Rescue cat hell- he's made an escape :(

butler_helen

I would love some advice as our lives are currently dominated by our new resuce cat...

We rehomed Bootsie from an animal charity last weekend after lots of people had looked at him and said no due to his 'challenging behaviour' - basically he was lovely when he was out of his cage and then when he was in the cage he was a horror (biting scratching generally hissing).

So we decided to give him a chance- as we have no children, have a back garden and are happy to let him at least get the experience of a loving home (otherwise he was headed to stables to catch mice forever).

However - he is VERY temperamental, he is lovely in the morning and when we first get in from work, although outside of that time he bites, scratches, growls, chirps (like a bird) and runs like a loony around the house. My hands look like I did battle with a thorn bush!

I've been reading on the net about doing the following;

- spraying him when he bites/scratches/lunges at us
- spraying him when he growls and does the above
- spraying him whenever he does anything we don't like.

Basically because his old owners hurt him badly and made him scared of people I don't know where the line is, when should we discipline him and what's best for badly treated pets? (suggestions other than spraying would be good, as I have so far been saying a firm 'NO bootsie' and have had no effect, he will still go for me again).

Alongside this, we have a massive scratching post which he won't use- how can we make him use it rather than our walls?

(I won't even touch on him only ever showing affection to me and not my boyfriend, I think he's a ladies man )

thank you in advance for any help and suggestions!

butler_helen

sorry, I should add that I want an alternative to spraying him because I can't walk around the house with a water bottle all the time but shouting doesnt work.

BitterAndTwisted

Disciplining cats is a wild and unrealistic fantasy. In the first instance I'd hiss at him when he's doing something you don't like, after all that's the way cats warn each other when body-language has failed. Shouting, I suspect, will only make him fearful and you don't want puss to fear you, he'll attack if he feels threatened which is maybe what he's doing now.

Never approach or touch him unless he invites you to. There's nothing like ignoring a cat to make it desperate for your attention. Only ever play with him with objects like something on a string or wand so he forgets that hands are playthings.

Spraying works but it's better for transgressions that you're too far away to deal with close-up, this also allows cat to not connect the water-spray with you. No-one wants a cat that bears a grudge!

Edited to add: Food treats. Tuna or cooked chicken sends most felines bonkers. Hand-feeding him will help him associate you and your hands with nice things, not danger.

Have you considered confining him to only one room in the house where he can build up a feeling of safety and security? You can visit him and talk to him to get him accustomed to you and not see you as a threat which is what I think he's doing now

lostinrates

Have you thought about rewarding good behaviour instead of focusing on punishing the bad? If he has had bad treatment this might be a more convincing approach: he might not associate ''bad treatment/the spray'' with bad behavior as a result of his past.

For a reward I would use a treat he likes (not from you hand but from the floor infront of him if he's scratchy/bitey), maybe even think about clicker training. I would also, consider having a GOOD behaviourist to help.

Your consistancy will be helpful, because he has had irrational treatment in the past.

tomstickland

My experience of a stray that adopted my parents is that they gradually become more tame and predictable as they get used to you.

lostinrates

butler_helen wrote: »

sorry, I should add that I want an alternative to spraying him because I can't walk around the house with a water bottle all the time but shouting doesnt work.

I have used spraying, I wouldn't use it with an unsettled cat personally. However if you choose to persevere with this technique the trick is to leave spray bottles around the house, so you are usually within reach of one.;)

chez22

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Disciplining cats is a wild and unrealistic fantasy.

Couldn't have put it better myself! My two do what they want, when they want. They are both rescue cats and would be terrified if I started shouting or soaking them. After what they have been through I want them to feel safe not threatened.

b3nton

I knew someone in exactly the same situation. Years later nothing had changed. He was always a vicious !!!!!!

butler_helen

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Disciplining cats is a wild and unrealistic fantasy. In the first instance I'd hiss at him when he's doing something you don't like, after all that's the way cats warn each other when body-language has failed. Shouting, I suspect, will only make him fearful and you don't want puss to fear you, he'll attack if he feels threatened which is maybe what he's doing now.

Never approach or touch him unless he invites you to. There's nothing like ignoring a cat to make it desperate for your attention. Only ever play with him with objects like something on a string or wand so he forgets that hands are playthings.

Spraying works but it's better for transgressions that you're too far away to deal with close-up, this also allows cat to not connect the water-spray with you. No-one wants a cat that bears a grudge!

Edited to add: Food treats. Tuna or cooked chicken sends most felines bonkers. Hand-feeding him will help him associate you and your hands with nice things, not danger.

Have you considered confining him to only one room in the house where he can build up a feeling of safety and security? You can visit him and talk to him to get him accustomed to you and not see you as a threat which is what I think he's doing now

thank you! I will try hissing, my boyfriend does this but I just laughed and told him not to be so daft.

He started coming to us when we had food, although he doesn't take it from our hands, he pats it with his paw until he gets it infront of him and then runs away with it and eats it when he's hidden - not really the point, as I want him to know he is ok to eat from us.


We tried confiining him, although his chirping got far too loud!

when do you think we should let him out? what milestones should he get to? (As we obviously want him to come back!).:rolleyes:

chez22

I keep new mogs in for a month or so. When you let him out make sure he hasn't eaten for a while and he'll be more likely to come back for some scoff.

BitterAndTwisted

Do not let the cat outside until he has bonded with you and your partner. I wouldn't even consider it for several weeks minimum but it all depends on how quickly pusscat comes round and sees you as friends and tasty food-providers. There's also the issue of the outside of your home being the territory of the established neighbourhood cat population to consider but that's a subject for another day