I have a 4 year old cat who seems bored lately. He won't play very much anymore. His health is fine. We both work days, so he is home alone from 10 AM till 4 PM, but he seems to sleep during that period. I was wondering if I should get a kitten for him to play with? He is pretty skittish with other animals and doesn't seem to like other animals.
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It sounds like he needs something to play with ....another kitty would be a problem if he wouldn't accept it. They have interactive toys that might help. I would also consider talking to a vet about him.
It can take some time but a kitty just might be what he needs. And let me say that it should be a kitten and not another adult cat. It would be best to introduce the two over a weekend or when you have a few days off. You may have to referee the first day or so but most cats will eventually welcome and learn to love their little brother or sister.
Your cat may need a playmate. Try to get a kitten from a shelter or one that is less than 6 months old. I worked for a year at a cat shelter and that is where I got my third cat from and by luck it took less than and hour for all to get to know each other. Also one of my cats was a difficult cat and even with her the introduction went well because the new cat knows how to act around other cats. I wish you the best of luck from a cat lover.
Or maybe he just is at the age where he is in a routine and likes to sleep. My mom has an older cat, and trust me she doesnt like any other cats and barely tolerates dogs.
Try toys. My cat loved those ones you get for a dollar like a plastic fishing rod with string and toy
at end and she would jump sky hi for it or bat it
My big cat was about 4 when I got a new kitten. Although he didn't like the kitten at first, they did quickly become friends & played together. Then when he was about 6, and the younger kitty was about 2, I got my 3rd cat.
Ed -- We have a three year old male cat who seems to be mellowing with age, too. He used to be silly and play but now he seems to be content to just snooze and go outside and lay in the sun. About a year ago we found a stray female kitten who was about 4 months old. We thought we'd bring her in and it didn't take long for our male cat to get used to her (I think he was more annoyed than anything - "how dare we bring in a new, wild kitty into the family?!") and they get along great now. But I should say that our male cat is more of a lover, not a fighter and he gets along with just about anything.
I thought I read somewhere that it's easier to bring another animal into an adult male cat's home than it is to bring one into an adult female cat's home. Maybe you have friends with a kitten who could bring it over for a visit to see how your cat does before you commit to buying one for yourself? Good luck
I HAVE READ IN DIFFERENT VET COLUMNS THAT IT IS NOT GOOD LEAVING AN ANIMAL HOME ALL ALONE WHILE WE WORK ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE INSIDE.
CATS ARE SOCIAL ANIMALS AND NEED TO INTERACT. I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT AID AND IDEA TO GET A COMPANION. WHY NOT ASK YOUR VET IF A KITTEN WOULD BE APPROPRIATE? ALSO, THERE ARE DEFINITE PREFERRED METHODS FOR INTRODUCING A NEW ANIMAL IN THE HOUSE TO MAKE THE ACCEPTANCE AND ADJUSTMENT EASY FOR BOTH OF THEM.
Get the cat some toys...or some new ones. Cats are fine being alone from my experience....they are very independent. Just give him lots of attention when you're there.
No,you can't put a kitten with a cat.They will fight.They would'nt get along at all.I have this experience but not with 4 year old cat.Well,I have 10 cats!
Cats were made to be outdoors. There is a myth that cats are happy to remain inside all the time, but that myth was created to accommodate an artificial world ruined by cars, no green spaces, overpopulation, overdevelopment, an unhealthy, unsafe environment for animals (and people). Cats need to be cats, to climb trees, chase birds, explore and play. We have made them prisoners. It is a cat's right to be outdoors. It is best to provide a cat door so he/she can go in and out at will. Being locked up inside all day is worse for dogs who suffer depression from being alone so long. What a terrible world we have created.
Sorry this is a long post but I think worth your read. We adopted a one year old cat who was initially a stray cat. When we first got her, she was very apprehensive to everything and everyone. We consider her an indoor cat but is allowed outdoors under our supervision. At first this didn't go over so well. Along with other behavioral problems, She would run away and we would have to chase after her. Her all around behavior was edgy and depressed. Some days she would love us to death and other days, she would be sketchy, only want to sleep with no play, and also try to escape if outside. She didn't seem happy and we only live in 900 sq ft.
We decided to get her a pal and brought home a kitten (highly recommended rather than an older cat). For the first two weeks or so she absolutely despised him and we we had to consider getting rid or him, but after a few weeks, they became the best of friends! She actually started to nurture him and now, she couldn't be happier. We continue to let both of them outside for short periods of time under our supervision and she now barely even wants to go outside. She'll now go outdoors and come right back within five minutes with no desire to go back out and we can see a huge change in personality. She doesn't have any desire to run away or even go outside for that matter and we can see that she is way more happy and content now.
In our case, getting her a companion was the best choice, although, it does entirely depend on the cat's personality. All I can say is try it out (but get yourself a kitten, it's way less threatening to them) and give it some time. But if they are not compatible within a few weeks, don't keep pushing it. Unfortunately, you'd then have to give up the kitten but someone will adopt a kitten from you no problem! Although, I really think it's worth trying for the cat's sake. Our cat's couldn't be happier together.
My biggest advice for you though is to get a male kitten! Females don't go well together but males do and does male/females.
