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

[Margot Lane]

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.

I was re-reading your beginning comments and think the last sentence is dead on. Something happened at the shelter. I think he just needs time, reassurance, consistency. I know the clinginess is stressful but in his world, this is still not a long time. He needs to know you’ll be his always person, and that just takes getting used to his surroundings and your routines. Deep breath. ….Then take another. I guarantee there’ll be a breakthrough moment. I know it’s really hard, but sometimes the calmer you can be, the calmer he will be.

 

[dianajune]

Something happened before the shelter too I think. I hope he knows I love him but he won't even let me hold him.

 

[Alldara]

He probably can't settle too because of the worms. That can make them restless.

 

[dianajune]

We had another near-miss with Sam, me and the wheelchair today. He gets underfoot so easy. He's ok but I am a wreck. If this keeps up it's only a matter of time before we have an accident.

 

[Kwik]

Diane- I believe Sam is concerned that he will be abandoned ,yet again

This takes time for them to know that wherever you go you will return and that he is not going anywhere either,no doubt the boy associates being picked up with something nightmarish to a cat,like ending up in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people,being poked,prodded and who knows what else happened- in time he will jump on your lap when he's good n ready

Cats certainly do not know how to navigate around a wheelchair,in the same way they don't know how to avoid being hit by a car if they suddenly find themselves in traffic! But they can be taught- if he is food ( treat) motivated then it's a very simple thing to train him with voice command ..... Mind understand ' watch it" to get out of my path and " this way "when I point to my left or my right to direct them- it takes a little time but it's easy peasy - I don't believe in nudging or pushing them out of the way because as gentle as it is they still don't know where they should go - they aren't being instructed to know what's pleasing to you,there's no reward or association

start with ' watch it" but you have to gently let the chair push him if he's in the way - not you pushing him,the chair nudging him- he will catch on quickly ---- teach him to eat treats from your hand or where you point to---- that's how I taught my cats ' this way "- then when you say ' this way ' they will go where you are pointing to

My cats( all cats) all have different personalities - Bella will fly out of my way, Sami( well Sami heels) and is my German Shepherd,Graycie is never in the way,Max could always be in the way but has learned voice commands very well but must be told where to go because he loves to walk very very close ( he could be as hazardous as your Sam so I must watch out for Max because he still needs to be told)and Timmy has now learned ' watch it"' for the rollator and he's learning ' this way ' he is a little harder to train because he's not food motivated but big praises and pets work well for him

When a cat is so relaxed that they can just lie down in your path or walk in and out of your legs they are very very fond of you- I'm flattered by it so there's compromise- I always look out for them and they respond to voice commands,looking to please me

I know it could get annoying at times but perhaps you can take a different perspective as he's learning so you won't be so stressed,Sam only wants to be with you but doesn't quite know how to make sure he won't lose you

 

[Alldara]

Yes this exactly. You can also carry some kibble and when you say "Look out!" You can kibble toss away from you to get him to move.

My boys are still learning too. Especially because they learned quickly not to mind my crutches....they don't understand I can't go over them with a chair. (Well. You know what I mean.)

It's been 2 weeks with wheels and it's a slow process of learning.

 

[Kwik]

Yes this exactly. You can also carry some kibble and when you say "Look out!" You can kibble toss away from you to get him to move.

My boys are still learning too. Especially because they learned quickly not to mind my crutches....they don't understand I can't go over them with a chair. (Well. You know what I mean.)

It's been 2 weeks with wheels and it's a slow process of learning.

That's right @Diana,kibble is fine - its for the positive association ( reward) with the command.....training isn't really " teaching" ,you teach someone who can reason and they learn- training is repetition ,repetition,repetition until an association is made,then they ' learn" to expect either a positive or negative outcome....you always want positive association made when you are involved in methods to condition natural behaviors, leave the negative outcomes from environmental (training)conditioning( like the wheelchair tapping him) instead of their person scolding,pushing or getting frustrated and annoyed -

Alldara is giving very good tips for training

 

[dianajune]

That's right @Diana,kibble is fine - its for the positive association ( reward) with the command.....training isn't really " teaching" ,you teach someone who can reason and they learn- training is repetition ,repetition,repetition until an association is made,then they ' learn" to expect either a positive or negative outcome....you always want positive association made when you are involved in methods to condition natural behaviors, leave the negative outcomes from environmental (training)conditioning( like the wheelchair tapping him) instead of their person scolding,pushing or getting frustrated and annoyed -

Alldara is giving very good tips for training

I'm not trying to scold him. I love Sam to pieces. What worries me is we will have an accident and something could happen to him. My heart would be broken.

