When the animals attack…
By paula27661
@paula27661 (15811)
Australia
May 26, 2010 11:42pm CST
I am so mad right now! My new cat which looks grown but is technically still a bit of a kitten at 9 months of age is driving me crazy! He is so darn destructive! The straw that broke the camel’s back was yesterday when he chewed up my favourite mouse pad!
Since we’ve had Hewy he has broken a vase on the second day, chewed up a cell phone cover, ripped a tablecloth off a small table not to mention many pieces of clothing, he has almost knocked the desktop PC off the desk…I’ll stop here because or I will get angry again!
I love my little Hewy (who is not so little anymore) and would not part with him for anything and I do remember going through this when my dag Cassie was a puppy and she is really good now, although she is twelve now but there are days when I would like to put Hewy outside and not let him in again and he is an indoor cat!
What have you pets destroyed that did not amuse you no matter how cute they are?
5 people like this
16 responses
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
27 May 10
I'm sorry Paula but he's being a normal cat. For now and until he settles down, you'll need to cat proof your house or he'll find other things to tear up. Do you have any cat toys for him to play with? How about one of those things that has a ball on the outside and goes around in circles and a scratch pad in the center? I have one and my cats LOVE it! Another thing, a free cat toy.... lol.... the milk rings, when getting a fresh container of milk you have the ring to tear off. Give it to your cat! I have a few on my floor and my cats go bonkers over the thing! lol
Another trick is this, get a bunch of toys for him but only give him half of them. The other half put away for about two weeks, then take up the old toys, put them away and give him the new ones to play with for two weeks. That should keep him occupied for a while and hopefully keep him out of trouble. lol
4 people like this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
27 May 10
This is very good advice Cats, thanks! I have lots of toys and play cubbies for him. I do realise he will settle down because I have had kittens before and I know what they are like, I think because the feline I had before Hewy passed away at 13 I had forgotten what babies are like! He is lucky he is so cute otherwise he would be outside! Good idea rotating the toys! Thanks, great input!
4 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
27 May 10
Glad to be of help! BTW, the picture of him is so cute! Makes me want to pick him up and cuddle him up! lol He's recharging his batteries to be a terror when he wakes up. lol
2 people like this
@TheIceman33 (347)
• Philippines
27 May 10
it's normal for pets to destroy some things especially during their younger years..
but when they reach more than a year, their destructive thing will start to decrease just like my dog, a german sheperd. when he was just 4 months, destroyed almost our slippers and shoes, except those that are saved, lol.. anyways, as he reached 1 year, he didn't bother to destroy or chew anything inside and outside the house.. he just wants to play with. maybe your cat just wants to play..
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
27 May 10
Yes he does want to play, he is like a toddler! I relate to the puppy thing because my 12 year old dog was destructive when she was young and now she calmed down within a year or so. I will keep reminding myself that Hewy will calm down...Thanks for responding TheIceman33!
2 people like this
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
27 May 10
Oh Dear! I am not a pet lover first of all; but if pets are to do mischief like this how would you handle this!!!!!!!! With children, we can threaten them with loud" mmmmh"'I'll come now' but will pets respond to this? Or are they also like spoilt brats where you have pampered them and they cannot understand their limits? I just have no idea Paula but I just dropped in to say 'Hullo'.
2 people like this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
27 May 10
I'm glad you did Kalav! Kittens and puppies are very mischievous and I swear it is just like having a toddler in the house! They are very intelligent because a firm 'NO' will get their attention and they know when they are being naughty. Hewy will jump on the table where he is not allowed when I'm not looking and the minute I turn and see him he will jump off as quickly as he can! He is cheeky but awfully cute! Thanks for dropping in and saying hi!
2 people like this
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
27 May 10
I cannot remember my cat destroying anything.
But I always did let my cat go outside.
Cats are fairly wild, and there is no such thing as an indoor cat.
When my cat goes outside, it will run, climb up trees, do his claws on the tree. And when it is tired, it will come inside and have a sleep.
Your cat is a ball of energy, and does not have the space to get ride of it. So it will jump on the furnitures instead of a tree. And it will do its claws on your furnitures.
