What exactly is a “Boomerang Cat?” Well, a Boomerang itself – as we know it – is a kind of throwing stick that, when thrown correctly, travels in a curved path and returns to its point of origin.
Of course, hopefully, no one throws their cat in the air like a true boomerang, but the effect is basically the same. You put kitty down, she returns right back to the point of origin – YOU! So, you gently put kitty down again, she’s right back on you. Cat put down, cat immediately back. Cat down; cat back. And so it continues . . . Boomerang-style.
Whether you are trying to work on your computer, write a letter using a pen and paper, or doing any intricate type of work, a furry feline rolling and stomping all over your project and purring in front of your face is somewhat of a distraction, to say the least. Unlike the typical Boomerang, however, this is a behavior problem. Like most behavior problems, it hopefully has the ability to conform or, if that’s not at all a possibility, to arrive at a compromise for both you and your cat.
Mimi Adelman’s Mei Mei likes to Boomerang on and off her while she is at her desk working at her job as an author. “She is constantly up on the desk, under my arm, etc. I should have taught her early on that she's not allowed on the desk, but I didn't,” conveys Adelman, author of the book, Every Cat's Survival Guide to Living with a Neurotic Owner.
“So now I do three things: I have lots of little cat toys on the desk that she is allowed to push off the desk and onto the floor,” Adelman says. “I use my voice to keep her from walking in front of my computer screen (ugly voice when she takes the first step in front, instantly replaced by happy voice as soon as she steps back), and I have a special spot right next to me where she is allowed to settle down on the desk. When she goes to that spot and settles, she gets lots of attention and my happy voice for a few minutes, and then I go to work and pet her occasionally.”
Besides being an esteemed author, Adelman is also a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant. “We humans all have different personalities, and so do cats,” she notes. “As for the Boomerang effect, when we constantly pick them up and put them down – most likely speaking to them at the same time – that’s attention, which is what they crave.
“We might consider it negative attention, but they just consider it attention. So they are engaging in an attention-seeking behavior, if they get the attention, why wouldn't they do it again? Plus, the jump up, get put down, jump up again, get put down, jump up thing becomes a game after awhile. Lots of action and drama equals lots of fun.”
Finally, is there any chance you can change (or at least slow down) the Boomerang Cat’s clingy and needy ways? Adelman provides some hope for the exhausted Boomerang Cat owner, “As with all attention-seeking behaviors, the best ‘cure’ is more regularly scheduled one-on-one interactive play time. This satisfies the cat's craving for attention and action, and tires the cat out so she will catnap instead of jumping all over you.”
So while the “Boomerang” will eventually come back to that point of origin, it may get distracted along the way and give you some much-needed alone time. Besides, you won’t have to worry because, without a doubt, you know the Boomerang always comes back to you in the end . . .
Of course, hopefully, no one throws their cat in the air like a true boomerang, but the effect is basically the same. You put kitty down, she returns right back to the point of origin – YOU! So, you gently put kitty down again, she’s right back on you. Cat put down, cat immediately back. Cat down; cat back. And so it continues . . . Boomerang-style.
Whether you are trying to work on your computer, write a letter using a pen and paper, or doing any intricate type of work, a furry feline rolling and stomping all over your project and purring in front of your face is somewhat of a distraction, to say the least. Unlike the typical Boomerang, however, this is a behavior problem. Like most behavior problems, it hopefully has the ability to conform or, if that’s not at all a possibility, to arrive at a compromise for both you and your cat.
Mimi Adelman’s Mei Mei likes to Boomerang on and off her while she is at her desk working at her job as an author. “She is constantly up on the desk, under my arm, etc. I should have taught her early on that she's not allowed on the desk, but I didn't,” conveys Adelman, author of the book, Every Cat's Survival Guide to Living with a Neurotic Owner.
“So now I do three things: I have lots of little cat toys on the desk that she is allowed to push off the desk and onto the floor,” Adelman says. “I use my voice to keep her from walking in front of my computer screen (ugly voice when she takes the first step in front, instantly replaced by happy voice as soon as she steps back), and I have a special spot right next to me where she is allowed to settle down on the desk. When she goes to that spot and settles, she gets lots of attention and my happy voice for a few minutes, and then I go to work and pet her occasionally.”
Besides being an esteemed author, Adelman is also a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant. “We humans all have different personalities, and so do cats,” she notes. “As for the Boomerang effect, when we constantly pick them up and put them down – most likely speaking to them at the same time – that’s attention, which is what they crave.
“We might consider it negative attention, but they just consider it attention. So they are engaging in an attention-seeking behavior, if they get the attention, why wouldn't they do it again? Plus, the jump up, get put down, jump up again, get put down, jump up thing becomes a game after awhile. Lots of action and drama equals lots of fun.”
Finally, is there any chance you can change (or at least slow down) the Boomerang Cat’s clingy and needy ways? Adelman provides some hope for the exhausted Boomerang Cat owner, “As with all attention-seeking behaviors, the best ‘cure’ is more regularly scheduled one-on-one interactive play time. This satisfies the cat's craving for attention and action, and tires the cat out so she will catnap instead of jumping all over you.”
So while the “Boomerang” will eventually come back to that point of origin, it may get distracted along the way and give you some much-needed alone time. Besides, you won’t have to worry because, without a doubt, you know the Boomerang always comes back to you in the end . . .
(I couldn't help using this picture of Mr. Chow and Peanut, Brian's cats, which so accurately seem to depict this story)
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