Very worried about my adopted cat. please help?

Question

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I adopted my cat about 3 days ago at the A.S.P.C.A. I got him this toy its like a large feather on a string, and i played with him with it for two hours. He was running, jumping, etc during it. Now that i stopped, hes still making the same movements. Will this stop if i discontinue use of the toy?

Also, his story was that he was rescued from a deli owner that didnt feed him. He bites well nips me eery time hes hungry and gets frantic running all over the room. Can i get him to stop? Its very annoying because he wants the food at exactly 4 a.m. when im sleeping.

Last, i found a worm on the floor next to him. Looks more like a roundworm than a tapeworm. I already knew he had worms, so his vet gave me medicine to give him. Im not supposed to give it to him again until the 20th, but since i found a worm should i give it now.

Also, i found a small white worm near him. looks more like a roundworm than a tape worm

Answer 1

Put the worm in a plastic bag. Call the vet in the morning and tell him/her you found it and ask what you should do. If they say to come down with your cat, bring the worm with you.

If he wants to be fed that early... leave some dry cat food out in a bowl for him to nibble on through the night.

For the biting, you could try some Bitter Apple where he normally nips you. There's a small chance he will actually like the taste instead of being repelled by it.

Answer 2

he needs to see the vet about the worms

Answer 3

Cats that have spent time hungry and starved often have trouble learning that there *is* going to be another meal coming for them.  In time he'll learn that, but until then he's very insecure about food.  Your best bet may be to feed him each night before bed, and be sure that his food dish is filled then.  That may very well lessen this behavior, until he gets over this fear of his.  

For the worms - usually a cat's wormed once, and then again in two weeks.  But sometimes the case of worms is very severe, and then they may need additional treatments.  Call the vet and tell them what you've told us here - he may need an additional worming.  

You've got a cat who was probably not played with very much.  You've activated his prey drive, and now he's hunting imaginary prey.  It may be best to limit his play sessions for a while, just cut back a bit, until he settles in more.

Abused and mistreated cats really do take a bit of time to lose all the defensive habits they had to learn to survive.  But with some patience and love, they do unlearn them.  In a few short months, he'll be all settled in and you'll both will be forgetting the past :o)

Answer 4

well first of all.. congrats on adopting the kitty.

the reason he bites or nips at you when he is eating is probably because he is used to fighting for his food, and is scared it will be takin away from him. If you want this to stop.. you could get a stick and put a glove on it, and when he is eating put it near him every time, so that he gets used to it.. though why you would bother him or pet him while he is eating is beyond me, would you like him to be in your face at lunch time???

I would give the kitty the medication when the doctor told you to..there is a reason, im sure.... the doc told u to wait until the 20th ..

good luck ..  

Answer 5

Hi there,

As regards the worms I'd do what the vet says about the medication but if the behaviour continues give the vet a call - but certainly that might account for some of the over-hungry aggressive behaviour.

I think there are a few problems here and I'm not sure what age your cat is (the older they are the harder it can be to sort out patterns of behaviour but be patient).

Set down very clear boundaries and stick to them, come what may. Decide what you are going to feed him (guidance on food packaging/vet - I like Hills science formula)  and when (try if possible to do it at set times of the day so there is a routine) and do not deviate from this.

I would suggest keeping him out of your bedroom, certainly for the time being until he has settled, and that way you can ignore him when he gives the 4am call for food. If you've fed him already he doesn't need it (assuming the worm problem is resolved) and he will learn, over the space of nights or weeks, that there's no point in wasting time and energy at your bedroom door.

As for the playing, I think 2 hours is a bit long for any cat - especially a poorly treated, poorly fed one. I'd try instead, for the time being at least, to stick to maybe 3 or 4 15 minute scheduled playtimes throughout the day (perhaps a few minutes after he's been fed) and try not to get him really over-excited. Avoid using your fingers as play-things (as he'll then naturally snap at you whenever) and always try a gentler game to calm him down. Then walk away and ignore him. Ignore the 'high' behaviour and it should calm down.

Finally, the biting. Don;t ever hit or throw him away or shout. He'll hate you and be afraid of you. Just say 'no' or 'bad' in a low clear voice and stop whatever you're doing and walk away. He'll soon learn biting means being ignored and no attention. If it's really bad and you can see the signs immediately before it happens then a quick water squirt might help. As long as he associates the negative behaviour with the squirt he'll likely stop.

Persevere. I'm sure it will be worth it!