» YOUR CAT'S WELFARE AND SAFETY

» CHANGE IN BEHAVIOr (POST VET ANGST)

Dear CATS ON THE COUCH:

We have two cats—one that we adopted at one year old and have had for 12 years and another that we have had since she was a kitten, 3 years ago. The younger cat was born on a farm and has always been a little skittish with visitors. She has been fine with the family (including the other cat) until last week. We took the older cat to the vet without taking the younger one—the first time that we have done this. When the older cat came in, the younger cat started hissing and immediately ran away. We figured that it was the smell of other animals, so we separated the cats for a couple of days to protect the older one. Now they are both running around the house fine, but at least a couple of times a day the younger one still hisses. We have now noticed that the behavior is linked to attention. Today for example, I was on the bed with my two cats—all peacefully napping (the older cat was on the bed with me and the younger one jumped up on the bed with us). I rubbed them both on the head at the same time. When I stopped, the younger one hissed at the older one. The older one is a neutered male (she is spayed) with a calm, patient demeanor but now tries to avoid being around her unless she approaches him. What can be going on with our little girl? 

Barry and Dawn


Dear Guardians Barry and Dawn:

Your poor little girl has had a dose of post-vet-angst. Your older male, her best friend, smelled like another cat when he returned from the vet—foreign, alien. So her scent took over her sight. She became threatened (especially so because of her nervous and timid disposition), and he became the enemy. Was good you separated them so both cats could wind down. Although most of the trauma has slowly declined, she is still anxious and he becomes her tension target whenever she feels insecure or needy.

To ease the angst and mend their relationship: 1) whenever you're interacting with her, verbalize that you're about to stop—so she's not taken by surprise. Because if she's startled, she'll let him have it. Incorporate this technique into your permanent interaction with her and it will slowly reduce her long-time insecurity and lack of confidence—her kitten deprivation. 2) Relax yourself with yoga or any other nurturing pursuit and this relaxation will be transferred to the two of them because they are each walking on eggs. 3) If she starts to look nervous, distract her with a stroke or toss of a toy. 4) You might even have to give them their separate rooms for short periods if she is still too jumpy. 5) Provide them with a new scratching post and/or toys. If they start to get too excited, distract them because she may resort to her hissing behavior. 

6) A touch of catnip if it tends to relax them, maybe 1/4 tsp. of brewer's yeast in their food, good for stress reduction and the hair coat. Anything you can do to relax their body so it will gradually sustain, is a big plus.

The next time you take one cat to the vet, upon return home, put the other cat in the carrier and rub the cat all over with the towel or article that lined the carrier so now both cats will smell alike. Now they will each have the vet hospital smell on them. If they seem a little jumpy, separate them and give them with a word of good cheer, e.g., "Time for a little private time." When you reunite them, a touch of catnip, maybe a snack. 
IMPORTANT REMINDER: The "returnee" not only smells different but he may be a little anxious and disoriented which may tend to add to the angst of the cat who remained at home. 

Good luck with your two. You might want to consult my book, THE TOTAL CAT, or my online archives, 7/04 and 12/04, for additional info.

Dear Carole:

Our cat, Wilhelmina, is 3 years old. My husband rescued her in a carpark near his office when she was approximately 2 weeks old. She was at that time emaciated and could hardly walk. You should see her now—a picture of perfect health!!!! She is an inside cat and visits the vet every six months to check her teeth, fleas, etc. When she was 6 months old, we had her spayed. We love her to bits and she should know us well since it’s only the three of us. When we have visitors, she comes to check them out and soon retires to her room. She has her special bed, which she loves as the room is air-conditioned. We live in Trinidad where it is always hot. She has two windows where she looks out during the day.

One window is in our bedroom where she sits on the sill, and sunbathes while she looks at the trees, butterflies and the birds. The other window is on a table in the dining room where she looks out at the cars and neighbors. She has numerous toys with which she plays with all the time. But do you know we have never heard Wilhelmina purr—not even ONCE. Even if you try to feel the purr, you can never feel it. Not for one second has she ever sat on my lap or my husband’s. You can't hug her, or lift her up. You can't even pat her or stroke her. She strikes at you if you do that or she runs away. This is quite unusual since we have had two Siamese s before that who lived to be 18 and 19 years old. They used to sit on our sofas and laps all the time. They would also cuddle with us in bed. Can you let me know what should be done about Wilhelmina? Even if you try to love her, she declines our advances. We just want her to love us which I suppose she does in her own way but she is so anti-social.

Thank you very much!

Annette and Doug, Trinidad. 

Dear Guardians Doug and Ann: 

There are those cats who start to purr late in life or never. It may be because such a cat as your Wilhelmina tends to be inwardly always on guard, because of her orphaned, sickly days and so her purr mechanism (so to speak) is repressed and inactive. However, a purr doesn't always indicate happiness. A cat often purrs when anxious or overstimulated in a threatening way. It may be even if and when your Wilhelmina does become more trusting and less anti-social, she may never utter a purr.

