Do you wonder if you cat is happy?

I worry whether Stumpy is happy with us. She never really interacts with us like the other two do, but she will purr at us and be snuggly on her terms. the other 2 cats play and snuggle together, and Stumpy sometimes snuggles with Lily and occasionally licks her head, but prefers to play with and sleep on her own.

She regularly tries to escape, is constantly destructive, and is the main culprit for ruining things, and I just wonder if she's bored here. We have lots of toys and interactive things for them, but I wonder if she needs a bigger place, and whether we can provide the right sort of home for her...

I knew Rosie wasn't happy when i brought Sophie home as a kitten because she stayed up in her bedroom for months on end and stopped coming onto my lap for a year I never once thought she would be better somewhere else either, because this was her home And i couldn't even imagine her being somewhere else anyway because i'd bonded with her 100%.

I gave her plenty of love and attention and she came around in the end, and if Stumpy's purring then she sounds ok?!.

I'm more worried about her hurting herself... She's chewing on cables regularly which could electrocute her (we're going to try to cover them all), she climbs high up on our bike rack which goes to the ceiling and is quite narrow and has fallen a couple of times. A have sprayed it with bitter apple type stuff and also put double sided tape all over it, but it doesn't deter her. She jumps up onto our flat screen tv which isn't very stable, then onto the mantlepiece which also isn't very stable, despite once again covering with double sided tape and bad smelling stuff. If that collapses while she's up there, the mantlepieces will come off, and the speakers and tv will go flying and she's sure to hurt herself and cause thousands of $ worth of damage to us.

I really do think she's bored despite lots of toys, and us giving her as much playtime as we can spare.

She has 2 playmates, and I don't know if she's put out by Smudge's arrival, but they all seem to get on well, and she's been progressively "worse" for a while now.

I just don't know what to do

How old is Stumpy now?. It could be that she's still in the mischievous stage?. Sophies 2 years old and i nicknamed her " Little Miss No Fear " because she'll climb anything.

How old is she now? Maybe she's just a bit slow in settling down. I have 8 inside although I have a large 2 story house and I brought 6 into this house only having the 2 that we have had for 8 years, I can't really speak to them destroying things or not liking one another, I am very lucky none of mine have ever fought or been destructive. Now My Cammie is one of those Cats that never comes out of my bedroom, she's very sweet and Loving but mostly just to me, she puts up with the others but really doesn't want them in my bedroom at night, she doesn't mind being on the bed with them or having them come and go.
I wouldn't say that Stumpy isn't happy some cats are just very independent kinda like little loners, mine just do there own thing.
I wish I could be helpful, and I hope you are not feeling bad just because you think she's not happy, she may be perfectly happy. I know the destructive business can be trying but like I said maybe she just hasn't settled down yet. Good Luck I hope it all works out for you

Originally Posted by Rosiemac

How old is Stumpy now?. It could be that she's still in the mischievous stage?. Sophies 2 years old and i nicknamed her " Little Miss No Fear " because she'll climb anything.

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Ahhh Susan Great Minds think alike It sounds to me like she just isn't settled down quit yet, some take longer then others.

She's a little over a year old now, so I can certainly agree that she's possibly in a mischevious stage still, but the way she's going she truly is going to hurt herself and I couldn't forgive myself if that happened.

I've never had a cat who has seemed so unsettled before.

Yes see she's still a baby, I had 5 of them at one time and found homes for and kept the momma ( Sissy) and the 3 girls, plus Miniman, Dunkin. They settled right down I have no idea why some don't for a bit, we know that as they get older they get lazier more layed back.. I hope that she will do that for you in a short period of time, I'm sure you don't want to have to find her another home, Maybe Hissy ( Maryanne) could help on this for you she knows it all. There all so different and that's what makes it hard. Keep you chin up

I believe Wonton is happy, but I worry sometimes that he's bored He has lots of toys, and I play with him at least twice daily, for 30 mins each time... some days more than that, but that's the minimum. He doesn't meow at doors, but sometimes if we open them he tries to get out. Sometimes he just sits there though. He likes to sit in the window and look at the birds in the backyard. I just worry that he's getting enough stimulation...

I've tried taking him for walks on a harness... maybe I should start that again. I tried walking him in the front yard/down the sidewalk, but everytime a car went by he'd get scared and try to run, so that doesn't work. I took him in the backyard a few times on his harness, and he liked it, but he'd growl when I went to pick him up. It didn't even seem like he was growling at me, but it made me nervous, so I stopped doing it. He has lots of toys and his cat tree... I just hate to think he's bored here, or depressed cos there's nothing to do. He snuggles with us constantly though, and purrs lots, and is always so happy to see us he headbutts us and even leaps into our arms, so I guess he's ok. I just want him to have a good life. I rescued him, so he's my responsibility now - I want to do right by him.

