OK, cat people, help is needed!

[hyphenate]

In all my many years of cat mommyhood, with every cat I have ever raised, I have come upon, what is for me, a unique situation. And it's driving me absolutely nuts.

In about April this year, I ended up taking in Oliver, who used to be my best friend's mom's cat. Oliver is about 3 years old, and my friend Barb got him from one of the shelters through the SPCA. He is a beautiful boy, with long, silky red fur. When he lived with Barb and her mom, he was restricted to Granny's bedroom because he freaked with Barb's dogs around. One time he escaped from the room and got into the basement where it took several days to find him.

When Granny went into the hospital, Barb asked me to take him because she couldn't devote enough attention to him, and she kinda knew then that Granny would not be coming home.

Since then, Oliver has flourished with me. And that's part of the problem.

Oliver will NOT leave me alone, and is alienating all my own, older guys. If I go out, he sits plaintively at the window and meows at me outside. If I am in and working at the computer or watching TV he just HAS to be there on the desk, between me and the keyboard. If one of the others wants to join me, he essentially won't let them. If I'm in bed, he has to come and get into the "prime" spot on the bed. There is little doubt in my mind that he has taken the alpha male slot, a position that neither of my two boys wanted, since I lost Dax two and a half years ago. But he's driving me crazy! I can't sit and write anymore with him. He jumps to the top of the monitor, knocking everything around, he meows constantly, and I can't shake him for anything.

I'm considering giving him "time-outs" in a closed room, to shake him of this massive clingy behavior, but I don't know if that's the solution or not. I try removing him by putting him on the floor, but he just recircles around and comes right back up again. It's not that I don't love him, but this is worse than having him never come to me! The other cats aren't getting their share of attention, especially Jessica, my oldest, who has diabetes, and who needs some attention on a regular basis.

None of them go out, so that's not an option, but all I know is that I want him to stop.

Any suggestions? Ideas?

I'm heading to bed right now, resigned to another night of Oliver hogging my attention. I would love some thoughts, though. Very much appreciated!

[barb162]

1. He sounds very needy; maybe he thinks you will leave him,,,,

as he was left before a few months ago. I would probably be very affectionate and reassure him that he is loved but then attend to your other cats in a normal way for several days straight. What I notice with cats is the latest addition also gets the most attention, no matter what thew age relaitve to the other cats.