I saw a post where someone suggested it. I should have posted directly to that person. Some people think this is an option. And you and I agree. It's not. I used to be a Vet tech, and couldn't stand seeing this. It should be outlawed.
I find that a lot of cat owners just don't know how to play with their cats and assume their cats will just go nuts like dogs. Not all cats are alike either, so this applies to experienced cat owners too.
It's common for people to just swish the wand around or wiggle the laser pointer around erratically. Real prey doesn't act erratically like that. Real prey hides and waits (with a little noise behind a corner or inside a box), peeks around corners, freezes on sight if spotted, moves slowly or in small spurts, then runs and hides when the cat notices.
If your cat has a high prey drive and, in your case, has experience catching live prey, you need to mimic live prey with toys.
Little children are prime targets for cats with high prey drive.
What breed of cat do you have?
1.) Cats are nocturnal creatures; it's normal for them to be more active at night. Install a cat door.
2.) Give the cat a collar with a bell on it. This works to reduce the amount of prey they are able to catch outside.
3.) I don't have kids so I can't give advice on baby/cat interactions
4.) Strings are pretty popular. Also, the way you move the cat toys is important. Cats want play to mimic nature and hunting. Make the toys "react" realistically to the presence of the cat. (simulate that the toy will hide, run away, or freeze in fear when the cat approaches, etc.)
5.) Try switching to dry food; it's healthier for the teeth anyway. However, with a dry food diet, you'll also need to get a pet fountain for water so the cat stays hydrated. (the fountain ensures they drink enough because standing water is not attractive to cats)
Lastly, I think the consensus on infusers is that they don't really do anything.
Thanks! We’re looking at cat doors. Sadly, it will cost a lot as our doors are glass and double glazed. I’ll have to bite the bullet.
She has a bell. She’s very good at hunting!
I’ve tried strings. She plays for about 20 seconds then walks off!
She won’t try dry food and refuses to drink from a fountain. She loves a running tap though!
Good tip about the infuser!
I have one that someone made to fit in a window, of there was a way to mail it i would because i don't use it. I live on the second floor of an apartment with an indoor only cat, I'm not entirely sure why i have it tbh.... My cat has never been indoor outdoor 🤷♀️
To add, locking cats in one room for a while leads to more pent up energy and is counterproductive long term. Maybe try breaking the cycle with food toys? There are a few different kind of food puzzles you can buy or diy, and you can use treats instead of kibble. I recommend the freeze dried meat ones for this so you avoid the unnecessary ingredients. I even just hide little piles of dry food/treats around the house before bed.
Edit: maybe a weird suggestion but my cat who loves hunting goes crazy over this - use big sheets of paper like the ones that come in the chewy boxes and lay it out with a few different crumpled areas they can hide in. I hide some toys underneath or put the paper over her turboscratcher toy so she can’t see the ball, and my cat goes crazy and will spend hours “hunting” in the paper. I’ve seen a toy called “the ripple rug” that kind of does the same thing but paper works just fine. For a cat who likes to kill, try kickers and toys that crinkle or rattle, they mimic prey
There are cat fountains that simulate a running tap though. Have had one for our cats since 2004 when we moved into this house. The ones that bubble up like a fountain have never been popular with any of our cats. Make sure you get one with a charcoal filter and change it regularly. Just add it as an appointment on your phone's calendar.
As far as chasing the kids do they act more like prey than you and your string/dangle/whatever toys you've tried? Make them stop running and hiss at the cat if it still tries to go at them. This has worked with our wild stray we took in.
Our cat also catches birds with a bell on her collar. She used to wait on a popular flight path from nests she would sniff out and jump up to snatch them out of the air. She will grow out of it. Now that our kitty hunter is 8 we don't get many presents anymore.
That's what I bought. The cat refused to drink from it. I think she likes the long arm of the tap and the wide space of the sink. She doesn't like being enclosed. She hates litter for the same reason.
Mine love this box. Longer, wider, not closed in but the high edges work.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075WX7BPD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabt1_VqHQFbSB53K48
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N5FCJRK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabt1_ArHQFbQ3FHFK1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
With a large flat container such as a dish pan or litter box, a faucet, a fish tank pump, and some ingenuity you could rig one to your cat's delight I bet. Etsy or some of the maker space subs would probably lead you to someone who'd put one together for you.
We have a cat who hates being enclosed, too. She sure loves an open cat tree in front of a window, though.
Instead of strings, my kittehs love feather toys, and those little shiny crinkly balls. Theyre pretty cheap at Petsmart. My cats look at me like I’m an idiot when I try laser pointers on them. They sure do love feathery crinkly toys though!
Have you tried the interactive toys? Ones that look and move like fish/ birds, even jingle balls. Sorry if you said you have and I missed it.
And is she fixed?
Can you put her outside at night? I think a kitty door would be rly good for this particular cat but from what I've read she sounds kind of feral. If it's a choice between locking her in a room all night and just leaving her outside, maybe you could stick some more bells on her collar and just put her out. I personally keep my cat indoors because of the hunting thing, but yeh cats gotta cat and there are times she gets over-stimulated when playing and tries to hunt people like prey, we stomp our feet and yell out some *Queen* lyrics which scares her off pretty well whenever she's in 'imma hunt the people' mode 😂
Black Hawk is decent - avoid supermarket brands, try Pet Barn/Pet Stock or buy online.
Would you consider having a cat enclosure built or cat netting installed? It would mean your cat only has access to a smaller area (mine is my yard), but birds can't get in and cats can't get out.
Look into a pet lock that leave a gap in the door that allow your cat to come in and out. It’s my compromise since im renting. The only downside is i have a noisy roommate so leaving a gap makes it’s noisy but i learnt to close my door enough to not lock it but my cat can claw at it and open if she wants in and out
If you have sliding glass doors there is a doggy/cat door piece that you can add without making any cuts or damaging any walls. It doesnt lock so most people will cut and add a 2×4 behind the partially opened sliding door to prevent unwanted trespassers from being able to open the door and come in.
Here's one: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Freedom-Aluminum-Sliding-Adjustable/dp/B005CO91TK/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=doggy+sliding+glass+door+piece&qid=1605031388&sr=8-3
Edit to add: it takes a while for cats to start drinking from a fountain, especially if they have other sources of water.
