For the love of God please help with the pyshco cat!!!

[Britishvixen21]

Please help me with Mya, weve had Mya now for 4 months and shes still no better. we had her fixed and shes still the little pyscho that she was before. shes still very aggressive. Shel come to you and want attention but as soon as you pick her up for a cuddle shes hissing spitting and growling at you. so we stopped picking her up and just petted her from arms length so then shel sit there but as soon as you touch the wrong bit shes scractching and biting! She is soooo destrcutive its unbelievable. she is chewing through everything. she has clawed all the underneath of my bed its now wrecked, shes chewed through all my cell phone charger wires, all my phone wires and most of the computer wires!!! she has as many toys as i have socks and a full range which we try and keep her entertained with. For instance i bought her the ball on the end of the rope she loved it for the rope which she chewed right through and broke. she got all teh shoe laces in the house and now shes started on the toilet roll! I went to a pet store last week and they recomended tabasco sauce on the wires it seems to have worked a little but i cnt go putting tobasco sauce on my shoes and hairbands.
Ive tried with the no thing. Ive tried putting the palm of my hand in her face and saying no. with a gentle but firm voice. ive tried clicking my fingers she just looks at me as if to say "**** you!" The trouble is im not at home during the day so i cant be telling her off 5 hours after shes done the deed she doesnt know waht im talking about or she doesnt care!! All i know is that im getting to my wits end with her, shes driving me crazy! We pay her lots of attention and ive got her into a good routine i give her treats when shes good and im trying to stimulate her pyshically and mentally. but she continues to act like a bad puppy. Please im close to tears most nights when i come home and find more of my house wrecked. im close to giving her up to HS. please give me some idea of where im going wrong.

[BMDLuver]

How old is she? Was she a feral?

How about putting her in a large dog crate when you go out to work so that she has her litter box and some toys to play with along with a comfy blanket? That way she can't get into so much trouble when you aren't around?

Also, don't be offended, but why would you at this time be looking to add a second animal into your home when you are having difficulties with the one you do have?

[Lucky Rescue]

I doubt if there is anything you did to cause this behavior, which from the sound of it is DEFINITELY abnormal. It could be neurological. I suggest you have the vet give her a complete examination to try and determine if anything physical is the cause.

IF no cause is found, you might ask the vet for medication to mellow her out a bit. She sounds like an extremely thin-skinned cat who is not happy or comfortable and that may help her. You can also try using Rescue Remedy.

Was this cat feral?

PLEASE PLEASE - DO NOT send her to the shelter. If you don't want her no one else will and even if someone does adopt her, she is liable to be severely abused or dumped on the street!!

If she is not adopted, she will spend days terrified at the shelter and die at the hands of strangers. She does not deserve this, since she cannot help the way she acts.

If nothing changes, or her behavior gets worse and you cannot keep her, please do the responsible thing and take her to the vet to have her gently put down.

[Britishvixen21]

No she wasnt ferrel she came from my freind who had 3 young boys so my feeling is she didnt have much training. as for caging her, I tried that in the bathroom with her bed, toys, food, litter. (she seems to like the bathroom its her safe room and the only room where she will sit on my lap and let me pet her) and she howled all day to be let out! and im talking all day. My nieghbour didnt complain but mentioned it.
As for the second pet ive always been a dog person and seem to have an affinity with them. at least with a dog they listen. as for cats i saw a great saying the other day. 'Cats dont come when there called they take a message and get back to you'. Maybe your right and its food for thought however Mya is to me untrainable 4 months!! and still nothing?

[Britishvixen21]

As an afterthought caging her doesnt really deal with the issue of her stopping being bad it just stops her while im not there. im looking more for training ideas?

[Britishvixen21]

Dont worry lucky I dont have it in me to take her their. the whole reason I took her in the first place was because my freind couldnt handle her anymore and was expecting twins. She was on her way with her to the HS when I took her in. Im just venting frustration. I will take her to the vets and see what he says. im still reeling from the shots and spaying which set me back $500!! I just dont know what else to do, theres so much out there for dog training and dog training books but nothing for cats. If i was having this trouble with a dog id take him or her to dog classes. I mean its like shes a dog chewing everything. I know you have to take some damage control with pets like for instance shes a little heavy footed and I didnt get the porcelain bathroom set i really wanted i got the plastic one and i put my shelves higher and moved furniture so she couldnt get to certain places and got down on my hands and knees and made sure it was cat safe. But am i expected to turn my whole life around for a pet that im not enjoying i mean jesus if i wanted that id have had a baby LOL. Can anyone recommend any good cat training books my library looked at me like i was mad.

