Current Events > My parents bought cats and now they're my problem.

(+) Yeah! (+)

So, there are two problems. Both minor, but no one wants to solve them.

One, the fat cat at night starts banging on the doors cuz hes trying to get in. I am sleeping and it sounds like someones trying to break in. It is startling and annoying.

The second problem is the smaller cat has decided to sprawl himself across the stair which makes crossing difficult. Im waking up, sleepy, and trying to go down the stairs. Now there is risk involved.

There is nothing I can do to get him off. I can only nudge him with my foot, but last time he didnt move, and just fell down one of the stairs. I felt bad, which is why I asked my parents for help.

I cant lean forward or shoo him because since hes on a lower stair, I will fall over if I have to crouch down and lean forward.

People want me to jump over him, but it goes without saying that trying to skip down stairs, especially when sleepy, is dangerous. I also dont know if hell try to paw at me or something which could catch me off guard and make me trip.

Ive asked them several times to do something. They just keep saying theres nothing they can do, because the girls keep letting them out at night when they cross over to my side of the house, opening the double doors. But that wouldnt even be a problem if they locked them away at night (with food and litter of course).

My parents are so incompetent though, I dont even know if they have keys to lock doors in their own house. My dad has been getting locked out of the house for literally years, and now matter how many times I tell him, he wont get a key.

Now my dad is getting mad at me for having problems with a little cat. Little cats can cause problems. All I can think of at this point is getting a spray bottle and spraying him with water every time hes on the stairs.

Just wanted to vent. Im not an animal person. I have no experience or training with animals and I dont want any. I just want to live my life in peace.

The little cat comes to this side and starts tearing at my shoes. Sometimes he bites at my headphone wire and wants to play while Im eating breakfast. He used to jump on tables and try to eat peoples food.

People think because they find their animal cute, everyone else will. But not everyone is an animal person and shouldnt be expected to be.

skipping a step should be possible, just wake yourself up a bit more and hold yourself on the railing.

the cats will eventually learn that they cant open doors and will probably stop

as for getting the cat off the stairs, get it a better lounging spot. like a cat stand/post or a comfy bed or something. they often just pick random places to lounge but will often go to their favourite spots most of the time so make the stairs not its favourite

Sounds like those cats have a human problem

Rika_Furude posted...

the cats will eventually learn that they cant open doors and will probably stop

as for getting the cat off the stairs, get it a better lounging spot. like a cat stand/post or a comfy bed or something. they often just pick random places to lounge but will often go to their favourite spots most of the time so make the stairs not its favourite

You're missing the fundamental reason why the cat sleeps on the stair; it wants to trip you. Cats are dick like that

Rai_Jin posted...

skipping a step should be possible, just wake yourself up a bit more and hold yourself on the railing.

alternatively, because skipping a step can lead to a really fun trip to the ER and the cat runs the risk of being trampled there anyway, maybe figure out a way to discourage the cat sleeping there.

nudge the cat off the stair every time you go up or come down, and get one of those elevated cat platforms for the base of the stairs so it can have its commanding view without running the risk of killing you or itself.

Rika_Furude posted...

the cats will eventually learn that they cant open doors and will probably stop

In my experience this does not ever actually happen

just let the fat cat into your room

Rika_Furude posted...

the cats will eventually learn that they cant open doors and will probably stop

My cat opens doors. Well the not fat one does. The fat one is too fat to jump up to open the door.

AceMos posted...

just let the fat cat into your room

Though be prepared to get quite hot and also struggle to stay in bed as the cat creates a surprising amount of heat and will insist on sleeping in the exact centre of the bed.

Im obviously not letting an animal that refuses to obey me into my room, especially since Im not an animal person. I couldnt anyway. My fault for not clarifying, but my room is on TOP of the locked doors hes trying to open.

The spray bottle will probably be my best option. The elevated cat perch suggested sounds good too.

ssjevot posted...

My cat opens doors. Well the not fat one does. The fat one is too fat to jump up to open the door.

my cats also know how to open doors and would break into my room and knock shit down when I was sleeping

I started closing my door better, and they eventually stopped even trying to open my door after a couple of nights of failed attempts

Jagus posted...

The spray bottle will probably be my best option. The elevated cat perch suggested sounds good too.

under no circumstances should you use a spray bottle

I dont see why not. Its just water.

Get a spray bottle. Anytime fatty starts scratching on the door, squirt him. Anytime skinny lays down on the stairs, squirt him.

The problem will correct itself within a week.

spray bottles do not work and just make a cat hate you

Im pretty sure cats dont like getting wet and theyll start moving if I consistently spray them. I have to try something first at least.

yes, cats can be reasonable if they don't get sprayed with water.

cat experts almost unanimously agree spray bottles dont work

Jagus posted...

Now my dad is getting mad at me for having problems with a little cat. Little cats can cause problems. All I can think of at this point is getting a spray bottle and spraying him with water every time hes on the stairs.

That's what I was going to suggest. It's what I did with my cat when she was misbehaving and she hated it. It got to where she would stop her shit and give me the look if I even picked up the bottle, lol.

Added bonus is it's quiet so you probably won't get any drama over it.

Jagus posted...

Im pretty sure cats dont like getting wet and theyll start moving if I consistently spray them. I have to try something first at least.

No one is saying cat's like getting wet. Positive punishments have been shown time and time again in pets and humans to be the least effective way of reinforcing good behavior.

Why are you trying to walk down stairs in the dark while disoriented anyways? That's a recipe for ending up in the ER even without a cat being on the steps.

