Why is my cat acting so weird, and naughty?

sarymclary

Hello,

My cat, 10 next month, has begun to act very strangely in the past month or so. She has begun to be extremely defiant, so going in all the places she knows she's not allowed, such as on the children's beds, up on the kitchen worktops. She gets told off, in no uncertain terms, but turn your back, and she's back there as quick as you like!:mad:

She has the run of the rest of the house, has a healthy appetite (only eats the most expensive Purina One at the mo, and turns her nose up at Felix AGAIL), I let her sit up on the dining table to nose out the window, and I put her favourite cushion up on there to lay in the sunshine, although she's refused to sit on that now too!

She seems happy enough to go outside, and isn't being bothered by any other cats. She pops in and out regularly.

She shows no outward signs of being at all in poor health, and her winter coat is getting nice and thick, eyes clear and bright, etc. The only thing that has bothered her recently is a very persistent case of fleas, which we are still battling to keep under control with spot-on, combined with spraying everywhere. I wondered if it was having sprayed her cushion, and some of the carpets that had led her to want to go upstairs, but I've sprayed the kids beds, and that's not stopped her going on there!

When she gets told off she really stands her ground, refuses to budge, meows, and sometimes looks like she might be going to scratch. She never used to be like this, and was once extremely timid. I took her in as a rescue cat when she was 2, and had been ill treated, so she was wary to show affection, and didn't like being handled, and picked up much, but has been much more tolerant in recent years, and comes up for cuddles regularly - although on her terms!

Any ideas? Is she just turning into a grumpy old woman??

Milford_Cubicle

Heh, quite possibly. Has something annoyed her recently? Might she have a urine infection or ear infection which is annoying her and in turn causing her to be 'naughty'?
See how she goes. If it persists, might be worth a trip to the vet. I know I feel like being naughty when I've got an infection/headache etc

sarymclary

Thanks M_C.

I'll keep an eye on things. I've got a litter tray indoors for her, so that if she ever gets locked indoors when we go out, she doesn't get 'caught short', but she has rarely used it. She's a very good girl in that respect.

The only thing annoying her right now is not being able to sleep on the beds, or sit on the kitchen worktops! ha ha.

I will keep an eye on things, and if she's still acting 'odd' I'll take her to her favourite place - not - the v-e-t!! Then she really will be annoyed!

lowis

cats are creatures of habit so if anything has changed for her, then it could be making her grumpy. how are her teeth? sometimes cats get grumpy when they have tooth pain...

sandy2_2

I think it might be the flea spray you used around the house.....there doesn't seem to be anywhere she can get away from the smell...cats' noses are more sensitive than ours...
don't know if catnip might help you both or one of those feelaway gadgets that have been mentioned before

ThePetPsychic

Oh my, you have upset her! heeee don't worry yourself to much, it seems Sandy2 is right, I feel she is not happy with the flea issue, you will have to explain WHY you are using the spray's etc, she will understand you I promise (they hear everything, but do not understand our human stupidity that we show!) Buy her a new cushion (spray free) and let her sleep on this. comb all fleas out of coat, and remember most flea treatments prevent fleas but DO NOT kill. So read the labels.
Using communication with animals, really helps sort issues out.
X Also look to see if there have been any other changes in her home life, this can also get them annoyed and they will often try and get your attention by behavior problems.

sarymclary

Thanks for all your replies. I'd really like to get to the bottom of this, as I don't want her to be upset, and I know that scolding upsets her! It's been her sudden defiance that has seemed so out of character, so I am guessing that the flea issue is at the route of it. I'm being bitten to pieces too, so I know how she feels! She had a rotten start in life, and it's taken such a long time to get to this point, where she trusted us, and we were able to be affectionate with her, so I don't want to undermine that trust.

We moved a few months back, and she settled in so nicely, especially as she hadn't been very happy at our last home, and tended to stay indoors to avoid the bully boys who bothered her. She is so keen to explore here, which had reaffirmed for me that it had been a positive move for her. She happily lounges around our garden, sits for hours in the sunshine, and lies on a garden bench for a snooze in complete safety - at last!

It occured to us that our last house had a large utility room with worktops, which we tolerated her sitting on to keep a lookout for those nasty cats that bothered her, and so perhaps she is seeing the kitchen as a replacement for that? There are 2 small windows in the kitchen, so maybe she is just continuing her sentry duty work, but now we have decided that it's not appropriate in that room.

I have continued to speak to her in gentle tones, equiring about what is the matter, and making her realise that I really do care, but I also need to tell her when no means no.