She becomes a meanie!

by Sabrina
(winnipeg, canada)

I love my cat, I've had her for almost 7 years. I got her when she was 3 and it took us a year to bond, she wasn't very nice when I first got her, but either way...we love each other now.

The problem is when I have anyone over! This is what happens: friend comes over, takes off shoes. Kitty is right at the door greeting and rolls over their shoes...she loves shoes. My friend will come in sit on the couch and Kitty is super into them, she rubs on them waiting to be petted. They can pet her head for a bit, but not her body, because she will scratch them. She then wants to sit on their lap, and if they move she will scratch them. I of course tell them that she does scratch and that if they aren't comfortable with her that I will take her off.

I hate that I can't control my cat when I have people over, is there anything I can do to make her calmer when people are over? What's her deal?

Give her some catnip... The rubbing on shoes is marking territory - making that person "hers" as much as you are. She is very jealous of your visitors, and they need to play by her rules. Give her catnip and keep her off their laps. ~Morgen