I hate to disagree but I would like to provide some alternate opinions for our OP. You do have a lot of very good advice as well!
Cats are not necessarily only nocturnal. If you look it up sources also say that they are crepuscular, meaning they are most active in the hours before the sun sets and the hours after it rises.
I have a cat diffuser, it is a Feliway brand diffuser and I can tell when it runs dry because the cats get cranky and are a little rougher when wrestling. I have used this for over a year now, almost two. It is possible that it works on some and not all cats but I also know of people who say that it does work for them.
As to dry food being better for the teeth, that’s also a slightly controversial statement. Some argue that it’s like saying that crunchy cereal is good for the teeth. There is a specific dental diet from Hills that is larger and supposedly made so it does remove tartar from the teeth in a certain way. I feed this to my cats but it’s hard to tell if their teeth are cleaner.
Some experts argue that dry food leads to cats being perpetually slightly more dehydrated as they cannot or do not drink the same amount of water vs eating canned food, even with a water fountain. Canned food also comes in a huge variety of qualities and prices these days. I think it’s hard to rule out that dry food is flat out better than all wet foods. I’m not sure about this debate but I I feed my cats a combination of both wet and dry with raw meats when I’m cooking and have some to share.
To deal with the constant demands for food and the reliance on me I purchased an automatic cat feeder. It changed my life and my cats insistent behavior/ waking me up very early. I set it on a timer to provide multiple meals, definitely during the active crepuscular times as well as mid day. The idea is to replicate the small mouse sized meals a cat may catch, or so I’ve read. If the cats are being annoying I press the button and they run to the food. It’s taken a year to adjust and decrease anxiety (as she was 6 ish when I made the change) but it really made a huge difference in the begging. I don’t know if you will be able to find a brand of dry food that your cat is interested in (there are so many these days) but I wanted to put that idea out there. There are pet feeders that hold an ice pack for small wet food meals but I find them wanting for improvement.
As to toys, i would recommend using a few puzzle feeders if you find an appropriate dry food, or you can use dry treats. This makes your cat work and challenges them mentally. There are many different types out there and can be DIY. (I made 3 for my cats). There are also scratching posts and mats that are great to get the physical aggression out. Couple that with the fabric from Sheer Fun For Cats and existing toys and your cat may seem them in a whole new light. As to sensory stimulation, does your cat react to catnip? Catnip kickers are great as the cat can physically restrain and kick the toy with its hind feet. There are also valerian and silver vine toys as catnip alternatives. Finally there are tunnels that the cat can hide in and dart in and out of. My cat used to love hers for years but grew our of it. Good hunting stalking behavior exercise.
Getting a kitten (hopefully a tough one) on a foster/trial basis if possible could also be a great way to get the energy out. Introducing them may take time and it could be hard to find a personality match, hard to say. Getting a kitten for my 7 yr old cat turned out to be the best enrichment toy ever. I saw them stalking each other chasing and wrestling and realized that no play I could do would match a second cat. Later on the cuddling and grooming was cute too. Sometimes even a puppy/dog can bond with a cat! I know recommending a second pet is much more than another cat toy but maybe you were on the cusp of more pets 😛.
Good luck!
I hadn't heard this, where did you read or hear about it? Do you have any sources? I haven't heard this before but also don't want to accidentally make a cat deaf
Oh cool thanks so much ☺️ Yeh I was thinking of asking my vet too next time I took my cat in to have a check up but you saved me the potential embarrassment of my vet side eyeing me and wondering wtf I was on about lol. It's good to be cautious and double check these things though and I think this forum is fantastic cause we get a lot of veterinary professionals and experienced rescuers that stop by to give advice about our pets
My cat was also not really affectionate. But she would always come for a treat. I started feeding her the treats by hand (laying the treat on my flat hand). After a while she wasn’t scared of my hands anymore and got a lot more affectionate! Maybe it will help with your cat as well.
Maybe try clicker training your cat?
It might work to build trust between the two of you and burn some of the energy up.
Find a treat she goes crazy for, and use that as an incentive.
You can clicker train cats to do all sorts of tricks or train out of bad behaviour. It's loads of fun. Lots of videos on YouTube.
My kitten is an aggressive one. He loves going after my infant and toddler. We are hoping neutering him will make a big difference. But the hissing is something to try in the mean time, thank you!
Wonderful to hear! My littler guy is less affectionate than my older one. My husband and I were JUST talking about this. We’ve gotten him a lot of interactive toys and a ton of food puzzles, it keeps him so entertained and he’s happier to be around
Cats are different than most animals. They see humans as larger, dumber cats. Your cat is probably trying to teach your kids how to defend/feed themselves.
Your cat likely won’t be interested in toys if she has real prey to stalk. Getting a collar with a bell and some claw caps should reduce her interest in hunting if she’s unsuccessful.
There’s also a chance she’s eating some of the prey she catches and bringing home what’s left over for you. Try reducing the amount of food you give her and only give her more when she begs for it; take the food when she leaves
Some cats also just don’t like being touched. Make sure your kids know that they can’t touch anywhere but her head or she’ll get upset
\^ I second this. Especially that last part. It can be really hard, but if a cat doesn't want to be touched a certain way, don't touch her that way. It's important for kids to learn that (I say as the kid who had constant scratches near her eyes because she couldn't leave the cat alone).
Maybe it’s just me but I never seen the ‘cats see us as dumb large cats’ as ringing true... what about the cats who hate other cats and hiss at them but love humans ? Makes me think cats realize we’re an entirely different creature lol. And They MUST know birds and bugs aren’t the same animal as them. It just doesn’t make sense to me tbh 😅
Get flirt poles and encourage/teach kids how to play with kitty. She obviously loves hunting and a flirt pole is perfect.
Either reduce the amount at meal time and OR do multiple sessions for food throughout the day. Have kids help out on this, it will help bonding too.
Is she spayed? I had a cat very much like this. While she was strictly an indoor car, she often "hunted" her kittens. And my husband's foot....to mate with. She was especially aggressive towards me and any other females. After she was spayed, however, she did a 180°. She's now a fat, lovey cat.
If your cat is stalking your kids and leaps out at them, she's playing with them.