About Stumpy - I do think part of it is her age - she's just not settled down yet.. I think she may just need time.. but I do think you should try to figure out some way to keep her from jumping on the mantelpiece, if there's a chance it could come down. I know easier said than done.. I've catproofed in here quite a bit. I cut the strings on all the blinds so Wonton couldn't get his head caught in them and choke.. thankfully he doesn't chew on wires, but he loves to investigate small places, and a few I've had to block off so he won't go in there and get stuck.

Have you considered medication? It might seem extreme, but it really does help some cats. Wonton is much calmer now that he's been on Prozac for a while - life is better, and both the cat, and my bf and I, are happier

Sarah, what I've come to realize is that not all 2 cats are the same....she may never be the lap cat you want, and it may always be on her terms. I have had to face this with LuckyGirl. I still hope that in 5 yrs she will want to crawl on my lap for a place to nap, but I could hope forever.... My 2 are so different from each other, he is into everything...and could care less if you scold him, she is so well behaved and all I have to do is say "no-no" and she listens.....he dives for your feet to throw himself across them for attention, and she meows at me if I pick her up to move her. I am just thankful that you have given her a place to be loved and to call home. Also, the 2 little ones may be a bit much for her. Sometimes Luck gets so aggrivated with Louie, she would rather be doing big cat things & he just wants to attack her & play non-stop....she gets annoyed that he doesn't let up at all..... Maybe this could be it for Stumpy? When we pull out the cat dancer, Luck wants to play, but Louie is so fast & crazy to run after it like a looney toon, that she doesn't get to play....so we try to restrain Louie so she can play too.....maybe that would be better, giving her some quality play time with mama & papa, sans the little ones....

I think she is happy. It took Lucy until she was 2 to settle down. But she still will get into things and I can't leave my cereal unattended.

The one I wonder about is Carly. She was so playful when we got her but now when she is playing, she is looking over her shoulder because Lucy is a little snot and keeps interrupting. But then Carly will stalk and chase Lucy.

Originally Posted by LuckyGirl

Sarah, what I've come to realize is that not all 2 cats are the same....she may never be the lap cat you want, and it may always be on her terms.

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I realise this, and her not being a lap cat doesn't bother me - she shows affection in other ways, which is fine!

Also, the 2 little ones may be a bit much for her. Sometimes Luck gets so aggrivated with Louie, she would rather be doing big cat things & he just wants to attack her & play non-stop....she gets annoyed that he doesn't let up at all.....

Maybe this could be it for Stumpy? When we pull out the cat dancer, Luck wants to play, but Louie is so fast & crazy to run after it like a looney toon, that she doesn't get to play....so we try to restrain Louie so she can play too.....maybe that would be better, giving her some quality play time with mama & papa, sans the little ones....

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Smudge is pretty laidback for a kitten, she doesn't go into psycho kitten tear around the house mode- she's more of a snuggler Her and Lily usually annoy each other, and Stumpy will only join in occasionally, and it's generally on her terms again, so I don't think the others annoy her.

Maybe we'll start taking er for walks again in the evenings... It's dark and cold when we get home, but she'll appreciate te outside one on one time again.

I wonder that sometimes...especially when Trout hisses at me...to me a happy cat shouldn't hiss at their meowmy

Originally Posted by Trouts mom

I wonder that sometimes...especially when Trout hisses at me...to me a happy cat shouldn't hiss at their meowmy

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It's heartbreaking huh? It's so hard not to be able to communicate with them and just ASK what's wrong!

The only one I wonder about is Jinxie, she HATES the other cats, and my doggy for that matter she loves me though, but its hard to get one on one time with her when there's 9 other cats around, but she isn't destructive or trying to get out all the time so

I always wonder if Ophelia is happy. she seems generally miserable. She never eats enthusiastically, she attacks the other cats(in extremem trying to kill Lily), she attacks the dogs, she has/will attack me. She plays sometimes, but it's not a very "nice cat" play. Usually ends up with Dory hiding under em licking his wounded pride since he got beat up by a girl.

I always wonder Annie Rose is happy. She never plays and she just ignores the other cats most of the time. But she seems content. I also wonder if Lily is happy because shes stuck in my room all the time. And she hates the other animals. But when Im in there she seems very happy and playful

no, because I KNOW my cats are happy. same goes for my dogs. I try my best to fullfill their needs and make them happy.