What has made this cat so crazy?
January 2, 2010 8:22 PM Subscribe
Why has my 4 year old healthy spayed female calico foster cat suddenly gotten so annoying?
I have been fostering a 4 year old healthy spayed female calico cat from a local shelter for about 1.5 months. She was at the shelter for several months having been surrendered by someone who couldn't care for her (I don't know the full story, but is seems the cat wasn't abused or neglected). She adapted to life outside the cage in my one bedroom apartment almost immediately. I don't have other animals. She snuggles, plays, sleeps, vocalizes, eats, drinks, pees and poops just like a typical youngish cat.
That is until yesterday when she became the most annoying cat I have ever experienced. She has nearly non-stop been vocalizing (marowww, brrup sounds), has been running around like crazy, and has been scratching the furniture and the walls to excess. She is less interested in toys than she has been and has no interest in cat nip all of a sudden. She is eating, drinking, peeing and pooping like normal. As far as I can tell nothing has changed in the environment. What the hell is going on? And please, what can I do to make the craziness stop?
I have been fostering a 4 year old healthy spayed female calico cat from a local shelter for about 1.5 months. She was at the shelter for several months having been surrendered by someone who couldn't care for her (I don't know the full story, but is seems the cat wasn't abused or neglected). She adapted to life outside the cage in my one bedroom apartment almost immediately. I don't have other animals. She snuggles, plays, sleeps, vocalizes, eats, drinks, pees and poops just like a typical youngish cat.
That is until yesterday when she became the most annoying cat I have ever experienced. She has nearly non-stop been vocalizing (marowww, brrup sounds), has been running around like crazy, and has been scratching the furniture and the walls to excess. She is less interested in toys than she has been and has no interest in cat nip all of a sudden. She is eating, drinking, peeing and pooping like normal. As far as I can tell nothing has changed in the environment. What the hell is going on? And please, what can I do to make the craziness stop?
How sure are you that she's spayed? Maybe the shelter messed up.
posted by fritley at 8:28 PM on January 2, 2010
posted by fritley at 8:28 PM on January 2, 2010
Best answer: Have the shelter check again to be sure she IS spayed. Sometimes all a shelter does is have a tech palpate the tummy to see if they feel a spay scar. They, or you, may want to shave her midline or flank to see if there IS an actual surgical scar, and not a healed hernia or something.
Then again, my youngest cat would stare at the walls and yowl and howl and cry. Within one day, there was invariably an earthquake with the epicenter towards the wall he was crying at.
You could also try distracting her. When she starts the behavior, pick her up, toss a toy or use a laser light toy, offer her a treat or meal, pet her. Breaking the cycle can help her get over any anxiety she may have.
The "bruuup", chirping, as you know is a happy call or call for mommy. Was she an only pet? She might be searching for something - or someone! You can even explain to her that she is the only cat here now, and you are taking care of her for a while, and then she will go to a new forever home after a while. Cats are smart, and can understand some messages perfectly well!
Good luck, and thanks for your work!
posted by Jinx of the 2nd Law at 8:36 PM on January 2, 2010
Then again, my youngest cat would stare at the walls and yowl and howl and cry. Within one day, there was invariably an earthquake with the epicenter towards the wall he was crying at.
You could also try distracting her. When she starts the behavior, pick her up, toss a toy or use a laser light toy, offer her a treat or meal, pet her. Breaking the cycle can help her get over any anxiety she may have.
The "bruuup", chirping, as you know is a happy call or call for mommy. Was she an only pet? She might be searching for something - or someone! You can even explain to her that she is the only cat here now, and you are taking care of her for a while, and then she will go to a new forever home after a while. Cats are smart, and can understand some messages perfectly well!
Good luck, and thanks for your work!
posted by Jinx of the 2nd Law at 8:36 PM on January 2, 2010
Ear mites made my cat do this.
posted by unknowncommand at 8:41 PM on January 2, 2010
posted by unknowncommand at 8:41 PM on January 2, 2010
Not to freak you out, but my friend posted a similar dilemma to Metafilter (I was the one who nicknamed her HorMona!). The cat, usually such a sweetheart, was like something possessed: threw herself against walls and doors, rrrrwoled, squatted on all fours like she, ahem, wanted action, and every other hallmark of a cat in heat.
It's relatively common for vets to miss ovarian tissue during routine spaying surgeries, and even a little left over material can send cats into heat. So even if you know for sure she was spayed, take her to the vet to make absolutely sure she's not going into heat.
posted by zoomorphic at 9:06 PM on January 2, 2010
It's relatively common for vets to miss ovarian tissue during routine spaying surgeries, and even a little left over material can send cats into heat. So even if you know for sure she was spayed, take her to the vet to make absolutely sure she's not going into heat.
posted by zoomorphic at 9:06 PM on January 2, 2010
My cat got like this (mrrrrow-scratch-scratch-wreck-things-run-run-run-ants-in-his-pants-omg-cut-it-out) and I eventually realized that it was because he was lonely and bored. I got him another cat and he calmed down pretty much immediately. It's been a year and he rarely acts needy and mental any more- now he pretty much only acts like that if he can hear people laughing in the downstairs apartment (he likes to be where the action is).
posted by pseudostrabismus at 12:10 AM on January 3, 2010
posted by pseudostrabismus at 12:10 AM on January 3, 2010
Best answer: In my experience, calico cats are extra nuts, and prone to bouts of raw energy release. This has been the case across three different breeds under my care or in my family, so it's stuck in my mind. It may be that she was being cautious when adapting to a new environment, found it to her liking, and has started acting more like herself, unfortunately. Your best recourse is to tucker her out. If you can be very steady about your schedule, and find something that she likes to do (try replicating the hunt as much as you can, be it with a specific toy or a change in environmental factors - an "undergrowth" of boxes and packing paper with rabbit fur stuffed rodents for her to viciously attack?) and stick to it, really pushing her to her energy limit, she'll at least learn how to sleep through the night for you. Another cat, or even another dog, would probably be best, for wrestling and affection when you aren't home, but since you're fostering, that might be particularly difficult.
posted by Mizu at 6:39 AM on January 3, 2010
posted by Mizu at 6:39 AM on January 3, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Is there any chance a free-range cat is prowling outside your house? That can start a burst of defensive behavior sometimes.
posted by Miko at 8:27 PM on January 2, 2010