I keep a cat in my house that gets frisky only when I am relaxing in the living room or the lounge. I’ll be dozing off after a nice cup of herbal tea and the thing will just jump up and start batting at my head. I have tried scolding but it persists.
Restricting its freedom results in even more aberrant behavior.
Is this a “herding cats” situation, or is there something I can do?
I recommend getting this cat a playmate, another cat or a puppy. Or you could always try playing with him more. Wake him up and play with him sometime when he’s doing one of his sun-naps. If he’s tired when you are tired, then you can have some herbal tea together and cuddle on the sofa.
[quote=“Quirky”]I keep a cat in my house that gets frisky only when I am relaxing in the living room or the lounge. I’ll be dozing off after a nice cup of herbal tea and the thing will just jump up and start batting at my head. I have tried scolding but it persists.
Restricting its freedom results in even more aberrant behavior.
Is this a “herding cats” situation, or is there something I can do?
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6572941025419743765
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHgEQ71rGwo[/quote]
Just quoting to make your links work. Html must be disabled in your profile.
My cat bites me when it wants my attention. If he’s really nice he just comes up beside me and puts his paw on my arm and gives a little tug. But I can’t talk on the phone without him lunging at my feet, elbows, or chewing my papers.
I have to use a spray bottle to keep him away sometimes, and occassionally lock him in the bathroom for a time out when the devil strikes him.
Once I started to show dominance the cat’s behavior improved immensely. Now, when he is bad and I scold him he turns over on his back in a submissive gesture. Of course he then wants me to rub his belly so he can nip my hand. But it’s okay. He loves for me to twirl him around on the floor and even make him slide across the floor. I know he loves this because as soon as he gets up from a slide he rushes back over for another.
I agree that a playmate woud be best but maybe not practical. Playing with him yourself at least twice a day keeps the bad behavior down.
[quote=“bobepine”][quote=“Quirky”]I keep a cat in my house that gets frisky only when I am relaxing in the living room or the lounge. I’ll be dozing off after a nice cup of herbal tea and the thing will just jump up and start batting at my head. I have tried scolding but it persists.
Restricting its freedom results in even more aberrant behavior.
Is this a “herding cats” situation, or is there something I can do?
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6572941025419743765
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHgEQ71rGwo[/quote]
Just quoting to make your links work. Html must be disabled in your profile.[/quote]
Nope that’s not it. What is BBCode? i do have that disabled.
[quote=“Quirky”][quote=“bobepine”][quote=“Quirky”]I keep a cat in my house that gets frisky only when I am relaxing in the living room or the lounge. I’ll be dozing off after a nice cup of herbal tea and the thing will just jump up and start batting at my head. I have tried scolding but it persists.
Restricting its freedom results in even more aberrant behavior.
Is this a “herding cats” situation, or is there something I can do?
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6572941025419743765
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHgEQ71rGwo[/quote]
Just quoting to make your links work. Html must be disabled in your profile.[/quote]
Nope that’s not it. What is BBCode? i do have that disabled.[/quote]Sorry, I’m not a pro at this either. BB code is what I meant. That’s why links and quotes don’t work for you. BB code is things such as [img] for posting images, [url]for posting links, [quote]for quoting text, [b] for bold text, etc, etc. That’s why your posts show the coding as opposed to actually quoting and linking. Edit your profile first, then edit your posts if necessary; there is an option to disable BBCode above the “preview” and “submit” buttons.
An easy way to see the coding in someone’s post is to quote that person and look at the person posts in the box where you type your message. Whatever doesn’t show on that person’ s post but does show in the box where you type your message is BBCode.
Your cat’s bahavior seem sperfectly normal to me. Cat’s like attention on their terms. He just wants to play. You can teach him or her not to use claws. Mom used to just thump the paws of our cats until they learned, and they always did. You must thump them exactly when they are using claws on you or the furnature, or they won’t know why you’re doing it.
Get a string and pull it slowly across the floor in front of the cat. Presto! Happy cat.
Even better, buy a 30NT mouse (plastic, covered with rabbit fur) at a pet shop. Pierce it with an awl and run 4 to 5 meters of fine nylon cord through it. Toss this, holding onto the cord, and slowly pull it across the floor, pausing and wiggling it so it moves like a real mouse. It’ll drive a cat bonkers.
When you’re done playing, put it away in a safe place. (The nylon cord is durable, but you don’t want the cat to get that wrapped around its neck while you’re gone or something.)
Are you sure about that? 
Laser pointers are also a cheap and durable toy, and YOU will exercise less.
Cats are quite smart at getting your attention. Be thankful he/she has not figured out how to jump on your belly when you are sound asleep.
[quote=“Icon”]Laser pointers are also a cheap and durable toy, and YOU will exercise less.
Cats are quite smart at getting your attention. Be thankful he/she has not figured out how to jump on your belly when you are sound asleep.[/quote]
Lasers work? What, to fry the cat when he’s nuts? 
You mean you just point the thing around the room and the cat chases the dot?
Very funny -though understandable.
Yep, cats love chasing the red dot around -don’t ask me why- until they are left panting on the floor. You can sit down, move the dot over all kinds of surfaces, and relax while your furry friends scramble in futility. 
(Add evil laugh)
Cheap, lasting, easy to store, no plastic parts to worry about, nothing to pick up, nothing to break (unless the cats break something in their mad racing).