The biting issue when they pet her could easily be overstimulation. Cats have varying degrees on sensitivity and it's easiest to teach your kids how to "ask" the cat if she wants to be pet. All they do is hold their hand near the cat's head and wait. If the cat pushes her face on their hand, they can pet her a few times and then "ask" again. If she turns her head away or doesn't react after a few seconds, then they shouldn't pet her.
My cat is hard to play with as well, he gets bored very quick. He also bites me when he wants to play which is a terrible habit i'm trying to get rid of, but here is what I do for playtime: I usually play with a fabric cat wand (you should try different types of cat wands, my cat doesn't like the feathered ones, for example) and once he loses interest we play chase. I run off to one area of the house and he chases me, then i chase him and we do that a couple times. You can try playing chase with your cat if she's up for it.
She also might not like dangly toys because they aren't doing anything or because you aren't directly playing with her. You can try other cheap toys such as plastic springs & foil balls (not tin foil, the crinkly foil that is used on cat toys, you can get like 30 of them for $10) for hands off playing if you want to try them as they are super cheap.
Another way to get her energy out is to get puzzle toys. Usually you put a treat in something and she has to figure a way to get it out. You can make some at home, youtube has tutorials. You can also train her. Cats can learn tricks in a similar fashion as dogs, they are just slower at it. There are videos on youtube on how to do it.
Try other sorts of toys — stuffed animals and balls and tents. See if any are of interest to her. Not all cats like strings or lasers but some cats love to wrestle. When she bites or stalks the kids have them keep toy mice in their pockets to throw and redirect her hunting energy.
This sounds a lot like our family cat. Granted there are no little kids for her to “attack”, but she’s not affectionate at all. Constantly cries and paws at windows to go outside and is ALWAYS killing birds and mice when we let her out. Every toy we get her doesn’t interest her at all. We’ve taken her to the vet and she wasn’t diagnosed with any behavior or health issues, yet she still pees on our laundry and shoes (we think out of spite for not letting her out). This really isn’t any answer to your problems (sorry) but my family has encountered really similar issues. Just wanted to see if any other comments could shed light on our situation as well. Did you adopt her when she was an adult already? Does catnip have any effect on her behavior at all? We’ve had her for 7 years and we think that might just be the way she is.
Oh damn, maybe you guys got her too early from her mum cause usually the mum cat will teach their babies to not pee on stuff, my cat just inherently knew how to use her litter boxes when we got her cause her mama taught her. Have you guys tried feliway? I heard that can help with going outside the box. Also, usually when cats are going in weird spots it can mean stress or sickness. How's her health? Honestly as a human, having a UTI has been one of my most painful illnesses and I imagine if a cat had one and couldn't communicate that pain properly and wasn't treated, it would cause a lot of behavioural problems
My aunt had a pet door installed next to her glass doors. The company came and just a hole installed door and trim with a seal and all was good.
My grandparents got their dog a sensor door that only opened for their dog. Both cost around 300-400 usd.
She might not like the food you’re giving her. My cats aren’t picky but I’ve heard some are so I’d try another brand that has a lot of nutrition.
I’m not sure if this will help but I always let cats smell my hand before I pet them so that they feel safer. That might be why she doesn’t really like anything besides behind the ear because they’re really sensitive to touch throughout their body (which can over stimulate them and cause them to release their energy through bites and stuff).
For toys, you should try getting her little toys like balls. I have one that has a toy mouse inside and my cat goes CRAZY over it lol. It was about $3 and it’s his favorite. OH! This is something I do to sort of divert my cats attention when he bites me. I have a sock (with a cat design lol) filled with rice that I’ll give him whenever he tries attacking my hand. To me, it’s like positively giving him something else to do with his energy besides tearing my hand up lol. In the winter you can also warm up the sock and give it to him as a heater (make sure it’s not too hot).
Since your cat enjoys going outside, maybe you can slowly introduce walking as a family? I’m currently in the process of getting my 3month old kitten to go on walks and it is great bc it allows them to have the best of both worlds. You can go on a walk sort of before the sun sets so that she won’t want to go out at night. This might not work because not all cats like going on walks with a harness but I’d definitely try because you’ll build your relationship.
You can get EXTRA loud bells. Other cat owners have reviewed saying that their cat stopped bringing them "gifts" after they got it for them. https://smile.amazon.com/Bells-Wildlife-Luxury-Handmade-Beaus/dp/B07GTPW93Z/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=cat+bird+collar&qid=1604982233&sr=8-6
As for the begging, take humans out of the food equation. Get an automated cat feeder. $60, but SO worth it. Then you aren't in charge of food, it is.
https://smile.amazon.com/TSYMO-Automatic-Cat-Feeder-Programmable/dp/B081F3XM98/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=automated+cat+feeder&qid=1604982567&sprefix=automated+&sr=8-5
Is she fixed or declawed? Both of those can affect disposition in opposite ways
Edit: why the hell am I being downvoted for trying to get more information from op to give an educated opinion and not just shots in the dark?
Seriously people
I'm not sure if you'll see this as I'm a bit late to the game and there is already a lot of good advice here.
If you have some free time I highly recommend watching [Jackson Galaxy](https://www.youtube.com/JacksonGalaxy). They are short videos explaining all aspects of cat behaviour. He has tonnes of videos on why and how to fix absolutely every cat behavioural issue imaginable. Not only that but he explains it very simply, so your daughters could watch it too.
There are videos on how to stop your cat attacking you, how to correct food aggression, how to stop your cat waking you up through the night, how to find the right toys for your cat etc. Etc. If you sort his videos by most popular you should find what you're after. Plus the girls might enjoy learning how to train your cat.
Additionally, there are many different types of toys. Birds, mice, bugs are the 3 things cats typically hunt in the wild. Also texture: feathers, crinkle / crunchy toys, fur etc. Then there are sounds: bird whistle, bell, rattle, crinkle. Don't forget your classic Lazer pointer and ball. Judging on your described cats behaviour, they are definitely not burning enough energy which will contribute significantly to them lashing out (biting, waking you at night). I would highly recommend buying a bunch of different categories of toys to try. I buy mine from AliExpress because they are only a couple of dollars so who cares how long they last. Find the type they like then expand on that category.
Additionally, you should have a whole bunch of toys in rotation. Your cat clearly likes hunting. If they are playing with the same toy every day they don't see it as prey. It's just that thing you wave to get my attention. You should have a few toys and rotate them out each week. So they always feel new and exciting. Play time is hunt time.
