Kitty update

[veronica_rich]

I got so many comments on my last "cat" post a few weeks ago that I couldn't reply to them all, though I appreciated everyone's two cents. So I thought I'd try a brief update instead.

It has been an odyssey. I took Syl to a new vet a couple of weeks ago because the barfing was reaching epic proportions. In 11 years, this cat has never had a problem riding to the vet, beyond meowing plaintively. I moved last year - 6 hours one-way, never eliminated in his carrier. But a 20-minute drive 2 weeks ago out to the new vet's, he pooped and pissed all over the inside of his carrier to the point where the assistant had to go hose it down and throw out the old towel inside. While at the vet's, he pissed on the exam table THREE TIMES.

But I will say that this vet at least sat down with me for about a half-hour and talked with me about behavioral issues. He gave me some tips and an 8-page handout to read by an animal behavior expert on cats. He tested the urine and it was OK; he said he thought everything was related to Syl being upset about Frank, the new younger cat. So he gave me this drug he called "kitty prozac" and said to sprinkle a minute dusting on some wet food each morning and it should calm him. Well, it has worked, and no more barfing; the side effect is he's taken to giving me the cold shoulder - he won't come to me for petting anymore, and he stopped purring.

However - and I hesitate to say this fixes the problem, it just seems to work for now - I started giving him nightly treats again last night (I stopped for a while because I didn't know what was wrong) and he enjoyed it. I gave him more tonight and he started purring again and sat near me on the bed in here for a while. Also, I've been trying some of these behavior tips and have seen minor success - such as petting Sylvester extra when Frank is in the room, to help him associate "Frank" with "affection."

I also have more Feliway in the diffusers, though I have to say I hope I can stop that soon. It's damn expensive to refill. Also, I wish the two cats would stop getting on each other's nerves, but I suppose that's something they have to work out themselves when I'm not around (when I am, I shake a water bottle or tell them "No!" when they start up).

Comments

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

Cats are amazingly territorial. I would try to have a place that is only his, and possibly the problem is that you have two males. The younger one will challenge the older one. We had a severe problem when we got three cats (NEVER AGAIN!) and eventually one cat dominated the back yard and the other cat dominated the inside, and the third cat was their punching bag.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

NOOO. No third cat. I understand human dynamics far too well for that. (One reason I don't buy long-term poly in the real world.) If I wanted a third cat, there's a third cat hanging around just like Frank was a few months ago. I think it's far better when they only have each other to fight. Besides, two cats are expensive enough! Yowsa.

[kahva.livejournal.com]

Hopefully Sylvester will perk up soon even without the treats, and things will finally settle out for you with them.

Have to ask, since my kitties do it - Do you ask Sylvester if he wants treats, and if you do, does he get all wide-eyed and eager? I ask my kitties if they want treats, and Ferodir in particular will get wide-eyed, ears straight up, and then he'll dash for wherever he last saw me put the pouch of treats. :) Arwen will too, sometimes, but she tends to be slightly more casual about it - until I open the pouch. :)

[p0wdermonkey.livejournal.com]

Can only admire your patience with cat yuck.

The cats we had when I was a kid hated each other so much we ended up with an arrangement where one of them had the downstairs and back garden while the other had the upstairs and front garden, climbing up to the balcony where she had her own cat flap. There was the occasional skirmish on the stairs but mostly they each pretended the other didn't exist and were very careful not to meet by accident. Lucky we had a big house!

[lizzie-omalley.livejournal.com]

When I had Patches and Simon (Simon has since died of cancer) out in the trailer on the refuge the found their own little territories. Patches was the only cat that I let into the bedroom to sleep except for a brief moment when it was clear that Simon was very ill and I needed to keep an eye and nurture him for a bit.

Let Syl have a spot that it his own is important. I also feed my cats in different locations so that they don't see each other while they eat. I do a lot of nurturing and pampering of the older cat.

This kept Patches from getting too upset when I had the little squirt around for the last few days. When I was home, I made a point of keeping shorty out of Patches's places. She isn't missing him at all now that he has found his original home again.

[yoiebear.livejournal.com]

I don't have any experience with multiple cat households, but I do have experience with an older kitty getting territorial over outside cats he could smell near his property. Smokey peed and pooped along the inside baseboards of outside walls, especially in the front room (it has three outside walls). We had him on the kitty prozac for a while and it helped a lot.

Also, he didn't do the stuff in his carrier until he hit about 10. For some reason about that time he let it rip. We were so embarassed when we would pull him out of the carrier and turds would come with him. The vet would just laugh. *rolls eyes*

[finding-neo.livejournal.com]

Did you use the same carrier you took Frank in to get fixed? That could be why Sylvester "let loose."

I see someone else thought as I did, the problem is 2 males. Even though they are fixed, Frank only recently, so there is a stronger territorial dynamic there than with females. Gandalf has been fixed since he was very small and he has always been alpha with 3 females in the house.

Also helps that he is 14 lbs and nearly 3 feet long from nose to tail. ;-)

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I hadn't thought of that with Frank and the carrier. Probably because it's been over 3 months since he'd been in it, I didn't figure it would be a problem.

I didn't tell you the best part of my last vet visit. Even with all the upchucking, Sylvester had gained weight since his previous vet visit - when he hadn't gained weight for at least three years previous.

[delle.livejournal.com]

re: our previous conversation about the cat food changing. I just bought some Iams weight control/anti hairball-throw up and am mixing it with the Purina One. I'll let you know if it helps; Cappuchino seems to really like the Iams and is picking it out of her bowl to eat!