- Joined
- May 29, 2015
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I came to this site for advice. I've ready read some good advice!
Even though I've had cats my whole life, it isn't until I got the two I have now that I've been so frustrated. Sorry for the long post.
The background. After my long time and most favortist cat ever was put to sleep, I decided to get two cats. My husband thought it was best to have indoor only cats. I hated the idea, but agreed. We found two 4 mo kittens at a local cat shelter. We had played with them for a bit and decided we would take them home. After all the paperwork and stuff, of course.
When the lady brought them to our house they were whining like crazy. My guess is they got it in their heads that when they went in the cat carrier it was "bad". They are like that to this day. I know a part of me is still comparing them to my previous cat who was nothing like that. But even so, it's really annoying. It's the end of the world crying sort of thing. Thankfully, we don't have to do that too much. I haven't tried Feliway yet, but I heard that helps.
Anywho...
We are pretty sure they are litter mates and I was equally sure that they would entertain each other. We are gone a long time out of the day because of the long drive to work and the 9 hours I have to be at work.
I'm quite sure on some level they are glad to have each other, but honestly, they don't get along all that well. They have very different personalities. Gretchen, the calico, is intelligent and really should've been allowed to be an outdoor cat. The world being her playground. Lexi, although quite the sweetie, isn't all that bright. If separated from G she would've been content being an indoor cat. Consequently, Gretchen has always been bored and made trouble and Lexi has learned her behavior. And because of my long days, I've never really had the time to play with G like she needs.
Gretchen started the whining. She's also smart enough to know she can't always get away with it. Lexi on the other hand...keeps doing it.
At night we put them downstairs for bed. Neither my husband or I have really have the patience to deal with the 2-4 a.m. "feed me NOW" issues. G will jump on us and play with anything she knows is annoying to us until she gets her way.
In the mix, I'm guilty of letting them have their way. I tried to appease them because honestly I felt sorry for them.
This isn't the first time they've been completely on my nerves. We tried to take them back to the cat shelter a couple years ago who "promised" they'd take them back no questions asked. But that didn't happen.
At this point, I put up with them. I don't overly like them, but would feel super guilty giving them away not knowing they would get a good home. So, I'm trying to work on changing my behavior as well as theirs.
Advice Needed. One of the many helpful things I read today was that you shouldn't feed your cat first thing in the morning. Which is, of course, what we do. Why is that? I know our cats will whine like crazy until they get their food. I also believe that if we waited until we walked out the door to leave they would whine the whole time anyway. Even if we ignore them.
Also, it's super hard to ignore them when they whine after we get home. We feed them first thing, of course. But it doesn't take long for them to start whining again.
I know I need to play with them more.
I might be missing the advice I need even in my reading. So any advice is appreciated.
--
Rebecca
Even though I've had cats my whole life, it isn't until I got the two I have now that I've been so frustrated. Sorry for the long post.
The background. After my long time and most favortist cat ever was put to sleep, I decided to get two cats. My husband thought it was best to have indoor only cats. I hated the idea, but agreed. We found two 4 mo kittens at a local cat shelter. We had played with them for a bit and decided we would take them home. After all the paperwork and stuff, of course.
When the lady brought them to our house they were whining like crazy. My guess is they got it in their heads that when they went in the cat carrier it was "bad". They are like that to this day. I know a part of me is still comparing them to my previous cat who was nothing like that. But even so, it's really annoying. It's the end of the world crying sort of thing. Thankfully, we don't have to do that too much. I haven't tried Feliway yet, but I heard that helps.
Anywho...
We are pretty sure they are litter mates and I was equally sure that they would entertain each other. We are gone a long time out of the day because of the long drive to work and the 9 hours I have to be at work.
I'm quite sure on some level they are glad to have each other, but honestly, they don't get along all that well. They have very different personalities. Gretchen, the calico, is intelligent and really should've been allowed to be an outdoor cat. The world being her playground. Lexi, although quite the sweetie, isn't all that bright. If separated from G she would've been content being an indoor cat. Consequently, Gretchen has always been bored and made trouble and Lexi has learned her behavior. And because of my long days, I've never really had the time to play with G like she needs.
Gretchen started the whining. She's also smart enough to know she can't always get away with it. Lexi on the other hand...keeps doing it.
At night we put them downstairs for bed. Neither my husband or I have really have the patience to deal with the 2-4 a.m. "feed me NOW" issues. G will jump on us and play with anything she knows is annoying to us until she gets her way.
In the mix, I'm guilty of letting them have their way. I tried to appease them because honestly I felt sorry for them.
This isn't the first time they've been completely on my nerves. We tried to take them back to the cat shelter a couple years ago who "promised" they'd take them back no questions asked. But that didn't happen.
At this point, I put up with them. I don't overly like them, but would feel super guilty giving them away not knowing they would get a good home. So, I'm trying to work on changing my behavior as well as theirs.
Advice Needed. One of the many helpful things I read today was that you shouldn't feed your cat first thing in the morning. Which is, of course, what we do. Why is that? I know our cats will whine like crazy until they get their food. I also believe that if we waited until we walked out the door to leave they would whine the whole time anyway. Even if we ignore them.
Also, it's super hard to ignore them when they whine after we get home. We feed them first thing, of course. But it doesn't take long for them to start whining again.
I know I need to play with them more.
I might be missing the advice I need even in my reading. So any advice is appreciated.
--
Rebecca