He's ok now but when this first happened today, I was scared that he came into contact with my chair. He was very very close. After this happened, Sam played so much there's no doubt he's ok.

I'm trying to get Sam to understand that this is his forever home and I won't let anything happen to him. I hope that next week's vet appt won't scare him but he needs to go. Getting him into his carrier will be hard. I set it in the living room with a comfy new blanket and will start putting treats in there. I will try using treats like you and Alldara suggested.

 

[Kwik]

I'm not trying to scold him. I love Sam to pieces. What worries me is we will have an accident and something could happen to him. My heart would be broken.

He's ok now but when this first happened today, I was scared that he came into contact with my chair. He was very very close. After this happened, Sam played so much there's no doubt he's ok.

I'm trying to get Sam to understand that this is his forever home and I won't let anything happen to him. I hope that next week's vet appt won't scare him but he needs to go. Getting him into his carrier will be hard. I set it in the living room with a comfy new blanket and will start putting treats in there. I will try using treats like you and Alldara suggested.

No one has suggested you scold or do anything negative - it was merely a comparison of positive vs negative behavior modifications ......

 

[dianajune]

Sam did something else that worries me. I was getting ready to scoop his litter box a short time ago and found him picking at the litter, not sure why. It looked like he was trying to either find something odd he saw in it or eat some litter. I shooed him away from the box, then eventually he went back in it and peed.

I then scooped his box and confirmed my suspicions - a live spider was squirming around inside Sam's litter box I whacked it, of course, but am worried that Sam may have eaten some litter. If so, I don't think it was a lot.

He's on clumping litter. Should I call the vet?

Oh and btw - he rushed at my wheelchair again a few minutes later and we nearly collided. Again.

...a very worried and stressed out helicopter Mommy

 

[Kwik]

Sam did something else that worries me. I was getting ready to scoop his litter box a short time ago and found him picking at the litter, not sure why. It looked like he was trying to either find something odd he saw in it or eat some litter. I shooed him away from the box, then eventually he went back in it and peed.

I then scooped his box and confirmed my suspicions - a live spider was squirming around inside Sam's litter box I whacked it, of course, but am worried that Sam may have eaten some litter. If so, I don't think it was a lot.

He's on clumping litter. Should I call the vet?

Oh and btw - he rushed at my wheelchair again a few minutes later and we nearly collided. Again.

...a very worried and stressed out helicopter Mommy

I'm sure it's fine.....Mine have all been on clumping litter forever..... really,if he was a tiny kitten it would be a concern...he was after an insect,I imagine thsts all he wanted in there

 

[dianajune]

I'm not sure what to make of his latest behaviour. First off, we had another near collision after I returned from the store. But just a few minutes ago Sam did something really strange.

Part of my apartment is open concept, so when I'm in the kitchen I can see all the way through the living room. Sam was in there playing with the catnip toy I gave him and all of a sudden when I was talking to him about the various things I bought for him today, he ran like he was in a marathon through the living room, lept in the air just in front of the kitchen counter and landed on me and some of his canned food I just got today and then ran around the kitchen and back to the living room.

One of his cans ended up in the garbage can and I will not retrieve it. Nope. But what really bothered me is that I got scratched up pretty good on my upper left arm. And it's bleeding. Not bad, just kind of sore. I ran out of alcohol wipes and put some hand sanitizer on that and hunted for my first aid kit.

I now have antibiotic ointment and a bandage there. I will be ok but I am very concerned about what caused him to do this.

I was talking to him about his food and the other things I got for him inc. more treats.
I was talking to him about how I will get him more stuff this week.
I was talking normally, not hollering or carrying on or anything that can be construed as threatening.

I am at a loss to explain why he did this to me, unless he was just being frisky because of that catnip toy - but he's had those before.

What should I do? I refuse to give up on him and I will not take this up with that shelter he came from because I don't like how they handled the worm issue.

 

[Kwik]

" Landed on you" accidentally or were you his intended target? Where exactly did he " land" and did he grab on or what exactly did he do? Did he latch on or bat and take off?

Was he wanting to get the food or you? Hard to assess why without being clear on exactly what it is he did.....

 

[dianajune]

" Landed on you" accidentally or were you his intended target? Where exactly did he " land" and did he grab on or what exactly did he do? Did he latch on or bat and take off?

Was he wanting to get the food or you? Hard to assess why without being clear on exactly what it is he did.....