[chico2]

Britishvixen,to me this sounds completely abnormal...I've had cats most of my life and currently have three,all males.Females can at time be more"spiritual"than males,but your cat is defintely a bit too spiritual...
You say you are a dog-person and you do not enjoy this cat,that too could be part of the problem.What Lucky suggested with some meds,might help,otherwise I would have suggested a companion,but the way she is,it probably not a good idea.
As for cuddling,cats generally want cuddling on their terms,their time....and do definetly not like being carried around,except for my Vinnie who likes to lay over my shoulder while I clean house,at 15lb's it's getting a little difficult
Also,my cats actually always come when they are called,even when we are outside,unless they have a mouse or something....
Cats are not stupid,they can learn,if you just spend enough time with them...but your little one might have some kind of medical problem,maybe she growls because you touch a sore spot?
I noticed you offered to take the blind little pit-pup,which is great,but are you prepared for the damage he might do,being alone all day?

[CyberKitten]

I agree. This is absolutely abnormal. She is spayed, right? I suggest Rescue Remedy or Feliway (sp?) but really, I have to wonder like Chico if your kitty senses you are not a cat person as you stated?

[chico2]

Cyberkitten,where can I buy Rescue Remedy..vet,healthfood-store or Pet-Food supplier?

[BMDLuver]

Health Food Store will be the cheapest I have found.

[CyberKitten]

Rescue Remedy is cheapest where I live anyway at the Atlantic Superstore Health Food section. It is available at a favourite health food store I go to but about $5 more there. Atlantic Superstore is the grocery chain that markets Presidents' Choice products - Loblaws maybe - Provigo in Quebec.

[Lucky Rescue]

im still reeling from the shots and spaying which set me back $500!!

I'd be reeling too at these prices. This is truly shocking.

I see that you work during the day. What are you going to do with a 12 week old blind puppy while you're not there? Who is going to housetrain him?

[mesaana]

This is what I recommend: contact the vet school at Guelph and see if they have a veterinary behaviourist on staff. I know there is one in St-Hyacinthe and I'm guessing they have one there too. This is a vet with a 3 (or 4, I don't remember) year specialty in behaviour medicine. The initial consultation usually runs 1-2 hours, which is more time than your vet can give you. If you have a video camera, they'll recommend that you film her so they can see her in her own environment. What they usually do first is determine if this is normal or abnormal behaviour. If it is abnormal, they'll be able to suggest medication to help her. They'll also suggest training/exercises to do at home as appropriate.

Good luck!

Lyne

[Britishvixen21]

Ok let me clarify a few things, maybe i mistyped I am out of the house all day my hb is in until 4pm i get home at 6.30 thats 2 hours alone. What i mean is, is that I cant watch her all day!
secondly I have declined the pup so lets stop critising me for just wanting to stop a dog being killed just for being blind and get back to the issue at hand!
Thirdly I did not say that I wasnt a cat person - I said that i had always found it easy to train dogs and had an affinity with them. I also know a lot about dog training. However there is very little out there on wild pyscho cats who chew through live wires. We have done nothing but love Mya since the day she came to us. I am always looking out for her best interest and worrying for her well being. If I was not a cat person i wouldnt give a **** and wouldnt be on here trying to get some advice!
Thank you to all the people that have given me constructive advice and tips. I will try the rescue remedy and see how she does. I would love to take her to Guelph but without a car and via being anti pet it may be a while till i can get her down there. As for $500, when she came to us she had nothing, she hadnt even seen a vet., she had to have three sets of shots over three weeks before they would spay her and then to ease her pain a little we went for the lazer surgery its a quicker healing time. If anyone can recomend any books that I can get and any tips on how i can stop her from chewing the wires. I mean do i stop her chewing everything or do i get her something that she likes to chew and gode her to chew that instead? Shes so quick to its like shes doing it to be destructive like last night I had my MP3 player in bed. I get up for 1 minute to get something shed got up on the bed chewed my ear phone wires in half and left!!! im confused?

[chico2]

Vixen,I am sorry,I was just a bit baffled by your problem,I've never heard of such a destructive cat and I thought she might be unhappy and stressed for some reason,you did say"a pet you don't enjoy"and even that I can understand if she destroys everything...I thought you might be punishing her harshly and making things worse.
I hope you can get some help for her and she'll become the wonderful cat you want her to be.
Lucky,maybe fostering a companion-kitty would help,or would she be too disturbed for a kitten?