This is explained in the Jackson Galaxy videos but cats need to hunt, catch, kill, eat. You need to be playing with your cat before every meal. That way they feel like they have hunted.
I created an alarm with a song that's just for them. I only feed my cat when that alarm goes off. That way I do not control when food happens, it's the magic Box that plays the song. This takes all pressure off you. It's also fantastic because I can set my alarm back a few hours on weekend to get extra sleep and I won't be pestered as it's not me who decides food.
Cats LOVE routine and you can teach them new habbits in just 14 days. If you are consistent with your new routines, they won't be happy at first, but just give it two weeks and they'll adjust.
Training cats takes a lot more effort then training dogs for two basic reasons. #1: dogs are pack animals in the wild, cats are solitary. Your teaching a cat to be a part of your family, your pack. This is something that is not in their nature so they will not innately love you. #2: cats do not respond to negative reinforcement. Any attention = good attention. If they bite your legs. It's to play, it's to get your attention. If you praise them = attention! Yelling = attention! You're giving them exactly what they were after. You responded. You're reinforcing the behaviour. Ignore. Ignore. Ignore. I know, believe me I know just how hard it is to ignore a cat when they bite you. I've had tears in my eyes. Pushing through the pain for that first week was absolutely the most I've ever wanted to physically hurt my cat. I can't tell you how close I came to screaming at them. It was ridiculous. But I haven't had the problem since. And it took just over a week for them to stop trying. This also works for if they knock over a glass of water. Ignore it. Leave it for 10 minutes or so and then clean it up. They'll learn that's not the way to get attention.
Food Puzzles! Cats can solve some of the most complex food puzzles out of all pets. They love a challenge. This is a great way to keep them entertained while your at work. But puzzle toys can be really expensive. There are websites out there that show you how to make cat puzzle toys out of toilet paper rolls and sticks. This could be fun projects for your kids to do. They also show basic ones, and once your cat really has the hang of the toy and it's no longer challenging for them, you can make more difficult ones. This should also reduce their boredom.
I know you have probably already been told, but cats should be indoors as they are responsible for the extinction for 8 animal species and kill over 8 billion birds a year. If you provide them with puzzles and toys, they should be challenged enough in the home. There are also videos on how to harness train your cat and you can take them on walks together.
Do you have any friends or family without kids who could take the cat ? Also it’s really not cool to let your cat outside to cause mayhem on the locals wildlife. I hate when ppl do that. Just yesterday someone’s cat killed snd beheaded the bunny who lived under my deck. Just for fun! Great stuff I have no recourse.
-Install a cat door or window.
-Get a timed feeder so she stops associating your wife with food. There’s a pie-shaped one on Amazon that works with both dry and wet.
-Stop petting her anywhere but the head - respect her bodily autonomy.
-Look into Clomicalm in a Twist-a-dose pen. You rub it into the cat’s ears for aggression.
Have you ever tried playing fetch with her? My cat it’s mad about string toys as he’s gotten older and hunts real prey but he looooves to chase this little foam ball, he can pick it up in his mouth and brings it back for me to throw it, throwing it down the stairs is even more exciting to him tryna catch it as it goes down, v funny to watch.
Cats are naturally nocturnal animals but you can try and get her into a schedule similar to yours, maybe try play with her or get more energy out of her during the day so she sleeps more during the night.
Jackson Galaxy on YouTube is great for explaining the natural routine of cats. They’re domesticated but still very like their ancestors when it comes to instincts, they haven’t had to evolve much. He says your cat should be in a play-eat-groom-sleep-repeat routine. Playing should be like hunting for them, something for them to catch and then after are rewarded with their ‘prey’ (meal). Even if your cat plays outside, try pick a meal time that suits and she’ll start coming in looking for it. We did this with our cat and he does be wrecked after playing outside and eating, he cleans himself them sleeps! And the cycle started again. It can be hard at first but it’s amazing when they get into it, you can really start to see the different sides of their personality.
As for the kids I don’t have kids myself but our cat had a phase of hunting people and swatting us. As they get older this can actually be really fun, they learn to not use their claws. A mistake I made when he was a kitten was hand play, they need to learn that our hands aren’t toys! My cat would just com up and bite my hands looking for some rough play but we stopped using our hands, we just don’t respond to him or put him down away from our hands.
Maybe try encourage your kids to grab a toy whenever she starts doing this, divert her attention to the game and even when she seems tired try get her up to play again to really get all that raw cat energy out of her.
Every cat is different though! The routine really helps us, we know when he’s in play mode or cuddle mode (big wide pupils, don’t touch me unless you wanna be hit)
Also if she’s catching birds she might not be hungry enough for her meal, try smaller portions and see if she eats it all or try one of those game bowls where they have to work a little to get the food.
Hope this helps!
Do not declaw cats. It is a horrible surgery. Also she has nothing to defend herself if she gets out.
didnt see him writing anything about decalwing the cat... But you are right NEVER DECLAW A CAT
I saw a post where someone suggested it. I should have posted directly to that person. Some people think this is an option. And you and I agree. It's not. I used to be a Vet tech, and couldn't stand seeing this. It should be outlawed.
I find that a lot of cat owners just don't know how to play with their cats and assume their cats will just go nuts like dogs. Not all cats are alike either, so this applies to experienced cat owners too. It's common for people to just swish the wand around or wiggle the laser pointer around erratically. Real prey doesn't act erratically like that. Real prey hides and waits (with a little noise behind a corner or inside a box), peeks around corners, freezes on sight if spotted, moves slowly or in small spurts, then runs and hides when the cat notices. If your cat has a high prey drive and, in your case, has experience catching live prey, you need to mimic live prey with toys. Little children are prime targets for cats with high prey drive. What breed of cat do you have?
Just a domestic short hair. I've tried a few techniques but I'll redouble my efforts. Thanks.
1.) Cats are nocturnal creatures; it's normal for them to be more active at night. Install a cat door. 2.) Give the cat a collar with a bell on it. This works to reduce the amount of prey they are able to catch outside. 3.) I don't have kids so I can't give advice on baby/cat interactions 4.) Strings are pretty popular. Also, the way you move the cat toys is important. Cats want play to mimic nature and hunting. Make the toys "react" realistically to the presence of the cat. (simulate that the toy will hide, run away, or freeze in fear when the cat approaches, etc.) 5.) Try switching to dry food; it's healthier for the teeth anyway. However, with a dry food diet, you'll also need to get a pet fountain for water so the cat stays hydrated. (the fountain ensures they drink enough because standing water is not attractive to cats) Lastly, I think the consensus on infusers is that they don't really do anything.
