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My sleep-stealing demon cat

 
  

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bitchiekittie
16:13 / 09.05.02
I have two cats, both rescued (oldest was brought home at 6 mos, slightly younger was brought home at 8 mos). the younger one is a beast. adorable, yes, but evil. when I first brought her home, she was very very sick and therefore very inactive. once she was well, she seemed to want to make up for lost time. shes very very bad.

which is fine - Ive always had a cat in my life and Im used to all the little annoyances. but one thing I cannot deal with anymore and I dont know what to do - she runs, all night. shes only a tiny little thing, but yet she makes so much noise. she climbs and jumps and plays all night long. I tried changing their feeding habits, didnt help. Ive tried locking her in the bathroom (keeps her out of both of our rooms) but she tore a hole in the linoleum, and the scratching drove me mad. I live in a small apartment, so theres no basement or extra rooms to put her in. I even bought a roomy little cat carrier to keep her in - she howled and dug at it mercilessly. and to be honest, I felt so guilty keeping her in there

this is getting out of hand - I really need my sleep. Im not the type to just get rid of my cat when things get hard - and shes been nothing but difficult, and expensive. my other cat seems to love her, and I think my daughter would miss her. so getting rid of her is not an option (right now). but Im truly desperate for suggestions of how to get her still at night
 
 
grant
16:27 / 09.05.02
My other half would suggest Bach Flower Rescue Remedy, available at herbal stores and health stores.
I'm very skeptical about the whold Bach flower thing, but it does seem to calm down cats.
 
 
bitchiekittie
16:35 / 09.05.02
how do you use it? and where can I get it?

Im willing to try absolutely anything at this point
 
 
Shortfatdyke
16:39 / 09.05.02
it's a liquid with a dropper. put it in kitty's water?
 
 
wembley can change in 28 days
16:39 / 09.05.02
Ask for it at a drugstore/chemist or natural foods store; it's pretty easy to find. Hell, that stuff calms me down, let alone a cat! It's good stuff.
 
 
pointless and uncalled for
16:40 / 09.05.02
Does tryptophan work on cats? If so she could feed it nuggets of turkey.
 
 
MissLenore
16:48 / 09.05.02
Valium. One of my old cats was on that stuff and I'd never seen him so docile before.
 
 
bitchiekittie
16:57 / 09.05.02
where can I find out more about this stuff, anyone know of a website?

thanks, all
 
 
bitchiekittie
16:58 / 09.05.02
valium! haha. I dont want to knock it out, just make it less of a nocturnal bastard
 
 
ONLY NICE THINGS
17:00 / 09.05.02
Well, given that rescue remedy's calming properties are a result of a delicate infusion of lavender, eucalyptus and BOOZE...
 
 
Mourne Kransky
17:01 / 09.05.02
I am a hard hearted bastard who just ignored our pathetic whimpering male cats scratching at the bedroom door and pleas for affection overnight until he learnt my overnight bastardy was resolute -
but then I didn't have a small child to be concerned with and no lino for him to destroy. You have my sympathy, bitchiekittie, re: your truly bitchy kittie.

My feeble web-fu did come up with some support for grant's Bach Flower Remedies and there are more than a few alternative therapy fans where I work who tell me animals often respond more reliably than humans to some of these treatments, like homeopathy for mastitis in cows which is pretty well documented. I found this Vibration Magazine website and there were several others similar.

I quite liked this site for its gentle, positive, behaviourist approach. The very concept of "training" seems anathematic to the feline species but may be worth a try.

Good luck and sweeter dreams...
 
 
Ierne
17:02 / 09.05.02
I will be watching this thread with interest. I've just moved into a new apartment, and Messrs. Brendan Behan & Dylan Thomas are not acclimating as well as hoped. Mr. Thomas is especially vocal about his dissatisfaction with the new space, and chooses anywhere from 2:30 AM – 4:45 AM to express his disapproval (Mr. Behan also does his best to make noise, but he's an Irish tenor – his "squeek!" cannot compare to the deep, resonant "YOWL!" of his Welsh companion.)

So anything that will help my cats chill out would be greatly appreciated. Especially as my landlady will be sleeping in the room underneath them
 
 
Ierne
17:10 / 09.05.02
Well, given that rescue remedy's calming properties are a result of a delicate infusion of lavender, eucalyptus and BOOZE... – Haus

Messrs. Behan & Thomas should like that very, very much.

Thanks for the links, ZoCher!
 
 
Shortfatdyke
17:10 / 09.05.02
two of my three squeak or yowl outside my door at nights. better than my last house, where the resident cat would leap up and down at my window in the early hours. thing is, i don't mind any of this stuff. i am rather under their thumbs (well you know what i mean). ierne's have wonderful names. i am stuck with the likes of tutti fruitti until i move again....
 
 
Mourne Kransky
17:27 / 09.05.02
C'est mon plaisir, Ma'm'selle Ierne. Overjoyed to be able to recommend new varieties of BOOZE to the legendarily bibulous Brendan and Dylan (if Haus, that connoisseur of the fine Martini is to be believed).
 
 
bitchiekittie
18:04 / 09.05.02
bit worried at the thought of feeding my kittie booze; however, like ierne I do believe my little cigarette muncher (ATE them) might very well enjoy it

sfd - dont feel bad. mine are sugar-sweet named - izabel and little thin lizzie, the formerly sickly demon.

thanks zocher, Im off to look up the links!
 
 
w1rebaby
18:16 / 09.05.02
little cigarette muncher

I'd just like to confirm the fact that this particular cat is
(a) apparently satanic
(b) very stupid
(c) eats absolutely anything

It ripped open my duty free carton, which was hidden in a bag, then ripped open the packet and ate two cigarettes. Except for the filters. Apparently at that point it got bored.

