Problems with Henry...

juniper

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Lately Henry has taken to bothering my other cats. He and Meeko have always enjoyed play fighting, but lately this is becoming more and more frequent, and rougher and rougher. Also, Henry is always bothering Phineas, trying to play fight with him as well, tackling him, etc., and I think this is starting to stress Phineas out. Also, I think he is very bored (and actually, I think this is why he is always bothering Meeko and Phineas, as he is not actually *aggressive* with other cats and will also snuggle with them after play fighting - I think it's a case of him just having too much energy and no other way to burn it) - he is always running from end to end of the apartment, and wandering around meowing, and I feel very bad for him. I am embarrassed to even post this, as I am afraid this is my fault - I live in a 500 sq foot, junior one bedroom apartment, and when I had three cats, there were never any problems, and providing necessary care (vet care, food) is not a problem, so against better judgment, maybe, I adopt a fourth cat (Henry) thinking there would still be no problems - so I feel very guilty now that he is bored and that he deals with it by bothering the other cats, as I think this may be a result of him feeling to cramped here - I have certainly learned my lesson about how many cats can be comfortable in a small space for future reference, however, since he is here already, I really, really want to avoid rehoming him, however, (I do not want to be selfish and keep him if he is miserable, but at the same time, I want to try everything first, as I don't think his chances of finding a new home are good, considering he has some biting/aggression issues [he came into my home with these, so these, at least, I do not think are a result of living here], and he has already been rehomed once in his short life), so I am looking for some solutions to his boredom problems -I have already ordered a second, large cat tree, as I think that giving him some vertical space to climb and explore may help. We already have a lengthy play session every day, as well. I am considering harness training him, as I think an hour or two outdoors each day might really curb his boredom, however, he unfortunately does not seem to enjoy the outdoors at this point - he has only been outside on the harness once, so obviously he was afraid, so in particular I am looking for tips on how to get him used to going outside on his harness, but I would also greatly appreciate any other suggestions on how to help him with his boredom (again, other than rehoming him, which I would like to only be a very last resort, after trying everything else to keep him happy here). Any suggestions, anyone?
 

newigal

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They certainly are a great looking bunch of kitties!

I think you're on the right track, given your situation. Continue playing with Henry, to see if you can wear him out.

For the stressed out kitties, put some Rescue Remedy drops into their food/water a couple times per day to keep them from getting so whacked out.

I think the answer is more play time for Henry, to keep him engaged. Hopefully the new cat tree will help him.

I commend you for acknowledging this is an issue, and wanting to stop it cold.

Can you get him some of the kitty toys that has a mouse in a track, that he can bat around at his leisure? That may help.

Good luck; let us know how things turn out,
 

hissy

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It sounds like you do indeed have to many cats for just a small space, and Henry is acting much like his wild ancestor does (the lion) when caged. His running and roaming and prowling around is his way of telling you he feels trapped in such a small area, and he wants to get out. Knowing he cannot get outside, only adds to his anxiety and he turns that outward and is starting to attack the other cats. Please don't add any more cats to this mix- he is also more than likely spraying somewhere in the house, marking his territory hoping his scent drives the others away, and his "old" routine can get back to normal.

So what do you do? You create spaces for him in your home, places he can go, get off the ground and not feel quite so crowded. Clear off the top of your fridge, put a nice cat pad up there, and let him go there. Buy a sturdy cat condo with lots of levels and height, anchor it securely in your home. Clear out a bookcase, put in some cat beds. Go to www.katwallks.com and invest in some of his products or make your own. Window perches that offer diversions- put a bird feeder outside your window so he can see other things besides all these cats in his space.

Make sure these cats do not share anything. One litter pan apiece, each should have their own food and water bowls, their own toys, and their own "YOU" time. Also go to www.littlebigcat.com and look at their selection of articles, as well as their other website linked there and order some Rescue Remedy for Henry, and for the other cats as well-


Good luck!
 
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juniper

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Thank you for the advice! No worries, I have NO intention of adding more cats to my home (probably not even when I move to a larger place, but DEFINITELY not here).

I'm hoping the new at tree should make a difference for him, as it is quite large with lots of levels: http://www.armarkat.com/b7701.htm . He, and the others, do like to climb on the top shelf of my desk, so I will clear that off for them and make it into a little cat space. Same for the fridge. Those catwalks are a GREAT idea - does anyone know if I have to purchase those ones that are specially designed for cats, or if I can make my own with any type of shelving, as long is it's large enough and can support enough weight? Thank you for the tips, I appreciate it!
 