She sounds like a terrific cat and would be even more of a companion if she could loosen up. You might try the following tips to relax her mind and body: 1) When she's eating, brush her back gently a few times with a rubber brush—which feels like the mother cat's tongue. If she objects to the brush, wait a few days and use a dampened paper towel. You can increase the brushing slowly if she likes it. But this will be a start to become more intimate with her. 2) Whenever you approach her, say her name so you don't startle her. You must remember that she is still very guarded because of her "rough beginning" even though you have always been so loving to her. 3) If she's a catnip fan, sprinkle some fresh potent catnip on the base of her scratching post. As she relaxes, you might be able to touch her head or back. But if so, only a few strokes so she doesn't become overstimulated.

You can find out more about the timid cat in my book, THE TOTAL CAT, (Visit my web site—www.thecattherapist.com). A fear of intimacy is another reason your Wilhelmina keeps her distance. But with time and much, much patience you will make inroads.

Remember, please add a picture of your cat along with your cat questions.

May I extend my deepest sympathy and well being to all of you who loved and lost dear ones to the London bombings. May those of you who were injured continue to heal. 

I'm reminded of New York's 9/11 when there were all sorts of frantic guardians fleeing their homes with their cats and other companion animals—and of rescue groups making their way into damaged apartments to seek out frightened, trapped animals. I was able to counsel many guardians how to de-stress their cats and to ease post-traumatic-stress syndrome. One of my recommendations was to keep the family together as much as possible.

Because as then and now, so many guardians didn't make it home, it's so very, very vital that a friend or neighbor has access to your home to look after your animal family in an emergency. Such prevention can save lives.

I recently lost one of my cats, Baby, to cancer. Stumpy is the surviving cat. They were friends all their lives. Stumpy is about 14 and seems to miss her very much. He is extra needy and cries a lot more and in a mournful way. He is very much a people cat but also loved his Baby. They were very different, but loved each other and curled up a lot together. Baby was about 13 when she died two weeks ago. When I adopted them, they were both declawed already in the front.

If I do decide to get Stumpy another companion, does the companion have to be a declawed one? Should it be a female, like Baby? Stumpy was the alpha male. Should I go for a kitten or young adult? How will I know if he really wants someone new?

Thanks, P.M.


Dear Guardian P.M.:

So very sorry about your Baby. Sounds like the three of you had a good life together. Because Stumpy was close to Baby and he does seem to be lonely, I would consider the adoption of a new companion. You might adopt a young female kitten that resembles the late Baby in coloring and catsonality. The familiarity would make it easier for Stumpy to accept (A cat can detect color by scent.) You could adopt an older cat if you were sure that the cat preferred cats to people so Stumpy would become the cat's best friend before you. Don't worry about adopting a cat that's not declawed.

Stumpy can always use his hind claws or give a little nip if the newcomer gets too tough. However, nail trims should be a given. Provide a sturdy scratching post and they will both have fun with it. (Refer to www.thecattherapist.com for post recommendations.) The best to the two of you and perhaps you'll soon have a new addition.

Dear Carole:

I'm so very upset. My two cats, Jerra and Beanie, are neutered, four-years-old brothers who are now enemies. They were frightened and excited by an outdoor cat fight they heard through the window and later the cries of a neighbor's baby that sounds cat-like. I've separated them and re-introduced them a couple of times. The longest they've lasted together is a couple of hours. The slightest noise of even one or the other in the litter box causes them to explode at each other. What should I do to restore their friendship? 

Laura, Edinburgh

Dear Guardian Laura:

Dear Guardian Laura,
Your boys certainly were stressed by the cat brawl and took it out on each other. The baby wails added to their trauma and intolerance—so now they're super wary of each other. The following tips should help to calm and restore their trust and friendship: 1. Use a screen door or expandable child or kitty gates as a barrier with a cat on either side. If the cats are climbers or jumpers, the gates should reach from the bottom to top of door frame. This barrier will allow the cats to ACT out without physical harm. 2. Place their food close to the barrier so they don't ignore each other. 3. When you feel they are receptive, play with each with a dangling toy so they are close but distracted. 4. You'll be able to sense when they're calm and willing to be closer. At that time, you can remove the barrier for a short period so they can hang out together. This can be repeated and slowly increase the TOGETHER intervals. If when together, they appear agitated, distract and return them to their respective sides. 5. To cushion the outside distressing noises, a Sleep Sound (white noise) or table fountain, soft background music, aromatherapy touches such as vanilla and lavender in various places in your home should help to soothe.

These tips should get you started. You can refer to my book THE TOTAL CAT, Quill for more details. Here's to a peaceable catdom.

Hi,

I am wondering if you can help. We have adopted a puss with an amputated tail (no stump). He does sometimes crouch to urinate when he is outside or in his litter tray but he also will leave a puddle on the floor where he has been sitting, particularly if he has been scratching or grooming himself. Sometimes he will be washing his private parts and will just urinate there and then—with his leg in the air. He has just completed a course of meds for cystitis but is still doing this. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

Thank you

Dear Guardian:

Puss may still be uncomfortable from the cystitis. It may also be that when his body is overstimulated from grooming etc., he loses control. It does appear to be a physical problem that triggers this behavior. Please seek veterinary advice to diagnose and treat his over-sensitivity. A lack of a tail affects balance and has other limitations. So good of you to adopt such a brave puss. I know you will continue to help him.

Remember, please add a picture of your cat along with your cat questions.