Cat Behaviour Maven

Chapter 3

December 5, 2001

Bobby Boop

Bobby was one year old in October and weighs 11 pounds.  He is a bit of a monster, always chasing the other 3 cats.  Don’t know if he wants to play or is taunting them.  If he is disciplined by us, he will either bat his front paws at us or will run off and attack the other cats.  If he gets mad at me, he will run after me and jump on my legs.  Had him at the vet in October and because of this behavior, doctor thought we could put him on a ritalin type drug for 8 days.  He wakes up full of energy, and after taking pill is somewhat quieter.  Once he runs off his energy, he is okay.  We do not like giving him drugs and have decided to let him outgrow his attitude.

He does such cute things.  Follows me around house and comes when I call him.  He loves to score a cotton ball or q-tip.  He will take his bounty to a quiet spot and shred.  Think I saw him eating cotton balls, so we are very careful not to let Bobby get them.  Bobby also loves to dumpster dive in the trash cans.  Kitchen can is in a cupboard and office is usually out of bounds for him. Trash cans in downstairs bathrooms are in office and put out in guest bath only when we have company and cats are locked in our bedroom.  Bobby usually cuddles up at Ira’s feet at night.  Joey usually sleeps on pillow with me and Sophie is on my legs.  Sadie like the chair in our bedroom.  Bobby stretches himself backwards and is very long.  We call him Carpet Boy.

When we got back from San Diego, Coral told me that Robert holds the cat tunnel up and Bobby jumps in, runs through and jumps out.  I have done this with him several times, he is terrific. Have not had opportunity to talk with Robert to find out how this started.  I threw a toy for Bobby and he jumped up about 3 feet and clutched it with his front paws.  This kid has talent.  I told him that the next time the cat circus comes to town I will let him audition.

He is so cute and so endearing and such a monster.  We are so totally in love with him that nothing seems to matter.  He has been in the refrigerator, cupboards, toaster oven, closets and dishwasher.  He is very clever, very curious and very bright.  Heard a noise this afternoon and thought I would investigate.  Found Bobby in kitchen with a mouse in his mouth.  He heard me coming and when I walked into the kitchen, there he was, head between rungs of chair, mouse in mouth and guilt all over his face.  He is so cute.

Chapter 2

Bobby Boop

I took Bobby back to doctor after 2 weeks.  He has gained weight and doctor very happy with his progress.  He received his first kitten shots and was tested for feline leukemia.  He is negative and we are thrilled.  I brought him home and let other cats see him.  They are underwhelmed.  We are overjoyed.

We feed him bottles, burp him, potty him and love him.  He thrives.  At age 5 weeks we have Thanksgiving dinner.   Everyone hugs and loves on him.  We take him to see Santa and have his picture taken with Santa.  Bobby is so little, he is smaller than the kittens in store awaiting adoption.  We are so grateful for his good health.

At age 6 weeks he is weaned and box trained.  Robert takes care of him for 5 days while we go to Las Vegas.  Robert brings Coral over to see the “cutest kitten in the world”.  Took me a few days to wean Bobby.  Ground up kitten kibble in coffee grinder and mixed it with formula.  Put some on my fingers and he suckled off as though it was a bottle.  After 2 days he was a pro, and a few days after that he was liter box trained.  He can jump out of his box, so we put the box on its side and Bobby lives there.

Feline spraying has to be differentiated from peeing outside of the litter box . It should not be confused with a lapse in toilet training.

Spraying usually takes place at ankle height, which distinguishes it from a litter pan problem. Cat spraying is when they back up to a surface, and tail twitching, mark the surface with their urine. When a cat is urinating outside of the litter box, the cat will squat to urinate on a horizontal surface. Inappropriate peeing is not the same as cat spraying.

Cat spraying is also more usual among male cats than it is among female cats. Non-neutered cats are more likely to spray than are neutered cats. Cat spraying can also happen when a cat is stressed, anxious or territorial. Male and female cats that are not neutered mark their territory as a way of calling another cat.

Urine spraying is a standard, innate territory-claiming behavior that has nothing to do with your cat’s hygiene. Though both male and female cats will spray, the behavior is most common in non-neutered males, and in multi-cat households. Urine marking is a communication system for cats. Cat urine has pheromones which are chemical compounds that tell other cats certain messages. Do not confuse spraying with behavior that might indicate urinary infections and digestive problems that cause uncontrolled peeing.

Neutering or spaying a kitten when young can prevent spraying problems down the road. Your vet will tell you on the best time to spay your kitten.

Stress is another trigger for cat spraying. To reduce this stress, maintain a home routine, feeding your cat at the same time each day and keeping his bowls and litter boxes in the same location. Stress can also be a reason for cat urine problems starting up. Cats can get stressed for many.

Clean sprayed places thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner. What will not work is punishing your cat after the fact.

Cleaning the area with an enzymatic cleaner so the cat is not attracted back to the same site helps. Placing plastic or aluminum foil over the area, if you can, can be very helpful. Cleaning alone does little to reduce spraying. Cats that mark in one or two particular areas may cease if the function of the area is changed.