Hi, I’m Christopher! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my silly Russian Blue cat, Olga.
First-time owners are often surprised when the noise of their cats grooming drowns out the volume from the television or stereo. I didn’t realize it was such a big problem until I read several posts from annoyed owners complaining about their noisy cats. Excessive grooming is unhealthy and is often the result of allergies, anxiety, and other health problems, but strong grooming is not uncommon or harmful.
High-Decibel Grooming
My Siamese cat stayed clean and groomed regularly until she had kidney disease, but she didn’t make as much noise as Olga. Olga’s coat was not as dense and did not shed often, and although she should not take long to clean it, she devoted a lot of time to grooming and wanted everyone to hear about it.
His lip smacking is loud enough to wake up light sleepers, but I’m used to it. He likes to hide and keep secrets from me, and his plans are foiled when a sudden urge to make up gets in the way of his stealthy approach. His grooming racket lets me know where he is when I’m too lazy to look for him and provides an opportunity to tease him when he’s nearby.
Teasing Olga
When I imitate the sounds he makes, he stops grooming and gives me a nasty look. Since he has been with me for several years, he is used to being teased, but he does not tolerate physical contact with his licks. If I mess up her newly styled hair, she rips my hand off with her nails.
I don’t suggest discouraging the behavior if you have a strong groomer. Interrupting your cat’s grooming by mimicking him every now and then is not inhumane, but yelling or throwing something at him when you’re annoying him is. Unless you wear noise-cancelling headphones or move to another area of your home when your cat grooms, there’s nothing you can do but accept it.
Inner Freedom
I am quite tolerant of Olga’s strange behavior and probably allow her to get away with more than most cat owners. Like many people with indoor cats, I regret keeping him indoors, even though it’s the safest option. He is a natural predator and explorer, and I wish he had more space to run, climb, and ride.
I didn’t let him jump on the countertop, but he scratched his favorite chair, leaned against the rocking chair against the wall, played in the spare bathroom’s unused bathtub, and slept everywhere. He’s a quiet cat, and I find it comforting when he makes a lot of noise as long as it doesn’t involve knocking office supplies and equipment off the desk in my office.
Olga is not violent and destructive like a kitten, and she does not eat my clothes or defecate on my bed. He is spoiled rotten but reasonably well behaved. I don’t let him get away with murder, but I’m not strict or caring when he goes crazy. Since Olga is an indoor-only cat, she has limited ways to entertain herself, and she’s happy that I don’t act like an authoritarian.