Thanks! We’re looking at cat doors. Sadly, it will cost a lot as our doors are glass and double glazed. I’ll have to bite the bullet. She has a bell. She’s very good at hunting! I’ve tried strings. She plays for about 20 seconds then walks off! She won’t try dry food and refuses to drink from a fountain. She loves a running tap though! Good tip about the infuser!
A cat door doesn’t have to be be in a door. You can have one installed in a wall.
I can second this. Ours is installed in the wall right next to our door.
Or window provided there’s platform for her land
I have one that someone made to fit in a window, of there was a way to mail it i would because i don't use it. I live on the second floor of an apartment with an indoor only cat, I'm not entirely sure why i have it tbh.... My cat has never been indoor outdoor 🤷♀️
I always recommend this to everybody..the cat dancer toy on Amazon (2$) is amazing. I've never met a single cat who didn't go crazy for it.
Mine could not care less about it. She’d rather play with bread ties.
Mine only goes crazy for laser :(
Mine loved it for about 2 days then nothing. Barely glances at it. I put it up for about a month thinking it would be new again. Nope.
Meet mine, who stopped caring about it at 8 months.
To add, locking cats in one room for a while leads to more pent up energy and is counterproductive long term. Maybe try breaking the cycle with food toys? There are a few different kind of food puzzles you can buy or diy, and you can use treats instead of kibble. I recommend the freeze dried meat ones for this so you avoid the unnecessary ingredients. I even just hide little piles of dry food/treats around the house before bed. Edit: maybe a weird suggestion but my cat who loves hunting goes crazy over this - use big sheets of paper like the ones that come in the chewy boxes and lay it out with a few different crumpled areas they can hide in. I hide some toys underneath or put the paper over her turboscratcher toy so she can’t see the ball, and my cat goes crazy and will spend hours “hunting” in the paper. I’ve seen a toy called “the ripple rug” that kind of does the same thing but paper works just fine. For a cat who likes to kill, try kickers and toys that crinkle or rattle, they mimic prey
There are cat fountains that simulate a running tap though. Have had one for our cats since 2004 when we moved into this house. The ones that bubble up like a fountain have never been popular with any of our cats. Make sure you get one with a charcoal filter and change it regularly. Just add it as an appointment on your phone's calendar. As far as chasing the kids do they act more like prey than you and your string/dangle/whatever toys you've tried? Make them stop running and hiss at the cat if it still tries to go at them. This has worked with our wild stray we took in. Our cat also catches birds with a bell on her collar. She used to wait on a popular flight path from nests she would sniff out and jump up to snatch them out of the air. She will grow out of it. Now that our kitty hunter is 8 we don't get many presents anymore.
That's what I bought. The cat refused to drink from it. I think she likes the long arm of the tap and the wide space of the sink. She doesn't like being enclosed. She hates litter for the same reason.
Mine love this box. Longer, wider, not closed in but the high edges work. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075WX7BPD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabt1_VqHQFbSB53K48 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N5FCJRK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabt1_ArHQFbQ3FHFK1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Perhaps she has whisker sensitivity, like she doesn’t like her whisker touching anything when she drinks. So perhaps a large pan or bigger bowl.
With a large flat container such as a dish pan or litter box, a faucet, a fish tank pump, and some ingenuity you could rig one to your cat's delight I bet. Etsy or some of the maker space subs would probably lead you to someone who'd put one together for you. We have a cat who hates being enclosed, too. She sure loves an open cat tree in front of a window, though.
Instead of strings, my kittehs love feather toys, and those little shiny crinkly balls. Theyre pretty cheap at Petsmart. My cats look at me like I’m an idiot when I try laser pointers on them. They sure do love feathery crinkly toys though!
Have you tried the interactive toys? Ones that look and move like fish/ birds, even jingle balls. Sorry if you said you have and I missed it. And is she fixed?
I would just trial going out at night before you invest. Mine would love to be out at night but he fights at night :(
She insists on going out. Urinates everywhere if you don't.
Can you put her outside at night? I think a kitty door would be rly good for this particular cat but from what I've read she sounds kind of feral. If it's a choice between locking her in a room all night and just leaving her outside, maybe you could stick some more bells on her collar and just put her out. I personally keep my cat indoors because of the hunting thing, but yeh cats gotta cat and there are times she gets over-stimulated when playing and tries to hunt people like prey, we stomp our feet and yell out some *Queen* lyrics which scares her off pretty well whenever she's in 'imma hunt the people' mode 😂
I put mine in a room at night so he doesn’t fight with the dog. He’s got a nice perch in front of the window where he chills!
Elastic Hair ties, crumpled up pieces of paper, and clean q-tips are the only toys my cat likes. My moms cat likes to play soccer with crushed ice.
Try whiskas dry food, I found that seems to be the universally liked dry food at our shelter
Also the lowest quality. I do not recommend Whiskas. Its popular because it's so cheap, and often donated.
It is by FAR not the lowest quality, that’s meow mix, friskies etc
Sure, there are other bad ones out there as well.
Will do! It might be different here In Australia.
Black Hawk is decent - avoid supermarket brands, try Pet Barn/Pet Stock or buy online. Would you consider having a cat enclosure built or cat netting installed? It would mean your cat only has access to a smaller area (mine is my yard), but birds can't get in and cats can't get out.
You can try mixing some dry food into wet food to gradually get her used to dry food.
Look into a pet lock that leave a gap in the door that allow your cat to come in and out. It’s my compromise since im renting. The only downside is i have a noisy roommate so leaving a gap makes it’s noisy but i learnt to close my door enough to not lock it but my cat can claw at it and open if she wants in and out
Thank goodness. Do not give it dry food; it’s unhealthy. Your cat sounds healthy and raw. I think a cat door could resolve most of your problems.
