How do I deal with this kitty?

[Eireann]

My kitties. Wow.

One of them is the most destructive kitty I've ever seen. He chews through thin wires, he rips up plants, and he chews on cardboard boxes. He also tends to meow loudly for no apparent reason.

My other kitty is much quieter, but really intrusive. Right now, I'm working from home (as is everyone else in the office). So I'll be sitting here at my computer, and she comes over and wants attention. I mean, all the time. She stands on her hind legs, she gives her version of a meow, and if I don't watch her, she jumps on my lap. It wouldn't be that bad if she jumped up and just curled up and slept, but she has to walk all over my lap, getting in the way of my typing, bumping up against me, and generally being a nuisance.

How the hell do I handle this? With the stress I've been under lately, it's getting increasingly harder to handle it. There's no other room where I can put them; we're stuck out here.

[EricKei]

Talk to your vet; they may have ideas. I'm not sure of something like Feliway (a synthetic hormone sprayed by an atomizer) would be called for in such a situation.

[Dreamstalker]

The first thing I thought of was Feliway (I think it comes as either a spray or plug-in diffuser). It seems like it would help with the destructiveness, but as Eric said the first thing would be to check with your vet to see what they suggest.

[Kittish]

Definitely check with your vet, and give their suggestions higher priority.

I would suggest trying some bittering agent for the destructive one. That, plus providing stuff especially for him to destroy (cardboard boxes would work, but not Amazon boxes, unless you have a stash of old ones, though. I saw a notice that they've changed the pesticide they use on them and they're not pet friendly anymore) might help there. I think the meowing may be him trying to get you to play with him? My Mister Fluff will do that sometimes, just start meowing when he wants to play with a human. Various cats we have will also get pretty loud if they're out of food or want fresh water or want their box cleaned, so you might do a quick check on that stuff just to be sure kitty isn't trying to tell you about any of that.

Give your intrusive kitty her very own cozy space on your desk. If you have a box that's a good size for curling up in, that with a shirt you've worn or a bath towel you've used might be an acceptable spot for her besides in your lap. Redirect her to her space when she jumps up, and pet her WHEN SHE'S IN HER BOX.

You can give the pheremone things a try, but they did not work at all for us. To be fair, we only tried one brand, one time (Feliway plug in, ALL of our cats got and stayed as far away from the emitter as they physically could until we took it out). Maybe you'd have better results.

[Dreamstalker]

We've had/taken care of cats that actually loved the taste of the bitter-apple spray and would go after whatever it had been applied to. Go figure...

[Kristev]

A vet should be able to tell you the best thing to do.

[Kittish]

We've had/taken care of cats that actually loved the taste of the bitter-apple spray and would go after whatever it had been applied to. Go figure...

Yeah, our husky, LowKey, doesn't seem to mind it at all. We tried it with him to try to get him to stop licking the floor vents. Didn't work. Far as we can tell, he just likes the way it feels. Weird giant dog cat marshmallow hybrid thing.

Oh, covering or wrapping wires or whatever with aluminum foil might help deter the destructive one, also. None of our cats will mess with anything covered in foil (and one is utterly TERRIFIED of the stuff, she would bolt anytime she so much as brushed her tail against it when we had some on an end table to keep them from scratching it). It's also great to train cats not to get up onto counters. Just leave loose sheets of it on the counter you want them to stay off of. They'll get up maybe once or twice, but after that they should avoid it.

[Ghel]

I've successfully used hot pepper sauce on wires to keep my cats from chewing on them. My older cat chews on extension cords to get us to wake up in the morning. But coating the wires in hot sauce stops that.

It's kind of funny, though, since they like hot sauce if it's on meat or cheese.

I also use plastic covers for extension cords and other cords. But then they just chew on the covering instead of the wire. Eventually, I have to replace it. Still safer for the cats, though.

[csquared]

If you can stand the smell, Vicks Vapo Rub.

[Eireann]

El Destructo LOVES tin foil. I used some thicker, heavier stuff that's usually used for grilling, and wrapped it around the wires. I also found some bitter-tasting spray that we both hate.

Little Girl needs to be wormed regularly, which we both hate, but it's necessary. She forgives me for it eventually, but it's a real rodeo to give her the pill.

I put a pillow in a cardboard box, which they both love. And then I put a larger plastic box at one end of the cardboard box, so it provides a sort of shelter. She seems to get a lot of enjoyment out of that.

I've been pushing her away when she comes to me for attention when I'm busy, and then when I'm not busy, I go over to her and pick her up and we have a moment together. I'm trying to train her that she will get attention, just not when she demands it.

[Kittish]

Little Girl needs to be wormed regularly, which we both hate, but it's necessary. She forgives me for it eventually, but it's a real rodeo to give her the pill.

We have one that is absolute heck to give meds to, also. What I do with her is ever so casually carry her into the bathroom and shut the door. Put her down, and pick up the towel I have prepped. Drape it over her, then pull her toward me and burrito her. Don't need a full wrap, just enough to keep the cat from being able to get a front paw through the neck opening or anywhere useful up in front, really. Use a pill widget (I don't know the proper name for it, but it looks like a plastic syringe that's mostly open at the end, and shoves the pill far enough down their throat that they usually don't manage to spit it back out without putting tender fingers where sharp teeth can go CHOMP) and unceremoniously shove the pill down her throat. Takes a minute or two, depending on how klutzy I am that day and how desperate Baby is to NOT be wrapped up and given meds. She fights, tooth and claw. I mean that in the MOST literal sense.

[depechemodefan]

I guess for kitty that wants attention, play with her for 30 min. Like get a wand with a feather or snake-like thing, get her to chase it, let her catch it, repeat, but start slowing down 1/2 way through so she gets tired. But this is what I get from Jackson Galexy. Also, I worked in a cat shelter, and the manager who gave pills was a master at giving pills. Though after giving the pill she strokes their throats; the cat reflexively swallows from having the throat stroked.

[Seanette]

I've always had better luck giving liquid meds to cats.