Is there a cat psychiatrist in the house?

[rklepper]

Okay, I think that our cat has fallen completely out of its tree. It has developed the most annoying habit. It started to bring my daughters hair ties downstairs and place them onto the dog’s water bowl. It has now progressed to brining anything, always something of my daughters, she leaves my stuff alone. She has been bringing down socks, underwear, anything small enough to carry. Not only that but sometimes she carries it back upstairs and drops (throws?) it onto my daughter. Really annoying since she was such a likeable cat in the first place. To top it off I am really quite Luke warm to cats anyway.



Any ideas? And most importantly, any ideas how to stop it?

[Grace]

ha ha ha! how is a psychiatrist gonna help?

[Woolburr]

Stopping it is relatively easy...unfortunately the solution is kind of permanent......

[rklepper]

ha ha ha! how is a psychiatrist gonna help?

Well if it were a cat psychiatrist. I am not sure. I guess if I were sure I would be one. Any ideas Grace?

Thanks so much for any help.

[rklepper]

Stopping it is relatively easy...unfortunately the solution is kind of permanent......

Ouch.:cry:

[Grace]

lol...is the stuff the cat picks up off the floor? tell you daughter to clean her room! depending on the age of your daughter, that may or may not work so well!!!

so the cat gets the stuff wet, then takes it back to your daughter...thats funny!

[rklepper]

lol...is the stuff the cat picks up off the floor? tell you daughter to clean her room! depending on the age of your daughter, that may or may not work so well!!!

so the cat gets the stuff wet, then takes it back to your daughter...thats funny!

Yes, that is correct. The daughter is 18 and finds it a little more than just annoying. I find it annoying as it is not my stuff so I just need to clean the dog's bowl. Oh and the dog has a fit when this happens. Running around whining and carrying on.

[Grace]

maybe seperate the dog for a day - in another room or something and fill his water bowl with vinegar or something foul and the cat will not like the smell and not put stuff in it?

[rklepper]

maybe seperate the dog for a day - in another room or something and fill his water bowl with vinegar or something foul and the cat will not like the smell and not put stuff in it?

Hey that is not a bad idea. I think I will try it. I can board the dog for a day while I do this. The vinegar I am sure would not hurt the cat either.

Thanks for the idea.

[Grace]

wooo hooo! 9 am and I've already helped someone! I should get back in bed now!!

[Woolburr]

I was sure my idea was helpful too.:confused:

[LucyRoberts]

How long have you had the cat? Has your daughter recently went back to school after summer break?

[tiktaalik]

Hair ties are irresistible to cats. They are a perfect size and shape to be carried around. I have to be very careful with mine or they end up all over the house. Let me tell you, you can never look at a hair tie the same way again after finding it next to the litter box...

But this whole thing, including the dunking in water, is play. And I would guess the cat likes your daughter and that's why she's taking her stuff and then bringing it back to her. Making sure that her stuff is not where the cat can reach it will solve the problem. (I'm not entirely convinced the vinegar in the water will - it may stop the cat from fishing the item out of the water but perhaps not the dunking in the first place.)

I have to say the whole thing sounds really funny and cute and I would find it hard to be annoyed.

[rklepper]

How long have you had the cat? Has your daughter recently went back to school after summer break?

The cat is 2 1/2. We got her as a kitten. My daughter did just start college and so gets up to go to cross country practice at 5:30. Used to sleep to 6:45 in high school.

[rklepper]

Hair ties are irresistible to cats. They are a perfect size and shape to be carried around. I have to be very careful with mine or they end up all over the house. Let me tell you, you can never look at a hair tie the same way again after finding it next to the litter box...

But this whole thing, including the dunking in water, is play. And I would guess the cat likes your daughter and that's why she's taking her stuff and then bringing it back to her. Making sure that her stuff is not where the cat can reach it will solve the problem. (I'm not entirely convinced the vinegar in the water will - it may stop the cat from fishing the item out of the water but perhaps not the dunking in the first place.)

I have to say the whole thing sounds really funny and cute and I would find it hard to be annoyed.

Yes, the cat likes her a lot. It follows her everywhere and stays right outside the door of the restroom any time she is in there.

