My new cat is constantly underfoot and won't let me move an inch w/o his getting in my way

[game misconduct]

I have to be extra careful because of my power wheelchair. At first this wasn't an issue because Sam apparently never saw one before and was scared of it. Not anymore.

I went to bingo in the building today and forgot my chips, so I had to come back to retrieve them. Sam got up from his nap and plopped himself on the floor between me and the front door. So I got sneaky....I got a couple of his toys and tossed them towards the bedroom door like I wanted to play catch. It worked like a charm & I escaped! lol

i get it i use a cane myself

 

[dianajune]

My apartment is majorly catified and she has a new toy someone
put together for me. You can put treats in or toys
Cat trees,cubes,chew toys,wand toys

View attachment 483789

Sam would love this! Thank you!

 

[Alldara]

We found some clicker training to be helpful.
But generally it takes some time for cats to be used to our routine. At first, their humans seem really unpredictable. They could leave at any moment!

 

[Caspers Human]

This might sound harsh but you have to teach your cat what "in the way" means.

Too many people, myself included, are too deferential to their cats. When the cat comes along, we make way for the cat, put our activity aside and pay attention to the cat instead of our own activities. If we do that too much, the cat never learns to make way for us and will always be under foot. When the human always gets out of the way of the cat, they never learn what it means to be under foot and they never learn to watch out.

Our eldest cat, Casper, rarely gets under foot but our youngest, Elliot, is a pro at getting under foot. Of course, Casper has been our cat for more than ten years while Elliot has only been here for a little more than a year. Casper has had more time to learn. Elliot is still learning.

When one of our cats starts getting under foot, we just nudge him out of the way. If you're in the kitchen and they are getting in the way, we just use a foot to shoo him out of the way. (Don't kick! Just nudge!) If you come in the front door with a load of groceries and the cat is there, stomp your feet on the floor. If the cat is on the sofa where you need to sit, give him a gentle pat on the bum and say, "Move over!" If the cat is on your lap and you need to get up, give him a gentle pat and say, "Time to get up!"... then just stand up.

Watch how cats treat each other. If there are two cats in the same place and one gets in the other's way, there will be some hissing, growling or maybe even some swatting. If Elliot gets in Casper's way, Casper will bop Elliot on the head with his paw. If one cat is on the window sill and the other tries to horn in, he'll get swatted away. It might seem harsh but that's how cats communicate. They can't talk and they don't have hands so growling and swatting is how they have to do it. Eventually, cats will learn from each other and know how to stay out of each other's way.

As a human who wants to teach a cat how to stay out of the way, you have to learn how to think like a cat. You have to tell the cat, "Hey! Watch out!"... "Move over!"... "Out of the way!"

If you, gently but firmly, teach your cat to stay out of the way, they will eventually learn.

If you don't but, instead, always make way for your cat YOU will be the one who eventually learns to make way for the cat instead of the other way around.

 

[IzzysfureverMom]

Cats are really smart, so I think over time they get used to our ' equipment '. No matter if is a cane, brace, wheelchair etc I definitely understand your concern about the power wheelchair. I had to use one after surgery as a kid. I don't know how those types of wheelchairs are built now, but back then the one I had was like a tank. So I was always a the lookout for my kitty who was 2 years old. He learned to either jump up when it was moving or stay clear of it.

 

[Caspers Human]

How about a bicycle bell?

Give it a little ring before you start moving to tell the cat to watch out.

 

[maggie101]

Sam would love this! Thank you!

From Amazon
Bad choice if you have more than 1 cat. Maggie is very territorial so she will fight with peaches. I should donate it. Maggie will be crying for it. Playing with a wand toy has helped. No feather toys. Not good for him to eat a feather plus they mostly like to chase things on the ground so attachments like mouse or made up from chew toys

 

[Alldara]

My cats are used to all sorts of mobility devices as well. They've quickly learned how much space I need for chair etc. I can "step over" them laying down with the crutches and they move when I have a cane.

