Why is My Cat So Weird? And What to do About it??

[CVPeg]

[QUOTE=red mares;5755798]
I have found that a Feliway diffuser does help settle them down. I can tell when the screaming starts, it’s time for a refill.[/QUOTE]

I had a wacko Siamese that I adopted at the shelter as he was being delivered - was hoped to be fine since we only had dogs and no other cats. He marked a new couch, and regularly marked in ALL ways on our beds. The diffuser worked temporarily, but when it ran out, it got worse and he never improved. He eventually found another home, but that made me wary of them…

I trim Ricky’s (orange Maine Coon mix) feet by wrapping him in a towel, with only his head (not always!) showing, and the subject paw, and just use nail clippers.

And I have a squirt bottle upstairs and downstairs right next to me - all I have to do is reach for it, and he’s gone…

[red_mares]

I second the towel method to trim nails. Trying to hang on to 7lbs of long, slithering cat and work nail clippers just doesn’t work without the help of a kitty straight jacket.

I never did bother with a spray bottle though. I did leave the front door open, and dumped a 5 gal bucket of water in front of them when they started coming outside. Very effective. I’ve done it with each move.

Feliway is cat pheremones. It come in a spray or a plug in diffuser. You can’t smell it. Pet Smart sells it. I think I paid $50 for it, & the refills are $25 there. It is MUCH cheaper online. I get refills at EntirelyPets for about $12 each. My vet recommended for my neurotic hair puller. They had good luck with it a year or so before when for some reason all the cats being boarded (regardless of what cats were there) at their location were just loud and cranky for no apparent reason. The diffuser made them all happy, or at least quiet:).

The hair puller is nuts. She pulls her hair out in clumps when she gets upset or lonely or just in a mood. The diffuser does help with her neurotic tendencies, but doesn’t fix them. If I have a 3 day weekend at home, I will still come home to a pile of hair on the bed when I get home from work the next time- it’s just half the size it might have been before. She is also a screamer. Will go upstairs or downstairs & just scream bloody murder, almost like she gets there & can’t find me. Sometimes I think she is working on dementia. Anyway, this happens about 80% less with the Feliway. I only have one diffuser for 3 floors (still w/in rec. square footage). I’ve thought about adding a second upstairs, but haven’t forked over the $ yet to try it.

[colorfan]

The nipping in the middle of a nice pet session is usually one of two things, an invitation to play or she is still a bit sensitive to being touched there.
Yes, even with an older cat, if they have exhibited this behaviour in the past and essentially gotten away with it. Much the same as a horse might swish its tail if you touch a ticklish spot.

What I do is gently continue to rub and very gently restrain the head.
Cats have a micro second attention span so unless she relaxes don’t overdo it.

Typically you get three responses; the cat relaxes, the cat stays stiff but permits you, the cat jumps up and leaves.

Your outcome will depend on the cats personality, some just permit so much and thats it, some get the idea the hand doesn’t play and just enjoy the pet.

As far as the nipping in the night. Cats don’t have an 8 hour night sleep like people, they prefer cat naps interspersed with snacks; so your lovely feline is simply trying to wake you, either to provide food or just because she is up so you should be too.
While not all cats will do this I have had several that do, typically the ones that are more attached.
A couple of firm pushes off the bed will usually discourage the behaviour.
after I pushed my cat off the bed a couple of times she changed tactics; my little precious would stand on the floor right at my shoulder level and sharpen her claws to get my attention.

Sounds like you have a really loving cat.