greenbunny
07-08-2005, 12:52 PM
I've had my cat for about three months now, and only in the past two weeks has she actually been acting like a typical cat. She's now very curious, likes to explore, and she's started jumping, when before she would just lay on the floor or sofa. Now she's all over the place.
The issue is that she's started jumping on top of the ledge at the top of the foyer. Our front hall is open for full two stories, and she sits on the top of the half-wall along the hallway. If she were to fall, she'd plummet two stories onto a tile floor.
I wouldn't worry so much with a normal cat, but she's extremely clumsy. I don't know why, the vet says her vision and inner ears are fine. But she tends to stumble and fall a lot. For example, when she tries to get down from the couch, she can't seem to remember that the pillow is softer than the armrest, so she'll jump down with one foot on each side and the pillow will give way, tumbling her to the ground. Or she'll jump up to the windowsills to look out, then suddenly fall off randomly.
Normally when she's somewhere I don't want her to be, a loud, firm NO is all it takes to get her to obey. I'm afraid to yell at her when she's on this ledge in case I scare her, but I know they say you can't discipline your pet unless you actually catch them in the act. Can I pick her up, set her on the floor where she's safe, then give her the NO? Will she understand?
Here is where she lays, the ledge at the top where the two plants are sitting:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/agreenbunny/P1010074.jpg
Here is the drop, looking down:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/agreenbunny/PB210169.jpg
The issue is that she's started jumping on top of the ledge at the top of the foyer. Our front hall is open for full two stories, and she sits on the top of the half-wall along the hallway. If she were to fall, she'd plummet two stories onto a tile floor.
I wouldn't worry so much with a normal cat, but she's extremely clumsy. I don't know why, the vet says her vision and inner ears are fine. But she tends to stumble and fall a lot. For example, when she tries to get down from the couch, she can't seem to remember that the pillow is softer than the armrest, so she'll jump down with one foot on each side and the pillow will give way, tumbling her to the ground. Or she'll jump up to the windowsills to look out, then suddenly fall off randomly.
Normally when she's somewhere I don't want her to be, a loud, firm NO is all it takes to get her to obey. I'm afraid to yell at her when she's on this ledge in case I scare her, but I know they say you can't discipline your pet unless you actually catch them in the act. Can I pick her up, set her on the floor where she's safe, then give her the NO? Will she understand?
Here is where she lays, the ledge at the top where the two plants are sitting:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/agreenbunny/P1010074.jpg
Here is the drop, looking down:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/agreenbunny/PB210169.jpg