My cat has turned into a bully - new cat? - discipline?

[dustylylac]

I'm glad I joined this site, I got some great advice during Motchee's Struvite episode overseas. He's all clear now, been about 2 months and he's eating and peeing like a champ. But, I have noticed a behavior change that still is lingering around; the little bugga has turned into the King of the household. If I'm working and have no time for little kitty, he jumps up on my table and starts knocking everything off, paws one thing off, glares at me, paws the next thing off (my phone) glares at me, until I get up pick everything up and then find him under my feet with a string or some toy basically barking at me. If I don't play with him then, then he slaps my leg, or bites my ankle and glares at me lol what is this!?!??! I have to stop myself from cracking up, I'm mean this cat has so much attitude these days. He's gone from cute wake ups, to trying to amputate my toes or a lovely swat in the face. I thought this would pass, as I have posted about this behavioral change before, but nope; he's turning into a warlord. So we basically have trained him to know when play time is, morning 20 minutes night 30 minutes... thats A LOT for a cat in my opinion, but I enjoy it so its ok. But god forbid I miss one session, I find everything knocked off my desk, my clothes dragged around the bedroom and pee on the wall above his tray on my couch or wall... (I swear he only does the pee thing when I miss playtime). But then sometimes he just sits on my lap while I'm working, puts his paws on my working hand and if I decide to keep typing, I get teeth in the wrist and a dirty look... lovely.

No joke, I was reading one night, he wanted to play, I wanted to sleep; woke up to book missing.... found book under couch, nibbled on of course. Don't get me started on the iPad mini casualty or the missing computer charger... he cant be that smart... can he?  

How do you deal with this kind of behavior? How do I get him to just chill out and be his old self?

So, we were thinking maybe he was getting lonely, especially because I have gone from being working at home, to going to the office now. What's everyone's thoughts of new cat? Or would that just create an even bigger tyrant lol I mean, he's acting out pretty badly, he was such a sweet cat before, and he still is, but just very demanding now. 

Look forward to more wise words! 

 

[franksmom]

Have you taken him to the vet again just to make sure he is 100 percent now? 

Here are some good articles on keeping cats off counters and how a lot of discipline tactics do not work (http://www.thecatsite.com/a/get-off-how-to-discourage-your-cat-from-jumping-on-counters) and (http://www.thecatsite.com/a/cats-and-discipline-dont-mix). Here is one on territorial spraying (http://www.thecatsite.com/a/spraying-when-your-cat-uses-urine-to-mark-territory). 

I am not sure if you can get it where you are but feliway is often helpful. Homeopathic remedies like flower or spirit essences also work well. 

Another cat may give him companionship and could be a good idea if his health checks out fine. Here is a helpful article about getting a second cat (http://www.thecatsite.com/a/the-other-cat) and here is how to introduce them (http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-cats). It sounds like you should for sure avoid another alpha.

 

[dustylylac]

Thank you for all the helpful links! Homework for tonight. I was thinking a girl would probably be best? Maybe younger? He's 2 years this month. Yeah, we have Feliway plugged in, and it's pretty obvious when it's been knocked out, he turns into a hyper mess. Anyway, I'll check out what the links say!

I'll take him to the vet this week - thanks again

 

[franksmom]

Yes I think a sweet slightly younger girl would be a good fit. You might want to order some spirit essences to help stops your guy from bullying the new cat (http://store.jacksongalaxy.com/Bully-Remedy-p/bully-remedy.htm)