Can a cat get bored??

[Anonymous]

As I type this, I am wishing I had some good ear plugs. LOL!!!!!

Okay, I have an eight yr old male kitty who is and has been an indoor cat since I adopted him at 5 mos. Occasionally, like every 2-3 mos. I may let him wonder out front of my apt. to get some fresh air which he absolutely loves.

I live in an apt. building and some of my neighbors have voiced their hatred for cats so I keep him in a lot. Also, there are some bushes/plants in front of my unit that my cat always munches on then when he comes inside, he vomits for the next two days. Because of this, I have decided not to let him outside since I don't know what's in those plants.

Now my little guy is bored {I think.}
When he sleeps, I sleep.

But during his waking hours, he walks around the house and meows constantly. He sits in front of the door and looks up and meows. Or he scratches the bottom as if to try to squeeze out. His meow is VERY loud and during his awake hours, it is continuous. My neighbors even 2 floors up have remarked to me they can hear him meowing every day by the window, etc.

I tell him to hush, then try to distract him by playing w/him.
I might use my little red flash light and let him chase the light around.
Or perhaps I can blow some bubbles.

These things quiet him down since he is occupied, but I honestly don't have the time to do this stuff all day when he is awake.

Any advice on how to quiet my noisy kitty?

I have gotten so desperate I have even aimed the remote control at him and pushed the MUTE button. Nope...didn't work.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely a cat can get bored. Esp. b/c you only have one, so he has no playmates. You are good to keep him inside, b/c that's safer, but it'll take a while before he is more used to it. Until then (and even after then -- keep him occupied for his mental health and general sense of wellbeing), here are some tips on how to keep your cat entertained:

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/pets/2009-10-07-pet-expert-cats_N.htm

http://pets.webmd.com/features/keeping-indoor-cat-happy

and tons more sites. Just google "how to keep my indoor cat occupied" or anything along those lines.

[Anonymous]

Get another cat! cats are very social animals, very loving towards each other (after the first 2 weeks) and lonely without a companion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get another cat! cats are very social animals, very loving towards each other (after the first 2 weeks) and lonely without a companion.

I left out that I actually have another cat.

When I first adopted my meowing one, I adopted a second one four mos. later.
My 2nd cat is the polar opposite of my bored one.

He is content just laying around whether he is asleep or not.
He plays w/his kitty toys and keeps himself occupied very well.

I wish they would play together, but my bored kitty always hisses at him when he wants to play.

When my bored kitty sits in the front room and meows continuously, the other kitty gets annoyed at him and tried to scratch him.

[Anonymous]

I gave up and started letting my cat go outside. It was an expensive decision (outdoor cats get WAY more shots than indoor ones), and I worry a lot about him, but... his anxiety (meowing, always pawing at any exit, tearing around the house like his tail was on fire, etc) was breaking my heart and driving my normally-chill husband out of his mind.

It's better now. He'll never be a low-maintenance cat-- when he's in a room with a person, he MUST be on that person's lap, or otherwise actively engaged-- but he's a lot more laid-back now that he has access to the outdoors.

[Anonymous]

Letting a cat go outdoors is just a bad decision these days.

There are evil people who like to give cats poison and/or abuse them.
Cats like to hang out under warm cars and this is very dangerous. They also like to drink coolant and since this is flavorless they think it is just water.

They also like to eat grass and some grass may have poison on it.

[Anonymous]

Best thing I did to entertain my indoor cats was to put a bird feeder in front of a window in my bedroom. It's like their tv - constant entertainment. I also took a basket with a lid, flipped it over, and put it in front of the window, with a blanket on top, so they have a perch to watch.

[Anonymous]

OP, I love how you said you aimed the remote at your kitty and pushed the MUTE button.

I have tried that w/my kids, but that is another topic thread.

LOL.