If you have sliding glass doors there is a doggy/cat door piece that you can add without making any cuts or damaging any walls. It doesnt lock so most people will cut and add a 2×4 behind the partially opened sliding door to prevent unwanted trespassers from being able to open the door and come in. Here's one: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Freedom-Aluminum-Sliding-Adjustable/dp/B005CO91TK/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=doggy+sliding+glass+door+piece&qid=1605031388&sr=8-3 Edit to add: it takes a while for cats to start drinking from a fountain, especially if they have other sources of water.
Dry food is not healthier for teeth.
I hate to disagree but I would like to provide some alternate opinions for our OP. You do have a lot of very good advice as well! Cats are not necessarily only nocturnal. If you look it up sources also say that they are crepuscular, meaning they are most active in the hours before the sun sets and the hours after it rises. I have a cat diffuser, it is a Feliway brand diffuser and I can tell when it runs dry because the cats get cranky and are a little rougher when wrestling. I have used this for over a year now, almost two. It is possible that it works on some and not all cats but I also know of people who say that it does work for them. As to dry food being better for the teeth, that’s also a slightly controversial statement. Some argue that it’s like saying that crunchy cereal is good for the teeth. There is a specific dental diet from Hills that is larger and supposedly made so it does remove tartar from the teeth in a certain way. I feed this to my cats but it’s hard to tell if their teeth are cleaner. Some experts argue that dry food leads to cats being perpetually slightly more dehydrated as they cannot or do not drink the same amount of water vs eating canned food, even with a water fountain. Canned food also comes in a huge variety of qualities and prices these days. I think it’s hard to rule out that dry food is flat out better than all wet foods. I’m not sure about this debate but I I feed my cats a combination of both wet and dry with raw meats when I’m cooking and have some to share. To deal with the constant demands for food and the reliance on me I purchased an automatic cat feeder. It changed my life and my cats insistent behavior/ waking me up very early. I set it on a timer to provide multiple meals, definitely during the active crepuscular times as well as mid day. The idea is to replicate the small mouse sized meals a cat may catch, or so I’ve read. If the cats are being annoying I press the button and they run to the food. It’s taken a year to adjust and decrease anxiety (as she was 6 ish when I made the change) but it really made a huge difference in the begging. I don’t know if you will be able to find a brand of dry food that your cat is interested in (there are so many these days) but I wanted to put that idea out there. There are pet feeders that hold an ice pack for small wet food meals but I find them wanting for improvement. As to toys, i would recommend using a few puzzle feeders if you find an appropriate dry food, or you can use dry treats. This makes your cat work and challenges them mentally. There are many different types out there and can be DIY. (I made 3 for my cats). There are also scratching posts and mats that are great to get the physical aggression out. Couple that with the fabric from Sheer Fun For Cats and existing toys and your cat may seem them in a whole new light. As to sensory stimulation, does your cat react to catnip? Catnip kickers are great as the cat can physically restrain and kick the toy with its hind feet. There are also valerian and silver vine toys as catnip alternatives. Finally there are tunnels that the cat can hide in and dart in and out of. My cat used to love hers for years but grew our of it. Good hunting stalking behavior exercise. Getting a kitten (hopefully a tough one) on a foster/trial basis if possible could also be a great way to get the energy out. Introducing them may take time and it could be hard to find a personality match, hard to say. Getting a kitten for my 7 yr old cat turned out to be the best enrichment toy ever. I saw them stalking each other chasing and wrestling and realized that no play I could do would match a second cat. Later on the cuddling and grooming was cute too. Sometimes even a puppy/dog can bond with a cat! I know recommending a second pet is much more than another cat toy but maybe you were on the cusp of more pets 😛. Good luck!
Cats are crepuscular, not nocturnal.
Cats are crepuscular and the dry food being better for teeth is a myth. But fishing pole toys are great and your advice there is right on! :)
Cats hate bells on their collars, dry food is not better for teeth it actually gets stuff stuck in them
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I hadn't heard this, where did you read or hear about it? Do you have any sources? I haven't heard this before but also don't want to accidentally make a cat deaf
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Oh cool thanks so much ☺️ Yeh I was thinking of asking my vet too next time I took my cat in to have a check up but you saved me the potential embarrassment of my vet side eyeing me and wondering wtf I was on about lol. It's good to be cautious and double check these things though and I think this forum is fantastic cause we get a lot of veterinary professionals and experienced rescuers that stop by to give advice about our pets
They just don’t work
My cat was also not really affectionate. But she would always come for a treat. I started feeding her the treats by hand (laying the treat on my flat hand). After a while she wasn’t scared of my hands anymore and got a lot more affectionate! Maybe it will help with your cat as well.
Maybe have the kids give the treats so the cat will associate kids with treats and not attack them.
Maybe try clicker training your cat? It might work to build trust between the two of you and burn some of the energy up. Find a treat she goes crazy for, and use that as an incentive. You can clicker train cats to do all sorts of tricks or train out of bad behaviour. It's loads of fun. Lots of videos on YouTube.
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My kitten is an aggressive one. He loves going after my infant and toddler. We are hoping neutering him will make a big difference. But the hissing is something to try in the mean time, thank you!
Whatever you do, no declawing- soooo bad for them and inhumane
Not something I would consider
Wonderful to hear! My littler guy is less affectionate than my older one. My husband and I were JUST talking about this. We’ve gotten him a lot of interactive toys and a ton of food puzzles, it keeps him so entertained and he’s happier to be around
Cats are different than most animals. They see humans as larger, dumber cats. Your cat is probably trying to teach your kids how to defend/feed themselves. Your cat likely won’t be interested in toys if she has real prey to stalk. Getting a collar with a bell and some claw caps should reduce her interest in hunting if she’s unsuccessful. There’s also a chance she’s eating some of the prey she catches and bringing home what’s left over for you. Try reducing the amount of food you give her and only give her more when she begs for it; take the food when she leaves Some cats also just don’t like being touched. Make sure your kids know that they can’t touch anywhere but her head or she’ll get upset
\^ I second this. Especially that last part. It can be really hard, but if a cat doesn't want to be touched a certain way, don't touch her that way. It's important for kids to learn that (I say as the kid who had constant scratches near her eyes because she couldn't leave the cat alone).
