Grandcat having extended 'sleepover'!

A question about : Grandcat having extended 'sleepover'!

my son had a beautiful cat for his birthday last year - but in the last couple of months the cat (Barney) has started to behave aggressively to the other cats and the dog. he isn't eating (lost lots of weight), he has stopped grooming himself and is now toileting outside the litter tray.
my son has asked me to take Barney for a few weeks to see if his behaviour improves as he thinks the cat is suffering stress. if this is so he will then rehome him as an 'only cat'.
Sons home is a bit 'chaotic' - but the other animals seem fine. he wants to know if my much quieter home makes a difference.
I have had cats in the past but not for some years now.
I plan to go out tomorrow and buy the cat some toys - so can I have some suggestions please? Town has an Asda, a Wilkinsons and a Pets at Home. along with Poundland. anyone got an only cat who has a loved 'toy' from any of these? I am afraid Barney is going to get a bit bored with Nanny and Grandad!

Best answers:

• aw you're lovely meritaten .
  my current kitt is just a kitten, but my last cat was an only, he had 2 or 3 soft toys (2 dogs and a rabbit) from a kitten which he was still jumping all over and rolling about the floor fighting with, when he was 3.
  Current kitt and my last cat loved the lazer pen toys you can get at Pets at Home too.
• ty balletshoes. while Barney was sat by me earlier I noticed that my watch was reflecting on the wall - so did Barney! I started 'dancing' the reflection and Barney was definitely watching it! I was thinking of a 'laser pen' but a bit worried in case I accidently shone it in his eyes. so the pet toy laser pens are quite safe? if so I will get him one.
• Has the cat been checked out by a vet just in case there is some sort of medical problem?
  As for toys, I've never known a cat that didn't like good old string!
• yes - I am sure vet has seen cat recently.
  String is good - but I knit a lot and don't really want to have Barney thinking I am playing when I am trying to knit! (from experience I don't think cats know the difference between string and wool).
  Hey! I could knit him some toys! now I need to search t' net for patterns! Many thanks Bagpussbear! I didn't think of that!
• Our cat loves Da Bird (https://www.da-bird.co.uk/) but you'll get something similar (and cheaper) in town.
• Has he been neutered?
• er - I aint sure val - I didn't think to ask! but son normally neuters his cats and he just had the dog done - I would think so! Will ask him though!
• I am going to bed soon and I have been warned Barney likes to sleep on the bed - and he snores! loudly! I would know that as he looks like he ran into a wall! flat face cat! oh well, first night of grandcat sleepover!
  he hasn't used litter tray yet ...............worried a bit about this. he has been here since 3.00pm. ................hope he has held it in!
• Tin foil balls , flick them at him (well just past him) , most of mine have loved this game. Ribbon.
  good luck, hope you enjoy sleeping with him
• When our cats seem a bit bored, we have a bag of loose catnip. Get a small amount and put it on top of their head and wham, craziness ensues, then after maybe 10 minutes they go into a comedown coma and zonk out.
  Of course not all cats like catnip, but our two love it!
• checked with son - Barney saw the vet who gave a clean bill of health. Stressed the vet thinks. he has also been neutered.
  son tells me that Barney is a 'red peke persian' imported from USA 5 years ago aged 9months!
  his favourite toys are bottle tops and a ball.
  Well Barney slept on the landing last night - I left bedroom door open, but obviously he doesn't sleep with a girl on the first night!
  got up this morning and went to bathroom - I thought he had been building a sandcastle in his litter tray!!!!!!!!!!!! a huge mound of litter at one end.
  So far he is the perfect houseguest! polite, quiet, eats some of whats put in front of him. doesn't make a mess, wish the grandkids were as easy
  I bought him some toys but started with the catnip mouse! jeez - ten minutes of frantic rolling around rubbing that mouse over every inch of him. Then he taught me to 'fetch' - rofl! he just rolled around with the mouse, left it and then sat in front of me, looked at me, looked at mouse, looked at me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I aint dim so we played fetch for a while. I swear he was laffing!
• I'm so happy that your grandcat has has a little 'time out' to think about his behaviour! Some cats do get really miserable in a 'chaotic' house (whether that just be because it's loud, busy, or just not exactly the way the cat wants it - typical!). But you're so lovely. Will be good to give your son a rest too.
  I've looked after 100+ cats and the best toys are interactive ones i.e. they want you to play with them. Anything tied onto a string that can be trailed around corners and up and down the stairs will do nicely - try wrapping a knot around the catnip mouse! There are some lovely knitting patterns but it depends how aggressively your cat likes to play and if you'll be heartbroken if it's unravelled!
  Hope night 2 is as successful as night 1! : )
• ty squeaky! I don't mind if he destroys knitted toys - but seeing what PAH charge for strips of fabric knotted together I had a better idea!
  he likes a ball so will make balls of fabric for him with trailing bits!
  oh dear, I am falling in love with this cat!!!!!!! my OH gobsmacked me in PAH - he suggested getting a harness and lead so I can take Barney outside!!!!!!!!!!!! mind you, he wasn't paying!
  I do get this feeling that my son is 'playing me' though - he knows I love cats but he also knows my OH was devastated when our Nicki died and said 'never again' and he meant it!
  (Yes Son - I know you will read this .................you've been rumbled!!! - just don't admit it to your dad).
• [QUOTE=meritaten;62825126]Barney is a 'red peke persian' [QUOTE]
  C'mon you know the rules! When do we get the pictures?
• Meet Barney
• son sent me this pic - sadly, he doesn't look so good these days. This is Barney just few months ago. and it doesn't show his amazing Amber eyes!
  I cleaned his face today and he didn't object, so tomorrow we are having a 'beauty !!!!!! day'! I will try to take some pics and upload them then.
  er - what possible connotation can MSE put on the word P a R l o R?
• Awww lovely boy! I'm sure he'll look like that again soon. Thanks for posting
• Isn't it normally spelled with a U?
  Parlour, parlour, parlour!
  Eta, well that worked, why won't !!!!!!?