I'm at a loss with this one and I've had cats my whole life.
5 year old female spayed exotic shorthair (not the norm behavior for this laid back breed!) - we've had her since kittenhood and, to be blunt she's always been annoying. I don't think she was socialized well. Healthy girl per recent vet checkup.
Since day 1 she's cried while we nap or sleep. She'll literally wake up when she realizes we're sleeping so she can start howling and running at full speed over our bodies, over and over. The whole "exhaust her with play" thing doesn't work, at all. She is not bored. She is not hungry. She just LOATHES when we sleep. We can't shut the door because she will scream for hours. We haven't had a good night's sleep in 5 years.
She co-existed mostly with the older cat we have. We recently got a kitten and after over 8 weeks of slow introductions things were going fine. She was neutral to everyone as usual. No big deal. But now months in she's decided to start lunging and attacking the cats out of nowhere. Like she will seek out fights with them and chase them down.
She now snarls and freaks out when I pick her up so it's become hard to clean her teeth, clip her nails, or groom her in general.
We've been quarantining her when she does this behavior but everyday it's progressing in severity and someone is going to get hurt. Between never being able to sleep and now her seeking out fights, my tolerance level for her is at an all time low. I really don't have the energy to think about this anymore.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I was thinking she might really benefit from anti anxiety meds.
5 year old female spayed exotic shorthair (not the norm behavior for this laid back breed!) - we've had her since kittenhood and, to be blunt she's always been annoying. I don't think she was socialized well. Healthy girl per recent vet checkup.
Since day 1 she's cried while we nap or sleep. She'll literally wake up when she realizes we're sleeping so she can start howling and running at full speed over our bodies, over and over. The whole "exhaust her with play" thing doesn't work, at all. She is not bored. She is not hungry. She just LOATHES when we sleep. We can't shut the door because she will scream for hours. We haven't had a good night's sleep in 5 years.
She co-existed mostly with the older cat we have. We recently got a kitten and after over 8 weeks of slow introductions things were going fine. She was neutral to everyone as usual. No big deal. But now months in she's decided to start lunging and attacking the cats out of nowhere. Like she will seek out fights with them and chase them down.
She now snarls and freaks out when I pick her up so it's become hard to clean her teeth, clip her nails, or groom her in general.
We've been quarantining her when she does this behavior but everyday it's progressing in severity and someone is going to get hurt. Between never being able to sleep and now her seeking out fights, my tolerance level for her is at an all time low. I really don't have the energy to think about this anymore.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I was thinking she might really benefit from anti anxiety meds.
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