Have Any Of You Been Owners of Hyper-Active Cats?

[mnmaverick55410]

I'm curious as to what kind of things you do to discourage them/keep them away from clawing/chewing furniture and drapes/shades/drawstrings, etc.

I've tried Tobasco Sauce, double sided tape, Vinegar, Scratch Deterrent Sprays, Calming Sprays, etc.

I think I have everything covered when it comes to problem areas like leaving all the shades up on windows and hanging the draw strings up high where "Bella" (Cat) can't reach them and she finds something else to attack/destroy. If not trying to claw the couch and recliner, she gets up on the TV stand and starts trying to chew the sides of the flat screen TV.

She went straight up the curtain on the window in my room which is full of holes that the sun shines through now.

They discourage having Cats declawed these days, so options are limited there.

I adopted "Bella" from Petsmart in September as a six month old Kitten, but wasn't prepared for this...

Any advice on discouraging bad behavior is welcome.

[brian8713]

I feel for you. I'm the hugest cat lover around, but even I can't take the super-hyper cats. I have 3 pretty well-behaved cats, all of which I got as adult cats so I already knew what their personality was going to be like. I once adopted a kitten who turned out to be hyper-active and I couldn't take it. I ended up giving him to my parents. Lol.

[ancmetro]

    I understand your situation!
    I have no pets...no problems!

[catchow]

I watch the show my cat from h.e.l.l....He says for cats like that you need to tire them out to the point of panting by playing with them, either a lazer pointer, or something on a string pole. Do this daily

Ive always had really mellow cats, that dont climb things

I did have a cat who was notorious for scratching the carpet on the stairs, so badly that it needed to be replaced. I found giving her a cat tower she could scratch on, and taking cat nip and rubbing the poll with it, and then praising her "oh good kitty good kitty" it stopped her from scratching on the stairs

[1imaginarygirl]

Your cat is about 9 months old now and is probably in the adolescent stage, so basically a rebellious teenager. Get some sisal scratching posts and put them in places where she is being destructive and next to where she sleeps. Praise her and maybe give her treats when she uses them. Also make sure to keep her nails trimmed. You'll have to wear her out, teach her some tricks, get some puzzle feeders so she has to work for her food, maybe try some catnip, get some different toys. Get a harness and teach her how to walk on a leash. She's going to be crazy for a while, but she'll eventually grow out of it.

[appy9104]

I adopted a 4 month old last year at this time, he is a really chilled guy but he has had those moments and he has tried all those things.  Lots of cat toys, scratching posts, cardboard scratchers, food puzzles (will keep them occupied to get a treat).  I put double sided tape on the "no" places and gave lots of yes places.  I put scratching posts in the areas or next to things he wanted to scratch.  And as mentioned above you need to make a daily playtime.  I also keep a laser pointer handy and when he starts into unwanted behavior (including being to annoying to the old cat) I pick it up and distract him and he forgets about what he was messing with!     

[bshee58]

I've had plenty of cats when we lived in the country, and they had some much energy, running and jumping on everything, since we moved into the city, we have neighborhood cats, that don't belong to any one person, they aren't too bad though.

[king4cash]

Nooooooooooo! Hyper who?