my adorable but strangely vocal housecat

Question
Many thanks for your time and expertise!

I have two cats from the animal shelter, which I've raised, now ages 8 and 7 years.  The younger one is a basic gray tabby, very large and friendly.  Though he's the younger and later addition to our family, he's become the alpha cat by virtue of his size.

He's the oddest cat I've ever lived with.  In some ways he acts more like a dog than a cat.  Deeply affectionate, he follows us from room to room, comes faithfully when he's called, likes to have his belly scratched, and lies in the hall to "protect" my 2 teens while they are sleeping.

The kids are in joint custody, changing households each week.  About 6 months ago, he started howling the day after they left.  This is a mournful howl, not aggressive, and truly saddening to hear.  I then began to find odd things around the house-- my daughter's little stuffed animals, my son's smelly socks-- on the weeks they were not here.  The mystery was solved when I caught Gizmo dragging a sock downstairs in his mouth, howling while pulling it between clenched teeth.  He appeared to be heading for my study, where I work at home.

Poor baby.  Now the behavior has generalized, so that sometimes when he seems bored he will race around the house, howling like the Hound of the Baskervilles.  He only calms down when I call him and pet him. This has a bit of a negative effect on my work productivity!

Now he's doing it even when the kids are home.  T-shirts, boxer shorts, teddy bears-- anything soft and smelly that he can drag in his mouth has been hauled down to my study.  The racing and howling is now a daily occurance.

Please tell me how to comfort this sweet cat!  I give him plenty of toys and play with him regularly throughout the days that I'm working at home.  In addition, his cat "brother" is very happy to play games with him, and the kids are truly attentive.  But, alas, the children must go to their dad's house on his weeks with them, and I can't change that schedule!

Many thanks,

Leslie

Answer
Leslie,


You are not going to like my answer.

Frankly, I think your cat has figured a way to manipulate you into giving it more attention.  I have seen Siamese exercise these types of behaviors as a means of gaining more attention.  It does seem to work.

Personally, I would temporarily deny your kitty access to the kids' rooms.  He does not need comforting, only a time out from driving you batty craving more and more attention.  As long as you respond to "comfort" this cat, he will continue the behavior.  The problem now is that cats are nothing, if not persistent, so it may be a long drawn out affair to break him of these habits.

Best regards... Norm.