Bruce, the bored mischievous kitten

madzoya

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Hi all,

Here I am again reporting on my very mischievous  kitten. Yesterday he jumped from our dresser to the drappery and brought everything down with him. Didn't get hurt by pure luck.

He is now fascinated with the drappery. The living room is good for climbing, the bedroom ones are good for pushing around and apparently to jump on.

It's like he wants to reach the ceiling. We ordered a big cat tree so he can be high, but it will take a week to arrive, so until then we will have to try and control him. And i'm afraid when it arrived he'll jump from there (1,80m) to the ceiling!

I feel he is bored, lacks things that chalenge him. However I am at a loss to find toys or games that he would like. 

Bruce is not at all food oriented, so snack games and puzzles will not grab his attention. In order to engage his attention, there has to be movement involved. But we cannot wave a wand at him 24/7. And even if we do, we need to change wands, as he eventually gets tired of the same.

We tried moving objects, doesn't work. The BB8 robot that I thought he would find amazing does not engage him at all. 

He doesn't like boxes. He doesn't go for stuffed toys.

He has every toy you can imagine, but at this point it's wands or his mouse, which he tosses around for 3 minutes and leaves.

Then he roams the house and meows. Constantly, like he wants something to do and doesn't find it. I feel like a failure, because I cannot provide him with what he needs. And I feel guilty because he maybe needs a friend and I cannot afford to get him one.

Or it's just an age thing, I don't know.

Here you can find him on our dresser (try to see black in black, he can hide in plain sight).


Thank the Lord we're going to the weekend house today, so there will be new things, and drapperies, to explore.
 

tabbytom

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Hello Madzoya,
Bruce is lovely!

Yea, it's the age thingy and also he likes to explore new things. Most probably he'll get bored after awhile.

You are not a failure, just because you cannot provide what he wants. You've given all your love and attention and a warm loving home to him which is the most important.
Every time he meows seeking for something which you don't have, just carry him and tell him you love him. Sometimes I think they wants to be carried.

So keep it up!
 

spookysmom234

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Hi all,

Here I am again reporting on my very mischievous kitten. Yesterday he jumped from our dresser to the drappery and brought everything down with him. Didn't get hurt by pure luck.

He is now fascinated with the drappery. The living room is good for climbing, the bedroom ones are good for pushing around and apparently to jump on.

It's like he wants to reach the ceiling. We ordered a big cat tree so he can be high, but it will take a week to arrive, so until then we will have to try and control him. And i'm afraid when it arrived he'll jump from there (1,80m) to the ceiling!

I feel he is bored, lacks things that chalenge him. However I am at a loss to find toys or games that he would like. 

Bruce is not at all food oriented, so snack games and puzzles will not grab his attention. In order to engage his attention, there has to be movement involved. But we cannot wave a wand at him 24/7. And even if we do, we need to change wands, as he eventually gets tired of the same.

We tried moving objects, doesn't work. The BB8 robot that I thought he would find amazing does not engage him at all. 

He doesn't like boxes. He doesn't go for stuffed toys.

He has every toy you can imagine, but at this point it's wands or his mouse, which he tosses around for 3 minutes and leaves.

Then he roams the house and meows. Constantly, like he wants something to do and doesn't find it. I feel like a failure, because I cannot provide him with what he needs. And I feel guilty because he maybe needs a friend and I cannot afford to get him one.

Or it's just an age thing, I don't know.

Here you can find him on our dresser (try to see black in black, he can hide in plain sight).



Thank the Lord we're going to the weekend house today, so there will be new things, and drapperies, to explore.
You're describing my cat spooky! They even look the same :0
 

kalebkat

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Hi Spookysmom! I see that you are a newer member , like me. Welcome ! To you and your cat, Bruce.

I have a male cat as well, and although he does NOT allow boredom in this house, I think you have provided for your Bruce very generously and done all you can. Have you tried making a "scent trail" ? I read it online, its a cool activity where you rub or spray different scents all around the home on occasion as a way to entice your kitties scenses. (sp?)  I would think that things such as clove, lavender, sprayed natural rose mist, vanilla, pretty much anything that's not citrus would do. Oh, and of course CATNIP!!! Have you tried catnip? I haven't yet.

My former cat who passed away got bored easily . She would hit something two or three times then walk away like a princess and never come back. Even her wand toys didn't do the trick. Kaleb absolutely loves his, especially the one with feathers. I really am looking forward to purchasing some catnip. Mint I hear is good as well. 

Also, paper bags and boxes . And like TabbyTom said, maybe he wants to be carried and cuddled instead. Sometimes a cat just prefers touch which doesn't make them bad ..... just *different* 

good luck !
 
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madzoya

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Bruce doesn't like to be carried at all (we're working on it for necessary purposes) and although he likes cuddles, he's not a needy cat at all. So he walks away after 2 minutes.

I've tried catnip. It makes him more hiper and does not increase his attention span at all. 

He's just always on the move! Like a black ball of energy!
 

msFriday

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OMG, you are describing my cat, Indy, completely!  Even down to the fact that he doesn't like to be carried/held!

We adopted him 3 months ago from a rescue shelter, and he gets bored very easily (he lived in an open shelter with 106 other cats, so had plenty of activity).  He will be 4 next month, so he's not a "mischievous kitten," but a bored adolescent.  He already has a high cat tree, which gives him access to our tall bookcases and my tall computer desk.  But that doesn't stop him from trying to jump places he shouldn't -- the top of our medicine cabinet, the top of the shower curtain (that one left him a bit wet, but luckily unhurt), etc.  Yesterday I couldn't find him, but finally heard him -- in the TV cabinet, behind the flat screen TV which he had tried to jump on top of.  Luckily, he didn't scratch the TV screen -- we just had to clean his paw prints off of it...

He will play with some toys, but nothing for very long.  I, too, have considered getting him a companion -- what does everybody think of that idea?  Would it help, or maybe make things worse?  Could it make him feel insecure?

Indy, in one of his (few) quiet moments....

 

tabbytom

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......................Have you tried making a "scent trail" ? I read it online, its a cool activity where you rub or spray different scents all around the home on occasion as a way to entice your kitties scenses. (sp?)  I would think that things such as clove, lavender, sprayed natural rose mist, vanilla, pretty much anything..........................
I read that you mentioned "scent trail"...........I just want to bring your attention about Essential Oil, just in case you are not aware of what it does to your kitty. It's a good read :-
http://www.thecatsite.com/t/326833/essential-oils-and-cats

Better be safe than sorry ;)
 

kalebkat

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@MsFriday Indy is beautiful! And yet another *smug* kitten face! Those are my favorite!

My cat loves to go behind the tv as well. He gets to my less stable jewelry containers and boxes and is always messing with my jewelry. Luckily he hasnt broken any of it yet. Maybe I should give some to him to wear! Haha

He hasnt gone up the shower curtain but does climb up on the edge and also goes over to the toilet. This morning I caught him partially IN the bowl!

I think Indy is fine with just you. He knows he's yours and that you love him. Cats are great that way!!

I need to get some litter today and I will be picking up a bag of catnip and some spray. Id like to get Kaleb more freeze dried shrimp. I got lucky with this. They are healthy and he loves them. I think he'll eat anything!
 

msFriday

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Thank you, KalebKat, I think Indy is beautiful, too
!  I have always been partial to black cats -- Indy is the 3rd one who's owned me!

Thank you for your thoughts on getting him a companion.  Maybe I worry too much about him being lonely -- he certainly seems to dote on my undivided attention (when he wants it, of course, and always on his terms)...


 
 
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