cat attack

1. 65

   PaulaHenry1posted 14 years ago

   Okay, I'm at my wits end! I got a new cat about 4 months ago. I swear he is all kitten as he is constantly into something and causes chaos with my other 2 cats. (starts fights,ect)
   But this is it!!!!
   
   I love Christmas tree trimming and all that goes with it, but unfortunately, it seems Nari does too! He will not leave anything alone! Jumping ON THE TREE! Eating the needles(fake tree), playing with my precious Hallmark ornaments! UUUUUUGH!
   
   Any advice would be great!

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      SomewayOuttaHereposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      ha ha!  Paula....no advice...i do recall experiencing the same thing at one time..he's a young one right and havin' a good time...my cat calmed down as he got older...but still loved pullin' on the ornaments hangin' from the tree each year....and the ornaments always got closer to the bottom of the tree and eventually some on the floor...what can you do?....lock him up and send him to jail for a month or so? j/k...he's gonna have a 'hey day' helping you wrap gifts too!

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   2. 76

      Shadesbreathposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You can try a water spray bottle if you must.  But my real advice is this:
      
      Recognize the fact that you brought a kitten into your home near Christmas time.  As part of that reality, I would suggest you NOT put out your nice ornaments and stick to the cheapie ones, plastic ones, home made paper ones and the lights.
      
      Next year (or perhaps 2012 would be best), your cat will begin to chill out (a little), and you can work that stuff back in (along with some spray bottle action).
      
      You brought the cat home, it's not really it's fault that it is a cat.

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   3. 59

      Ron Montgomeryposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      In my long history of cat ownership, this is the only solution I have found to behavior problems.
      
      <snipped - no promotional links in the forums>

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      1. 74

         Castlepalomaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Ron
         
         That is worst than the cat haters book

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2. 86

   Stacie Lposted 14 years ago

   the other cats will keep him in line...as far as the tree goes..he will climb it so put him in another room when you leave the house.

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3. 78

   psycheskinnerposted 14 years ago

   Cats will be cats.  I suggest seeing it as a chance to practise accepting the things you cannot change

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4. 60

   Laura freemanposted 14 years ago

   HAHAHA First off I want to say...Thats too funny. I know the kitty is a spit fire. Most are. Try to find the humor in it and realize unless you give it to someone else you may want to get used to it. As it gets older he will get more lazy. Have you thought about having the front paws declawed if it's an inside kitty? If it's a male get him fixed. Maybe that will help??

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   1. 0

      EmpressFelicityposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Aaargh.  I can't understand why people do this.  Cats have claws, and they use them - sometimes on the stuff you have in your house.  If you can't handle this idea, then don't have a cat.
      
      We have three cats and I know for a fact that at least one of them would regard a Christmas tree and its ornaments as fair game.  Knowing that, it's therefore been an easy decision not to bother with a Christmas tree (they're not compulsory, you know).

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         Laura freemanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I have had "plenty" of cats in my lifetime. In saying that..."I know they have claws for a reason and they will use them. I am very familar with how a cat plays and is into everyyhing. Including a Xmas tree. But I was just saying it was an option. It has been done before, although I didn't do it. Sorry if my comment angered you.
         I am a cat lover and love to watch them play. It was nothing against cat lovers. I would have 5 if my man would allow it! lol

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         1. 94

            Stephanie Henkelposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Whether or not you agree about declawing a cat ( I definitely DON'T!), the idea that de-clawing would keep a frisky cat from playing with tree ornaments is just silly.  Even cats who have been declawed will play, climb, jump and hunt.  Some even learn to catch birds.  Yes, I've seen them do it.
            
            The only thing they can't do is scratch you or your furniture.

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5. 82

   IzzyMposted 14 years ago

   If the tree isn't too big, you could try putting it up on a stand or table so that it is out of the kitten's reach.
   I made the mistake one year of putting wrapped up presents for the dog and the cats under the tree.
   In the morning I got up to find that they are ripped their gifts to pieces to get at the treats inside! What a mess LOL

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6. 78

   mega1posted 14 years ago

   My only suggestion for you, other than having someone take care of this cat while the decorations are up - is to put the tree and breakable things in a room where he can't go. - since it is very hard to train a young cat to do what you want.  All the other suggestions - water bottles, declawing, putting him in solitude, etc may backfire and you might end up with a neurotic cat with all kinds of problems for life.  Best to let cats be cats.  I actually had a problem with my crawling baby who nearly pulled the tree down on top of her!  so I had to put the tree up where she couldn't get to it.  Life with animals and small children is a challenge - I bet you'll come up with a good solution.

