Mischief Maker

Gismo has learnt some clever tricks to get attention lately. We love playing games with him, but there are times when it's a little tricky amongst doing paperwork, whilst cooking dinner, or when we're getting ready first thing in the morning. He loves to chase balls of any kind eg balls of foil, bouncy balls, balls containing catnip, tennis balls, glittery pom poms, balls of paper, even plastic bags. He also loves to chase string, ribbons, peoples pants as they move down the hallway, basically anything hanging. We have created a new toy out of an old clothes horse, by hanging string, ribbon, paper butterfly's and all sorts of glitter pompoms etc tied on. He loves playing with it when we play with him, but shows very little interest in it as soon as we stop playing.

The tricks to get attention are things he knows he is not supposed to do, because he knows it involves us chasing him, or paying some form of attention to him, even if it involves us using the water spray bottle, used to try to stop bad behaviour. Latest attention seeking behaviour includes jumping/running up walls to try to get pictures hanging up, jumping for the phone cord, jumping for any electrical wires even if they can only just be seen over the edge of the counter top, and jumping for the bag that holds plastic bags we recycle. Even though he knows he will get in trouble, and that it may result in getting a squirt from the spray bottle, he insists on jumping up a wall and running away to hide (when we are busy). We have tried ignoring him, squirting him, playing with him a little during the times we are busy, locking him in his room...and yet none of these things have stopped the behaviour. Currently all things hanging have been tied up and hidden from view (unless we forget).

He likes playing with the vertical blinds, as well as the cords that open and close them. He likes playing with any electrical cords on the ground, or coming from equipment. He has also taken to scratching doors, clawing the carpet and meowing when you go into the bathroom without him, or close him into his room. Again resulting in squirting.

He seems to take great delight in the hide and seek game that results from doing something naughty, and after getting squirted likes to come and apologise for a cuddle and kiss, before doing the same thing again 10 minutes later...

While it would be nice if we could work out a way to stop him, we can't help but love him and laugh at the extent he goes to to get attention.