
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, October 22, 1995                   TAG: 9510230004
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-23   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Jill Bowen M.R.C.V.S.
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CONFINEMENT LEAVES CAT FEELING FRUSTRATED, BORED

Q: My sister has given me her 2-year-old neutered male cat, ``Hobbes,'' who used to live with two dogs in Texas and had free access to the outside. He now lives in the city and is confined in my small apartment. Over the past few months he has become more and more aggressive and likes to bite people's feet after they shower. What should I do?

A: After enjoying being an indoor/outdoor cat for the first 2 years of his life, Hobbes' sudden confinement in a small apartment, without the dogs for playmates, has made him frustrated and bored.

Since he has nothing to do all day but eat and sleep, he is a bundle of nervous energy waiting to play with you, his sole playmate, when you come home from work. Cats that attack human feet are trying to get you to play with them and simply need more exercise and mental stimulation.

Suddenly depriving an adult cat of its liberty can lead to stress and depression. The main effects can be an increase in aggressive behavior, possibly a loss of appetite, occasional vomiting after eating and, in some case, a loss of toilet training habits, which the cat quickly perceives as a method of punishing you because of the reaction it provokes.

It is important not to hit an aggressive cat, as this will only make it worse. It's better to scold Hobbes verbally, wave a rolled newspaper at him or, rarely, flick him on the end of his nose with your finger. In extreme cases it is OK to pick the cat up by the scruff of the neck and shake him lightly, as its mother would have done to discipline him when a kitten. Another useful deterrent is a well-aimed spray bottle of water.

In Hobbes' case, make sure he has plenty of toys to play with while you are at work such as items with catnip stuffing and bells. Plant a box with catnip, thyme, sage, parsley and grass, as all cats like and need to supplement their diet with a little greenery. As Hobbes has lost his dog friends, you may wish to adopt a second cat, preferably a kitten, perhaps from the local humane society, so they can play together.

As Hobbes cannot go outside on his own, try teaching him to walk on a harness and leash for exercise. This can be more difficult with a grown cat, but with patience can be achieved.

If you have a question for Jill Bowen, please write to her in care of the New River Current, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg, Va. 24073 or send e-mail to Currentbev.net

by CNB