How do I fix my kitty?

Gold_Dust_2

Hi all,

Last month we lost two cats within the space of a week, and our third is now overly anxious and clingy, panicking when she's parted from everyone and she won't go out. She picks at her food but will constantly meow at us as though she's extremely hungry, then will either pick at the food bowl again once we've escorted her there or will hold out for some fresh food, but she never finishes it.

I'm considering buying a feliway spray, but other than that, how else can we curb the anxiety? She's sitting on me as I type this, and I am loathe to kick her off .

Mrs_Z

That behaviour could indicate pain in the mouth/when eating - i'd get the kitty checked by a vet asap.

krlyr

Vet from me too.

Cats are quite prone to hyperthyroidism, which can affect appetite, cause restlessness and anxiety, sickness and diarroeah, etc. - but that's just one of many conditions that could be in play here.

Gold_Dust_2

Thank you for your replies, but despite how my post makes it seem, she isn't showing any of the signs of mouth problems or hyperthyroidism, which one of my other cats did have. I will of course cart her off to the vet if I see anything of concern, but I'm 95% sure that this is behavioural.

dandelionclock30

How come you lost 2 in the space of a week if you dont mind me asking? thats really sad.

Gold_Dust_2

I don't mind. One had been battling an infection since September, whilst that was going on the second one suddenly developed a huge lump at the end of November. He was diagnosed with cancer and passed away three and a half weeks later. Then the first one took a turn for the worse, and we couldn't do anything for him.

dandelionclock30

Sorry to her that how awful, the house must be really quiet without them.It sounds like she is missing them, it may be that. I think I'd take her to the vets just to make sure theres nothing wrong. I will put your mind at rest because at least you will then know.

Fluff15

She might well be grieving for her lost friends, and she's attached to you in fear of being left alone - separation anxiety almost? Are you or your family at home a lot to fuss over her? She might be lonely. Try getting a Feliway (if you don't already), pay her lots of attention. How long was she one of three cats? Would you consider another cat? I know this might not work in all situations. I'm sorry for your loss.

http://www.messybeast.com/cat-grief.htm

My mum's neighbour used to have several cats. A younger stray came a few years ago and made their home his, but all the other cats were much older. All of the cats have died since he came through old age, and even though they never used to all cuddle up, for the first few weeks following the last cat's death he was doing pretty much the same as your cat. The owners are at home quite a lot (retired) so they've been giving him extra attention, and he's improved in time but it's taken a few weeks.

meritaten

I think she is grieving too - poor cat! extra attention and you may want to consider getting her a companion? she is used to feline company and it will be very strange to her to be an 'only' cat?

Gold_Dust_2

Fluff15 wrote: »

She might well be grieving for her lost friends, and she's attached to you in fear of being left alone - separation anxiety almost? Are you or your family at home a lot to fuss over her? She might be lonely. Try getting a Feliway (if you don't already), pay her lots of attention. How long was she one of three cats? Would you consider another cat? I know this might not work in all situations. I'm sorry for your loss.

http://www.messybeast.com/cat-grief.htm

My mum's neighbour used to have several cats. A younger stray came a few years ago and made their home his, but all the other cats were much older. All of the cats have died since he came through old age, and even though they never used to all cuddle up, for the first few weeks following the last cat's death he was doing pretty much the same as your cat. The owners are at home quite a lot (retired) so they've been giving him extra attention, and he's improved in time but it's taken a few weeks.

I think the feliway is definitely on the cards, thanks for that, and thank you for sharing your neighbour's experience with me, I was hoping for that. I think it's anxiety too, and she has been getting plenty of attention all day long since then, to the point where I'm wondering whether we're doing the right thing that way as I don't want her to get used to that level of attention, it's way too much. We will keep it up for now though, as I'm aware that it's all still fresh.

She was part of three for eight years - wow! She was a stray and came along a lot later than our original boys, so I'm quite surprised to think that it's been eight years. Getting another cat isn't an option at the moment, unfortunately.

I think she's making some progress now in that she's going out a bit more, whereas she completely refused to at first. Her appetite is picking up - even though she still eats in fits and starts, she's eating more in one go.

She is still extremely clingy, and VERY vocal now, although I rather suspect that the vocalisation results from her realisation that she rules the roost now, and can be as loud as she wants. She's not searching when she meows. She has been going upstairs to sleep by herself, which she hasn't done for a few weeks, so that's a positive step too. I hope she'll continue to improve exponentially from here on out! How long has it been for your neighbour's cat, and how is he doing now? It has been four weeks for my cat.

meritaten wrote: »

I think she is grieving too - poor cat! extra attention and you may want to consider getting her a companion? she is used to feline company and it will be very strange to her to be an 'only' cat?

It must be, the weird thing is, I never thought that she cared for them at all - she always treated them like the enemy!

laurel7172

When my cat lost his brother (who he had slept cuddled up with every night of his life), he wrapped himself around my head on my pillow for about six months, before starting to realise that there were more comfortable places to get your 20 hours than curled around an insomniac. A couple of months later, he was simply visiting at first light to remind me about breakfast.

My current cat (a rescue in middle age) sometimes sits looking into a mirror and meowing pitifully. I don't know her history, or whether she is used to company. I know she turns into a spitting ball of aggression if any other cat dares enter her garden. Don't you just wish sometimes that you could read their minds?