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7. 78

   Uninvited Writerposted 14 years ago

   Check out this article, it has some tips:
   
   http://www.suite101.com/content/keeping … ee-a173474

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8. 65

   PaulaHenry1posted 14 years ago

   Thanks everyone. Nari isn't actually a kitten- he just has alot of energy that I refer to 'as the kitten' in him. I wont declaw him, I do however clip his nails short. Water spray is an option I guess. I'll just wing it and hope he realizes that those little 'treats' he gets often may be less w/ broken ornaments...

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9. 92

   Urbane Chaosposted 14 years ago

   Two things..
   
   I had a cat that was the same way.. after weeks of finding everything broken in my home, I knew I had to do something about it.
   
   There are two great products out there that should settle that cat down - they worked for mine.
   
   First, Walmart sells these "calming collar's."  I didn't think they would work all that great, but I was at the end of my rope, so gave it a try.  It did help calm the cat down quite a bit, but she was still a little rascal.
   
   The second thing I bought was this stuff that comes in a spray bottle.  I forget the name of it, but cats don't like whatever sent is it it.  It's like a "cat-b-gone" in s can.  I found that at PetSmart.  I sprayed a little around a table that the cat always liked to knock stuff off of, and she hasn't been back on since.  I also just put up my tree.  I sprayed that stuff on it as well and so far so good. 
   
   I'd just ask around at the local pet shops.  I'm sure that they have similar items.

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10. 56

    Adam Shermanposted 14 years ago

    How about using a mesh tent as a playpen/temporary confinement when you'd rather have the cat in the same room but don't want it to engage in search-and-destroy missions? I've written a few hubs about the different uses of the SansBug pop-up... maybe it could be used for this purpose too... and the cats could also enjoy the springs and summers outdoors!
    

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11. 73

    Chatkathposted 13 years ago

    How familiar this story sounds, most likely to anyone who has ever had a cat. Typically, they do calm down with age and you will, no doubt, find ways to cope in the meantime. Fun loving felines like Nari have the impression that everything is done purely for their entertainment, much like a spoiled child. Without the ability to understand the meaning of X-mas or your beloved ornaments, I am quite sure that your kitty thinks that the Christmas tree was put there for her to enjoy. I went through many such Holidays with my cat, Baby, finally deciding that since she enjoyed the tree so much, I would celebrate her curiousity. After securing the tree as much as possible, I wrapped catnip, secured in a cloth bag and decorated with tissue paper and jingle bells on top. I did the same with cat treats inside an old Xmas socking of my sons.  I devoted the bottom portion of the tree to her, placing my "special" ornaments higher up or not at all. This seemed to work for us but cats are so very different, Nari might need a variation of the above, but hopefully, she will become so intrigued with what's under the tree, she will stop trying to climb it ^^.  I think, as some of your other resposes also mention, that you should try and look at it a bit differently, as cats will be cats. They are very independent and do not take to rules very well. I believe that once she feels that she is part of all the excitement and matures a bit, by next Christmas your angelic feline will wear a halo on top of her furry head!
    
    
    
    

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12. 55

    Hollandaposted 13 years ago

    We had a Christmas tree in 2009. It soon became apparent that it was not a great idea to have a real tree in the same house as a young "juvenile" cat. She went crazy over it, despite not appearing overly "bothered" as we were putting it up.  We were quite concerned as it was a real tree, and I had read some real scare stories about cats eating the pine needles and getting poisoned, or suffering gastric problems as a result of the needles puncturing their stomachs or organs. So, as soon as Christmas was over, the tree went down and was put outside in the back yard.
    
    Last year, due to the fact we had a kitten to contend with as well as Stolichnaya, we decided not to have a tree at all. We weren't about over Christmas (our landlord fed the cats and kept them happy!), and it just seemed like one more thing to worry us.  We had streamers about, but no tinsel (another hazard for curious kitties).
    
    It seemed a shame to not have anything much up, but to us, our cats' welfare comes first, and it is best to be safe than sorry.  Wrapping presents, by the way, with a 3 month old kitten, is easier said than done.
    
    This year, we will buy a small (3ft) tree, with a few tiny and unbreakable decorations.  We can that way keep an eye on the cats whilst we are here, and take it down before we leave for work, putting it in a room the cats cannot use (the bedroom).  Over time, cats do learn though association what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. It's a matter of spending time with them through play and love, and when they do something wrong, removing them from it and calmly saying "No". A LIGHT tap on the nose can work, but NOT hitting a cat or otherwise causing her pain. Alternatively, a small water pistol sprayed quickly at the cat as well as a "No" is useful...it's surprisingly effective and the cat begins to associate "No" with water being sprayed, and thus does not make a habit of repeating the negative behaviour.
    
    Of course, sometimes behavioural problems can point to certain illnesses - if in doubt, ask a vet!
    
    Your cat, though, sounds like just any curious kitten and they DO grow out of this (too quickly lol).

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