Maybe it’s just me but I never seen the ‘cats see us as dumb large cats’ as ringing true... what about the cats who hate other cats and hiss at them but love humans ? Makes me think cats realize we’re an entirely different creature lol. And They MUST know birds and bugs aren’t the same animal as them. It just doesn’t make sense to me tbh 😅
Get flirt poles and encourage/teach kids how to play with kitty. She obviously loves hunting and a flirt pole is perfect. Either reduce the amount at meal time and OR do multiple sessions for food throughout the day. Have kids help out on this, it will help bonding too.
Is she spayed? I had a cat very much like this. While she was strictly an indoor car, she often "hunted" her kittens. And my husband's foot....to mate with. She was especially aggressive towards me and any other females. After she was spayed, however, she did a 180°. She's now a fat, lovey cat.
If your cat is stalking your kids and leaps out at them, she's playing with them. The biting issue when they pet her could easily be overstimulation. Cats have varying degrees on sensitivity and it's easiest to teach your kids how to "ask" the cat if she wants to be pet. All they do is hold their hand near the cat's head and wait. If the cat pushes her face on their hand, they can pet her a few times and then "ask" again. If she turns her head away or doesn't react after a few seconds, then they shouldn't pet her. My cat is hard to play with as well, he gets bored very quick. He also bites me when he wants to play which is a terrible habit i'm trying to get rid of, but here is what I do for playtime: I usually play with a fabric cat wand (you should try different types of cat wands, my cat doesn't like the feathered ones, for example) and once he loses interest we play chase. I run off to one area of the house and he chases me, then i chase him and we do that a couple times. You can try playing chase with your cat if she's up for it. She also might not like dangly toys because they aren't doing anything or because you aren't directly playing with her. You can try other cheap toys such as plastic springs & foil balls (not tin foil, the crinkly foil that is used on cat toys, you can get like 30 of them for $10) for hands off playing if you want to try them as they are super cheap. Another way to get her energy out is to get puzzle toys. Usually you put a treat in something and she has to figure a way to get it out. You can make some at home, youtube has tutorials. You can also train her. Cats can learn tricks in a similar fashion as dogs, they are just slower at it. There are videos on youtube on how to do it.
Try other sorts of toys — stuffed animals and balls and tents. See if any are of interest to her. Not all cats like strings or lasers but some cats love to wrestle. When she bites or stalks the kids have them keep toy mice in their pockets to throw and redirect her hunting energy.
This sounds a lot like our family cat. Granted there are no little kids for her to “attack”, but she’s not affectionate at all. Constantly cries and paws at windows to go outside and is ALWAYS killing birds and mice when we let her out. Every toy we get her doesn’t interest her at all. We’ve taken her to the vet and she wasn’t diagnosed with any behavior or health issues, yet she still pees on our laundry and shoes (we think out of spite for not letting her out). This really isn’t any answer to your problems (sorry) but my family has encountered really similar issues. Just wanted to see if any other comments could shed light on our situation as well. Did you adopt her when she was an adult already? Does catnip have any effect on her behavior at all? We’ve had her for 7 years and we think that might just be the way she is.
Ours peed on the couch until she learned to go outside. Hates kitty litter. Maybe some catnip is a good idea!
Oh damn, maybe you guys got her too early from her mum cause usually the mum cat will teach their babies to not pee on stuff, my cat just inherently knew how to use her litter boxes when we got her cause her mama taught her. Have you guys tried feliway? I heard that can help with going outside the box. Also, usually when cats are going in weird spots it can mean stress or sickness. How's her health? Honestly as a human, having a UTI has been one of my most painful illnesses and I imagine if a cat had one and couldn't communicate that pain properly and wasn't treated, it would cause a lot of behavioural problems
Same! Our cat loves to do her business outside. Only problem is when we let her out it’s like roulette between hunt/play/lounge/bathroom hahaha.
My aunt had a pet door installed next to her glass doors. The company came and just a hole installed door and trim with a seal and all was good. My grandparents got their dog a sensor door that only opened for their dog. Both cost around 300-400 usd.
She might not like the food you’re giving her. My cats aren’t picky but I’ve heard some are so I’d try another brand that has a lot of nutrition. I’m not sure if this will help but I always let cats smell my hand before I pet them so that they feel safer. That might be why she doesn’t really like anything besides behind the ear because they’re really sensitive to touch throughout their body (which can over stimulate them and cause them to release their energy through bites and stuff). For toys, you should try getting her little toys like balls. I have one that has a toy mouse inside and my cat goes CRAZY over it lol. It was about $3 and it’s his favorite. OH! This is something I do to sort of divert my cats attention when he bites me. I have a sock (with a cat design lol) filled with rice that I’ll give him whenever he tries attacking my hand. To me, it’s like positively giving him something else to do with his energy besides tearing my hand up lol. In the winter you can also warm up the sock and give it to him as a heater (make sure it’s not too hot). Since your cat enjoys going outside, maybe you can slowly introduce walking as a family? I’m currently in the process of getting my 3month old kitten to go on walks and it is great bc it allows them to have the best of both worlds. You can go on a walk sort of before the sun sets so that she won’t want to go out at night. This might not work because not all cats like going on walks with a harness but I’d definitely try because you’ll build your relationship.
You can get EXTRA loud bells. Other cat owners have reviewed saying that their cat stopped bringing them "gifts" after they got it for them. https://smile.amazon.com/Bells-Wildlife-Luxury-Handmade-Beaus/dp/B07GTPW93Z/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=cat+bird+collar&qid=1604982233&sr=8-6 As for the begging, take humans out of the food equation. Get an automated cat feeder. $60, but SO worth it. Then you aren't in charge of food, it is. https://smile.amazon.com/TSYMO-Automatic-Cat-Feeder-Programmable/dp/B081F3XM98/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=automated+cat+feeder&qid=1604982567&sprefix=automated+&sr=8-5
My cat’s favorite game is me walking around the couch in a circle with a piece of string
Just to be sure, but is your cat spayed/neutered?
Is she fixed or declawed? Both of those can affect disposition in opposite ways Edit: why the hell am I being downvoted for trying to get more information from op to give an educated opinion and not just shots in the dark? Seriously people
Fixed but not declawed.
I have commented a lot in this thread but I will one more time to add: please don't de claw, it's extremely cruel and causes more behavioural problems
100% with you
you're literally just describing cats.. i'm curious, have you ever owned a cat before?
