Pacifying the pint-sized panther in my house

[ninevirtues]

I'm going to confess this, and you all will think I spoil my cat relentlessly.

When I come home at night, I feed her dinner, and I sit there and pet her while she is eating, and I don't stop until she is done. (That's the only time I can pet her for that long; otherwise, she will only sit still for petting for about sixty seconds.)

The result: Well, she clearly likes it (she purrs loudly, and if I slack off to go get the mail or turn on the heater, she leaves her dinner and follows me, giving me an indignant glare until I go back to the petting).

And the good result (from my point of view): She's saner, happier, and she doesn't try to get my attention later in the evening by attacking my forearms.

Hmm. I wonder if cats ever have ADHD? Seriously, she is both hyper and highly distractible. I mean, seriously? She clearly LOVES the petting but that's the only time she can sit still for it.

Comments

[fighter-chick.livejournal.com]

Sounds like she's got you pretty well trained. ;)

[sirst.livejournal.com]

I love to read the ADHD Guide to "OOO! String!"

[emberleo.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Yeah, you're whupped ;p

Seriously, the first thing that came to mind is "I bet she doesn't over eat when you're not around, for lack of pettin's.

--Ember--

[obsqurity.livejournal.com]

That sounds a lot like my kitty Bonkers. I think there might be hope, because at 18 months of age, Bonkers seems to be starting to mellow out, just a bit.