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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Eating Bottle Nipples and pacifiers carrying around toys and blankets

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 7/12/2009


Question
My fixed cat it can be at night or in the day time she will get my sons (9 months) stuffed blankets or toys ...
carry it in her mouth and just walk around the house crying

any ideas why? she is almost 1 yrs old now the cat.
We definitely say shes the baby..  we dont let her even in the same room when our son sleeps whether we are there or not.
As she also eats his bottles and pacifiers on a regular basis!!
We need to hide them ALL the time!!  OR keep them up high.


Any thoughts on this behaviour? and ideas?

Answer
Lisa,

Actually, it is a common 'odd' behavior.

In the wild, cats hunt their prey, then they bring their prey back to a safe place before they consume it. Indoor cats have surpressed hunting urges that they can't satisfy if they don't go outside. Cats who exhibit this behavior are usually trying to utilize their natural instinct to retrieve. The only thing that the inside cat can do to satisfy this urge is to 'hunt and kill' something inside the home. The most common items are toys, clothing and blankets.

It may also be a way for her to get your attention. She may be feeling left out and neglected since you have had the baby and is 'telling' you that by bringing something to you that belongs to the baby. Make sure you spend quality time with the cat, as much as you did before you had the baby.

It a little late, but your cat may be teething when she chews on the nipples and pacifiers. They also smell like milk or formula which she probably likes.

You may want to think about getting her a kitty friend to play with and be companionship for her. That would keep her occupied and help if she is bored.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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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.

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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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