I saw a vet on channel 9 last summer & he said that cat's & dogs are "Hunters"... so to keep them happy & let then THINK they are "hunting"... take several (5 - 10 or so) yogurt lids or tiny plates & leave a teaspoon of Wet food in the tiny bowl, then when you leave the house, "Hide" them all around the area where your cat hangs out.... (they will "smell them out") This way, your cat can have the satisfaction of "hunting" for his food!
This vet also sells a thing (a toy) that you put dry food in, It comes in several sizes depending on the size of the food (cat or dog)... The way it works is instead of "giving" food to your pet, you satisfy his need to "hunt" by making him "work" for it & theoretically they'll "get more satisfaction" from "working" for the food.... There is a small hole where you put the food in, then the pet rolls the toy around to get the dry food out.
---> You can make your own (though not as cool as the one you can buy) by taking 2 yogurt containers & taping them end to end, then cutting tiny holes in it all around, so the dry food shakes out slowly as the cat moves it around. I've had greater success with a small clear bottle that water came it... Let it dry out & save the lid. Cut tiny holes in it with a pair of scissors, then put the cats dry food for the day in it & put the lid back on & watch you cat have fun figuring out to get his food! This works especially well for overweight cats (like my little "pig"), but not so well if your cat needs more calories.
I think this was the vet:
Marty Becker
www.drmartybecker.com/
* About the "Kitten"... This very same Vet. say's it's VERY important to get the "right" friend for you pet... If it's a male, Be sure NOT to get another male as they might fight for territory. Get only a female.... If your pet is female, then male is better... Marty Becker has a book you can buy. I suggest you buy it & read it before you get another cat for your pet, as my daughter's cat went into SEVERE depression when she brought home a stray kitten... The vet gave her antidepressants for the cat!... But all was fine when she found a new home for the stray. Boy, was that cat sad...It was the strangest thing, I think Princess felt that 'She no longer was loved"
Marty Becker's book about Cats: (he has one for dog owners as well)
meowWOW!: Curiously Compelling Facts, True Tales, and Trivia Even Your Cat Won't Know:
(you can get a used copy for under $4 on Amazon!)
www.amazon.com/
* I've heard that sometimes cats & rabbits get along well. Some rabbits can be taught to use their own cat box too.
This will get any board cat moving! My cat prefers one toy & only one: It's super simple to make. Take a dowel or a knitting needle or a stick & to that tie a piece of clear fishline about 3 - 4 feet long. To the end, tie a single piece of Eyelash yarn (like lion brand "Fun Fur") about 3 - 4 inches long... I used black because it looks more "bug-like"... (when done, it will look like a fishing poll with yarn as the "fish" on the end.) Keep it simple.
---> Here's the trick: DRAG the "bug" along the ground & your cat will think it's prey... go in between & in & around some boxes & paper bags so he looses sight of it (this makes him want it more)... He will pounce on it like the little Hunter he is! We drag it slow until our cat goes after it, then we'll speed it up. Our cat gets down on his haunches & really gets into it. He doesn't like other toys very much & gets board of others quickly, but the one I made that you drag along the floor, he can play with for hours! We play "Bug on a line" with him mostly while our food is heating up, or our coffee is brewing, or while the car is warming up, or while we're on the phone. It's good use of our time.
* I tried tying eyelash yarn to my forced air registers, he liked that for several minutes, then was board with that too! ...He has to "hunt" the bug!
---> If you have a friend who is a knitter, Odds are, they'll have a piece of eyelash yarn on hand... If not, Just go to any craft store that sells yarn & ask them for a "sample piece" of eyelash yarn (don't say it's to make a cat toy!)... Just ask for a "sample piece" about 3 - 4 inches long & they'll most likely give you a tiny piece for free. You can also write to Lion Brand Yarn & ask them to send you a 4 inch piece of "Fun Fur" for a color sample. OR, Any of you, drop me a note on TriftyFun & I'll send you everything but the dowel for your own "bug on a line" cat toy.
I would suggest getting a kitten. I had two cats who loved each other, and i recently moved. Cats really are social animals.
I have a problem too...My new landlord said I could only have one cat. It was so heartbreaking getting rid of Chewbaca. Now i've been living here a little over a week. My cat Hero walks around and cries a lot and expects me to play with him every minute of the day. I try to get him interested in activities he can have fun at by himself but the only thing he wants to do is play fetch with me 24/7.
I don't know what to do. Does anyone have suggestions? I can't let him outside because there is all kinds of wildlife around here and i can't risk getting fleas in my landlords apartment. Plus Hero is a dummy who doesn't run when he should. I don't think he'd do well outside. He just walks around bored all day and meows. He was never a loud cat until now.
My cat was bored so I decided to get another friend for him so I got a kitten. At first they didn't get along at all and hissed at each other but after a while they got used to each other and now they are the best of friends. They play fight and run about the house all day. So if you get a kitten just give them time to get used to each other. They will be great friends, but make sure you give your first cat allot of attention so he knows you still love him ,and you don't want to replace him.
my 8 year old cat loves elastic bands. Toys do not excite him at all. I've tried catnip and over time he only reacted (and LOVED IT) one out of 4 catnips. I have no idea why. Does anyone know of a brand that works that would also be sold in Canada? I live in Vancouver.
THANKS!
We have a large water dish that I put ice cubes in. Our cats 'fish' for the ice cubes and it keeps them occupied for quite a while.
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