That Darn Cat!

8 years ago

I loved that movie when I was a child but my boy Simba has made that title strike close to home. I have never had two kittens (they aren't now but were when I adopted them). It was over 30 years since I had a kitten even though I've had cats all my life and even though I've had two cats at a time several times I usually only had one.

As soon as I brought my boys home the destruction began. Within a few days they broke an antique picture that was up on a bookshelf. They destroyed every dried hydrangea arrangement I had in the house. It was hilarious to see Simba come prancing out of a room with a stem of hydrangea in his mouth. They knocked a Waterford vase onto the floor (thankfully the way it landed it survived the fall). They've chewed the finials on my new Ethan Allen chairs. They chase each other and jump from chair to chair with such force that the recliners recline. Simba knocked my glass Kinzig lamp over (it has a beautiful art glass base) onto a piece of furniture and the brass gouged the furniture but at least the shade and glass survived the fall. They've broken at least four china plates (they now eat off of plastic). They have upended a dining room chair twice and the pegs are now loosened in it. Last week Simba ran full speed, jumped onto the piano knocked my brass mouse off a stack of books and gouged the piano in several places while it was falling. From the piano he jumped onto my secretary desk knocking my treenware pig filled with faux gourds onto the floor. How he missed knocking my Wedgwood lamp in the process is a miracle. The next day Toby knocked a Limoge piece onto my office desk and it broke. Yesterday though was the worst. My cleaning lady was at the house and moved the chairs from around the breakfast area table to vacuum. The one chair was at the top of our stairway. Simba must have decided to jump onto the back of it and unbalanced the chair. My cleaning lady was in the dining room and I was in the library. There was a huge crash so we both hurried out and found the chair had tumbled down onto the stairway landing, Simba must have taken a ride along with the chair. When CL went down to retrieve the chair the finial had hit the wall, put a big gouge in it and the finial snapped off. Thank goodness Simba is fine but it scared the daylights out of him and he stayed hidden for a bit. Of course the chair was the one that Simba hasn't gnawed on.

When and will my boys settle down? Is it because I have two that they are so wild? Am I destined to live in a cat proof house? My boys have destroyed or damaged more items than my children and grandchildren combined ever did. I am looking around today and I have so many items that are fragile with no good place to store them. Gahhhhhhhhh!!!!

Featured Answer

jerseygirl_1

8 years ago

This is a picture of a house wrecker. All 8 1/2 lbs of her.

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Comments (41)

sas95
8 years ago
Lucky for them they are so adorable, Holly-Kay.

I am a total minimalist in my decor, so my two have not been destructive. The most they have done is put some scratch marks in the wood and leather furniture from leaping off. Though when I did buy an expensive piece of pottery last year, I museum puttied it to the sideboard.
Holly- Kay thanked sas95
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Sounds like you need to engage them in playful activity. Lots of toy options out there.

Agree that keeping things simple around the house is better with cats. Ours learned early on that certain surfaces were off limits ... tables, bookcases, counter tops, etc. To reinforce that I keep a stash of Ssscat training aids that are used as needed.

Ssscat

interactive toys

It helps to give them a high place of their own to jump on. We have two very well-made cat trees that are much loved by all 3 cats. Well worth the investment.

Steve Hall will custom build a tree using the carpet of your choice.

Furwood Forest cat trees

Regarding feeding: stainless is a better option for bowls. Plastic can create skin problems.
Holly- Kay thanked User
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busybee3
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
i often have looked at the table top 'vignette' threads here thinking 'must be nice'! lol

our cat loves to 'test gravity' so i definitely don't put more valuable/breakable things out where she likes to go! and pretty flower arrangements- fresh or dried- both need to be well out of her reach! she doesn't jump up to crazy high areas or race around anymore, but when she did, i had to be aware of that! she needed a chair to get on top of an entertainment center, so i needed to move the chair if i wanted that area off limits to her...

because of her and the dogs, i have a pretty pet proof home- with the most valuable things out of reach!! not magazine worthy maybe, but it works for all of us!
Holly- Kay thanked busybee3
Bunny
8 years ago
I couldn't have a tabletop vignette if I wanted one, which I don't, so it's a good thing. I cannot leave a circular thing lying about (earring, rubber band, milk carton top, contact lens case tops).
Holly- Kay thanked Bunny
Annie Deighnaugh
8 years ago
Oh dear. Have they been neutered? If not, that will help them settle. (Dr. Pol always says, when the nuts are removed, the brains grow back!)

I agree on the "kitty condo". Our girls are zooming up and down it all the time, sleep on it and the rope-covered legs are well clawed, sparing my furniture.