The pair of them are inveterate morning face-jumpers as well. They also have strange wrestling matches which end up with them in a 69 position.

I think, to be honest, what those cats need is either Ritalin or a Playstation, specially modified for little kitty paws.
 
 
pointless and uncalled for
18:19 / 09.05.02
Kittyritalin, the latest product available from Petdrugs Inc.
 
 
bitchiekittie
18:20 / 09.05.02
teh 69 position thing is incredibly cute - with both of them hugging the others neck, tearing at each others faces with their back claws. such love
 
 
Ierne
19:59 / 09.05.02
bk: my cats themselves do not drink booze, but they are named after authors who most certainly did!

I'm going to look for this Rescue Remedy after work however, because I need sleep and I suspect that the dosage will be low.
 
 
Mourne Kransky
20:33 / 09.05.02
There is always exorcism of course, when all else fails, bk.
 
 
bitchiekittie
11:50 / 10.05.02
I downed some tylenol pm to be certain of some rest. some git from florida (sez the caller id) woke me up twice in the early am to fax me something (hint: I havent got a fax machine) and then my cat decided to take my wakefulness as a cue to break out with the happy noise making. I did manage almost 6 hours of unbroken sleep so Im well

tonight Ill be purusing the phone book for health food and pet shops, however

zocher - thats next on my list
 
 
Ierne
16:42 / 10.05.02
So I found some Rescue Remedy during my lunch break – damn it's pricey! $10.49!

Will try it over the weekend and will post results next week.
 
 
Persephone
16:55 / 10.05.02
A friend of mine had a demon cat named Presley, who used to slash the hell out of the dog with claws she kept specially sharpened. Dog's life was not worth living, so my friend got Presley declawed. Presley switched to stalking and ambushing my friend around her apartment. So then my friend took Presley to a cat psychologist, and Presley walked out with her very own prescription of Prozac. Though my friend was deeply embarassed by the entire episode, Presley's been a happy cat ever since.
 
 
that
17:30 / 10.05.02
One of my friends once gave Valium to her cat, when it had got itself covered in paint, or tar, or something, and she needed to calm it down to clean it up - I don't remember the exact details. Anyway, this cat, Valiumed up to the eyeballs, proceeded to wander off up a tree and sit there, stoned out of its skull, lolling and grinning in the goodly Cheshire fashion, all afternoon. So, in short, it did the clean up operation no good... and why I am telling you all this, I do not know, though I guess Valium might do either you or the cat some good...
 
 
bitchiekittie
17:32 / 10.05.02
Id hate to keep her drugged all the time. I dont really even mind her exuberance - its cute and kitten-like. as long as it doesnt interupt my sleep! Im just waiting for the day I break back into sleep walking and add sleep-murder to my list of problems

she may even outgrow it - shes only about 1 1/2. I really appreciate all the input

good luck ierne, Ill be looking for my own bottle tonight!
 
 
bitchiekittie
17:33 / 10.05.02
and my cats a strictly indoor cat - considering that she was taken to the shelter at 8 months old and had run free up until then, it may be a big contribution.

...but then again, my other cat was 6 months at the time, and had been a stray. who knows
 
 
pointless and uncalled for
17:34 / 10.05.02
Some git from Florida, that's not you again is it grant?
 
 
Ierne
17:34 / 10.05.02
Hmph. If I have to pay for drugs, then I'll be the one taking 'em, not the damn catz.
 
 
Busigoth
15:07 / 11.05.02
My cats (kittens at the time) got into the sherry once, when they broke the decanter while I was out. Afterwards, they were climbing up the curtains!!!

Also, one of my friend's cats had an idiosyncratic reaction to Valium & died. (I'm not sure my friend has forgiven herself yet.) If you go with the Valium, just watch her carefully for a few hours after her 1st dose so you can intervene in case of adverse reaction. There's also an older sedative called something like ace promozine--not vouching for spelling here--which the vet recommended if ever I have to take my elderly cat any distance in a car. She (the vet) recommended a half-dose or less, just to take the edge off of the cat's anxiety.

Maybe one of those climbing trees would hold her interest, so she wouldn't run everywhere.

Good luck. Let us know what happens.
 
 
that
15:22 / 11.05.02
My dog tried Aftershock when he was a puppy. Never seen a dog pull a face like that before or since...and I can't say I blame him. He really likes hash though... actually, I expect that is bad for dogs for the same reason as chocolate... but anyway, this is kind of threadrotty... sorry... go dogs!
 
 
Tuna Ghost: Pratt knot hero
17:03 / 11.05.02
My priest friend gave one of my friends' dog coke, and now it can't climb stairs.
 
 
Sax
21:31 / 11.05.02
As part of my latest gardening fad (no, really) I went out and bought some herbs at the weekend, and came home with a pot of catmint. Never heard of it before, not sure if it's the same thing as catnip, but my two cats Kali and Shiva went absolutely bonkers for it as soon as I walked through the door. They were sniffing and scoffing it, and then had a mad half hour tear-arsing around the house, before collapsing and sleeping for hours. V. entertaining, I must say.
 
 
Less searchable M0rd4nt
16:15 / 12.05.02
I heard of a guy left a tab of acid on the table and his cat ate it. The cat ended up with extreme agrophobia; if you put it in the middle of the room it would become horribly distressed. The guy had to build an enclosed structure along one wall out of empty crisp boxes (the kind with a hole in the front) for the cat to run around in.

Sorry, bk- that was completely irrelevant.

The prozac thing: I thought that prozac didn't work on kitties because their brain chemistry is different from ours?
 
 
Ganesh
20:10 / 12.05.02
Chuck the cat outside at night?
 
  

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