Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Nuclear on March 03, 2014, 09:50:14 AM
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So, my partner and I rescued a lovely exotic shorthair from the RSPCA a couple of weeks ago. At first he was very timid (though when we visited him in the shelter he loveeed fuss) but now he's settled in really well. The only problem we have with him is his total clingyness! I have owned persian breeds in the past and actually wanted "a persian I didnt have to groom as much" so when we saw little Merlin it was perfect. I love lap cats and cats that like cuddles but Merlin just will not leave us alone.
At night we shut him out of the bedroom otherwise i'd never sleep with him padding all over me, so he periodically comes and scratches the door and meows. In the day he has to be on us. If I won't let him on my knee because i'm eating or drinking he has to rest his head on me, if i'm on the laptop he constantly tried to get on it, if i'm doing my make up he comes and jumps into the sink to be right in front of me... you get the picture.
I'm studying a uni course from home and his constant meowing and walking over my books is driving me mad! I love him, but I need some space from his little furry face. Any ideas of how to make him a litttllee more independent?
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If he's only been with you a few weeks, he's probably still settling in! Cats can display appeasement behaviour which is they will do anything they can to make you love them so you won't hurt them/abandon them/etc. It will probably take him a few weeks to get into a routine, but until then I would be wary of shutting him out of the room whilst you're doing work (although completely understand why at night-time). Instead, take him off your books, plonk him on the floor with a firm no, and keep doing it. It is tedious (I had to do it with my three kittens and uni work), but they do get the message.
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It sounds funny and endearing when reading it but I have a clingy cat so I know how frustrating it can be when you're trying to do something and they won't leave you alone. Jaffa is always wanting to be on me or sat leaning against me. I constantly have to remove him from my lap to get up and see to food or just to simply eat! Or if I'm trying to work it's annoying.
If you're studying at home could you fix a bed or a shelf or something nearby so that he can curl up near you but not on you or your books? Then if he tries to clamber over you or your books remove him and place him in "his" place?
I'm afraid my only tactic is to put the heating on then go over to the bed and show him how lovely and warm it is. Much as he loves me, he's a real radiator magnet so he tends to settle down by the heating then and I get a bit of peace.
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He sounds wonderful and agree I think he is just trying to make sure that you love him so he doesnt get thrown out again.
I so miss having a lapcat but yes it can be irritating at times until they are no longer there :(
Be patient with him until he has been there a while
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Or you could try leaving some strategically placed newspaper around??? They love bothering my OH when he is reading his at the table :rofl:
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I've got a clingy cat, which I really love as my other cats haven't really been very snuggly. The thing I do if she keeps pestering is try to distract her with other things. I find the valerian and honeysuckle toys that they sell in the Purrs shop especially the prawn one works well. I also give her a few treats in a puzzle. Then it seems to break the cycle for a while and she'll go off and do something else.
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He is stunning I love exotic shorthairs - I have one myself :) I'd rather a clingy cat that one that thats completely independent - he seems lovely!