We live on the third floor of an old house, right above sweet neighbors who go to bed early. Mr WereBear has a chronic illness requiring that he rest most of the time. Ordell turned out to be an ultra-Alpha.
The math just wasn’t going to work.
Ordell was so high energy that within a few months we decided we couldn’t be the best home for him, and I found him a great place with a friend of mine, where he is both happy and adored.
We could only do adored.
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The high energy cat is usually an Alpha, though there are Betas who qualify. They are bright, interactive cats with an acute sense of humor, wily ways of getting affection and attention, and will tend to stay that way throughout their lives.
For the household ready to meet their needs, they can be entertaining, amusing, and delightful companions. For the household who has no idea what they are getting into, they can be disastrous.
It usually happens because the high energy cats are so appealing as kittens; so playful! so lively! so funny! Since that energy also goes into affection for their people, all is well for a while. Kittens are expected to be this way. But as time goes on, the cat grows much larger, and the household starts saying things like, When is the cat going to slow down?
Well, never. Or close enough.
Having a handful of kitten ricochet off our walls is awfully cute. When the same thing happens with a grown cat who has much more speed, mass, and momentum, we can start losing lamps, drapes, and patience.
What can be done?
Wear them out. We must create and maintain outlets for our furry balls of fire. This is the kind of cat who most needs climbing surfaces; if we don’t provide them, they will climb anyway. Hauling their body weight up a climbing wall or a tall cat tree is an excellent way for them to burn off all that energy. They need their toys rotated more often to maintain their interest. A laser pointer and a wand toy is a must. Get them leaping and flying; it’s what they need to do.
Get their attention. High energy cats have wonderful focus. We will need ways of getting them to focus it on us so we can discipline effectively. A noise-making device will usually draw their attention, and we can jump in with some redirection to keep them away from things they aren’t supposed to play with. This is the least likely kind of cat who will simply leave something alone when we tell them to; all that energy can’t be stopped on a dime. It needs to be channeled to something new for best effectiveness.
Don’t wear ourselves out with constant commands. Kitten-proof, secure, and put away breakables when they are small. Create areas, furniture, and toys they know are theirs as they get older. Create safe spaces for them to run around in.
Keep them puzzled. Bright cats can be any type, but will vary in how that intelligence is expressed. High energy cats who are also intelligent need the most help from us when it comes to exercising their minds, because they aren’t the observational kind. They are “paws on.”
We will have to be creative ourselves when it comes to staying ahead of them. Look beyond the traditional cat toys and seek out safe things that have buttons, knobs, gears, and switches. Toddler “busy boxes,” discarded electrical or mechanical equipment, even nested cardboard boxes with a toy inside; all can be retrofitted to keep our high energy cat occupied in all dimensions.
Think of the stuff we are always chasing them away from. Then come up with cat-safe versions that are their very own.
People who figure out ways to meet a high energy cat’s needs will be rewarded with a cat who is “still a kitten.” Always eager to join us in our activities, constantly in search of things to make us laugh, and adept at coming up with ways to keep us on our toes.
They are perpetual motion.
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Great blog. Great info on the different personalities of cats. It is fun trying to keep them entertained.Luckily most of mine go outside and climb trees.
fortunately for Monkey, the uber-alpha, i hadnt started reading the way of cats.i would have known that he wouldnt likely fit in with our other two cats. its only by a whisker that he wasnt returned to foster care. luckily he taught us how to play fetch..[and stopped peeing on husbands side of the bed]
Good for you, catlindy! Sometimes these situations (with some work on your part) can turn out okay.
great pic