Cat Anxious When Bored!

[emilielavoie88]

Hi!
I noticed a few months ago that my kitten (9 months old) seems to become anxious when I don't play enough with her. I try to play with her as much as I can but sometimes it's not possible with work! When I don't entertain her enough for a few days, she'll start excessive grooming, jumping when she ears something, etc. I also notice that when she's grooming too much, she'll lose a piece of hair! This morning she was anxious (few days not paying enough attention and a BIG storm in the night yesterday. So this morning a played a lot with her, until she was exhausted, and now she is totally fine!
I know it is not food allergies, or other health issues because I already asked my vet!

SO, I was wondering, is it possible for a cat to become anxious when she doesn't play enough? Maybe she has too much energy that she can't spend?

Do you think that maybe another cat would help her have more time to play, etc? Sometimes I hear her play when I'm sleeping, she's alone in the living room playing with her toys and it makes me sad haha! Maybe a companion would be good for her when I'm not home?
She is a very social cat, she always follows people (even people she doesn't know) in the house, she's always talking to us. I bought her from a breeder that socialises the kittens a lot (she has 5 kids and the kittens are in the house), she told me that the most positive point of her kittens was they are very social.

Any opinions?
(I already gave my name to the breeder (the same), in december this year she'll contact me to see if I want another cat so that's why I'm wondering if it would be a good idea. I love my cat a lot, I just want what's best for her! I don't want to lose the link that is between us also).
Sorry it was long.

 

[KarenKat]

Our kitty Olive definitely requires a lot of play and starts getting antsy if we skip one night. I try to prioirtize it but it gets to be a lot sometimes. Is there someone in the house that can take turns with you and play with her? That would cut down the obligation a little. I also find that if I mix up toys both me and the cats are less bored. I use Da Bird, a laser pointer (and I hide treats so Olive can “catch” something) and a few other sttring toys.

I would think another cat would be good, but sometimes the integration can be long. So just be prepared if it takes a while for the kitties to warm up to each other.

Other enrichment could include puzzle feeders, window perches, cat tv or fresh catnip toys.

 

[silkenpaw]

The best gift I ever gave my kitten, Little Bit, was her best friend, Bassie. They entertained each other. It meant that both were less bonded to me but I think it was healthier that way. They remained friends into adulthood, although they didn’t roll around on the floor together any more

 

[maggiedemi]

Yes, I think getting her a pal would be a great idea! My boy cat is obsessed with his sister cat. It did make him a little less interested in me, but I just had to figure out what was exciting to him. For example he loves going down cellar, so we do that together.

 

[Etarre]

Getting another cat could work, although I've also read a lot of stories about difficult introductions, so be aware of the possibility that this could be stressful and might not work out as you anticipate.

KarenKat has suggested some great alternatives to playtime for keeping your cat occupied. Both of my cats have windows that they loved staring out of for hours, which helps keep them occupied when I'm not at home. If you don't have an accessible window and can't add a window perch, there are some good YouTube videos made for cats that could be a fun substitute.

 

[lre17]

best $20 i ever spent

 

[rubysmama]

Hello and welcome to TCS.

If you decide to go ahead with getting a 2nd cat, here are some articles you might want to read first.

BTW, is you kitten spayed?

Your Second Cat: How To Choose The Best Friend For Kitty
Introducing Cats To Cats
How To Successfully Introduce Cats: The Ultimate Guide
The Multi-cat Household

And a few on stress
Potential Stressors In Cats - The Ultimate Checklist
Is Your Cat Stressed Out?
You, Your Cat And Stress
Six Surefire Strategies To Reduce Stress In Cats