 

[Meowmee]

I think he is getting more bonded to you and maybe he is worried you will leave, or was worried you didn't feel well. I agree with kind of shooing him away if you can and letting him know not to get underfoot or too near your chair etc. My guys can be like that and no matter how many times I tell them they keep doing it at times One of these days they are going to kill me, lol

Zena is really the one who does it most now but Quinn sometimes too. Zena has to be right near my feet a lot for some reason. Merlin did it sometimes too. My cats in the past never did that as I recall. I feel terrible if I step on them but it happens sometimes because they are so quiet and come right next to me and they think I have the hearing of a cat. It hasn't a happened recently so it's getting better. When they wrestle, Quinn and Zena get crazy and jump on me and my feet- I tell them not too etc.

Maybe Sam needs some self occupying toys if he doesn't have any or to play with you with wand toys etc.

 

[dianajune]

This might sound harsh but you have to teach your cat what "in the way" means.

Too many people, myself included, are too deferential to their cats. When the cat comes along, we make way for the cat, put our activity aside and pay attention to the cat instead of our own activities. If we do that too much, the cat never learns to make way for us and will always be under foot. When the human always gets out of the way of the cat, they never learn what it means to be under foot and they never learn to watch out.

Our eldest cat, Casper, rarely gets under foot but our youngest, Elliot, is a pro at getting under foot. Of course, Casper has been our cat for more than ten years while Elliot has only been here for a little more than a year. Casper has had more time to learn. Elliot is still learning.

When one of our cats starts getting under foot, we just nudge him out of the way. If you're in the kitchen and they are getting in the way, we just use a foot to shoo him out of the way. (Don't kick! Just nudge!) If you come in the front door with a load of groceries and the cat is there, stomp your feet on the floor. If the cat is on the sofa where you need to sit, give him a gentle pat on the bum and say, "Move over!" If the cat is on your lap and you need to get up, give him a gentle pat and say, "Time to get up!"... then just stand up.

Watch how cats treat each other. If there are two cats in the same place and one gets in the other's way, there will be some hissing, growling or maybe even some swatting. If Elliot gets in Casper's way, Casper will bop Elliot on the head with his paw. If one cat is on the window sill and the other tries to horn in, he'll get swatted away. It might seem harsh but that's how cats communicate. They can't talk and they don't have hands so growling and swatting is how they have to do it. Eventually, cats will learn from each other and know how to stay out of each other's way.

As a human who wants to teach a cat how to stay out of the way, you have to learn how to think like a cat. You have to tell the cat, "Hey! Watch out!"... "Move over!"... "Out of the way!"

If you, gently but firmly, teach your cat to stay out of the way, they will eventually learn.

If you don't but, instead, always make way for your cat YOU will be the one who eventually learns to make way for the cat instead of the other way around.

You made some very good points, esp where you said if I don't train him on this issue, I will be the one to make way for him. Sam thinks that he's the boss.

So far I tried using his toys as a distraction. In other words, if I have to use the bathroom and he's in the way, I will grab one of his squeaky toys and toss it in the other direction.

I will keep what you said in mind. Wish me luck! lol

Thanks!

 

[dianajune]

Cats are really smart, so I think over time they get used to our ' equipment '. No matter if is a cane, brace, wheelchair etc I definitely understand your concern about the power wheelchair. I had to use one after surgery as a kid. I don't know how those types of wheelchairs are built now, but back then the one I had was like a tank. So I was always a the lookout for my kitty who was 2 years old. He learned to either jump up when it was moving or stay clear of it.

I was in the living room this morning and we nearly had a collision. Whenever I'm in this thing and he's close by, I'll move it very slowly (or not at all if he's too close). So, I had to go towards the kitchen and he was a few feet away sitting very still. Out of the blue Sam lunged for me and barely missed. We're both ok but I'm getting more white hair as time goes on!

 

[dianajune]

How about a bicycle bell?

Give it a little ring before you start moving to tell the cat to watch out.

Good idea! I will look for one. Tx!

