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).
Education/Credentials ***********
Awards and Honors * One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
Question Hi, I have a cat that is almost one year old. He has gotten into the habit of pushing his food dishes, water dishes, and anything else he can find off the tables and I cant figure out a way to make him stop. I come home and his water is all over the place, a food dish that is really an old baby food dish b/c it is heavier is on the floor. I can't get him to stop. Do you have any advice? Thank you. He is a one year old male orange tabby.
-Karen
Answer Karen,
Your cat's behavior is very normal...for a bored kitty and for an orange cat. The orange cats seem to be more mischevious and energetic, AND have a lot of personality.
The smarter the cat is the more it needs mental stimulation. Also cats need a kitty friend for company, comfort, and companionship. A single kitty can get into a lot of mischief trying to keep itself amused. And humans can't play kitty games like another cat can. It's not good to have a cat TOO dependant on human companionship. Plus, 2 cats are easier to care for than one because it takes the pressure off of you to keep the cat amused.
He needs toys to bat around, like stuffed toy mice; ping pong balls in the bathtub (with the drain plugged) is fun for them; videos for cats (my cats love them!), here is a link where I got mine:
A kitty condo in front of a window that he can climb and look outside; maybe a secure cage with gerbils, mice, or lizards that he can watch and safely try to 'hunt', a raw beef rib bone (I have the butcher cut them in half for me) for him to chew on (the fibers help clean the teeth) and they are like a 'fresh kill' to a cat.
Also get a pet laser light or a shoe string to pull and play with him when you come home.
He needs your attention too, and knocking his dishes on the floor is one way he found to get it. Is there a reason the dishes can't be on the floor or where he can't knock them off? Or get some heavy ceramic bowls from PetSmart, Petco, etc. that he can't move.
These are some suggestions. I hope they give you some ideas. A friend for him about the same age and temperament (after a 2 week introduction period) combined with the above toy ideas should give you a happy, well adjusted kitty.
