Help! New cat behaving quirkily...

elise84

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 17, 2014
Messages
2
Purraise
2
Hello! I'm having trouble with my newly-adopted male kitty. He's about 6.5 months old. He comes into my room, systematically messes with everything (tries to play with everything he can find, moving from thing to thing around the room), then starts vocally complaining. I try petting him, holding him, etc., and it doesn't seem to calm him or persuade him to settle in on the bed. He just accepts some petting, then repeats his cycle of moving from thing to thing around the room, complaining, then playing with things more, then complaining again. Strangely, when I place him in the next room and close the door, he will meow maybe for a little bit but then be quiet. Why does he complain when he has my company (as if he wants attention) but when I give him attention he doesn't really want it? It's driving me nuts. Thank you so much in advance for your help!
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
26,570
Purraise
11,446
Location
Sweden
Seems oddly. Is he neutered?? When they come into age and become fertile, they get often new, different behavior. They dont know what to do with themselves.
So, unless he is a future stud, and neutering not done, high time to do it. Its not sure it will help to THIS particular problem, but should be done.
 

Kris107

Cat mom, cat foster mom
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Mar 6, 2023
Messages
1,602
Purraise
3,597
I agree with Caspers Human Caspers Human . It doesn't sound like wants to sit and cuddle - it sounds like he's bored. At that age, especially, they need stimulation.
 

Caspers Human

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 23, 2016
Messages
3,230
Purraise
5,790
Location
Pennsylvania
Sometimes, it's because the cat needs stimulation. Sometimes, you just need to burn off that "kitten energy."

Regardless of the reason, you often need to play with the cat until he's tired and doesn't want to play anymore. It's often helpful if you start a ritual of play every day at the same time, likely around dinner and/or bedtime. It keeps the cat stimulated. It burns off that excess energy and it sets the mood for the rest of the evening so that everybody, humans and cats, can settle in for the night.

If you don't, all that energy is bound to come out in ways that you don't expect.
 

game misconduct

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 1, 2020
Messages
6,677
Purraise
24,642
Location
westcovina california
probably bored and wants to play your "company" does nothing in the way of burning excess energy off for the lil guy at 6.5 months hes has energy to spare still its eat, sleep play all day and since he cant speak he is telling you the only way he can lets play. a bored cat = destructive cat getting into mischief doing things that anger/annoy you etc. dont let that turn into a game for him or way to burn energy with him running off. when you get up
 

Draco

NOT Malfoy!
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2011
Messages
9,137
Purraise
4,041
Location
LawnGuyLand, NY
I would say play with him too! Grab a feather wand toy and play for 10 minutes or until he's worn out. Cats need that mental and physical simulation, and it seems like that's what he's asking for
 
Top