Also, for your plates and such you might consider getting some museum putty so they have a fighting chance of staying in place.

Now that they're older, I let my girls outside which helps them burn a lot of energy.

I agree that some very active play is in order to help them burn energy so toys with feathers, laser pointers, and anything else that will get them moving is great. I also chase my cats in a playful way around the house, up and down stairs especially, just like they chase each other. It helps me and them burn calories.

Linelle, I have a box of kleenex that was just as destroyed.
Holly- Kay thanked Annie Deighnaugh
User
8 years ago
I've had four feline children. They have never, ever destroyed anything. We have rules and they abide by each and every one of them. I've had two breeds known for their destructive behavior (Tonkinese and Devon Rex) but my kids would never act inappropriately. They have never broken anything. They never jump up on the furniture or counters. They only play with their toys. They clean up their own litter boxes. They have jobs and pay for their own food and vet care.

Now that my nose can't possibly grow any longer :-) I will speak the truth. This is their home and they allow me to live here and I am ok with it. As long as they don't hurt themselves...all is good.

Oliver did calm down when he was 2 or 3 but always had a thing for toilet paper. Dorothy is 1-1/2 and still is a wild child (she actually jumped up on my very, large dining room crystal chandelier!). All of our TV's are mounted but Dots can jump up on them and balance herself. I am waiting to walk in one day to find the TV's on the floor.

I didn't have felines until my mid 40's and if someone would have told me that I would have been ok with the destruction these kids bring, I would have told them they were nuts. It's funny what love does :-)
Holly- Kay thanked User
Fori
8 years ago
Marlene, that's excellent. You totally sounded like those people who respond to "How do I childproof my house?" posts with "Teach your kids to behave! Mine know not to....".

Yes, cats are horrible, terrible things to have around. I very much need to get one! (but just ONE!)
Holly- Kay thanked Fori
Bunny
8 years ago
OMG marlene, I thought, is she for real? :D

I have never had such naughty kittens as these two (they will be 5 next Monday). They aid and abet one another. These are my first indoor-only cats, so when they were on a tear I couldn't put them outside. I had to sit there and take it. Lots of upset and shouting. I hated hearing myself yelling at them to get down from the counter. Finally I decided I was done, they win. I'm just gonna have to accept that they're unruly and disobedient and I've been bested. I love them and they love me (sorta) and it's my house and my cats are important.

They have calmed down a bit. They're allowed on the counter, as long as I'm not prepping food. Well, they can stay on the peninsula, which I consider the viewing section.

I replaced the vanity in the photo with one that has drawers. Mostly I can leave the toilet roll out, but occasionally they will tear it up. Then it goes into the nearest drawer with a post-it note by the holder telling folks where to find the TP.

Don't like cats? Don't come to my house.
User
8 years ago
As I sit here I am holding Da Bird toy in one hand for Gracie. Except that the spinning bird feathers are long gone. Instead I have a piece of shredded tissue paper tied to it. The tissue is from Christmas and has been on the floor ever since. No piece is larger than 6" now. They sit on it, dive bomb it, hunt for toys in it, grab pawfulls and roll around with it. It is the most entertaining thing in their lives.
Holly- Kay thanked User
bpath
8 years ago
They need a pet. Get them a puppy.
carolv90
8 years ago
It's funny to see this post because I live with a single kitten and am always thinking I really need to get another cat for company! I have always had cats in pairs and a cat-proof home. When my last cats passed I bought an upholstered couch as consolation. It sure was nice to sit on, it was nice to look at.... I thought I would try cat less living for a while. Fortunately Milo showed up as a stray needing a home. He needed eye and ear drops for 2 months and got us both used to being handled. He is the easiest cat I've ever had for nail clipping so the couch still looks great. He slowed down after neutering, still loves interactive play though and I try to wear him out at times. I must admit he does enjoy emptying a Kleenex box and biting holes in aseptic chicken broth boxes. Love living with a cat ☺️
Holly- Kay thanked carolv90
Annie Deighnaugh
8 years ago
If they are indoor only cats, you can check into making anoutdoors room for them. Might be cheaper in the long run than seeing your precious things destroyed.
Holly- Kay
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Cindy, I do play with them! Their favorite is a feather on a wand they can jump like kangaroos. They also love small sponge balls that I throw for them and a laser pointer that they would chase endlessly. We have stuffed mice for them and they love playing with the antennae on my DGSs remote cars that are at our house. My Murphy, the Havanese, and the boys play RLH (run like h_ll) throughout the day. Simba is just a wild child and is such a character. Toby is much more relaxed and laid back. I don't want them outside because we feed the birds and we also have chickens. Plus we have an awful problem with ticks because we are in a very wooded area, not to mention fleas.

