[volcano]

Here's the situation:

I live with 2 cats at the moment. One of them is a sweetheart. He's technically the one I'm taking care of while the owner is away in California for school. I'm renting his room out. On the other hand, my roommate has the most annoying cat ever. It meows constantly. This isn't your typical meow, either... this is nails-against-chalkboard style: it's high-pitched, and it sounds like a mix between a crying baby and a dying hyena. This cat is annoying the heck out of me, because:

1. I don't let him in my room. Because of this, when I am the only one home and he is inside, he'll stand outside my door and meow until I do something. In this scenario, I'll either turn up the music so loud so I can't hear him, put in earplugs, or put him outside. They're both mainly outside cats... which is why I don't like them wandering around my room: this cat sheds horribly and lord only knows where he goes (and gets into) during the day. I don't want that in my bed.

2. He meows ALL THE TIME. He's a fatty, and 9 times out of 10 both his food and water dish is full. In fact, I often feed "my" cat when the other one is outside, because he'll start eating the other cats food! Why must he meow so much? I don't know what he wants, so I usually put him outside again.

3. He acts like he owns the house. The girlfriend of my roommate mentioned at one point that this cat usually likes to roam around the house on its own accord. They've never let the cats in the living room though (because we have leather furniture) so I don't know what his problem is. To make matters worse, like some cats, he has begun jumping on top of countertops and other random furniture (chairs, etc) in the kitchen. I just throw him off of said objects when he does this because I don't want him doing it.

4. He likes to drink water from the bathtub/shower/toilet. This grosses me out. I don't know how to get him to stop this action, either... because the litter box is in the bathroom. He ALWAYS has plenty of water, so I don't understand why he does it.

5. Sometimes when he knows I'm heading towards my bedroom, he'll follow in FRONT of me in an attempt to get in... but his efforts are pointless because I manage to squeeze my way ahead of him (I told you this cat was fat).

What should I do? This cat is pissing me off beyond belief. I want him to stop meowing all the time, and I don't want him thinking he is allowed in my room. Some of my friends told me to splash water on his face when he does something bad, like meow or climb on the countertops... does that work? This cat has some serious issues, and I feel like I'm fighting a battle over territories and boundaries right now. I've become a prisoner in my own house and I don't want to feel that way...

I've lived with cats in the past, and I've never encountered a cat like this. Cat experts, what should I do? Is there a cat boot camp I can take him to or something?

[Rumor]

Try petting him when he starts to meow. Chances are he wants attention.

[smacintush]

Yes a squirt gun or a spray bottle on stream can do wonders with a cat, and it's harmless.

Some breeds, like Siamese, are very vocal. Good luck repressing that.

One of those battery operated cat fountains might help keep it out of the tub and sink. Cats can be as finicky with water as they are with food. It should always be fresh and clean.

Your best bet is to use a squirt gun to teach the cat to stay away from you when you are around.

[itai195]

Sounds like the cat has you just where he wants you

Yeah he may just want attention from you. We have a cat who always wants attention, but he doesn't meow too terribly much. Other than that, I'm told that getting a squirt bottle and squirting water at them when they do something bad helps. I haven't had to do this with my cats but my sister-in-law swears by it.

Also, cats like to jump on counters and furniture. It's natural behavior for them, I'm not sure you can or should do much about that other than take him off when he's in your way or endangering something valuable. You might want to consider getting him a cat tree that he can climb up instead.

Our other cat used to constantly meow for fresh water from the faucet so we bought her an electric fountain and since then she's quieted down. Cats are weird about water...

[andi*pandi]

rumor is right, kat is lonely. Can't really stop meowing other then by making the kat happy.

if you don't want him drinking from the toilet, close the lid. Drinking from the shower doesn't do any harm, I haven't found a way to keep our kats from doing that.

a spray bottle of water can help to train a kat off things, but if this kat is old it may not work. I hiss at our kats and that works.

if he sheds too much your roommate should brush him.

[smacintush]

Remember that you can only train a cat to stay off of things when you are around. When it's alone forget it, they do as they please.

[El Gato]

Put the spray bottle on mist, not stream.

Like others said, the cat just wants some attention. If he doesn't have any toys, pick up a couple $.99 toy mice from the pet shop and get him interested in those. You can also get him whacked out on catnip - take an old sock, put a tennis ball in it with some catnip, and tie off the end. That'll keep him busy for a while.

[turtle777]

Is it a male cat ?

Threaten him to cut off one of his balls. Should he continue, cut the other one off. That'll teach him a lesson.

-t

[medicineman]

All of the cats we've had have been house cats. Spayed or neutered, they live long, healthy lives. Two males can be a problem, especially if one has already established his territory. They mark with glands on their cheeks and rumps. Cats are natural hunters/stalkers and will most always look for a high perch to watch over their territory. They also like their comfort and will seek out soft furniture and sunny places. They do spend most of their time sleeping. Crying after you is usually a call for attention. The bathroom thing has me confused. Cats don't eat/drink where they dirty, and vice versa. Give it a little time, they'll have you trained to live in their house in no time.

[Teronzhul]

I'm with turtle, show him you mean business.

[keekeeree]

Are you 100% certain that he is he and not a she? I've had female cats in the past and when they go into heat they become VERY affectionate and VERY vocal in almost exactly the way you describe.

Other than that, a cat's a cat...and well, that pretty much sums it up

[The Mick]

"And the cat's in the kettle at the Peking Moon,
The place that I eat every day at noon."

[volcano]

Alright, I might try the water trick.

I give him plenty of attention, actually. My roommate is gone most of the day; I have really erratic hours, and I'm home for a good number of hours per day. Often I'll watch TV and work on something while one (or both) sleep next to me. We allow them in the living room as long as they're surpervised -- we just don't want them clawing up the leather furniture.

I change out their water usually once, sometimes twice a day. That's not including the number of times my roommate does the same thing... so who knows.

And like I stated earlier, I don't allow them in my room because I don't want his hair everywhere. I never noticed how much he truly sheds until he slept in my bed one day (when I first moved in), left, and there was a nasty trail of cat hair all over my bed... and I have white sheets, so it was blatantly obvious. It was disgusting.

Thanks for the advice. Feel free to share any other knowledge you may have.

[nredman]

Originally Posted by Rumor

Try petting him when he starts to meow. Chances are he wants attention.

bingo