 

[dianajune]

From Amazon
Bad choice if you have more than 1 cat. Maggie is very territorial so she will fight with peaches. I should donate it. Maggie will be crying for it. Playing with a wand toy has helped. No feather toys. Not good for him to eat a feather plus they mostly like to chase things on the ground so attachments like mouse or made up from chew toys

Ita re the feather toys. I tried to let Pumpkin use one and he nearly ate it. I believe that Sam would too.

 

[dianajune]

I think he is getting more bonded to you and maybe he is worried you will leave, or was worried you didn't feel well. I agree with kind of shooing him away if you can and letting him know not to get underfoot or too near your chair etc. My guys can be like that and no matter how many times I tell them they keep doing it at times One of these days they are going to kill me, lol

Zena is really the one who does it most now but Quinn sometimes too. Zena has to be right near my feet a lot for some reason. Merlin did it sometimes too. My cats in the past never did that as I recall. I feel terrible if I step on them but it happens sometimes because they are so quiet and come right next to me and they think I have the hearing of a cat. It hasn't a happened recently so it's getting better. When they wrestle, Quinn and Zena get crazy and jump on me and my feet- I tell them not too etc.

Maybe Sam needs some self occupying toys if he doesn't have any or to play with you with wand toys etc.

Sam and I are getting closer each day. I will continue trying to distract him with his toys. He's got lots of them already. Gently shooing him away might not work, knowing him. I think that Sam believes he is the boss and I am not. lol

 

[maggie101]

It's expensive almost $10 for a wand toy with a mouse attachment called the go cat catcher at petco or purrfect leather bouncer only online. My cats 2 favorites. I've also used chew toys that already have a loop for easy attachment

 

[IzzysfureverMom]

I was in the living room this morning and we nearly had a collision. Whenever I'm in this thing and he's close by, I'll move it very slowly (or not at all if he's too close). So, I had to go towards the kitchen and he was a few feet away sitting very still. Out of the blue Sam lunged for me and barely missed. We're both ok but I'm getting more white hair as time goes on!

It will definitely be a process.He has not been with you that long so it will be a period of adjustment. Cats do seem to be fond of giving us more white hair!! Hang in there just keep working with him in little increments even when you do not need to from get from point A to point B. Move a little see what he does and also work to get him to understand what you expect him to do or not do. It will take time but it can be done.

 

[Caspers Human]

Sam thinks that he's the boss.

Elliot is the same way!

He could be the poster child for Velcro kitties! If there is an open lap, anywhere in the house, Elliot will be on it!

We're absolutely happy to have Elliot come up for some petting and kitty love but, there comes a time when you have to get up to do something else. With a fifteen pound cat on your lap, what do you do?

When Elliot is on my lap and it's time to move, I just give him a gentle pat on the bum and say, "Time to get up!" I give him a few seconds to move then I just stand up. After a few repetitions of this, Elliot has learned that it's time to move and he just hops down. We've done this enough times that it just becomes a matter-of-fact thing.

Pat, pat... "Time to get up!"... Cat hops down... That's it!

We just had to teach the cat, when it's time to get up, it's time to get up. If we don't, we'll never get anything done. Right?

This is just one example of how we teach our cats to make way. If we don't, it will be the humans who always make way for the cats instead of the other way around.

 

[Meowmee]

Sam and I are getting closer each day. I will continue trying to distract him with his toys. He's got lots of them already. Gently shooing him away might not work, knowing him. I think that Sam believes he is the boss and I am not. lol

Sam sounds like Quinn, he wants to be the boss of everyone

 

[vampiric_conure]

I'm finding a reaction similar to Caspers Human works with Puddles. I do it with the dog, and it seems to have been so ingrained when I did it with the cat, it was instinctual! If I'm by the baby gate and Puddles is in the way, I gently tell her 'Outta the way' and tap her with my foot. Works like a charm! She still gets underfoot, though. I've stepped on her tail once already in the month she's been here. SIgh.

 

[dianajune]

I can't get Sam to cooperate. He's been like this all day. Whenever I want to do something, whether it be using the bathroom, doing my Mommy chores etc. NOTHING is working. He just won't listen. I am exhausted and stressed out, esp. because of that worm issue. At the moment he's sprawled in front of the bedroom doorway and he just won't let me enter. I am crying.