topic Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose in Pet Lovers

CAT acting BAD...on purpose

Happiness Is Inside JOB — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 18:52:56 GMT

I know this might sound crazy but I think my SPOILED cat (SOCKS) is acting up on PURPOSE when he can't get his way.

My kitchen leads to the patio and deck outside.

My cat loves to go outside and I would take him outside with me to the patio or deck only. I would have him sit on the swinging chair with me. So whenever I get the key to open the patio door he runs at 100 miles per hour and fights to get outside.

Well, I KNEW I had a large possum in my backyard by the shed but I had not seen her for a while. The other day I noticed, a few baby possums in the grass eating and I saw one on the deck.

SO you know what that means, no more Socks going outside at all. Especially when I saw the possum on the deck.

So I went outside on Saturday with hubby. Hubby opened the door and SOCKS ran to the door. Hubby picked him up and did not let him go outside. Then later when I was going outside, I put Socks in the guest room so I could open the door with my tray of food and drinks.

In the guest room is where Socks litter box is kept and I knew it was clean. I just did it.

WHY did that JOKER, throw up on my mint green rug. I know this might sound crazy but I KNOW he did it on purpose.

I was so mad!!! I got the stain out but I could not believe he did that. He was in the room for 20-30 minutes.

I don't know how to address this bad behavior.

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

ItsME — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 18:45:57 GMT

I don't have any advice, but I enjoyed your story, and I understand your frustration! Our fur pets are smart and communicate however they can. I don't know how to discipline a kitty! Good luck!

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

x Hedge — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 18:48:14 GMT

a universal truth . . .

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

NickNack — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 18:52:04 GMT

I don't think he did it on purpose. I doubt cats can make themselves throw up out of spite.

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

catwhisperer — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 18:52:54 GMT

@Happiness Is Inside JOB ....I can totally relate. I have a bad kitty who does things on purpose. He knows exactly what he is doing. I don't have an answer. I have been dealing with it for 12 yrs.

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

nomless — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 18:53:41 GMT

IMO, one incident does not mean a cat is acting bad. His stomach was upset, he threw up. Cats do that.

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

Havarti — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 18:58:20 GMT

Socks does not understand why the pattern you have established has suddenly been changed, and you have taken away a special privilege he clearly enjoys sharing with you. It appears to him you are punishing him and I am sure he is stressed because he has no idea what he did wrong to be excluded and then locked up. Stress can make them throw up. Animals do not have revenge in their character (we could learn so much from animals). Try to think of it from his perspective of being rejected, excluded and locked up. He must love you and really enjoy the daily ritual of going out on the deck & sitting with you in the fresh air. He does not understand you are trying to protect the possum and her babies. Could you put a harness & leash on Socks so he could go out and sit on the cushion with you but not be able to get to the possum & babies? It could be weeks or months before the babies go away and that long of a wait will really torment Socks. Just something to think about.

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

Happiness Is Inside JOB — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 18:58:27 GMT

@NickNack wrote:
I don't think he did it on purpose. I doubt cats can make themselves throw up out of spite.

you might be right.

I had another incident that was similar. I find that Socks will lick himself agressively and will lick his butt area, I wonder if the mixture of eating fast and bacteria caused him to get sick.

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

Kachina624 — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 18:59:23 GMT

You can only grin and bear it. Have you considered getting kitty a harness and leash so he could go outside but be under your comtrol?

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

eddyandme — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 19:00:49 GMT

Well, haven't had a kitty to be mommy to.

I have had and have dogs. I've found that a time-out warning works like a charm - for some reason dogs do not like time-outs.

I've also realized, I've become my parents! - tiwce just this weekend! Sunday morning I made a run to the grocery store basically to please Eddy, my furbaby, as we had been out of ice cream for a few days. At lunch time when he did not want to eat (though hungry - he checked out his dish and very disappointedly walked away)! So, I automatically said if he didn't eat his dinner, they'd be no dessert (ice cream). He ate his dinner, every single piece of kibble. I had earlier told him when he wanted to stay out in his yard, if he didn't come in they'd be no ice cream - he immediately came in.

Guess, if it worked on us, it'll work on them. That's the best I can offer - hope it works for you!

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

Happiness Is Inside JOB — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 19:02:35 GMT

@Havarti wrote:
Socks does not understand why the pattern you have established has suddenly been changed, and you have taken away a special privilege he clearly enjoys sharing with you. It appears to him you are punishing him and I am sure he is stressed because he has no idea what he did wrong to be excluded and then locked up. Stress can make them throw up. Animals do not have revenge in their character (we could learn so much from animals). Try to think of it from his perspective of being rejected, excluded and locked up. He must love you and really enjoy the daily ritual of going out on the deck & sitting with you in the fresh air. He does not understand you are trying to protect the possum and her babies. Could you put a harness & leash on Socks so he could go out and sit on the cushion with you but not be able to get to the possum & babies? It could be weeks or months before the babies go away and that long of a wait will really torment Socks. Just something to think about.

Than you Ms. Havarti

I will continue to take him outside.