Based on the age of your account Id say you are definitely old enough where the simple solution would be to move out and live on your own rather than say your parents are incompetent and how much you dislike their animals while you live under their roof.

Genuine skill issue. Cats aren't that hard to live with.

Oh right, because the economy is just full of generous opportunities that allows people to move out on a whim. Lmao. Im a student, I have debt, and minimum wage here is $7.25. And you need more than a bachelors to get a job that gives a living wage. They ARE incompetent. Weird that made you defensive.

A_Good_Boy posted...

Why are you trying to walk down stairs in the dark while disoriented anyways? That's a recipe for ending up in the ER even without a cat being on the steps.

The lights arent off, and without the cat I can grab the rails. Even if I wasnt sleepy it would still be a problem.

Jagus posted...

The lights arent off, and without the cat I can grab the rails. Even if I wasnt sleepy it would still be a problem.

Why can't you grab the rails with the cat there?

Because I would have to skip a step, and doing that while grabbing the rails is awkward.

I mean, having to skip a step is risky period. The cat shouldnt be there.

It is pretty wild for adult parents to buy a cats, I guess different people really have wildly different parents don't they. Like sure my parents have bought a cake in their old age, but cats? An actual animal into the household? Wild.

Jagus posted...

Because I would have to skip a step, and doing that while grabbing the rails is awkward.

It's incredibly easy and an extremely simple solution to your problem.

No, its not, and its introducing needless risk into my life, which as one poster mentioned can send me to the ER.

Jagus posted...

No, its not, and its introducing needless risk into my life, which as one poster mentioned can send me to the ER.

Skipping a step while holding onto the rails won't send you to the ER dude. I (and surely several other people ITT) have routinely skipped a step going up and down the stairs my entire life. You sound like you need a ramp more than you need stairs.

then try less drastic measures first, like get a place to sleep that the cat likes.

You could easily fall. Skipping a step going down isnt the same as skipping one going up. To say nothing of how the cat might react while Im stepping over it. I shouldnt have to deal with this risk period. They should be putting away the cats at night since they bought them.

You can continue to argue this if you want, but i have nothing left to say

question are these cats AI?

Jagus posted...

To say nothing of how the cat might react while Im stepping over it.

that is going to look more reasonable to the cat than spraying it with water while it sleeps.

Animals dont understand reasonable and that wont get it off the stairs. Its not asleep on the stair anyway, its just stretching as much as it can like a douchebag. The spray bottle remains the best option imo. Itll get the message real fast hopefully.

Jagus posted...

You could easily fall. Skipping a step going down isnt the same as skipping one going up. To say nothing of how the cat might react while Im stepping over it. I shouldnt have to deal with this risk period. They should be putting away the cats at night since they bought them.

You can continue to argue this if you want, but i have nothing left to say

Have you actually tried doing it? Cause I figure a simple way to test and see how the cat will react to being stepped over is to just simply try it and see what the cat actually does.

Jagus posted...

Animals dont understand reasonable

yes they factually do

cats are very intelligent creatures

I just cant imagine its that big of a deal or inconvenience. But my best advice would be to try to change your attitude about the cats and bond with them. Maybe youll surprise yourself?

And what if strikes me and I trip? What if it doesnt react the same way each time? To say nothing of how awkward it is to do this period

MotaroRIP619 posted...

I just cant imagine its that big of a deal or inconvenience. But my best advice would be to try to change your attitude about the cats and bond with them. Maybe youll surprise yourself?

It is, hence my complaint. Its not my job to deal with my parents animals. Youre just invalidating my problems without putting yourself in my shoes.

AceMos posted...

yes they factually do

cats are very intelligent creatures

yes and that is why I wouldn't be surprised if it ends like "to shreds you say?".

Without meaning to be rude, do you have some disability or large weight issue that prevents you from simply skipping a step?

AceMos posted...

yes they factually do

cats are very intelligent creatures

OK, then theyll understand the spray bottle. Sorry, english doesnt work, neither does nudging it with my foot.

Jagus posted...

OK, then theyll understand the spray bottle. Sorry, english doesnt work, neither does nudging it with my foot.

abuse never works

Calling a spray bottle abuse is hilarious. You always overreact to everything Ive noticed

Jagus posted...

And what if strikes me and I trip? What if it doesnt react the same way each time? To say nothing of how awkward it is to do this period

Didn't you say you hold onto the rails when you're going down the steps anyways? Rails work the same way even when there's a cat in the way or you have to skip a step.

TC, I don't mean this offensively, but you seem fairly closed minded. You say you're "not an animal person", but why? They have quirks and personalities but ultimately they do brighten up your life.

Rika_Furude posted...

TC, I don't mean this offensively, but you seem fairly closed minded. You say you're "not an animal person", but why? They have quirks and personalities but ultimately they do brighten up your life.

I am not close minded. Im a human being living my life in peace. I shouldnt be expected to like animals or deal with them. I view animals as pests that annoy me, cause problems, destroy my property, or theyre like needy babies that never grow up.

its perfectly valid to dislike animals. I never asked for this.

Jagus posted...

OK, then theyll understand the spray bottle. Sorry, english doesnt work, neither does nudging it with my foot.

How about getting it something like a perch or a cat tree to sit in instead? Cause if it has no place else inside to call it's own then it's just going to return to the step eventually cause it literally has no place else to lounge. So you're not really solving the problem (which is that the cat needs somewhere to lounge) and you're instead just pissing it off. Now in the future not only will you have a cat that's still laying on the steps but you'll have one laying on the steps that has a vested interest in ensuring you don't go near it cause you keep on spraying it with a water bottle.