Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Lauryn on December 12, 2011, 22:28:02 PM
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Hi,
Some of you have probably noticed that one of my cats, Dave, frequently goes missing. She was gone for 5 days up until this afternoon, when she finally came hope of her own accord.
There are a combination of problems at play. A neighbour has been feeding her and had her last time. I've sorted that problem out and had a full and frank discussion with them. They now understand that it upsets me a lot, she's loved at home and she often comes back from theirs with a poorly tummy which I've had to spend a couple of hundred pounds trying to treat at the vet.
The other problem I have with her is that she was semi-feral when I took her in. She'd been abandoned with her brother and lived outside for ages. She got used to getting food from everyone she could and worked hard at it. Now that behaviour has manifested in her getting enough food here, but wandering for what I can only imagine is miles. Her microchip meant she got picked up about a mile away, but that's the only one I definitely know about.
I live two roads up from a main road. It's always very busy and has people speeding on it. She's been spotted both by me and friends on the other side of it. This time, she's definitely been fighting. She's come back fairly roughed up.
The major issue with her coming home is that she is very aggressive. She's never been aggressive up until recently, but the last 3 times she's returned in an awful mood. She beat her brother up very badly this afternoon and he's a bit shaken up and was aggressive towards my kittens. She then lashed out at me when I tried to sort her out. I gather she was a bit stressed out since she went and hid in the cellar and needed some coaxing out.
This is turning into an essay, but my question is this: is there anyway that medication would help her behaviour? Mainly for the straying, but also to help keep her calm inside. She gets her own space and pretty much has her own room, but this doesn't really help. I really just want to keep her off the roads and alive and there's a limit to the other things I can try. We're also using Feliway.
Thanks.
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I use Zylkene on my ferals when they are first trapped with great success - I have 30 ferals sharing my home ranging form unhandlable to indoor/outdoor and have had good results
I also have ferals as house cats only can you keep her in for a while so she knows where home is, it can be hard work but with treats and playing they soon get the message
Also have you explored cat proofing your garden so she can have access to the garden but no wandering
Feel free to pm me if you want more advise - you can find my ferals under the Clan cats posts
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Thanks, Liz. That's hopeful!
She definitely knows where home is and I've managed to keep her in with some difficulty for a week. I'm probably going to do it again this week. A combination of her straying and bad weather is not good. I can do it as many times as necessary since I work from home.
I'll talk to my vet about that and have a look at your previous posts.
Do you know I can swing an insurance claim on this kind of medication? My insurance is fairly all inclusive since I know she wanders and is more likely to get into bother.
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Tbh I am not sure that any medication will stop her straying as semi ferals seem to have a taste for it.........sigh.
Here the weather is unseasonallly warm, except for an odd night and I think that is making mine want to stay out and cos of their very thick coats, they are getting drowned on the outside but its not getting to their skin.
Roads however are very dangerous and I am lucky that Sasa only once ended up out at the front cos she was chased by another cat who was pretty vicious.
Behavioral problems really need the help of a good behaviorist and most insurances have something included for that but you have to be referred by your vet.
Cat proofing would be good if you can afford it.
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I'll definitely see my vet about this. I very much doubt she'll be completely cured of her straying, but I think that part of this is perhaps due to her being young. I had another cat who did this and he eventually stopped as he got older, but I don't know how much I can pin my hopes on that. I'm willing to try anything to keep her safe and off the roads (and possibly save me from a panic attack every few days). The aggressive behaviour is so new, I don't really know how to deal with it. I'll keep them separate for the time being.