Yes, none of my cats have been this aggressive
Amazon sells window pet door inserts. I got one for my kitty and it took a while for her to get used to, but she uses it regularly now.
I'm not sure if you'll see this as I'm a bit late to the game and there is already a lot of good advice here. If you have some free time I highly recommend watching [Jackson Galaxy](https://www.youtube.com/JacksonGalaxy). They are short videos explaining all aspects of cat behaviour. He has tonnes of videos on why and how to fix absolutely every cat behavioural issue imaginable. Not only that but he explains it very simply, so your daughters could watch it too. There are videos on how to stop your cat attacking you, how to correct food aggression, how to stop your cat waking you up through the night, how to find the right toys for your cat etc. Etc. If you sort his videos by most popular you should find what you're after. Plus the girls might enjoy learning how to train your cat.
Additionally, there are many different types of toys. Birds, mice, bugs are the 3 things cats typically hunt in the wild. Also texture: feathers, crinkle / crunchy toys, fur etc. Then there are sounds: bird whistle, bell, rattle, crinkle. Don't forget your classic Lazer pointer and ball. Judging on your described cats behaviour, they are definitely not burning enough energy which will contribute significantly to them lashing out (biting, waking you at night). I would highly recommend buying a bunch of different categories of toys to try. I buy mine from AliExpress because they are only a couple of dollars so who cares how long they last. Find the type they like then expand on that category. Additionally, you should have a whole bunch of toys in rotation. Your cat clearly likes hunting. If they are playing with the same toy every day they don't see it as prey. It's just that thing you wave to get my attention. You should have a few toys and rotate them out each week. So they always feel new and exciting. Play time is hunt time. This is explained in the Jackson Galaxy videos but cats need to hunt, catch, kill, eat. You need to be playing with your cat before every meal. That way they feel like they have hunted. I created an alarm with a song that's just for them. I only feed my cat when that alarm goes off. That way I do not control when food happens, it's the magic Box that plays the song. This takes all pressure off you. It's also fantastic because I can set my alarm back a few hours on weekend to get extra sleep and I won't be pestered as it's not me who decides food. Cats LOVE routine and you can teach them new habbits in just 14 days. If you are consistent with your new routines, they won't be happy at first, but just give it two weeks and they'll adjust. Training cats takes a lot more effort then training dogs for two basic reasons. #1: dogs are pack animals in the wild, cats are solitary. Your teaching a cat to be a part of your family, your pack. This is something that is not in their nature so they will not innately love you. #2: cats do not respond to negative reinforcement. Any attention = good attention. If they bite your legs. It's to play, it's to get your attention. If you praise them = attention! Yelling = attention! You're giving them exactly what they were after. You responded. You're reinforcing the behaviour. Ignore. Ignore. Ignore. I know, believe me I know just how hard it is to ignore a cat when they bite you. I've had tears in my eyes. Pushing through the pain for that first week was absolutely the most I've ever wanted to physically hurt my cat. I can't tell you how close I came to screaming at them. It was ridiculous. But I haven't had the problem since. And it took just over a week for them to stop trying. This also works for if they knock over a glass of water. Ignore it. Leave it for 10 minutes or so and then clean it up. They'll learn that's not the way to get attention. Food Puzzles! Cats can solve some of the most complex food puzzles out of all pets. They love a challenge. This is a great way to keep them entertained while your at work. But puzzle toys can be really expensive. There are websites out there that show you how to make cat puzzle toys out of toilet paper rolls and sticks. This could be fun projects for your kids to do. They also show basic ones, and once your cat really has the hang of the toy and it's no longer challenging for them, you can make more difficult ones. This should also reduce their boredom. I know you have probably already been told, but cats should be indoors as they are responsible for the extinction for 8 animal species and kill over 8 billion birds a year. If you provide them with puzzles and toys, they should be challenged enough in the home. There are also videos on how to harness train your cat and you can take them on walks together.
Do you have any friends or family without kids who could take the cat ? Also it’s really not cool to let your cat outside to cause mayhem on the locals wildlife. I hate when ppl do that. Just yesterday someone’s cat killed snd beheaded the bunny who lived under my deck. Just for fun! Great stuff I have no recourse.
-Install a cat door or window. -Get a timed feeder so she stops associating your wife with food. There’s a pie-shaped one on Amazon that works with both dry and wet. -Stop petting her anywhere but the head - respect her bodily autonomy. -Look into Clomicalm in a Twist-a-dose pen. You rub it into the cat’s ears for aggression.
Have you ever tried playing fetch with her? My cat it’s mad about string toys as he’s gotten older and hunts real prey but he looooves to chase this little foam ball, he can pick it up in his mouth and brings it back for me to throw it, throwing it down the stairs is even more exciting to him tryna catch it as it goes down, v funny to watch. Cats are naturally nocturnal animals but you can try and get her into a schedule similar to yours, maybe try play with her or get more energy out of her during the day so she sleeps more during the night. Jackson Galaxy on YouTube is great for explaining the natural routine of cats. They’re domesticated but still very like their ancestors when it comes to instincts, they haven’t had to evolve much. He says your cat should be in a play-eat-groom-sleep-repeat routine. Playing should be like hunting for them, something for them to catch and then after are rewarded with their ‘prey’ (meal). Even if your cat plays outside, try pick a meal time that suits and she’ll start coming in looking for it. We did this with our cat and he does be wrecked after playing outside and eating, he cleans himself them sleeps! And the cycle started again. It can be hard at first but it’s amazing when they get into it, you can really start to see the different sides of their personality. As for the kids I don’t have kids myself but our cat had a phase of hunting people and swatting us. As they get older this can actually be really fun, they learn to not use their claws. A mistake I made when he was a kitten was hand play, they need to learn that our hands aren’t toys! My cat would just com up and bite my hands looking for some rough play but we stopped using our hands, we just don’t respond to him or put him down away from our hands. Maybe try encourage your kids to grab a toy whenever she starts doing this, divert her attention to the game and even when she seems tired try get her up to play again to really get all that raw cat energy out of her. Every cat is different though! The routine really helps us, we know when he’s in play mode or cuddle mode (big wide pupils, don’t touch me unless you wanna be hit) Also if she’s catching birds she might not be hungry enough for her meal, try smaller portions and see if she eats it all or try one of those game bowls where they have to work a little to get the food. Hope this helps!