Annie, the boys are neutered we adopted from the SPCA at our local Petco and they always make sure the animals are neutered before placing in a home. I make donations to the SPCA because they do so much for animals.

Marlene, my Toby was sitting at my table in the library eyeing the chandelier. I could see the wheels turning as to how he could get up there. Fortunately the chandy is in the middle of the room, the table is close but not under it. I finally just picked him up and I took him into the living room to play. That distracted him enough that he forgot about it but I fully expect that some day he will make the attempt to jump on it.

They actually DO own the house. The rest of us are just tolerated. I try to keep the bedroom doors closed so they stay out of trouble in those rooms, but the common areas are another story. My leather chairs and sofa have scratches everywhere. They aren't destructive scratchers but they use their rear paws to launch themselves! WTBS, the boys are here to stay even if they break every piece of furniture that I own. I am going to look into a kitty condo but boy those things are ugly as sin.

ETA: Annie I love the outdoor cat enclosures. I am going to show it to DH. We may be able to come up with a good spot for one.
bpath
8 years ago
actually, the last time I had a kitten he was driving me batty. I worked and went to school, so when I was home he just wanted to play play play, if only with my toes while I (tried) to sleep. I was going to give him back to my coworker, but he said "hey, he just needs a buddy, why don't you take his littermate, too?" And I did. Yes, I'm a pushover. But it worked, they kept each other busy and I got some sleep.

But, you already have the two. Maybe you can get a motion-detector/kitty-activated toy? Or move in to a gym.
rockybird
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
LOL. They do sound destructive, but cute!

I can empathize, but I have birds. My boy Zeek is a little terror. When I got my brand new SUV, he promptly took a bite out of the steering wheel! I was horrified! I have made three trips to Apple to get the laptop keys replaced this past couple weeks, because he has discovered popping them off is fun. The silly human cant seem to learn and keeps leaving the laptop open around him. Now I have to make a fourth trip to Apple. THey thought it was funny the first couple times, but I doubt they will again. Zeek is obssessed with disassembling drains. My shower drain is in pieces. One master sink drain is wedged into the drain hole and wont drain, so I dont use that sink. The other sink drain is completely disassembled with some pieces shoved into the drain hole. I have called a plumber before, but I guess I have given up, now that the master bath will be replaced. And then there are my shirts! My nice Vince shirts from Saks! THey look like they were lined up in front of a firing range. And he got to my Kate Spade sweater! It's the kind of sweater you wear over a cute dress when you go out, the kind you like to have on hand but dont wear often. But the worst is my Louis Vuitton bag!! It disintegrated when I was at the airport! The strap came off completely! I love this bag and they dont make it anymore! It just doesnt end...my prada boots have beak marks, dishes have been pushed off the counter and broken (it's a game), the baseboard has been chewed on, and he (twice) severed the oil line on my mtn bike. I cant get mad at him though. He's too cute.
Holly- Kay thanked rockybird
Bunny
8 years ago
rockybird LOL. I'm sorry, but I know what terrors birds can be. We used to have a cockatiel and he could be diabolical. How do they fit so much personality into such a little brain?

Please post a photo of Zeek! He sounds like he could be a plumber's helper with his drain experience.

I don't exactly have a wardrobe of nice things. But I have a few dresses for the odd occasion. Things on hangers are like cat bait. When they were kittens they must have jumped up, grabbed for purchase, dropped back to earth, leaving shreds in their wake. I'd close the closet door, but they can open bypass doors. And the damage was already done.
User
8 years ago
Cat trees/condos may not be things of beauty, but they sure save wear and tear on furniture. If you get one, just make sure it's sturdy enough to handle active behavior. That's why I linked the maker of ours.
Holly- Kay thanked User
Holly- Kay
Original Author
8 years ago
Oh my gosh Rocky, Zeek is so darn cute! After reading your post I don't feel so bad. My kitties have managed to destroy a pair of pj bottoms but they are cheapies from target. I have a few nice silk tops that were accidentally destroyed by kitty claws. So far all of my purses are untouched. Lol to the missing computer keys. You better keep your iPad pro out of wings length or that will be next!

Bp, thank goodness for Murphy, he helps to wear them ot. KoKo doesn't get involved in the play she just barks at their antics! My boys foster mom told me they would be great company for each other. What she didn't tell me is that two conspire to maximize the destruction. I should have taken the clue when she was telling another foster mom what a stinker Simba (used to be Butterfingers) was. He was her favorite though. With as many litters as she has fostered I'm sure her home was as pet proof as possible.