Ps,thank's BMDluver and CK,I'll try my Health-food store!!

[Britishvixen21]

Sorry Chico I didnt mean to sound off just frustrated thats all. Im trying not to tell her off. But its getting hard. Im trying to be calm but firm. I mean i felt terrible putting tabasco sauce on everything and seeing her reel back after biting into it. But that does seem to be working with the household appliances. But I cant put it on everything. I so want her to be a loving cat i can tell that she was pretty much left to fend for herself from a young age and that had made her pretty much ferrel. I did think about another kitty freind but i dont want to adopt one and then have them fighting. However she was with another cat in the home we took her from and she didnt seem to have a problem. Do you think this could be the answer? and if so an older cat she could learn from or a kitten?

[BMDLuver]

Originally Posted by Britishvixen21

secondly I have declined the pup so lets stop critising me for just wanting to stop a dog being killed just for being blind and get back to the issue at hand!

Just to clarify... this dog is in absolutely no danger of being euthanised for being blind. Sophie is a great lady who will keep this dog or any dog for however long it takes to find the right home.


Great! now on to the matter at hand. Good luck with your cat!

[Lucky Rescue]

Like Chico, I"ve never heard of a cat so destructive either. This is way outside the boundaries of normal. Chewing live wires, in particular, is going to get her killed.

I usually do suggest getting a companion for a wild and crazy kitten, but hesitated in your case, since your cat seems to have a serious problem.

BUT, if you say she was okay in her former home with a cat, that may be the answer or at least lessen the problem. Cats who have each other to chase and play with all day don't have time to be destructive.

Why don't you try fostering a young neutered male (laid back type) from a rescue or HS? This way, you can try it out and if it doesn't work, the rescue will rehome the second for you. This, and the Rescue Remedy, may ease her troubles.

[Britishvixen21]

Thanks for that unnesecary clarification BDM,
Thanks lucky I did wonder that about a companion and maybe it will keep her a little more busy. I also worry that shes going to get a shock one day. Im surprised that she didnt from the cell phone charger.
My freind has a male cat whos very mellow, I might get them together and see how they go for a couple of hours and get a good idea. Thank you very much for all your help.

[CyberKitten]

You said VIA is anti cat. I am not the biggest fan of VIA but they in fact do allow pets. I have brought my Siamese cat on one train trip and it was very good. While you cannot keep your baby with you, they will let you go and see her in the car she is in - and it is not like lacking O2 as in airline cargo holds. And the personnel were wonderful. They all fell in love with her and could not do enough.

So give them a call and try booking a trip to Guelph! Good luck!!

[Britishvixen21]

Cyber do you know how much they charge for this consultation? I wish i did have a vid camera because I can only liken her to a shcistzophrenic (sp?) one minute shes sitting there all cute the next shes freaking out. ppl who come to the house dont believe me!!! LOL
Thanks again for all the encouragement I dont feel so alone with the mad cat now.

[CyberKitten]

Sorry, I do not know the fee for a consultation. I'd check out their web site or give them a call. An alternative might be a behavioural therapist - I know they exist for cats in large centers (My sister brought her Blue Russian to a therapust when she and her ex were getting a divorce; little Nicki being upset over the prospect of so much change and uphevil.) Again, good luck!

[Lucky Rescue]

My freind has a male cat whos very mellow, I might get them together and see how they go for a couple of hours and get a good idea.

NO!!! Cats are not like puppies who will get together and start playing right away!

Introductions with cats must be done very slowly - they must be kept separate and they should not even see each other for days. It can take a month to introduce cats, depending on their personalities.

Bringing home a strange cat and plunking it down in front of her is likely to cause a big fight and major stress. Instant introductions only work if both cats are young kittens. The older they are, the longer it takes usually.

Please read the following article. It's a good guideline, and you may be able to cut out some steps, or may have to repeat others, depending on how it's going.
Introducing cats

[Britishvixen21]

Thanks so much for that lucky, I had read a similiar article in a book that i was given for xmas on cats (just doenst go into specifics about behaviour) and I would plan on that. Gonna be a little difficult in a studio apartment however Mya seems to feel most relaxed in the bathroom so I might try it in there. Thanks for the article it was interesting reading.

[Britishvixen21]

There was actually a really good article on there about cat aggression and how to handle her when shes being postal! I think il try the techniques the next time she goes loopy. I can see where i was maybe going wrong in a few instances too. Maybe il post on there and ask about chewers.

