ;)

[Squirrel]

Thank you, honkytonkman! I know two people who do that, and I couldn't help but think the same thing. I will use your post as evidence!

[ANUSHIKA]

I agree with both of you I would never dream of doing that to Taz for 1/ she would have my eye out within a second she has a black belt in scratching and 2/ I would feel far to guilty because she is my little cat. :)

[pussing]

Buy another cat.

[treaclefight]

it sounds like a teenage cat, they do have a teenage phase, all sorts of innappropriate behaviour and sulks when you point it out to them, a good hard bang of a hardback book on a table in the same room and at the same time as the misdemeanour can work quite well and (if you can stand the suspense) keeping your back to them can work too, apart from that your going to have to just wait, your teenager will soon take up smoking pot and then the laying on the sofa ignoring you for days on end will begin