Carol, your Milo is precious! Oh how his sweet little face makes my heart sing! If you lived in South CentralPA would take him while you vacationed.
rockybird
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Lol very true Linelle! I don't buy fancy clothes anymore. I think Zeek broke me of it!

here's another pic of the brat after cutting the bike oil line.

After he he pushed my dinner off the counter into my bike shoe. You can see the remains of my LV bag (sans shoulder strap) in the background;

Knocking my drink over:

Behind the washing machine (thank god he didnt cut any lines). He was dancing and singing back there!:

Now HollyKay, you must post pics of your kitties!
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
OMG Rocky. Zeek is gorgeous!

There must be something about Louis Vuitton! I use a Duffle as my gym bag and the straps are covered by teeth marks. Serves me right for not keeping it behind closed doors :-). I had LV luggage for decades and it was indestructible....and then I got cats...

Holly-Kay there are some really good looking cat trees. The company where I got mine has retired, but I know there are many other companies out there that make beautiful pieces. I actually think the ones that Cindy posted are nice looking!

ETA I just saw your latest pics, Rocky! OMG OMG OMG OMG. My cats are perfect :-)
User
8 years ago
Marlene, you cracked me up. My eyebrows couldn't get raised any farther until I got to the part where it was clear you were joking. Nicely done. ;)

I've had dogs my whole life, and up until a few months ago I could have been the dog equivalent of the fake Marlene. Hopefully at least slightly less haughty, but yeah...I would have said it's a training issue.

I now have a new puppy, and she is a wild maniac who seems bent on wrecking everything in my house too. We are going through formal training with a great instructor.

But I'm here to tell you, just like people can be different....sometimes these furry little buggers are just crazy!

No pearls of wisdom, just commiseration. Here's to hoping they all calm down eventually! :)
User
8 years ago
Oh, and Rocky - I love, love, love the way birds like to push stuff of the edge of counters and then twist their little heads to look at the carnage below. So proud of their work. ;) Zeek is a lucky boy that you rescued him.
User
8 years ago
rockybird, as I recall Zeek is a rescue. Seeing what a good life he has now brings tears to my eyes. He is so lucky to have found you.

I can't get over how exquisite he is! And what an impish personality. He and my Oliver would have loved each other (or not :-).
Holly- Kay
Original Author
8 years ago
I have posted this many times but here is a pic of my Toby on top of the cabinet and Simba perching at the now broken chair looking up at him:
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
8 years ago
Holly-Kay, if nothing else, you should just give in and write a weekly column or a book. Profit from the madness! I laughed and laughed reading that first post!
Holly- Kay thanked cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
chispa
8 years ago
We had a similar sized parrot as a kid and it chewed holes in plastic shower curtains, plastic covering on metal brake cables on bikes and rubber rain boots.

I could write the fake Marlene post about my small rescue dog and it would all be true! I've had dogs throughout my life to compare her to, and for a dog that came to us at 2 years old with an unknown history, she is truly a perfect dog.

When we decided to rescue, the rescue group brought 2 dogs over to our house and I let DH and the kids pick which one they liked best. We dodged a bullet, because we later heard that the one we didn't pick was the total opposite, of our perfect pup.
Bunny
8 years ago
rocky, Zeek is adorable. Who could be mad at a guy with a face like that, who sings and dances behind a washing machine?!!!

Dinner in your shoe is the best photo ever.
User
8 years ago
Wow Rocky, they are gorgeous and obviously very happy which is beautiful to see. What characters...makes me miss my birds, they were so fun and sweet!

Holly Kay, we did the same thing as you by bringing two little one's home at the same time and I have to admit they were pretty overwhelming for us as well. They are almost three now and still very active. One's a boy, the other a girl. They have opposite personalities and ironically, the girl (Sweetie) is the quieter one, she's also smarter and more mischievous. The male (Naughty) was the one we thought would wreak havoc the most cause at first he was into everything, but age has calmed him some and now all he wants to do is cuddle.

Naughty on the left and Sweetiie cuddled up to him.
rockybird
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Lukkiirish and holly kay, your cats are adorable!

Marlene, Scout is actually my rescue.Scout is not destructive and so sweet and affectionate! But she is a little tattletale and will let me know when Zeek is up to no good! Here is little Scout:

How do they know to destroy the expensive things?
User
8 years ago
Scout is also breathtaking!
User
8 years ago
Thanks Rocky, what a Gorgeous Girl! She knows it too ha ha!.. Absolutely beautiful...I could sit and watch birds wild or tame all day long and never get bored, they're so animated and fun.
Holly- Kay thanked User
IdaClaire
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
What wonderful photos (and stories!) in this thread! I'm awfully sorry that I don't have much good news for you, because three of my four are around 13 years of age and they still have the occasional wild/naughty streak come out. The 3-year old is the most curious and has gotten into things more than the oldsters, and she's currently on DH's sh*t list because she's chewed up both his phone chargers (he thought he had them tucked safely away, but no), but it's hard to stay upset for long when they look at you with those sweet little expressions, isn't it?