[calicokat]

You just need another cat ;)

[tiktaalik]

One other thing, the cat isn't doing this to annoy anyone. The cat likes your daughter and is just wanting to play. True, it's kind of weird and a bit bothersome, but that's a cat for you.

[CountryBoy]

You just need another cat ;)


Or a meaner dog :evil:

[Rutha73]

maybe the cat needs a more entertaining toy? these guys found a toy mouse on a string to be entertaining for the cat......and them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GatMRq9Yt2Y&NR=1

[cylentka]

I also find this really cute, but then I don't have to live with it. ;) I agree that the cat is just playing. My friendly cat plays with a lot of my daughter's toys and carries them around in his mouth and leaves them in weird places. Especially the rubbery Polly Pocket clothes, he just LOVES them! He has never dunked them that I know of, lol.

Unfortunately I don't know of any answers. :confused: If it were my cat I would try giving her more toys, playing with her more, and making sure your daughter gives her some attention when she has the time. I think she will just eventually get bored with her little game and stop on her own, though. Good luck. And post photos of it if you get any good ones, lol. All I have to do is snap my cat doing something and he'll never do it again. He just hates my camera.

[steved110]

Tiktaalik has got it spot-on, must be a cat person!

Bottom line is, for some reason the cat thinks this is a kind thing to do for your daughter. She should just be grateful not to be getting live vermin brought to her bed in case she needs a snack!

The change in routine may have precipitated the behavioural change. You might find that certain things that increase the cat's sense of security might improve things - for instance giving her a few cardboard grocery boxes to hide in, giving her her own private space to retreat from the world often helps. you can also get pheremone products that release happy cat pheremones that often help chill a kitty - try googling 'Feliway'

Ultimately, if this is really bugging your daughter and she can't cope - just closing a few doors fixes the symptoms, while leaving the cause unattended. I'm surprised the 'objects in the water' thing bothers your dog - but another thing to avoid is any risk of swallowing stuff that might get stuck inside - bits of string - 'linear foreign bodies' wreak havok. Always on a Sunday night, too.

Resist temptations to get another cat 'for the company' - odds are the older cat will either hate the new one, raising the stress-related behaviour issues to a newer, more pungent level, or simply teach the same bad habits.

Good luck with your problems, but to be honest it could be a whole lot worse - no one really knows why cats do what they do, and the chances are this anomaly will pass soon enough.

[kevin_c]

All cats are mad! - End of story! :-)

We currently have four, one a young kitten, and this kitten loves to drag things all over the house and into the garden. It wants to play with the other older cats, but they are a few years older and don't really want to know, so it's up to us to give it some fun :rolleyes:

It sounds like it's a good game, to drag things away from where they should be and dump them in water :-)

[John_B]

rklepper,
WHAT? ??? No Photos! ???

You need to treat them like equals (my cat and dog drink from the same water), because they love each other. :)

Love Buckets
http://johnbdigital.com/pets/love_buckets.jpg
click for specs (http://johnbdigital.com/pets/love_buckets.htm)

Brotherly Love
http://johnbdigital.com/pets/brotherly_love.jpg
click for specs (http://johnbdigital.com/pets/brotherly_love.htm)

See they even want to go out together!

Spring Fever
http://johnbdigital.com/pets/spring_fever.jpg
click for specs (http://johnbdigital.com/pets/spring_fever.htm)

[short5]

Any ideas? And most importantly, any ideas how to stop it?You can't, trust me. Well Wool could fix it but other than that, good luck.

and the chances are this anomaly will pass soon enough.
No it won't.

I have a cat that for 9 years has brought me water soaked sock corpses. It used to be only the wifes red socks. I finally threw them out."Sorry dear you no longer own red socks". Then she moved to blue so we secured all of them. Now days any sock will do. I put them in drawers but if there is a small crack left open she will fish them out by squeezing a foot in and hooking them with a claw. She dips them in the dog bowl and walks around trailing a wet sock howling at the top of her lungs. She eventually comes and drops them at my feet. I went away for an overnight and returned to 11 wet socks in the hall:rolleyes:.

[steved110]

No it won't.