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juniper

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Oh, and I'm looking at the Rescue Remedy, and that one I'm not so sure about - I'm a bit suspicious, with all the talk of essences and stuff - does anyone know if there is any scientific merit to these things? (Maybe there is, I'm just a bit anti-'natural' remedies, to be totally honest, so perhaps I'm being overly suspicious). Has anyone tried this stuff and had it work?
 

hissy

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The condo "looks" nice, but my guess is that isn't very sturdy. You would need to anchor it, so that when a full grown cat takes a run at it from across the room it doesn't topple over under him. I have had that happen one time, and it wasn't pretty.
Now I screw them into the wall, or brace them so they can't topple over.

Rescue Remedies can work on some cats, and on others, it has no effect. No one really knows why. I find that my ferals are pretty much impervious to Rescue Remedy, yet some of the purebreeds that I have rescued over the years do well on it. It isn't that expensive and it is definitely worth a try. You have to follow the instructions carefully if you make your own- or you can buy it pre-mixed and ready to go.
 
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juniper

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Originally Posted by hissy

The condo "looks" nice, but my guess is that isn't very sturdy. You would need to anchor it, so that when a full grown cat takes a run at it from across the room it doesn't topple over under him. I have had that happen one time, and it wasn't pretty.
Now I screw them into the wall, or brace them so they can't topple over.

Rescue Remedies can work on some cats, and on others, it has no effect. No one really knows why. I find that my ferals are pretty much impervious to Rescue Remedy, yet some of the purebreeds that I have rescued over the years do well on it. It isn't that expensive and it is definitely worth a try. You have to follow the instructions carefully if you make your own- or you can buy it pre-mixed and ready to go.
Yikes!
How is the best way to brace it? (I know you said screw it to the wall, but screw what part of it exactly, to the wall?).

Hmmmm. Perhaps I'll give it a shot, then. I suppose it can't hurt (can it? That's the other thing, I'm nervous about giving any type of remedy not given by the vet to them in case it *could* harm them).
 

hissy

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It doesn't harm them, sometimes it works, othertimes, it doesn't. But I have never heard of anyone's cat being rushed to the clinic because of rescue remedy.

About the bracing, just brace it however you can, the best way you can. Sometimes that means angling screws into the flat part of the platform into a stud in the wall so the condo can't tip over. One time, I put up a ceiling hook and ran fishing line off the top of the condo to the hook to secure it. It just depends, but you really do not want this thing to topple over and crush a kitty-
 

elizwithcat

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Originally Posted by hissy

It doesn't harm them, sometimes it works, othertimes, it doesn't. But I have never heard of anyone's cat being rushed to the clinic because of rescue remedy.

About the bracing, just brace it however you can, the best way you can. Sometimes that means angling screws into the flat part of the platform into a stud in the wall so the condo can't tip over. One time, I put up a ceiling hook and ran fishing line off the top of the condo to the hook to secure it. It just depends, but you really do not want this thing to topple over and crush a kitty-
Hissy, what is the exact name of this rescue remedy and where do you buy it?
My health food store sells Bach Rescue Remedy for people. Is that the same thing?
 

serenasmommy

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I LOVE the idea of the "armarkat" products!!
Unfortunately, my mom's cat is too wide for them, so only my runt could actually use it. They also love being on the window sills, so does anyone know of any really good window perches?? I'd love to get one. Thanks!
 
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juniper

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Well, I have already made one change that I think is helping! My bedroom looks right out into the living room from wide double doors, so both rooms are clearly visible from one another, which means that before, unless they went into the bathroom or kitchen, the cats were always clearly visible to one another - well, I went yesterday and bought a large shelf that can free stand - it's both tall (taller than me and I'm 5'2") and wide (I think like 200 cm?) and I have used it as makeshift wall/room divider between the living room and my bedroom ( I put it in front of the double doors to my bedroom, with enough room to be able to go around the back of it into the bedroom, of course) - now it is not possible to see the living room from the bedroom and vice verse, it has totally separated the rooms - so now when Meeko and Esmeralda are in my room (their favourite place is sleeping on my bed) and Henry is in the living room, where he usually like to play, they cannot see one another. Well, last night, Henry totally left the others alone! He played in the living room all night like he usually does, but he couldn't see the rest of us, and he *didn't* bother the other three (who spend the night in bed with me) all night
(which is unusual, usually he runs the length of the bedroom and living room, jumping on them). I also made him some places on the top shelf of my desk and on the fridge, and he seems to be liking that. Still waiting on the cat tree, so we'll see about that when it gets here on Tues. Thanks again for the advice!
 
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juniper

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Another update - the new cat tree has been here for a couple of days now, nd that has been great!
Henry (and the others) love to climb it, and Henry hasn't been bothering the others in days! I'm really hoping that we've got this under control (we'll see if the novelty wears off and he goes back to his old behaviour).
 
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