Misbehaving loveable cat... HELP!!!
By yumakutsuu
@yumakutsuu (72)
Canada
June 10, 2010 9:22pm CST
I have a white long haired cat named Artemis, me and my girlfriend got him from a farm house where he lived with many other cats. He was mildly abused by two five year olds who knew no better, the abuse wasn't bad it was just kids being kids. We live in a small apartment and Artemis has become very attached to me. He will constantly rub his face against mine and will even climb up me or jump and grab on to my chest to recieve affection. He loves being held and would probably only ever get down for life's needs.
We got Artemis when he was about 6 months old and the house he lived in had few rules for him which has in turn caused me and my girlfriend many problems. Artemis is very vocal and when he wants something he will meow and if you talk to him he will respond in cat. When we are going to bed he will do things he is fully aware he is not supposed to do and when he wants us awake or thinks we are awake and just laying down he will meow and misbehave trying to get our attention. We punish him with a squirt bottle and I have tapped him in the past however it only fixes the problem temporarily as after that he will go back to misbehaving.
He is smart and knows what he is doing as he will look at us while doing it and meow. So how can I make him stop he is about 10-11 months now... is it too late?
3 responses
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
11 Jun 10
What you think as misbehave is normal behavior for some cats. Cats are o mean and they don't make noise just because they want to wake you up. What your cat is doing is fully acceptable in feline world. Is he neuter?
@yumakutsuu (72)
• Canada
11 Jun 10
No he isn't yet however he seldome sprays he has only marked my things or things that smell like me which I consider a compliment oddly. I know about cats meows meaning things and I have learned that high pitched meows generally mean they are happy which he does all the time except when he is attemtping to get us out of bed. I bend over backwards for this cat as I love it dearly I just wish it wouldn't jump on bookshelves knocking things over and try to eat my glasses. It goes to great lengths when it wants something this cat isn't a quitter.
I admire your cat for personality. @yumakutsuu (72)
• Canada
11 Jun 10
That it has a great deal of. I am happy to say that though it misbehaves it seems to do it for attention and it is loyal. If I leave first thing in the morning it cries and whenever I leave 90 percent of the time it is waiting by the door for me.
@kaylachan (69370)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Jun 10
It can take years for animals to adapt to their sroundings and change. Sometimes you have to talk to hi, and understanding something like being vocal will probably never change. Some cats are more vocal then others. So don't punish him from meowing, or otherwise he won't be as lovable.
Just keep doing what you're doing and understand, it may never work, or it could take years. Unlike dogs, cats are harder to train. Just give it time, and try not to lose your temper on him. Because that's the worst thing you could do to him.
@kedralynn (980)
• United States
11 Jun 10
Cats tend to do what they want when they want. They are often intelligent and demanding. It's just how cats are. However if you have one that tends to do a lot of damage, maybe this article will help http://www.perfectpaws.com/train.html
It talks about how to teach them right from wrong. My cat was pretty destructive as a kitten but luckily she's calmed down over the years and rarely does anything wrong. Of course she's 15 so she pretty much just sleeps a lot anyway. But once upon a time she used to break a lot of things in the middle of the night, keeping me up all hours. Cats are usually awake at night and this was my biggest problem with my cat. She wanted to play when I wanted to sleep. She wanted to eat all day long too(but when I gave her an automatic feeder, she ate too much and got sick). I had to set up a feeding schedule and stick to it. Now she knows when it's meal time and only harasses me when dinner is late. She'll meow for attention too but she's learned to sit back and wait for it rather than pounce me and claw me up. It took a lot of time and patience to teach her. I don't think it's too late.
I read your cat also isn't fixed. Getting that taken care of will help calm him down as well.
