I decided to start a new thread, since this is getting to be an urgent matter. Here goes! I'll try to be short and sweet.
My newbie cat (you can find my other threads relating to my journey!) Shortstack is getting comfortable living inside. We are still site swapping, as Wurp still doesn't accept him as a member of our household (on week six). My issue is that I can't find a way to modify his behavior, and it's getting rapidly out of hand. I'm getting scars from his need for attention now and love. He is absolutely the clingiest cat I have ever seen. I am sure that it is related to him acclimating to his new environment, being needy, wanting attention. However--I am being shredded to death over his need for love. I have scars, scabs, and fresh scratches all over my feet and ankles, in various stages of healing.
It begins as this--I'll give you yesterday evening as example. This happens EVERY DAY.
I arrived home yesterday evening from work, he has had full-roam of the house all day, as Wurp sleeps in our bedroom with the door shut during the day. He explores, looks out all the windows with perches, etc. The windows were up yesterday so he could smell and see the outdoors, he seems to really enjoy that. He often sleeps on a perch if the window is open. He immediately comes running to meet me. He proceeds to rub around me, purring loudly, I pet him on the head and go to the dining room where I put my purse down, the mail down, etc. He grabs my foot and digs in with his claws, pulls me toward him. I don't do sudden movements either...I am watching him carefully because I know it is going to happen and purposely try to make no sudden movements. I slowly make my way into the dining room, with him underfoot the entire time. I slowly go back into the kitchen, put up my dirty lunch containers, etc., and start cleaning the kitchen. Every time I turn around to make a move to another counter, he grabs my foot or ankle, and claws deeply. I do my best to ignore him, not make eye contact, etc. I finally get done, go to the living room where I sit to put on socks and tennis shoes so I have some protection for my poor feet! While on the couch, he jumps up next to me and bites me on the arm. He isn't being mean or attacking me, he is just trying to get my attention. He is purring, trying to stick his head under my arm, just wanting to roll around on me and in my lap. I pick him up and carry him into the kitchen again--this is done to protect my feet and legs. I feed him, which only distracts him from his amorous attack for a couple of minutes. After about an hour, I am ready to put him in "his" room and let Wurp out to feed him and socialize with him for a while. As I'm carrying Shortstack down the hall he sees where I'm headed and starts clawing and biting my arm. He doesn't want to go to his room anymore, and puts up quite the fight. Since I had many ouchy-bleedy spots already, I texted my husband and told him he needed to come home and put him up. He wound around my feet until he got there, and my husband had to make 3 attempts to get him in his room before he was successful. It has come down to having his room ready, take him to the door and chunk him in (gently of course haha!) and shut the door as fast as you can.
Here is what I have tried--
Telling him NO! firmly, but not shouting because anything loud really scares him to death
The "shaker" coke can--I took an old Coca-Cola can and put pinto beans in it. He literally launched himself at my arm. It infuriated him more than anything. Got me scratched.
Clapping my hands--it works for about a second, then he just stands and looks at me for a minute, then starts the "grabby" thing again at my feet
Giving him "EXTRA" love--I've spent time sitting on the couch just holding him, petting him, he eventually just goes to sleep and when I get up he does the "grabby" thing again.
Playing with him until he's tired out--works only as long as we are engaged in play. He usually gets tired of play quickly, and will go lay down. I'll go sit down, and he is all over me once again.
The ONLY time he isn't either wallowing all over me when I'm sitting, grabbing my feet, or under my feet is when I go to the back of the house into his room to do something. Or the office. And I can't stay in those two rooms all the time.
Help. I'm about to go insane. I can't sit and relax at all in my home anymore except when Wurp is out and Stack is put up!! And I'd like to be able to go home and sit and chill a minute when I get home from work.
My newbie cat (you can find my other threads relating to my journey!) Shortstack is getting comfortable living inside. We are still site swapping, as Wurp still doesn't accept him as a member of our household (on week six). My issue is that I can't find a way to modify his behavior, and it's getting rapidly out of hand. I'm getting scars from his need for attention now and love. He is absolutely the clingiest cat I have ever seen. I am sure that it is related to him acclimating to his new environment, being needy, wanting attention. However--I am being shredded to death over his need for love. I have scars, scabs, and fresh scratches all over my feet and ankles, in various stages of healing.
It begins as this--I'll give you yesterday evening as example. This happens EVERY DAY.
I arrived home yesterday evening from work, he has had full-roam of the house all day, as Wurp sleeps in our bedroom with the door shut during the day. He explores, looks out all the windows with perches, etc. The windows were up yesterday so he could smell and see the outdoors, he seems to really enjoy that. He often sleeps on a perch if the window is open. He immediately comes running to meet me. He proceeds to rub around me, purring loudly, I pet him on the head and go to the dining room where I put my purse down, the mail down, etc. He grabs my foot and digs in with his claws, pulls me toward him. I don't do sudden movements either...I am watching him carefully because I know it is going to happen and purposely try to make no sudden movements. I slowly make my way into the dining room, with him underfoot the entire time. I slowly go back into the kitchen, put up my dirty lunch containers, etc., and start cleaning the kitchen. Every time I turn around to make a move to another counter, he grabs my foot or ankle, and claws deeply. I do my best to ignore him, not make eye contact, etc. I finally get done, go to the living room where I sit to put on socks and tennis shoes so I have some protection for my poor feet! While on the couch, he jumps up next to me and bites me on the arm. He isn't being mean or attacking me, he is just trying to get my attention. He is purring, trying to stick his head under my arm, just wanting to roll around on me and in my lap. I pick him up and carry him into the kitchen again--this is done to protect my feet and legs. I feed him, which only distracts him from his amorous attack for a couple of minutes. After about an hour, I am ready to put him in "his" room and let Wurp out to feed him and socialize with him for a while. As I'm carrying Shortstack down the hall he sees where I'm headed and starts clawing and biting my arm. He doesn't want to go to his room anymore, and puts up quite the fight. Since I had many ouchy-bleedy spots already, I texted my husband and told him he needed to come home and put him up. He wound around my feet until he got there, and my husband had to make 3 attempts to get him in his room before he was successful. It has come down to having his room ready, take him to the door and chunk him in (gently of course haha!) and shut the door as fast as you can.
Here is what I have tried--
Telling him NO! firmly, but not shouting because anything loud really scares him to death
The "shaker" coke can--I took an old Coca-Cola can and put pinto beans in it. He literally launched himself at my arm. It infuriated him more than anything. Got me scratched.
Clapping my hands--it works for about a second, then he just stands and looks at me for a minute, then starts the "grabby" thing again at my feet
Giving him "EXTRA" love--I've spent time sitting on the couch just holding him, petting him, he eventually just goes to sleep and when I get up he does the "grabby" thing again.
Playing with him until he's tired out--works only as long as we are engaged in play. He usually gets tired of play quickly, and will go lay down. I'll go sit down, and he is all over me once again.
The ONLY time he isn't either wallowing all over me when I'm sitting, grabbing my feet, or under my feet is when I go to the back of the house into his room to do something. Or the office. And I can't stay in those two rooms all the time.
Help. I'm about to go insane. I can't sit and relax at all in my home anymore except when Wurp is out and Stack is put up!! And I'd like to be able to go home and sit and chill a minute when I get home from work.