Hi there.
About a month ago, adopted a domestic shorthair cat, who was apparently from a hoarding situation, and had been recently pregnant. She was stated to be 2 years old. I like many work at home but will likely not after covid - so I knew I needed an adult cat, almost adopted senior and now really wish I had.
After taking her to a vet because it seemed like she was shaking her head a lot, and to get a general checkup, AND because she seemed to be limping/had a sprained leg, the vet said... she's probably still a kitten. Mis-aged. Oh dear. It explains a lot.
She has a......... LOT of energy. It was adorable, then scary. She will sprint at full speed, jump, do flips, for almost an hour at a time. I played with her on most days for 4-6 sessions of this a day until recently, so... up to 6 hours a day. Because if I didn't, she would meow so much it was painful and her throat started getting raspy, or she would start zooming across the room with her tail fluffed like she was scared (??), or start pretend-catching invisible prey on my bed and many sheets have been ruined. I think her sprain was because she went to hard on the play (lol) and I can't stop her. I'll have the wand toy a feet away and she will try and SMITE it like full speed charge, smacking her body into anything nearby with a hard thunk.
I literally don't know how to get her to play softer and not hurt herself again. Her sprain is recovered but like... yikes. This is not what I was ready for. Trying to do a Master's and that needs 10 hours a day.
So yeah. She won't play by herself. I have so many toys for her. So many. It's right there. In front of her. She won't even go look at it unless I walk her over. Then she might play for a second until I walk away. If I stay, she'll play for 2 seconds then look at me expecting me to do something with it. She won't do anything unless I do it for her, and follows me everywhere. Getting another cat isn't an option right now, but I've tried showing her videos of other cat playing with toys (lol). No luck.
These two weeks I tried to lower the playtime, but of course those things previously mentioned happened. Constant meowing. Invisible prey catching (why not just catch the nice realistic expensive mouse toy that squeaks!?!??!) I actually never even look at her when she meows but it's been a month and it's still happening. The past 2 days, she started fully sleeping when I wasn't playing with her, when she woke up from sound or movement around her, she'd follow me, start meowing, then realizing I wasn't going to play she'd sleep. I've been playing at designated times, even with an alarm at the times so she learns. But to no avail.
Anyone know what to do? What do I do :'( Is she actually a demon? Someone help.
About a month ago, adopted a domestic shorthair cat, who was apparently from a hoarding situation, and had been recently pregnant. She was stated to be 2 years old. I like many work at home but will likely not after covid - so I knew I needed an adult cat, almost adopted senior and now really wish I had.
After taking her to a vet because it seemed like she was shaking her head a lot, and to get a general checkup, AND because she seemed to be limping/had a sprained leg, the vet said... she's probably still a kitten. Mis-aged. Oh dear. It explains a lot.
She has a......... LOT of energy. It was adorable, then scary. She will sprint at full speed, jump, do flips, for almost an hour at a time. I played with her on most days for 4-6 sessions of this a day until recently, so... up to 6 hours a day. Because if I didn't, she would meow so much it was painful and her throat started getting raspy, or she would start zooming across the room with her tail fluffed like she was scared (??), or start pretend-catching invisible prey on my bed and many sheets have been ruined. I think her sprain was because she went to hard on the play (lol) and I can't stop her. I'll have the wand toy a feet away and she will try and SMITE it like full speed charge, smacking her body into anything nearby with a hard thunk.
I literally don't know how to get her to play softer and not hurt herself again. Her sprain is recovered but like... yikes. This is not what I was ready for. Trying to do a Master's and that needs 10 hours a day.
So yeah. She won't play by herself. I have so many toys for her. So many. It's right there. In front of her. She won't even go look at it unless I walk her over. Then she might play for a second until I walk away. If I stay, she'll play for 2 seconds then look at me expecting me to do something with it. She won't do anything unless I do it for her, and follows me everywhere. Getting another cat isn't an option right now, but I've tried showing her videos of other cat playing with toys (lol). No luck.
These two weeks I tried to lower the playtime, but of course those things previously mentioned happened. Constant meowing. Invisible prey catching (why not just catch the nice realistic expensive mouse toy that squeaks!?!??!) I actually never even look at her when she meows but it's been a month and it's still happening. The past 2 days, she started fully sleeping when I wasn't playing with her, when she woke up from sound or movement around her, she'd follow me, start meowing, then realizing I wasn't going to play she'd sleep. I've been playing at designated times, even with an alarm at the times so she learns. But to no avail.
Anyone know what to do? What do I do :'( Is she actually a demon? Someone help.