It happened so fast that I think it was an accident. I just gave him a brand new catnip toy and am wondering if this is why it happened. I don't understand why he'd target me. He was not upset with me before this happened. In fact, he seemed scared after the fact. Maybe because I was startled?

He landed on me and some of his cans and kept going w/o stopping until he got back to the living room. I can't be any clearer than this.

 

[Alldara]

It happened so fast that I think it was an accident. I just gave him a brand new catnip toy and am wondering if this is why it happened. I don't understand why he'd target me. He was not upset with me before this happened. In fact, he seemed scared after the fact. Maybe because I was startled?

He landed on me and some of his cans and kept going w/o stopping until he got back to the living room. I can't be any clearer than this.

I think what Kiwik is trying to ask is, (and Kwick please correct me if wrong....): Do you think he was doing zoomies and launched onto thr counter, which is slippery and then scratched you because he was trying to grab on to you to stop slipping?

It's quite uncommon for a cat to randomly attack.

Sounds though like you'll need to keep his class trimmed.

 

[Kwik]

That's right Alldara ,exactly OR was he trying to jump onto Diane..... "target" does not mean attack and it doesn't not mean it.... it simply means was Diane what he was focused on,,to land on? -On occasion when my Bella suddenly NEEDS to be held she'll come leap onto my chest if I'm lying down and it's no accident,,I'm the target and she doesn't miss!Suddenly it's " thud,,ugh" - thankfully she's not even7 lbs

Cats do slip n slide off hard surfaces and miss their target- they can fall,misjudge and they naturally " right themselves " and grab whatever is closest as they are " righting" their bodies...... anyway,hard to know what happened when you don't see it ....

 

[dianajune]

That's right Alldara ,exactly OR was he trying to jump onto Diane..... "target" does not mean attack and it doesn't not mean it.... it simply means was Diane what he was focused on,,to land on? -On occasion when my Bella suddenly NEEDS to be held she'll come leap onto my chest if I'm lying down and it's no accident,,I'm the target and she doesn't miss!Suddenly it's " thud,,ugh" - thankfully she's not even7 lbs

Cats do slip n slide off hard surfaces and miss their target- they can fall,misjudge and they naturally " right themselves " and grab whatever is closest as they are " righting" their bodies...... anyway,hard to know what happened when you don't see it ....

Now I understand what you're trying to say. I think that's what happened. This makes sense because he seemed to be just as startled as I was.

This happened not long after I returned home so my Ring camera was still on. Tbh, I'm scared to look at the footage. I like to use this camera to monitor him while I'm out to make sure he's safe. I did the same thing when Pumpkin was alive.

 

[Kwik]

Now I understand what you're trying to say. I think that's what happened. This makes sense because he seemed to be just as startled as I was.

This happened not long after I returned home so my Ring camera was still on. Tbh, I'm scared to look at the footage. I like to use this camera to monitor him while I'm out to make sure he's safe. I did the same thing when Pumpkin was alive.

Yes,as you've been sharing about his clingy behavior,getting underfoot ,following you around etc.... he may have very well suddenly decided to see what you were up to or got excited about mealtime and leaped for the counter to get right in on the action- he obviously wants to be in on all your business and be involved,lol

We know that no one taught him any manners or boundaries and he sure doesn't seem like he was abused,,probably neglected and starving for affection/attention but not abused ( I haven't seen him in action so can only go by your descriptions of his behavior)

If he was suddenly fixated on you with aggression he'd not miss and more likely you'd know it if he was swatting with intention- sounds like he pulled a clutz move- something my Max is great for,missing his targeted landing destination!He's a big boy,he'd probably do better if he lost a pound,lol

 

[dianajune]

That's right Alldara ,exactly OR was he trying to jump onto Diane..... "target" does not mean attack and it doesn't not mean it.... it simply means was Diane what he was focused on,,to land on? -On occasion when my Bella suddenly NEEDS to be held she'll come leap onto my chest if I'm lying down and it's no accident,,I'm the target and she doesn't miss!Suddenly it's " thud,,ugh" - thankfully she's not even7 lbs

Cats do slip n slide off hard surfaces and miss their target- they can fall,misjudge and they naturally " right themselves " and grab whatever is closest as they are " righting" their bodies...... anyway,hard to know what happened when you don't see it ....

Now I understand what you're trying to say. I think that's what happened...he launched himself at the counter and slid r

 

[Alldara]

That's my thoughts too. Usually, if a cat attacks you know it! Even when I didn't have limited mobility it ended in a hospital trip when Nobel attacked me (deffered aggression).

Cats can do damage accidently too. I have a few scars from accidental scratches etc.