Cat mommy worries.

[kamalaya]

I would put this behind a cut, but the last time I did that no one but my best friends bothered to read it, which I don't mind but I'd like some advice on this one if there are any cat people reading it. Cheers folks

Comments

[angelkitty101]

Awww, he's gorgeous! Like a mini panther.

I can't help with any of the symptoms, but I have used a Feliway plug in (and I have the sprays) when we moved into this house. It did appear to calm them, there were fewer fights and they did (and still do) appear to be content and happy.

I hope that helps a bit (it is cheaper if you buy online tho)

[kamalaya]

Thank you. :) He was fully grown when we took him in and so he had developed his tom-cat cheeks and muscles before he was neutered, so he's quite well-built.

I've just been to the Feliway website and done the questionaire; the result was that his environment is relatively stress free, which is reassuring.

If you have a multi-cat household I highly recommend reading 'Cat Confidential' by Vicky Halls. I found it quite an enjoyable read, as it was more a collection of stories about her work with cats and their owners than a straightforward book on cat behaviour. I learnt a lot as well. I've just lent my copy to my cousin because her cat has pica (eats unsuitable materials - in her case it's carrier bags). The cat just didn't seem happy when I met her recently, so I hope there'll be something in that book which will help.

*~K~*

[sarahlascelles]

i know very little about cats, but in dogs random humping is often about dominance. Eddie will try to hump us, be stopped, then hump his bed to demonstrate that he is in charge of *something* at least - could it be similar?

re the stomach thing, my parents dog had something not dissimilar on his stomach, a nasty rash would pop up every now and again. He would also be sick (when the rash was there). After several mis-diagnoses, it was traced to an allergy to house dust mites, which was treatable (well, controllable anyway).

[kamalaya]

LOL, yes my parents have lesbian humping doggies. I don't think they know which of them is more dominant as yet but they seem to enjoy figuring it out!

I've read that in neutered male cats the masturbation is often a response to stress or boredom, which is why we're a bit stumped as to the sudden onset of this behaviour because he's not confined to the house and he plays a lot, so it can't be boredom. The only change in his environment recently that may have stressed him has been that we have redecorated the bedroom, but he doesn't seem too phased by it. So I have to assume that it's something to do with his feeding habits. I think perhaps xxxrated is on to something in his comment below.

The dust mite idea is interesting. We are taking the cat and one of the budgies to the vets later so we'll ask if they can do an allergy test. Let you know how we get on.

Thanks. :)

*~K~*

[kamalaya]

Thank you for this, I think you may be on to something with the smell issue. We are very fortunate in that as far as we are aware he has never sprayed in the house. He's also fed on wooden flooring so there's nothing in the carpet nearby, but it may be that he doesn't like the smell of the dettol floor wipes. There are a couple of cracks between the floorboards under there so I am wondering if something has fallen out of his bowl and is making a smell from under the floor. It would have to be very tiny food particles though so I would be surprised if it was that. We're taking him to the vets later to ask for an allergy test - I hope I haven't been making him eat something he's allergic to

[boglin]

I would suggest enrolling on the forum and asking here:

http://www.catchat.org/

There's loads of fabulously knowledgable and helpful people there :)