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I'd ask about zylkene, you can buy it on line its not terribily expensive. It doesn't work for everyone but people who it does work for seem impressed, its not a drug as such but some kind of milk protein if I remember correctly, it just chills them down a bit
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I have also used Bachs rescue remedy in the water bowls with some success
Some of my ferals came in as Adults and I used the Zylkene following their bit removal at the vet, they have adapted to being house cats and my 2 oldest ones Ragamuffin and Smudger who came from a colony that was poisoned spent 2.5 years living in the house as house cats and have now after a lot of work now become indoor/outdoor this year and both can be found on radiator beds by 4pm when the heating comes on
If you put a lot of effort in to curtailing wandering habits for a period of time they can and will adapt they may not love you to start with but can and will adapt, I use a lot of laser pen playing and have the one from the Purrs shop as it can be switched on and runs for 20 mins at a time my house ferals love it and all now sit in the morning waiting for Mummy to switch it on ;D
Whilst my methods might not work for everyone they have worked on over 100 ferals in the last 15 years so I must be doing something right ;D
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I have used an antidepressant for my cats' behavioural problems before called buspirone, my vet (a pragmatist who refuses to do unnecessary work :Luv2: ) likes it for antisocial spraying, and I have also used it successfully to treat stress related overgrooming.
Be warned, though, although Buspirone is available from on-line "pharmacies" without prescription, there is a huge counterfeit market for all anti-depressants, so be sure to get the prescription one from your vet if you go down this route.
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Looks like we have a few options, then! Both routes will definitely be explored.
I've managed to keep her in with some difficulty since she came home. She's still fairly angry at the world, but is calm around me for periods of time on her own terms. She's played with the little ones some, so she's very much a bipolar cat at the moment. Her problem seems to be mostly with my neutered tom. To be fair, he :censored: me off, too. ;)
I'll definitely only use what my vet gives me/suggests. The black market for drugs scares me silly! It'd be just my luck to get a dodgy batch, too.
Sounds like we have a long road ahead, but thank you all for your advice. I'm planning on taking her to the vet when I've wound down from work for the year. Seems as though nothing's going to help immediately, so no desperate hurry.
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Very sensible course of action :hug: :hug:
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Update on this situation:
We haven't had a chance to go to the vet to deal with this yet (had planned to do so in the new year), but as I feared would happen, Dave was run over this afternoon. She'd been kept inside for most of the time and was coming back okay when out, but ran out into a busy road. She was seen by another driver and taken to the vet, which is where she is now. She currently has no control of her back end, looks like she's broken her pelvis and she may have some nerve damage.
All good vibes sent in the general direction of the southern Pennines very much appreciated.
It's a waiting game to see what the extent of her injuries are, but I feel like everyone thinks I'm acting completely hysterically. Desperately seeking other mad cat people. :innocent:
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how awful for you, fingers crossed for a good recovery.
:hug:
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Oh no hoping Dave makes a full recovery :hug: x
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Oh no, Poor Dave :( Have everything crossed she can go on to make a full recovery :hug: If they will let you visit her then you could take in a worn item of clothing in to comfort her :hug:
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I went down to see her as soon as they called. I left in such a rush that I didn't think to take anything with me, but you're right, I should have done that. Oh, well. From what I hear she's completely off her face, hopefully that's keeping her calm enough.
I'm worried because they keep stressing nerve damage to me and talking about the possibility of her having lost control of her bladder and bowels. Part of my head's telling me they are just covering themselves. The other part is freaking out.
I had a cat who was run over when I was about 10, but he was killed on impact so this is all new to me and I'm a worrier.
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Oh no, poor thing.
If she's broken her pelvis it's very early to be making predictions about nerve damage. The shock of the impact is often the cause of loss of feeling (I know - I have broken my pelvis in two places). It's extremely painful but recovery can be complete, so please stay positive for her.
Thank God somebody stopped for her.
