Problems with Shelter Cat

Multiple Problems with Shelter Cat

I was hoping for some much needed advice! We got our second kitten from the shelter when he was about three months old. He is now a year and a half and has some behavioral issues that are quite aggravating. The first is that he chews through strings and wires. He especially likes the strings that hang down from the mini blinds. We figured out a way to keep them out of the way, but we have blinds that lower from the top and he chews those when the blinds have been lowered top down. Some advice on any reason why he chews the little strings and what can be done would be lovely.

The second issue is his cleanliness. He has never been very clean. He cleans himself a bit but never enough, especially when it comes to his butt. He is an indoor cat and sometimes, if he can't complete a bowel movement, he will slide his butt on the floor, which is a very messy solution. It has gotten to the point that we have to clean his butt for him most days. I was wondering if there is anything to be done to teach him better hygiene. I swear he is more like a dog than a cat.

The third issue is the way he torments our first cat, which is shy and was under socialized as a kitten. He just always goes after the other cat, and it is worse since we have moved into our new house. Whenever she comes near us humans, or onto our bed or near the food or the litter box or anywhere, he swats at her and starts chasing her. She ends up growling and hissing, and still he doesn't stop. I would love some advice for helping him be less aggressive. I really think he thinks he is just playing, but she doesn't like it at all.

Thank you for your help. ~~Lucy

Expert Reply

Hi Lucy,

It sounds like you have some serious training to do with this cat. I'm sure his sweet personality makes up for some of these things, so let's see if we can get some of these issues solved for you.

First, many cats play with window blinds and with the strings hanging down. There is something about a dangling string that is impossible for a cat to resist. Some people think that cats are attracted to the coating on the blinds. My suggestion is to purchase some spray from your local pet supply store that will make your cat want to stay away from the blinds altogether. You could even spray around the perimeter of the window frame and he will likely stay away.

As for the cleanliness, there probably isn't much you can do to teach him. Does he have a long coat? He will likely hate it, but you may want to consider taking him to a groomer and having some of the fur around his rear end shaved down shorter. This will make it easier to keep him clean back there. Also, kittens usually learn how to stay clean from their mothers. If he was taken from his mother at too young of an age, he may not have learned all he needed to know.

You can try taking a damp, warm washcloth and wiping him there. Then, give him a chance to clean it on his own and see if he does. If that fails, you may have to give him a bath every week or so. It is best to train cats to tolerate this as kittens, but adult cats can be taught as well.

Finally, there are a couple of health issues that might cause him to rub his rear on the carpet. Worms can be a culprit. This is easily tested by taking a sample of his feces to your vet. Anal sac infections can also cause these symptoms in some cats, so you may want to have your vet look at that as well.

The aggression is also something very common in multiple cat households. The first thing I would do is invest in a cat cage with some levels where the cat can roam and climb and confine the aggressive cat when you are not home. When you are home, you can monitor the situation and prevent any injury. He may outgrow this on his own. I'm assuming that he has been neutered. If not, I recommend you have that done immediately as it will cut down on the aggression. You can also try keeping a spray bottle handy and giving him a squirt when he gets out of hand.

Most cats respond best to positive reinforcement, so when he does the things you want him to do, be sure to praise him lavishly or give him a small treat.

~~Lori