little miss emily has been acting rather strangely since she got back from the cattery. shes started climbing in boxes all the time! she prefers small squishy ones without much space. her favorite haunt is a thin shoe box that she climbs into at night when I go to bed, she makes the sides bulge.

she's also started to knead me, ALOT. its almost all the time! and I love it, but im curious as to why she's started doing it so much

shes also screaming alot, mainly in the mornings and when I come home from work. she's also started to climb on me in the night and cries to wake me up - which she's never done before, emily used to sleep through til morning.

and the other morning she pooed on the floor, right next to her litter tray! she's never done that before, and hasnt done it since.

anyone care to shed a little light on why my kittys acting so strangely

Hi keely

Sounds like your owner is very insecure. I am not a cat behaviourist as such so cant give you the scientific angle on it. (equine maybe :) ) But I have (and am) been owned by many furries in my time.
Being in a cattery can be a very stressful time for them. If you think of it from their perspective, they can feel as if you have abandoned them and may not come back.

Now you have come back she may feel very disorientated and worried. Is this the first time you have had her in a cattery and how long? As much as they may get their basic care in a cattery their comfort and "norm" may not be catered for.

Some are more sensitive than others.

The pooing out of the litter tray sounds like a "cry" for attention. Even scolding is attention and better than nothing. I would give her lots of love, fuss and attention and "ignore" the bad behaviour as this can conversly reinforce the behaviour.

How long has she been out of the cattery? If it is a short time then the adverse behaviour should wane over time if you work very hard at reassuring her again.

Good luck and hugs to your owner.

I would agree with ajaj1 - sounds like Em is showing signs of insecurity. Cats like small enclosed spaces because it makes them feel less exposed and vulnerable, so cramming herself in a little box is her way of feeling secure.

The kneading behaviour is what kittens do to their mums to stimulate milk production - and when they do it to us, its a reverting to kitten-type behaviour, and it reassures and comforts them.

The shouting at you is probably just also for reassurance - she wants to make sure you're there and she has your attention.

If you look at it from her point of view, she has been packed off to a strange place, with strange people and strange cats, had a different routine to normal, and probably missed her mum. She just wants to now be sure that everything is back to how it should be.

Obviously a home-lover, bless her. It could be worse Keely, you could be getting the cold shoulder instead as sometimes happens!

As a cattery owner....

I would say she's definitely not got over her visit to the cattery(it wasn't ours so I don't know emily personally).

We find that very insecure cats are much better after about the 3rd or 4th visit. They then realise that it's only a temporary thing. We recomend for very timid cats short trial visits overnight (Unfortunately some people think we're just trying to get extra money out of them... we're not, we just understand cats), so the cat learns that it's not a permanene thing with the minimum of stress.

thanks for your opinions everyone :)

emilys always very quiet at weekends - I think this is because she gets us to herself and isnt on her own at all. the oh decided to watch her for a whiel last night when she thought we were sleeping - turns out she likes to watch us while we sleep, sooo im concluding that the crying in the morning is because she's been patiently waiting for us all night, which is most likely why she cries when I get home from work too.

I think the poo-ing incident might have been an accident, she possibly leant over the side a little too much and missed. either way its only happened the once and I didnt see her activly trying to poo on the floor, so im not too concerned.

unfortunatly my baby has to go back in the cattery for a few days over christmas as my family live far away (and have cat hating dogs) and nobody will look after her for a few days. hopefully though, she'l realise that we are coming back for her and it will make her a little stronger.

I noticed another bit of curious behaviour the other night though. she wasnt sat with me so I went to find her and scoop her up - she was prowling in the bath! then when she thought I was asleep she climbed into the sink in the en suite! she's a little bugger sometimes :P

Lots of cats like the bath and the sink! Mine likes to poo in the bath :rant: so watch out for that before you step into it :hihi:. I'm sure after a few times at the cattery she will be fine. Just make sure you pick one cattery and stick to it so that she recognises it.

One of my cats is obsessed with the bath or sink, and if she gets upstairs it makes it really difficult to get a wash as you always end up fighting your way in past the cat :rolleyes:

One of my cats liked to pee in the bath - luckily, he aimed for the plug hole, so it was very easy to wash it away!