[maddoxies]

I am not the most computer technical person, but ask at a Staples, or Future Shop, I think an inexpensive web cam can be worked up to record some of kitty's behaviour (they do have long USB cables if the computer is not too conveniently located)

Maybe Guelph can give you some advice over the phone, or internet, if you can't get there right away.

Rescue Remedy can be administered directly into the animal's mouth, topically by rubbing it in where the fur/skin is thinner (top of head, ear flap), and generally by adding a dropper full to the drinking water.

Good luck

[Britishvixen21]

I thought I would give everyone an update:
after reading all your posts I went home and had a chat with the hb, and We realised that its maybe not Mya well it is but in essence its us too. Im so uptight now and worried about her chewing everything that its making her stressed and therefore aggressive. Also I realised that although I dont mean to I can be very verbal sometimes and that maybe scares her also. Soooo that night I spent lots of time with her, I played with her with a little ball and kept flicking it around and letting her go get it, its her fav game and I got right down on my hands and knees and gave her lots of praise. She also loves stuff on sticks to I tied one of her mice with catnip to the stick (this stops my hands getting ripped to shreds) and we played with that for a good hour before she got tired. I gave her lots of treats afterwards and rubbed her head still keeping my distance from her. and it seemed to work she really enjoyed herself and didnt give me grief at 5am.
Last nigth was a busy night I had a driving lesson and literally all i could do was come in feed her pet her for 5 minutes and run out of the door again. she was not impressed. When i got in she came and sat on my lap on the toilet (dont ask) and was wailing at my for leaving her! I had every intention of playing with her but passed out cold. Well she let me know she wasnt impressed by scratching at that litter tray like she was trying to go to china, But instead of getting up and shouting or picking her up and giving her attention weve decided that we will ignore her so that she sees shes nto getting any attention during the night. If we do get up to go pee or something when shes woken us up we shut the bathroom door and dont say anything or pay her attention because then were teaching her that, thats time to play. and it worked she came up on the bed laid next to me and passed out before i did. weve also taken a very calm tone with her and its working wonders. she found an elastic band (dont ask me where cos i can never find the bloody things) and I said to her in a very calm voice. "mya no Please" and she looks up I look at her and she just walks off. Im not saying that in two days weve changed the way the cat lives breathes and pees, but were making progress, I made an appointment with our vet for next week and we plan to ask him about the rescue remedy.
Were also considering getting a play freind for her to stop being so destructive. but really we were in a vicious circle. she was being destructive cos she was bored I was getting aggravated and she was sensing that, so when I did try and pay her attention she got aggresive. and then I didnt want to play with her so she chewed stuff!! So now ive set aside an hour of strictly play time I put on some music so no TV to distract me and we play with the toy of the day.
Il let you know how it turns out.

[chico2]

BV,I think you are on th right path I've always had more than one cat,it's fun watching them interact,it's better for you and Mya,she won't be bored...but introducing a new kitten certainly takes some pateince,but it usually works out great in the end.
Cats/Dogs always pick up on how you feel and can easily become more stressed if you are yelling,I know I've done it a few times,since I have a cat who is spraying although he's neutered.
Good luck to you and Mya and keep us posted!

[badger]

You're absolutely on the right track. When I go in to visit with my rescues, who are sometimes climbing the walls, I speak very quietly and lightly, as one would with a recalcitrant child. They really seem to respond to it. Of course, Rescue Remedy comes in handy! Unless your vet is really clued in, s/he may not know what it is, but believe me it works. And instead of squirting it down your cats throat, since she is a bit, ah, reactive, I suggest you add a dropper full to her water.

[CyberKitten]

Thx for the update.

Yep, I agree. You are on the right track. Cats sense how we feel and they can be quite destructive if they feel they need attention. (Siamese especially have been known to chew expensive wool clothes). But we sometimes reinforce unwanted or inappropriate behaviour without realizing it, especially after a long day!

Good luck with the consulation and at the vet. Like Badger, I doubt your vet will advocate Rescue Remedy (just like I do not necessarily prescribe some alterative meds in my pratice - litigaton et al). Also, their practices are even more small businesses than my kind of work is and they tend to promote drugs they have on hand. (I do not not even know if they give out samples of meds, lol - Mind have always been as part of the overall treatment). One vet I know does prescribe cocculine (found at Health food store, Jean Coutu or SuperStore - like Loblaws) as a calming med. It works well for YY when we travel though she has become quote accustomed to travel and now jumps in her carrier when she sees I am going somewhere. (Mind you, her experiences at the vet have all been very positive).

Let is know how you make out.