Cats are causing trouble (again)

[Jilliebean0606]

Hello again to everyone. I feel like I am always writing with some sort of problem and here I am again

Just to refresh everyone, I have 2 cats- brother and sister from the same liter. They are about a year and half and for the most part, are good kitties. They have their moments though and currently, I'm going crazy.

For the past week or two, they have been obsessed with pulling my clean clothes off a shelf in my room. They usually do it when I am at work and of course, its always fun to come home to a mess. For the past few days though they have also been doing at night time when I'm asleep. I've woken up twice and caught them in the act.

I live in small apartment and there is no closet space or empty drawers to put my clothes in. The clothes are on these shelves and thats where they are staying. Whenever I come home to this mess, I bring both of them over to it, show them the mess, and firmly yell things like 'no' and 'bad kitty'. They definitely know that they have done something wrong. I then shut the bedroom door and keep them out in the living room/kitchen for awhile.

I'm not sure if both cats are making the mess or just one but I always punish both of them. I know for a fact that the female, Baby, has done it because I've caught her in the act. Salem, I'm not so sure about.

For the past two or three days, Baby has definitely known that what she's doing is wrong. Whenever I walk in the door after work, if there is a mess, she immediately darts under the bed. And she hides there until she feels like coming out. For example, I got home from work over an hour ago, and sure enough my clothes were everywhere. Baby has been hiding under the bed since I got home and my clothes are still on the floor. I don't want to put them away until I yell at her.

So basically, I don't know what to do anymore. Like I said, its been several days of yelling and punishing. I was hoping they would get it by now. I know the simple solution is to close my bedroom door when I'm at work but I feel bad doing that. They are already not allowed in the bathroom (for pulling towels off the shelf, this rule has been in effect since day one) so if I lock them out of my room, that only leaves the tiny living room/kitchen area.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what else I can do? I hate coming home from work and yelling at them. It's very upsetting for me and I'm sure for them too. Thanks.

[Tambrey]

can you just keep the door closed when you are not home?

Or can you build some sort of plywood "door" to put in front of the shelves so they cannot get to them...then you could hang a mirror or picture on that "door"

[Jilliebean0606]

Yeah I guess I could. Why can't I just have good kitties though? Thats a better solution.

Baby finally came out from under the bed just now after about an hour and half. She came up to where I was sitting to give me a hug and kiss (yes, she can give hugs and kisses). I just looked at her and said 'REALLY?!?!' in a stunned sort of voice. Like I was really going to just say, hey thanks for coming out, lets snuggle. She immediately darted back under the bed. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

[Tambrey]

they all have such unique and fun personalities...

I have to keep doors closed too, or they get into things they should not...

Gypsy is my lap kitty...as soon as she even sees me walk towards a chair, she is there ready to in my lap before I have even sat down!!

Skittles is my talker...she will come adn tell me all about her day and how everyone picked on her...if another cat looks at her wrong, she comes whining to me about it...

I have a couple that are more aloof and want petted only once in a while, and only for a minute or two, then I get swatted away, like I was the one who came to pet them!!

[Traci]

First of all, stop punishing them, and stop yelling at them, you are only causing more damage. This isn't appropriate.

The solution is to put your clothes up where they aren't going to get to them, it's as simple as that. Save some money and get rubbermaid storage boxes, some of them are made to be stackable. Storage boxes are reasonably priced.

By continuing to punish them for simply being cats, and being mischievous (and probably bored), you're causing them undue stress, and they will become fearful of you, as you've learned. Please don't do this to them again, it can take a very long time for them to learn to trust you, and when you reprimand them needlessly, you destroy their trust.

[Marty]

I agree with Traci here...yelling at any animal after the fact only makes them scared of you. They still don't really know what they did wrong...and your stress level is high at a time when they need your attention.

The storage boxes are a good idea, or you might try putting some foil or something else noisy on top of your clothes to discourage them. Or squirt them with a water bottle when you see them doing it.