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Onyx

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Apr 26, 2014
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I have an update. I did some shopping today.

I went to the Container Store and got boxes and stuff to organize my bathroom to maximize space to put everything out of his reach in boxes or in the cabinet when I'm not there. I don't want to leave anything out while he's by himself.

I also went to the pet store and got the Bitter Apple spray. I found a pet bed that's made out of super durable fabric that would be very difficult to chew through and if he tries I'd most likely see the biting marks before he actually rips it apart. I already check his beds frequently to make sure he didn't chew and swallow anything. I looked for self play toys and they didn't have any that would be safe for him so I'll order some online. I did find a toy that you can put treats in and he'd have to play to get them out, it's this one: http://www.petfoodexpress.com/products/detail/premier-busy-buddy-twist-n-treat-dog-toy
I got that one because his treats are very small and small treats wouldn't just fall out like the other ones.

I also looked at very small cat trees that would fit in my bathroom that have scratching posts. I love wayfair.com, I bought his bigger cat tree there. They have great prices and super easy returns so I'll order one from there.

Thanks for everyone's help so far!
 

Onyx

Lairian
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Apr 26, 2014
Messages
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4
Oh, sorry, I have two quick questions that I forgot to mention:

Would you recommend that he still sleeps in the cage at night or should I put him in the bathroom? I will definitely not put him in the cage during the day but for nighttime he may cry if I make him sleep in a separate room from me. What should I do so he can't chew on things while I'm sleeping but still sleeps comfortably?

Also, what is the likelihood that he will grow out of this?
 

MollysMom

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Oh, sorry, I have two quick questions that I forgot to mention:

Would you recommend that he still sleeps in the cage at night or should I put him in the bathroom? I will definitely not put him in the cage during the day but for nighttime he may cry if I make him sleep in a separate room from me. What should I do so he can't chew on things while I'm sleeping but still sleeps comfortably?

Also, what is the likelihood that he will grow out of this?
I would leave him in the bathroom, with the light on while he is in there. I think the cage is too small and he needs access to his litter box and food and water.

He may well grow out of the chewing. It may also be a compulsive behaviour. This is a really good article on compulsions, including chewing:

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/compulsive-behavior-cats

How many hours a day is someone home with him? I am just wondering if it is coming from being bored/ lonely... kind of like how a puppy might act out. They really do need a lot of attention.
 

Condo commando

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Agree with above, he needs to be able to access his litter box and water bowl at night. The cage could also be causing more problems - stress, frustration, anxiety. A cage is not a long term solution.

If there is a university with a veterinary school nearby you should try to see a vet there. They have vet specialists in every field like human doctors. They also have vet students who are learning but they work together with a professor who is a vet; your cat would be seen by both. You might find the best medical advice there and it could be cheaper than a regular vet who is running a business to make money. The way you are describing the vets you've seen, they were able to do the surgery but they aren't helping you with the underlying problem anyway.

As far as growing out of it....it could well be that he will chew/eat less things as he gets older, but stopping altogether is another thing and how could you ever be sure he wouldn't? He's already had 2 surgeries so I wouldn't risk a third. Take this one step at a time and don't get ahead of yourself. Make the bathroom a safe room and see how he does in there...hopefully he is good about going in his litter box. When you are with him, bring him into your room but watch him like a hawk. I hope that he comes around so that one day he can be in your bedroom all the time .....after all that's why we have cats - we like them to be around us. But what's more important is to keep him safe and if he is happy being in the bathrrom and he is safe there, then be thankful and let it be.
 
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Condo commando

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I keep 2 litter boxes in the bathroom and so I have a night light plugged in so that there is always some light in there. It's an option so you don't have to leave the main light on.
 

Hairless Blessing

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Thanks for the tip for the grass! I almost bought some today.

I bought the Bitter Apple spray today and will try it.

I've never heard of a feliway diffuser... I looked it up and will read some more about it.

I live in the Bay Area in California so I'm sure there's a university with veterinary medicine here. Why?

Well, usually, they are very helpful. I know people have went to them, when, they, can't get, to the root of the problem.
They have helped some people. That's, just a suggestion, you, might want to talk to them about it.
The diffuser is a calming sent, for cats.
 

Onyx

Lairian
Joined
Apr 26, 2014
Messages
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I would leave him in the bathroom, with the light on while he is in there. I think the cage is too small and he needs access to his litter box and food and water.

He may well grow out of the chewing. It may also be a compulsive behaviour. This is a really good article on compulsions, including chewing:

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/compulsive-behavior-cats

How many hours a day is someone home with him? I am just wondering if it is coming from being bored/ lonely... kind of like how a puppy might act out. They really do need a lot of attention.

Thanks for the info! Right now I'm taking only online classes so most days I'm home all day. I don't leave the house much, at least currently.

Agree with above, he needs to be able to access his litter box and water bowl at night. The cage could also be causing more problems - stress, frustration, anxiety. A cage is not a long term solution.

If there is a university with a veterinary school nearby you should try to see a vet there. They have vet specialists in every field like human doctors. They also have vet students who are learning but they work together with a professor who is a vet; your cat would be seen by both. You might find the best medical advice there and it could be cheaper than a regular vet who is running a business to make money. The way you are describing the vets you've seen, they were able to do the surgery but they aren't helping you with the underlying problem anyway.

