Why does my cat "Yell" at her toys?

mishon · May 9, 2004

I was typing a message on another forum when I was interupted by my four year old female spayed calico, caterwauling her head off downstairs. I was not surprised to find her standing over a pair of socks (her favorite forbidden toy). She of course ran off when I came in the room. I understand her enjoyment of stealing bundled socks out of the clothes basket, but what is the yelling about? She sounds like a cat in heat, or in pain. You would think she wouldn't want to announce to the whole house at 3 in the morning, "Hey guys I'm in the laundry again, playing with your socks."

She does not like human attention, so I don't think that is motivating her. Its like shes trying to scare her prey into submission or something.

What is the deal?

rosiemac · May 10, 2004

I've never heard Rosie yell at anything, but Sophie does

.

If i'm waving my fingers in front of her and she can't catch them she yells out in frustration

cazx01 · May 10, 2004

i think that is quite funny, although at 3 in the morning i bet it isint!!!

but i dont have an answer as to why she does this, maybe it is just over excitment

rosiemac · May 10, 2004

You could be right with over excitement

squirtle · May 10, 2004

Dori doesn't so this to her toys, I guess because she really never plays with any of her hundreds of toys... ok, that's another story.... but back to the yelling, Dori does this when she is ging to jump somewhere she knows she isn't supposed to be. Likeup on the fish tank, or the counters, or on the dryer. It's like she is saying 'Mommy, come see me I am somewhere I am not supposed to be. ' She meows so loud, thankfully though she sleeps with me at night and so I don't have to hear it at 3 am

caspar · May 10, 2004

Originally Posted by Mishon

I was typing a message on another forum when I was interupted by my four year old female spayed calico, caterwauling her head off downstairs. I was not surprised to find her standing over a pair of socks (her favorite forbidden toy). She of course ran off when I came in the room. I understand her enjoyment of stealing bundled socks out of the clothes basket, but what is the yelling about? She sounds like a cat in heat, or in pain. You would think she wouldn't want to announce to the whole house at 3 in the morning, "Hey guys I'm in the laundry again, playing with your socks."

She does not like human attention, so I don't think that is motivating her. Its like shes trying to scare her prey into submission or something.

What is the deal?

Mishon, if these socks were dirty, maybe the smell got to your calico.

fastdak · May 10, 2004

Could be the scent of them, the fact that she wants attention or just generally being vocal. Miikka talks lots, and now I get worried when she isnt talking!!!

mishon · May 10, 2004

It is only clean socks, and they have to be folded into bundles. Size does not matter either, she prefers my six year old son's size, but will take my husbands socks if thats all she can find. Last week, she started tipping the whole laundry basket over, spilling out the folded clothes, in order to get to the socks (which I try to hide at the bottom until I can put them away). I will have to either start puting them away immediately, or get a basket with a catproof lid.

I think the "excitement" theory sounds like the case here.

Thanks for the responses!

spotz · May 10, 2004

How do you reinforce the idea that she is not supposed to play with the socks?

Do you make a loud noise?

Spotz

mishon · May 10, 2004

If she gets caught in the act, then I yell "NO!" and clap my hands loudly

. If I find that she has been doing it when I was not around, I show her the pair of socks, and say "no" in a normal voice. She is highly intelligent, but I cannot expect her to stop playing her favorite game because of my rules. She has a very defiant personality, and usually does want she wants, when she wants, but she's smart enough to know not to do it around me.

I will just have to hide the socks better, and start leaving "decoys" (socks that are too small or have holes) out on purpose.

twofatcats · May 11, 2004

I was just reading a cat behavior book last night where there was one example of a cat using socks as a sex object. One of the recommendations the author gave to discourage the practice was to booby trap some socks. For example, tie a sock with a string to a soda can in which you've inserted several pennies and taped it shut. Place the can so that a tug on the sock will make the can fall and create a noise which will startle the cat. (If it happens at 3:00 am, it may startle the rest of the household, too!) You can probably think of other booby traps which would scare her.

sammie5 · May 11, 2004

Bailey uses a very loud strident call occasionally, that sounds like what you are describing. Its very similar to the calls she used when she was in heat. She loves playing with spongy balls, and when one has bounced down the stairs, she chases after it. If I am not around when she safely retreives it, she does that yelling call. I have assumed that its a call to tell the baby kittens that she has returned successfully from a hunting trip with a precious treasure. Or, you know, the equivalent, to tell me that she has rescued the spongy ball.

lovekg · May 12, 2004

Krista yells too! Except its not during the day...usually around 1 am when we are sleep! She yells at her glove, she is in love with gloves this is the only one that she has been having for about 6 years. We wash it and she still plays with it.

Why does my cat "Yell" at her toys?

mishon

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rosiemac

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cazx01

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rosiemac

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squirtle

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caspar

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fastdak

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mishon

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spotz

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mishon

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twofatcats

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sammie5

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lovekg

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