I feel terrible writing this, but I need some help! My cat is driving me crazy and I don't know what to do! I am committed to keeping her, as I know that when we adopted her it was for life, but lately I really can't stand her.
A little background....we have 2 cats. One is about 3.5, the other is almost 3. The older one is great. She largely sleeps, comes for cuddles sometimes, plays with us. The younger one is needy and demanding and so annoying! She needs to constantly be the centre of attention, and is always on us, purring and clawing into our laps. We have to lock her away at night and at naptime or else she'd wake the baby. She cries (make that howls) the entire time...I can't rest. She's always underfoot, and several times we have tripped over her going downstairs. She rips up the carpet at any closed door, such that we will definitely have to replace it. There are scratching boards at each door, but she moves them away and digs frantically, crying the whole time.
My DS is 11 months old, and much of her behaviour is likely jealousy. Still, his needs come first and there's nothing I can do about it. We do pay attention to the cat as much as we can, but it is never enough. I find myself getting extremely angry at her constant bids for attention. I have to stop myself, since she is just a small cat and I can't believe how much I let her get to me. I'm normally so easygoing, but this cat has got me really worked up!
So what do I do??!!! I love cats (or thought I did) and have always had a couple. I love my older cat, and adopted both of them for life. So how can I cope?
A little background....we have 2 cats. One is about 3.5, the other is almost 3. The older one is great. She largely sleeps, comes for cuddles sometimes, plays with us. The younger one is needy and demanding and so annoying! She needs to constantly be the centre of attention, and is always on us, purring and clawing into our laps. We have to lock her away at night and at naptime or else she'd wake the baby. She cries (make that howls) the entire time...I can't rest. She's always underfoot, and several times we have tripped over her going downstairs. She rips up the carpet at any closed door, such that we will definitely have to replace it. There are scratching boards at each door, but she moves them away and digs frantically, crying the whole time.
My DS is 11 months old, and much of her behaviour is likely jealousy. Still, his needs come first and there's nothing I can do about it. We do pay attention to the cat as much as we can, but it is never enough. I find myself getting extremely angry at her constant bids for attention. I have to stop myself, since she is just a small cat and I can't believe how much I let her get to me. I'm normally so easygoing, but this cat has got me really worked up!
So what do I do??!!! I love cats (or thought I did) and have always had a couple. I love my older cat, and adopted both of them for life. So how can I cope?
Not an easy situation, to feel such, so you have my empathy mama! I also 2nd rescue remedy for both you AND the kitty (totally safe for both), and you might consider rehousing her, maybe there is a family who is ready for such a cat? I'd go there w/my dog, but he's 11 and arthritic and ... different story.
