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About Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too.
Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again.
Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
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* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Cats > Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral) > Behaviour Change
Expert: Dear Tabbi - 11/2/2009
Question
My cat is 18 months, she was fixed just before summer, i didnt notice any change in her behaviour after this. But in the past month or so, she has become really clingy, she is constantly walking over me and under my feet, this may sound trivial but it makes day to day tasks difficult. She cant seem to just sit down anymore, she is constantly pulling things down to try and pull them apart, tissue of any kind being her favourite. Im not too fussed by this change in behaviour, but i live in a shared house and she is really begining to get under the skin of my flatmates, Im worried that they are going to say she has to go. Is there anything i can do to make her calm down again?
Answer
Ally,
It could be a number of things causing her behavior.
She may need a 'friend' for company, companionship, and play. A single cat can be more destructive due to a high energy level and resulting boredom.
Give her more toys and things to help burn off energy. Give her own roll or box of tissues to play with, a pet laser light #at PetSmart, etc.# is great for burning up energy and playing interactively with you #she can chase the 'little red bug' on the floor, ceilings, and walls#, Ping Pong balls in the bathtub are fun #plug the drain or they get stuck#, little furry toy mice that she can bat around, little sparkly craft balls #from a craft store or Wal-Mart craft dept.# that you can throw for her to chase #some cats will retrieve and bring them back to you to throw again#, maybe a secure cage with gerbils, mice, or lizards that she can watch and safely try to 'hunt',videos for cats #my cats love them!#, here is a link where I got mine:
http://petsittervideos.com/index.html
I would suggest, if you don't already, to free-feed. That is keeping a bowl of a high quality dry food always available. If she is hungry she can 'munch' when she wants without bugging you to eat.
Sometimes the behavior is caused by insecurity and change in the home. If so, give her lots of reassurances. And, some cats are more 'needy' for attention than others. That is just their personality. It's sweet, but can be annoying.
I hope these suggestions will give you some ideas and help her behavior.
Tabbi
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