At the end of the day, if you let it outside, chances are that you might end up with some expensive vet's bills after it hurts itself or get in a fight with another cat. When you take that in consideration, whatever it destroy inside your home is probably cheaper than the vet's bill.
2 people like this
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
27 May 10
When you think about it,
It is quite hilarious about the concern people have about the wildlife and their cats... when the same people are destroying the whole planet with every pollutant at their disposition. lol
The urban expansion is killing wildlife in their thousand every year. More than any cat could ever do.
Oooooh! The hypocrisis of it all. lol
If the cats had their way
They would lock all the humans inside and throw away the key. lol
2 people like this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
27 May 10
Have you been reading Animal Farm again? (LOL) I would love to know what goes through animals' minds, probably more than some humans, I bet! I see your point but I am still keeping my kitties inside...
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
27 May 10
I am afraid I don't agree with you there. It is always better to keep cats indoors and they will have a longer life and the wildlife will be safe as well. I have been advised to keep my felines inside by my vet and the RSPCA. I do agree that they need plenty of room to run around and toys which both my cats have. He is just young and I have to remember that he will settle down in time. I just wondered if anyone else had anything destroyed by a mischievous pet. Thanks for responding Aussies, great to hear from you.
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
27 May 10
Hi Paula. So, it is your turn to complain about your cat now! 
As I said in my discussion, the worst thing that mine have chewed through is the wire for the Nintendo Wii, but they have also chewed part of the phone wiring and totally destroyed a pom-pom. We kept finding pieces of wool from the pom-pom all over the house for weeks!
They also love to pick at our carpet and are destroying it. It is old and practically ruined anyway, so it does not matter, but the pieces of carpet get spread all through the house.
As I said in my discussion, the worst thing that mine have chewed through is the wire for the Nintendo Wii, but they have also chewed part of the phone wiring and totally destroyed a pom-pom. We kept finding pieces of wool from the pom-pom all over the house for weeks!
They also love to pick at our carpet and are destroying it. It is old and practically ruined anyway, so it does not matter, but the pieces of carpet get spread all through the house. 2 people like this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
27 May 10
(LOL) I am after responses like yours to see what other people's pets have destroyed! I know it's normal behaviour although sometimes they drive me crazy! I survived 'kittenhood' and 'puppyhood' and I will survive this. They do love carpet, I forgot to mention our mat in the lounge room is dying thanks to my feline friends! Thanks for adding to my discussion RawBill!
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
27 May 10
I have heard of people successfully taking their kittens for a walk on a lead. I think it was someone in one of my old discussions that might have mentioned it. This might stop them from running riot in the house so much! Our kittens and your cat may be too old to train to do this now though. Something to think about anyway.
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
27 May 10
Thanks for the advice on that 3honor. 
I could imagine our kittens doing the same actually.
I could imagine our kittens doing the same actually.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
27 May 10
Don't you hate it? These pets are lucky (pardon the pun) that they are so cute and we love them so much! Thanks for responding Luwiego, watch out for that wallpaper!
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
7 Jun 10
Hi Paula
Goodness he is a little wild one, I guess I have been lucky with all my pets really even the Cats I used to have as they where not really destructive
He is still young though but I have to say I would not have been happy with him either lol if he had destroyed one of my favourite things
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
8 Jun 10
He is so darn cute I can't stay angry with him for too long until he gets up to more mischief of course! You are right he is still young and may even settle down...Since the mouse pad incident he hasn't destroyed anything else of any value although he still very active! Thanks for dropping in gabs, hope all is well with you...
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
29 May 10
I've thought about that before and you know, cats may not be as friendly as dogs but they are trainable because they are very intelligent, I have no idea how you would go about it though! Thanks for the response Pam!
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
27 May 10
Pets can be very annoying as they are quite destructive when they are still minor. I have many of my sandals destroyed by my puppies. I was told, in order to stop them from destroying things is to catch them when they are in the act and to quickly slap their mouths with the destroyed stuff. Next time they won't do it again. I had my modem wires destroyed by my dogs many times before but now they won't do it again after I hit them with the severed cables.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
28 May 10
My cat chewed up my mouse pad and my daughter's favourite pink mouse so I know how you feel! I could never hit my pets though, not even to discipline them. It will get better, experience has taught me that! Thanks for responding zandi!
