I have a question about an issue my cat is having and I need to give a fair amount of history. This site limits the size of a question. Is there anyone out there I can write to?
2006-06-26 17:51:02 · 7 answers · asked by Andrew 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Over three months ago I was given a 6 year-old purebred Devon Rex. The family that had him told me that he had several issues: He has a skin condition where he gets red and inflamed – I’ve worked with doctors and he’s on a limited ingredients diet that seems to working well. No skin issues thus far. The reason the family needed to find a new home for him was because he started exhibiting behavioral issue since they had a baby. We would stop burying his poop and would pee outside of the box every time he had to go. He was terrified of the baby and would run away when the baby was in the room or when he heard the baby cry.
When I went to their house to meet him he sat in my lap and was purring when I pet him. When I brought him home he seemed to really love it here. He purred all the time. His previous owner was thrilled as he hasn’t purred like that in years. My vet caught a slight heart murmur. He saw a cardiologist and had an ECHO. Something in his heart was enlarged a bit...
2006-06-26 17:55:13 · update #1
... bit but nothing that needed to be treated. His vet also said he has FLUTD. So I keep an eye on his urinating. Again, no real problem. I scoop his box everyday. All of the issues he had with his previous owner stopped, and have never occurred since I got him.
Anyway, I noticed that he stopped burying his poop and the other day he peed on the bathroom rug. Today he peed outside the litter box. He has been more vocal. He stopped sleeping on my bed and won’t really let me hold him anymore. I wrote to his previous owner just to check and see if this is how things began when he started exhibiting issues with her, and she said it was identical.
My fear is that he's in this cycle again and just unhappy with me now even though NOTHING has changed.
2006-06-26 17:56:16 · update #2
he has been to several doctors who can't come up with any reasons. I'm searching for a doctor now who has seen similar rare cases.
2006-06-26 18:02:27 · update #3
OK, IGNORE THIS POST... I'm not going to delete it because it's good advice for anyone dropping in after reading your title, but it doesn't really apply to you... I wrote it before you added the extra info...
Chances are if it is a serious problem the only thing anyone will tell you is to take your cat to the vet... it is IMPOSSIBLE to make a diagnosis without seeing the animal... there could be a number of things going on which you are completely unaware of.
On the other hand, I dropped out of vet school after two semesters... I don't know enough help you.
I hope you have taken her to the vet and are looking for some sort of a second or third opinion... even then, without a thorough exam I wouldn't take anyone's advice as truth, they may mean well, but there's a reason your vet went to school for 4 to 6 years extra...
2006-06-26 17:58:25 · answer #1 · answered by tripforyou 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you've had him checked out by a vet and they haven't found anything wrong, good chances are it is just behavioral. It especially seems behavioral since he started it with the baby. Very (very very very) minor things can disturb a cat. And seeing as how you have a purebred cat, well they are often more picky. Have you changed anything at all around your house? Gotten any new friends, roomates, boyfriends, anyone moved out etc, other animals etc? Have you continued to use the same litter that you always use or do you buy whatever's cheapest? Have you changed laundry soap, etc? Have you changed the amount of time you are at home? Are you spending time around other animals away from home? All of these things could affect it.
One of my personal cats never learned to cover her poop and another one when stressed goes outside of the box. One of the vets I know, his cat will not use the litterbox if the bathroom curtain is open.
If you are looking to spend money, you could look for a vet who specialized in behavior. Otherwise you might consider getting the cat a companion.
Also I hope your cat is spayed/neutered. That can sometimes help.
2006-06-27 01:30:53 · answer #2 · answered by Trish J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok. I dug out my notes from my vet office. For starters, the symptoms your cat has, crying at night and being restless could possibly be Hyperthyroidism. It's more common in older cats and can be treated. If your cat hasn't been checked for that, I would have it done. Also, he could be in pain. The disease above could cause that and so could Cognitive Disfunction. Not using the litter box could be caused by Arthritis. It may be painful to lift his legs to enter the box. You could try buying a box with lower sides to make it more comfortable for him. Also, something might have frightened him away from it. If he is using the box and a car backfires, he may associate that loud, awful noise with the box and be afraid to use it.
2006-06-27 04:19:02 · answer #3 · answered by blondeqtpie13 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to Yahoo groups and search for cat vets...there are a few that will answer your questions and give you some advice on how to care for your cat.
2006-06-27 10:34:11 · answer #4 · answered by kathyk214 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just be very affectionate and kind towards the cat. Cats are very smart animals and if you show it that there is security in th eenvironment then it will gradually get better.
2006-06-27 00:59:29 · answer #5 · answered by first g 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THE VET ASSIST IS PROBABLY RT. IF AFTER YOU GET THE CAT CK-ED AND ITS NOT ARTHRITIS, ARE YOU PLANNING ON DOING SOMETHING IN THE HOUSEHOLD? LIKE GET A NEW ANIMAL OR MOVING? THE CAT MAY SENSE THIS AND IS GETTING SCARED.
2006-06-27 05:19:05 · answer #6 · answered by LADY DAWN 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to get ahold of a school for vets. Not sure where they are at though.
2006-06-27 01:13:07 · answer #7 · answered by vikingprincess1955 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