As far as growing out of it....it could well be that he will chew/eat less things as he gets older, but stopping altogether is another thing and how could you ever be sure he wouldn't? He's already had 2 surgeries so I wouldn't risk a third. Take this one step at a time and don't get ahead of yourself. Make the bathroom a safe room and see how he does in there...hopefully he is good about going in his litter box. When you are with him, bring him into your room but watch him like a hawk. I hope that he comes around so that one day he can be in your bedroom all the time .....after all that's why we have cats - we like them to be around us. But what's more important is to keep him safe and if he is happy being in the bathrrom and he is safe there, then be thankful and let it be.

How do you see vet students? It's not like calling a vet to make an appointment, right? Do I try to find a number for that department at the school online?

I keep 2 litter boxes in the bathroom and so I have a night light plugged in so that there is always some light in there. It's an option so you don't have to leave the main light on.

I have two lights in my bathroom. The main one which automatically closes after an hour [it has a motion detector] and one in my shower that doesn't close. When I leave the shower light on with the main light closed it's a perfect in between where it's dark enough for him to sleep but there's enough light to see everything in the room. That's what I was planning to do.

Well, usually, they are very helpful. I know people have went to them, when, they, can't get, to the root of the problem.
They have helped some people. That's, just a suggestion, you, might want to talk to them about it.
The diffuser is a calming sent, for cats.

I'm reading reviews on the diffuser right now. Thanks for the suggestions!
 

Onyx

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Joined
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Messages
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I have an interesting update -- I noticed yesterday that when Clyde plays with his small tennis balls [he goes crazy over those] he sometimes kicks them behind my desk where there's electrical cords for my desk lights. When he runs after the balls over to that part of my room he is avoiding the electrical cords. Sometimes he even looks at me to make sure I'm not mad that he's going near them, without even putting them in his mouth, just going there to get his balls back and leaving. It's so cute, I think he's learning what he's allowed to do. I definitely don't trust him to be around electrical cords without supervision but this makes me hopeful that he at least tries to behave.
 

Condo commando

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You just have to call the vet school and find out when they can give you an appointment and then go from there. But you don't make an appointment with a student, you just make an appointment to see a vet and it will probably end up being a professor and a student. This is part of the curriculum in vet school. When vets graduate, they have already been seeing patients.
 

Condo commando

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I have an interesting update -- I noticed yesterday that when Clyde plays with his small tennis balls [he goes crazy over those] he sometimes kicks them behind my desk where there's electrical cords for my desk lights. When he runs after the balls over to that part of my room he is avoiding the electrical cords. Sometimes he even looks at me to make sure I'm not mad that he's going near them, without even putting them in his mouth, just going there to get his balls back and leaving. It's so cute, I think he's learning what he's allowed to do. I definitely don't trust him to be around electrical cords without supervision but this makes me hopeful that he at least tries to behave.
They definitely can learn. Mine know they're not allowed on the kitchen counter for example.
 

Onyx

Lairian
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Messages
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You just have to call the vet school and find out when they can give you an appointment and then go from there. But you don't make an appointment with a student, you just make an appointment to see a vet and it will probably end up being a professor and a student. This is part of the curriculum in vet school. When vets graduate, they have already been seeing patients.

Okay, great! I'll look up which schools are nearby.
 

Onyx

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Okay, I just finished kitty proofing the bathroom. There isn't a small cat tree or a scratching post yet but I reorganized everything and maximized the space in a smarter way so I can get everything put away when I need to. It's a LOT of work so I really hope this keeps him safe and happy.
 

Condo commando

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Great job, I bet it goes a long way just for him to be able to have his litter box where he can get to it!

Kittens are adaptable. Give him some time to interact with you and play so he can spend his energy, a cozy place to sleep and some food, and you have a good chance he will relax and not chew into everything. When you're around him just speak gently and act calmly which will also help him to relax because he takes his cues from you. Lastly, remember that if he does something he's not supposed to do it's his way of sending you a message and don't ignore it....try as best you can to figure out what he's trying to tell you.

Good luck!
 

Hairless Blessing

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I have an interesting update -- I noticed yesterday that when Clyde plays with his small tennis balls [he goes crazy over those] he sometimes kicks them behind my desk where there's electrical cords for my desk lights. When he runs after the balls over to that part of my room he is avoiding the electrical cords. Sometimes he even looks at me to make sure I'm not mad that he's going near them, without even putting them in his mouth, just going there to get his balls back and leaving. It's so cute, I think he's learning what he's allowed to do. I definitely don't trust him to be around electrical cords without supervision but this makes me hopeful that he at least tries to behave.


You know you can get small white pvc at a hardware store and run your cords through that and there is no way he can chew through that.
If the problem doesn't stop. Hopefully things will start getting better.
 

susi794

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Have you thought of getting him a playmate? It would take care of his need to play, reduce his dependence on you, and they could chew on each other...a playmate will yelp and so he knows to stop. Just throwing it out there....but I really think it would be something you could try. He sounds like he needs a friend.
 

Toa and Ross

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@Onyx : all the people here are giving you great tips and advice so I'm just coming in to say...wow all the things you did for Clyde and the effort you do to try to stop Clyde get into trouble! I can imagine you'll be so worried about him by him eating all kind things.

I'll hope the tips and advice will help you and Clyde!
 
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