PHKitkat, I appreciate your taking the time to respond to my questions about Ra. We love our cat, and are desperate for any suggestions to help curb his naughty behavior.

I think you are right about Ra treating us like littermates. He tends to play very rough. That's why we had tossed around the idea of getting him a playmate. However, we are definitely concerned about the unpredictable consequences of adopting another cat.

Your idea about interactive toys is spot on. One of Ra's favorite toys has always been his string on a stick. He also loves to play "kitty in the middle" with me and my husband using various toys from balls to little stuffed animals. We just can't seem to wear him out!

Saying "Ouch!" works sometimes when he bites or scratches. Other times, Ra just doesn't seem to care. We are getting pretty good at reading his body language, but could still use some work in that area. We miss a few cues here and there.

The problems mostly arise when Ra stalks us seemingly out of the blue. My best guess is that he gets into stalk mode after watching birds or other animals outside the windows, then redirects his aggression toward us.

Yesterday, we began using a "quiet room" when he gets really worked up and stalks us. This room has the blinds closed, plenty of places to hide, and a few kitty comforts (like the stuffed bear he likes to cuddle with). After 15 minutes or so in the quiet room, Ra has usually calmed down. When he is calm he gets a treat. Has anyone else used this technique? If so, how has it worked for you?

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