I have a cat that for 9 years has brought me water soaked sock corpses. It used to be only the wifes red socks. I finally threw them out."Sorry dear you no longer own red socks". Then she moved to blue so we secured all of them. Now days any sock will do. I put them in drawers but if there is a small crack left open she will fish them out by squeezing a foot in and hooking them with a claw. She dips them in the dog bowl and walks around trailing a wet sock howling at the top of her lungs. She eventually comes and drops them at my feet. I went away for an overnight and returned to 11 wet socks in the hall:rolleyes:.

:lol::lol::lol:

Better than rotting corpses though!

You just have to put up with cat foibles. It's what they do. They live about 18 years with care, so only another 16 to go, Doc.

[rklepper]

rklepper,
WHAT? ??? No Photos! ???


Well when it happens photos are the last thing on my mind. Actually my Doxie Ruby and my Daughters cat Lilly are quite good friends. We got them the same day and they are the same age.

Here is one of the 2 buds

[rklepper]

Oh and the cat does drink from the same bowl. Not sure how that fits but I will have to think about it.

[rklepper]

Thanks to everyone for the ideas. Now I just have to figure out what it all means.

[Big WIll]

Can you not just shut the door so the cat cannot take anything?

[rklepper]

Can you not just shut the door so the cat cannot take anything?


Well the upstairs of the house is like a loft. That is where my Daughters room is and where the cat sleeps and steals. Not sure what we could do other than shut the cat in the basement.

[Big WIll]

http://www.petsafe.net/

[Time Thief]

Don't call PETA or go crazy on me but here is my idea, your foot and the cats butt.:rolleyes:

[liza]

I have a 15 pound Maine Coon kitten who thinks he's a dog and chews on shoes, so I feel your pain, Doc. You might consider using a squirt gun on your cat. They're an effective behavior modification tool.

[wu_wei0]

You can't, trust me. Well Wool could fix it but other than that, good luck.


No it won't.

I have a cat that for 9 years has brought me water soaked sock corpses. It used to be only the wifes red socks. I finally threw them out."Sorry dear you no longer own red socks". Then she moved to blue so we secured all of them. Now days any sock will do. I put them in drawers but if there is a small crack left open she will fish them out by squeezing a foot in and hooking them with a claw. She dips them in the dog bowl and walks around trailing a wet sock howling at the top of her lungs. She eventually comes and drops them at my feet. I went away for an overnight and returned to 11 wet socks in the hall:rolleyes:.

I have two that will drag anything of mine through the house crying if I'm not there. This includes pillows and afghans from my bed. ONe will also drag my friend's shirt through the house and wail. Just misses us.

Luckily, the only things that are dunked are hair ties and very very large, thick rubber bands. AS far as the boys are concerned, those are toys. I don't mind the water dish. . . It is annoying to fish them out of the toilet when a guest has left the seat up.:evil:

[MDJAK]

Doc, only for you, my friend, I held a seyance. Dr. Ruth attended, Dr. Spock, Dr. Freud, and some watussi tribesmen and women.

The bottom line here is your cat needs a good skinnin.

Dr. Spock recommended therapy thrice weekly until further notice. Unfortunately not covered by insurance.

Dr. Phil (oh, did I forget to say he was there also?) suggested an appearance on Oprah where the cat can finally come clean.

Dr. Kevorkian (yeah, he was there too) suggested hooking the cat up to a mild sedative.

Dr. Sobel (hey, he was my family GP for 50 years before passing on) said he would make one of his patented housecalls for five bucks.

Dr. Kildare (after hopping off Dr. Casey's back) said he should have a little catnip before bed and call him in the morning.

Dr. Welby recommended he see Dr. Kiley as he was too busy with his nurse.

Dr. Huxtable said to give the cat one of his new sweaters.

Dr. Jarvic suggested a pig heart to slow him down.

Dr. Christian Barnard chimed in a new human heart may do the trick.

My suggestion: Get rid of the cat and get another dog.

me

[Tixeon]

Remember, cats are people too:confused:. Cats actually think & have complex personalities just like most people. I have two & they're inside/outside cats. You should see some of the things they bring home...... just for me.