I was worried about disease but I will just make sure he is held on the swinging chair.

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

sidsmom — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 19:10:20 GMT

I don’t think he was acting ‘on purpose.’

Sounds like your kitty feels threatened by the possum &

the vomiting my be a reaction of nervousness.

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

on the bay — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 19:22:58 GMT

@Happiness Is Inside JOB -

I was going to say too that I think he was probably upset and stressed out.Or eating too fast. That can make cats throw up.

The leash idea is a good one (if he can tolerate it).

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

RainCityWoman — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 19:25:50 GMT

Cats can throw up on cue????? Naw. I'd sooner think it was a hairball.

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

ILTH — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 19:27:30 GMT

I hope you're not serious.

Cats throw up due to physical problems (stomach, medications, disease, etc) or stress.

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

customerqvc2 — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 19:36:12 GMT

The throwing up could just be something simple like a hair ball.

This time of year, when cats lick their coats, they are shedding a lot. Occasionallly, a hairball forms and they throw it up. It's extremely common. My cat eats "hairball formula" cat food. But even then, occassionally, he will throw up a hairball. When he does, I give him a product that is a greasy substance (made especially for cats and for hairballs). I put a small amount of the hairball formula on his paw, he licks it off, and after that the hairball can be digested and eliminated.

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

luvmybeetle — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 19:42:22 GMT

@Havarti wrote:
Socks does not understand why the pattern you have established has suddenly been changed, and you have taken away a special privilege he clearly enjoys sharing with you. It appears to him you are punishing him and I am sure he is stressed because he has no idea what he did wrong to be excluded and then locked up. Stress can make them throw up. Animals do not have revenge in their character (we could learn so much from animals). Try to think of it from his perspective of being rejected, excluded and locked up. He must love you and really enjoy the daily ritual of going out on the deck & sitting with you in the fresh air. He does not understand you are trying to protect the possum and her babies. Could you put a harness & leash on Socks so he could go out and sit on the cushion with you but not be able to get to the possum & babies? It could be weeks or months before the babies go away and that long of a wait will really torment Socks. Just something to think about.

You are exactly correct. Animals can be habitual and my cats are the same way. When one of my cats wanted to eat canned food the other day, which I give once a day to all. He kept crying over and over, so I opened a can and gave it to him. Apparently he gulped it down so fast about five minutes later it all came back up. Cats are very sensitive and can get sick very easily. Your Socks is not trying to punish you, he is just not understanding why you locked him up. And that upset him. Cats and dogs AND KIDS do things to get attention too. I suggest doing what @Havarti said and get a harness. Then you can bring him out and keep him near you. Afterall that's all he wants.

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

ellietoo — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 19:47:38 GMT

The cat is following it's natural instincts. If you want an indoor cat you cannot let it out as YOU will. Once that cat gets a taste of the outside it is going to want to satisfy it's natural inborn instincts. Cats are hunters. They hunt and kill. It is not that they are evil. It is just an inborn instinct. You have allowed the cat to experience the very things that trigger those instincts. A cat hunts not only when it is hungry. When a cats sees the movement of a small animal it triggers that hunting instinct in the brain. The same will happen if they see a fly. Movement triggers that response in a young cat. Now you have decided that the cat cannot go out so it is going to be upset and throwing up is something that happens naturally to a stressed animal. Your cat knows that there is prey out there. It has gotten to experience some of the smells and activities of the outside world that it had not previously experienced. It knows that you are keeping it inside. It is upset and that stress is triggering the vomiting. Of course, some cats will vomit hairballs occasionally anyway but if there are no hairballs then your cat is stressed.

Don't blame your cat. Cats are not "bad." They simply act on their natural inborn responses. You have unknowingly created this situation. It is going to continue to be a job to keep that cat inside. You can't have it both ways with an animal that has inborn responses. If you want a totally inside cat your best bet is to keep that cat inside from the time it is very young. Never let it experience the outside world that triggers those inborn responses.

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

Happiness Is Inside JOB — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 19:47:44 GMT

After reading all the comments, I guess I was being dramatic. So many good ideas thanks!!!

Re: CAT acting BAD...on purpose

gizmogal — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 20:01:18 GMT

The opossum protecting her young may be a surprising aggressive threat to you as well. Get an exterminator hired to collect the possum babies and humanely capture the adult and have the “family” relocated to a place other than your yard. You enjoy being in their feral company more than your cat’s companionship?

For a reasonable charge and professional services, your outdoor area can be free of critters (what makes you think the young possums will grow up and leave home instead of further populating your nice yard?).

You also can establish a gate (buy it in a pet store) to give your kitty free range within the house except near the room where the slider is. Locking Socks up in one room is far different and more restrictive than having access to his normal territory throughout your interior except for the gated part.

Perhaps you are thinking a lot like a human, but not much like a cat. Makes perfect sense since you are human, but you challenge your cat’s needs and produce stress in his environment. Solve this with better effort and some monetary investment instead of assuming your cat is willful and destructive effecting deliberate retribution toward you. Cats are not all that smart. But you are.