kitty help

alphachiohmy · #1 03-01-2004, 09:15 AM

So, how do you get a cat to not jump up on the tele and then jump on the fireplace mantle and knock over, thus breaking, the only nice stuff I have ... I have tried cat repellant, water spray, and yelling and nothing works.

Ahhh. My kitten, is 7 mos. and I have had him for a month. (Insert proud parent plug here: His name is Sebastian and I have pics at http://photos.yahoo.com/alphachiohmy)

Help!

ETA: He likes cat repellent, the repellant does not repel him.

Edited by GeekyPenguin to fix link

AlethiaSi · #2 03-01-2004, 11:41 AM

awww lol... i would try a loud noise- like an air horn... to really get his attention- and water.... that works for my cat for awhile... but she's especially mischevious-so it doesn't always teach her for long.... prob a lot like yours lol good luck- or ask your vet- they might know

33girl · #3 03-01-2004, 11:47 AM

I have heard that putting double stick tape on the TV/mantelpiece helps...when they leap up there and get that stuck to their feet, they won't like it and therefore will stay off it.

valkyrie · #4 03-01-2004, 01:46 PM

I have two 8 month old kittens, and I hate to say it, but I put my good, fragile stuff away where the kittens can't get to it. At this point, they're so hyper and jump on everything so I don't even try to stop them. You can try to wear him out by playing with him a lot -- if you don't have a Cat Dancer, you should get one because they are awesome.

He will calm down eventually, but there's really no stopping a kitten.

James · #5 03-01-2004, 01:53 PM

Put plastic spikes all over things you don't want the kitten to jump on . . . plastic spikes will hurt but not kill him.

Or, modify the electric shock dog collar and use it to shield your stuff.

Create a highly charged Tesla Coil that will send out frightening bolts of mostly harmless electricity to terrify the cat away from stuff.

Lets be more creative . .. put a presssure sensitive alarm on surfaces you don't want him to jump on . . .

Buy flesh eating plants that will nip at him.

Put a casutic substance that will burn his paws on the surfaces . . .

Edited to add: run a small electric current through the surfaces you want to keep clear . . .

Lock him in a specific room when you are not home . ..

PhiPsiRuss · #6 03-01-2004, 01:56 PM

water gun

G8Ralphaxi · #7 03-01-2004, 03:46 PM

I adopted a rambunctious hyperactive kitten last summer. He is starting to calm down now but for awhile it was a CONSTANT battle. He was in the blinds, on the table, in the kitchen sink, trying to break into the cabinets, on my desk, eating my stereo wires, trying to dismantle the couch, attacking the blinds again, etc. etc. etc.

The trick is to figure out what he hates, and keep repeating it. I had a water spray bottle, so when he'd jump up somewhere I didn't want him (even before he had a chance to mess up anything), I would squirt him and yell like a crazy woman. Scared the sh*t out of him.

Kevin · #8 03-01-2004, 06:44 PM

They sell stuff at Petsmart that emits an odor unpleasant to dogs/cats but undetectable to humans. It works fairly well. My folks used it to keep my cat from climbing into my father's boat (under the cover) and using it for his litter box.

Water guns will work, but only when you're home.

I like James' tesla coil idea though.

dzsaigirl · #9 03-01-2004, 07:14 PM

Your kitty is so cute! I like pic #5.

I have 3 cats (2.5yrs, 1.5 yrs, 6 mos.). We are not home during the day so we play with them a bunch when we get home to tire them out. That seems to help

One thing that cats HATE is if you put some pennies in a can and shake it really loud when they do something bad. That really freaks them out.

alphachiohmy · #10 03-01-2004, 09:28 PM

Thanks for all your help. I couldn't find any flesh eating plants, so I am going the tin foil and water gun route. Wish me luck.

I do not have a cat dancer, but I made my own out of a hanger and card board and use it quite a bit. I do try to wear him out but it takes a long time!

KerriMarie · #11 03-02-2004, 12:48 AM

My kitty hates sticky stuff, so we have pieces of packing tape on top of things he's not supposed to get on.

Once he accidentally got into the attic, and got stuck on one of those glue-traps for mice. It was awful! He was a very unhappy kitty, and ended up leaving quite a lot of fur on the trap.

bruinaphi · #12 03-02-2004, 04:36 AM

I concur with valkyrie on the cat dancers. I also have something we call a "Mrwand." It is a clear acrylic wand with a bright multi-color fleece ribbon hanging from it. Every cat I know is in love with this toy. In LA they sell them at Centinela Feed and Katie's Pet Depot. I haven't found them in other places I've visited but I bring them as presents to my family and friends. The name comes from my mom's cat Harlee who carries her wand around with her and makes a sound that sounds like "mrwand" when she is looking for her wand. It goes to bed, gets fed, takes naps in the perch and is generally the most fought after toy in the house. You can literally wear a cat out with one in about 10 minutes.

LD

aggieAXO · #13 03-02-2004, 05:23 AM

I am looking into getting an "invisible fence" system for my house. I have heard good things about this system for dogs but not much info on cats. My cats love to knock everything over so I have gotten to the point of only having inexpensive things out (no good china is ever out!). I can't even get a Christmas tree b/c they try to climb the tree and knock the ornaments off.

dakareng · #14 03-03-2004, 02:26 AM

THe water gun works only when you're home... the double stick tape works but you end up with a lot of furniture covered with double-stick tape. The sprays that the pet store sells have a cumulative effect and leave a bitter taste in the air... use them with caution!

While my kitties (age 9 mo and 4 mo) still run relay races around the house (including running over and under the bed) when I try to sleep, they don't jump as much since I had them both "fixed". No little unintended baby kitties coming!

thetalady · #15 03-03-2004, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by aggieAXO
I am looking into getting an "invisible fence" system for my house. I have heard good things about this system for dogs but not much info on cats.

OH MY NO!!! The invisible fence system is NOT appropriate for cats

Cats are far too small to use a shock collar on.

If you need to keep cats away from things, buy a Scat Mat, put down double sticky tape, or even use plastic carpet runners turned upside down... just don't YOU step on it in the middle of the night!