@Aphroditei_5279 (2465)
• Philippines
27 May 10
Hi Paula! I think that's one of the reason why my dad didn't want my daughter to have a pet at home.. I think he would have been so furious too. I saw by the way the picture of Hewy. He looks so adorable and I understand why you don't want to trow him out. He looks so cute. We don't have cats. So I don't know how to resolve that dilemma. But I agree with the advices given by the other posters. I think he is just in a phase. And he will grew out of it. Toys will be very helpful. And hopefully he would like them better than the cellphone pad and tablecloth..
I hope your little Hewy will be nice soon. He is so cute. (^^,)
I think he would have been so furious too. I saw by the way the picture of Hewy. He looks so adorable and I understand why you don't want to trow him out. He looks so cute. We don't have cats. So I don't know how to resolve that dilemma. But I agree with the advices given by the other posters. I think he is just in a phase. And he will grew out of it. Toys will be very helpful. And hopefully he would like them better than the cellphone pad and tablecloth.. I hope your little Hewy will be nice soon. He is so cute. (^^,)2 people like this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
27 May 10
He is a cutie and that is how he gets away with so much! I know it is a matter of time...He is asleep right now and he is so adorable although he does test my patience sometimes! Thanks so much for responding Aphroditei_5279!
2 people like this
@ellie333 (21016)
•
27 May 10
Hi Paula, If he is an indoor cat he is bound to be more of a mischief especially at this young age, my cat go out and chase and play and come home to be fed and to snuggle and sleep but when they were kittens they done their fair share of desoying things too, one used to eat all the leaves of my pants and another used to steal socks and chew them up. Give him time and I am sure he will settle. Huggls. Ellie :D
2 people like this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
27 May 10
I know...I've had kittens and a puppy before... I think I had forgotten what a handful they can be, just like children! I just wondered whether anyone else has experienced pets destroying things...I will be patient with him my other cat settled down and I'm sure Hewy will too. Thanks for being here ellie, I appreciate it!
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
28 May 10
Yes that is true. It's been thirteen years since I had a kitten so I had forgotten. I should feel grateful actually because when my cat Friday was very sick and dying I could not get him to eat or even walk around and it used to break my heart so it is nice to see a healthy cat running around and eating lots! I am cat proofing my house more and more every day! Thanks so much Pat!
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
28 May 10
(LOL) I can relate to that! One of my cats took the buttons off my favourite dressing gown; it was one my mother brought bag from Italy and it was very special and by ripping the buttons off he left holes all over the dressing gown...Heart breaking...Silly me still loved him though! Thanks Jen!
@o0jopak0o (6390)
• Philippines
29 May 10
i experienced something like that with my 2nd dog. Well they say they copy what they see from their parents and siblings but mostly will outgrow them eventually.
i dunno if its the same with cats but with dogs you can train or help them understand that what they are doing is wrong
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
30 May 10
I think it is similar with cats. My cats definitely know when they are doing something wrong but in Hewy's case he just cannot help himself! It will get better, I hope...Thanks for responding o0jopak0o!
@BarBaraPrz (51819)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
27 May 10
When I was married, our first cat, Squirrel, liked to peel the wallpaper. She was part Siamese and quite squirrel-y.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
28 May 10
I used to have a Siamese as a child, very intelligent cats. I've never had a squirrel-y one though! Peeling the wallpaper would break my heart...Gotta love 'em though! Thanks for being here BarBaraPaz!
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
27 May 10
At our last house we had 2 kittens that loved climbing up the drapes. Since then, a few odds and ends have gotten broken. I know it's annoying, but it's just part of having young cats. Maybe you can put some things away until he gets older?
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
28 May 10
Yes, we are learning that! It has been such a long time since I had kittens that I forgot how active they are. You are quite right, it is part of of having young pets and it will get better and hopefully the house will still be standing! I used to have a Siamese when I was a kid who used to infuriate my mother by climbing up her precious drapes! (LOL) Thanks Dawn!