[John_B]

You can always let a few mice run in your house, it should keep your cat busy at least :lol:
Cheaper then going to a cat Psychiatrist :)

[rklepper]

Doc, only for you, my friend, I held a seyance. Dr. Ruth attended, Dr. Spock, Dr. Freud, and some watussi tribesmen and women.

The bottom line here is your cat needs a good skinnin.

Dr. Spock recommended therapy thrice weekly until further notice. Unfortunately not covered by insurance.

Dr. Phil (oh, did I forget to say he was there also?) suggested an appearance on Oprah where the cat can finally come clean.

Dr. Kevorkian (yeah, he was there too) suggested hooking the cat up to a mild sedative.

Dr. Sobel (hey, he was my family GP for 50 years before passing on) said he would make one of his patented housecalls for five bucks.

Dr. Kildare (after hopping off Dr. Casey's back) said he should have a little catnip before bed and call him in the morning.

Dr. Welby recommended he see Dr. Kiley as he was too busy with his nurse.

Dr. Huxtable said to give the cat one of his new sweaters.

Dr. Jarvic suggested a pig heart to slow him down.

Dr. Christian Barnard chimed in a new human heart may do the trick.

My suggestion: Get rid of the cat and get another dog.

me

Thanks for that buddy. The problem is that my daughter loves the cat dearly. So the cat must stay. Got to try something else. I might jus give the squirt gun a try.

[JWright]

This is hysterical! My wife and I used to room with a guy who had two Siamese cats. The female cat would steal my wife's terrycloth hair ties out of a drawer in the bathroom (which she would open by herself) and dip them in the water bowl. Once they were thoroughly soaked, she would bring them into the living room, hook them with her claw and throw them across the room like a Frisbee. You can't imagine sitting there watching television and having one hit you in the face. When my wife finally stashed the ties where the cat couldn't find them, the cat shredded a box of tampons on the bathroom floor out of revenge. This was very embarrassing to our never-married bachelor roommate.

We now live in our own place and have three cats of our own. Each has his own personality with his own quirks. The latest (and youngest) who weighs 18 pounds, has the unpleasant habit of coming into the bedroom and headbutting me in the back--at 4 AM!

[20droger]

For behavior modification, try a squirt bottle or gun filled with water and 20% white vinegar. Cats hate vinegar.

As for cat psychiatrists, there are none. There used to be some, but they all went mad trying to outthink cats. It just can't be done.

We have six cats, all rescues, all different in both looks and personalities, and all loved.

[umbra]

Spring Fever
http://johnbdigital.com/pets/spring_fever.jpg
click for specs (http://johnbdigital.com/pets/spring_fever.htm)


Dude, that picture rocks!

[steved110]

Thanks for that buddy. The problem is that my daughter loves the cat dearly. So the cat must stay. Got to try something else. I might jus give the squirt gun a try.


Personally I tjink the squirt gun idea is a bad one - it runs the risk of stressing the cat, and stressed cats pee all over the house - potentially. that's really bad.

Best thing if you can't keep the cat out of the bed room is make sure your daughter picks her stuff up, I suppose.....and if you can do that, please share the secret!

[StewartR]

As for cat psychiatrists, there are none. There used to be some, but they all went mad trying to outthink cats. It just can't be done.Wisdom indeed.

[PhotoJourno]

Have you mapped the scent trail?... There is a definite connection there. First, get your dog a new bowl if you have not already.

Is there carpet on the floor? Clean the carpet area with Windex, it will not ruin your carpet at all and cut the scent, or at least disorient your cat.

If there is tile or wood, you may want to try bleaching or power cleaning anything that may create odor, not only the floor, but gently wash lower parts of the wall.

Anyhow, either that, or get rid of the canine. Cause let's face it, it's a dog's life. ;)

(If you tried to get rid of the cat, it could come back and put a hit on you, resentful creatures they are).

My animal Psychic services did work under Nevada License, but not since 1994.

Cheers,

[Permagrin]

Doc, some cats just like playing in water. My cat drowns his toys. He started doing that when he turned one. Only the toys that absorb water too...not the plastic ones that won't retain water...then he drags the soggy things all over the house. My vet said that some breeds just like to put their toys in water. If your daughter is the cat's "main" person, he will consider her things his.