Isn't it?

It is, isn't it?

;-)
Holly- Kay thanked IdaClaire
Holly- Kay
Original Author
8 years ago
Jersey girl, she is beautiful!
Bunny
8 years ago
Who me?
Holly- Kay
Original Author
8 years ago
Ahhhh Linelle, what a pretty kitty.

My DD asked me to make cherry cheesecake cupcakes to serve to the adults tomorrow at DGS's second birthday..

There is another Simba story here. I made cheesecakes as one of the desserts I was planning on serving at Thanksgiving this year. When the cheesecake cupcakes are almost finished baking you take them out of the oven and let sit for five minutes. The top collapses and you fill the indentation with a sour cream, sugar, and vanilla mixture then put them back in the oven for another five minutes. I had finished doing the sour cream mixture, neither cat was in sight. I turned my back and opened the oven door, out of the corner of my eye I saw Simba, my mind knew what was going to happen but my body was slower than the mind. Simba jumped up onto the counter right into one of the cupcake tins. He just had time to give me the what in the _ell was that look and he took off like a shot leaving sour cream and sugar paw prints as he ran off. All I could do is laugh because he looked so offended that I had the nerve to put something on HIS counter! Tonight I put both boys downstairs before starting my baking.
gsciencechick
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I bout a cat tower about 4' high on our Nextdoor app. The people who were selling it bought an even bigger one and were getting rid of this one though it was barely used. Our cats really like it. Even the big guy can get to the top shelf.

Love those cat enclosures. I know someone from my women's group who has the fence runs outside. Really cool.

Our kitties love to chase a fabric/fleece ball or toy mouse down the hallway. They love to catch and fetch. Like a dog, they will bring us the toy and vocalize indicating they are ready for play!
Holly- Kay thanked gsciencechick
Holly- Kay
Original Author
8 years ago
Yes Gscience, my boys are good at letting me know what they want!

I heard a big crash a few minutes ago. Toby knocked Murphy and KoKo's food dishes on the floor and they shattered into a zillion pieces. I swear I am stuck on stupid. I can't blame this on the cats I was the one who put them on the counter instead of in the sink. I can't even remember putting them on the counter.
sas95
8 years ago
I was thinking of this thread when I was volunteering at the shelter this past weekend. A woman returned a seven month old kitten because he had shredded the toilet paper. I really don't know what some people expect when they adopt pets.
Holly- Kay thanked sas95
cattyles
8 years ago
Oh sas, I so hate to hear that. Thanks for what you do at the shelter. Do you get de-sensitized at all?
Holly- Kay thanked cattyles
Holly- Kay
Original Author
8 years ago
I love my boys to death, even the stuff that has broken is actually the human's (me usually) fault. The chair going down the steps could have been avoided if I had anticipated that it could happen and told my cleaning lady.. The next day when I looked down the stairs and saw what could have happened my stomach lurched. If the chair had come down on Simba's spine it could have killed him. Thank God cats are quick and agile.

Catty & Sas, I can't imagine ever getting desensitized from seeing a poor kitty back at the SPCA. Shredded toilet paper? Have at it Simba and Toby. It would be a lot cheaper than my other damage. BTW, I bought some pretty melamine plates for both the pups and kitties today. I have been using an ugly plastic plate since they broke their china plate last week. I don't expect any more broken plates but if it happens it happens.

I have actually given my Murphy a roll of tp for his birthday but the poor pup had no clue what to do with it. Murphy has been a marker/pee-er all his life. He started from the time we brought him home, weaned from his mama. There was no way I was going to give up on him so Belly Bands to the rescue. I use to look at him and say "Murphy you're going to end up at the hound pound" but no way would it happen. When you adopt an animal you take on the good and the bad! Murphy will be eight on September 14th, my KoKo will be eleven in two days, and Simba and Toby, who didn't have a birthday listed when I adopted them will be one probably late May so I'm giving them my Mom's birthday, May 27th.

Annie, I am going to look on Amazon for museum putty. Doesn't it ruin the finish on furniture though? I put my Waterford vase away after it was knocked to the floor. I want to give it to my DD but with a pup and three young children in her home it probably is safer in my antique cabinet. Thanks for the catio suggestion. I have quite a few pinned to my Pinterest account. I love them. What a great idea!