All the vibes coming your way. :hug: :hug: :hug:
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We have been in this situation with 2 of our boys so know what you are going through :hug:
We had Tiger knocked down by a car shattered pelvis and in the end he had his tail amputated to but when we go to the 3 day mark they used in those days we were advised he couldn't go to the grit box but did ask the vet to put soil in to the grit box not normal cat litter and found this worked he hated cat litter in any form and we went through a lot of compost during his 6 weeks cage rest and at that time he was a big bad mean feral of 20lbs in weight
Puma also got hit by a car and ended up with his own orthopedic surgeon and a lot of cage metal work and fixtors to get him on the road to recovery and 16 weeks confined to a kitten pen he also had compost in his grit box because he was used to going outside
I can only send all our very best vibes here and hope that it is a long road to recovery xx
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Thank you all so much. Feeling slightly calmer by the hour. I think the reason they're talking about nerve damage is because she can't move her tail, but I was wondering if the lack of movement was shock related, so hopefully that is the cause. Her injuries are exclusively internal, so it's so hard to tell what's going on with her. I've seen her and the only external injury is a scrape on her face. I know this is a very common thing and she's a tough little cat (emphasis on little, she's incredibly petite, which I think may not have helped the way she was hit - she went right under the car, apparently). I'm mostly concerned since I'm packing up my clan to take them to my parents house about 45 minutes away. I hate to think I'm so far away, but the vet assures me that nothing immediate will happen to her, so I have to go. I have a 5 year old sister whose heart would break if I weren't there for Christmas morning.
I really wish I had a crystal ball that would let me know when and if I can have my baby back!
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Sending lots of good vibes for Dave and hope she makes a complete recovery :hug: :hug:
I am 45-60 mins from my vet so 1 1/2 hrs round trip and used to go and visit Napoleon every single day for a month, it helps cats to have their owner visit. Sometimes had to go twice a day.
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A quick update -
I was told the outcome would probably be bleak on Christmas day. She was comfortable, but they suspected a lot of nerve damage considering the way she'd broken her pelvis. She also had to have her bladder emptied since she wasn't doing it herself still. They had the xrays done, found one serious break in the pelvis with two fractures and a tail pull injury causing more nerve damage. They also suspected she'd smashed part of her spine.
Yesterday we were able to be referred to an orthopedic surgery at Northwest Surgeons in Cheshire. I took her there yesterday and she's very much herself, just restricted by her injuries. They're fitting her with a plate to the break in her pelvis and leaving the rest alone. The part my vet thought she'd smashed is actually a birth defect, so we can leave that alone too. There's now only a slim chance she won't survive (when I was told there was a high probability that she'd have to be put to sleep the day before) and also a slight chance that she will be incontinent. The signs are pretty good, she appears to have knowingly had a wee without any help and may have been moving her tail. I've seen her stand and my surgeon seems to think her reactions are fine. We might need to amputate the tail later.
Best Christmas present I've had this year is knowing she'll probably be okay. At £2500, it's definitely the most expensive, too!!
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Wow, all credit to you Lauryn, and your new vet - brill. Can you find out where the ortho vet practices usually? (my vet is an ortho surgeon and operates a "normal" small animal practise too) as I think he's worth hanging on to if possible.
Topping up the vibes for a very brave Dave, and a very worthy meowmy. Happy Christmas! :hug:
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sending positive vibes to you and Dave :hug:
:get well:
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Second what Sheila said and hope that Dave fully recovers :hug: :hug:
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Thanks! I just did what I hope anyone else would do. Luckily, my insurance will cover this treatment and I was able to let the various vets I've seen do what they needed to do. I'm missing her lots and can't wait to get her home. Her kittens (7 months old this week) are looking for her, too.
She was taken to a vets I don't usually use and I'm pretty sure I'll switch to them after this. I mentioned one of the last times she went missing that she turned up there and they didn't contact me properly. That's one of the reasons I haven't used them, but this has completely made up for it and I can see it was just one of those things.
The surgeon she is with is actually a director of North West Surgeons, so he's based there. From what I've currently experience (emphasis on the fact that Dave has yet to go under the knife!) I'd definitely recommend them. They've been helpful in working out ways to keep me within the budget of my insurance and spent a long time talking me through the operation and the x-rays.
I've spoken to them again since my previous message and Dave's been using her litter tray today so it looks as though she doesn't have the incontinence that has worried me. They thought they might be able to operate today, but she's the third most urgent on their list and since the window for her operation is slightly bigger than most and they're working with a reduced staff, it's not too much of a problem that they haven't been able to do it yet. She'll be in with them either tomorrow morning or afternoon and home for about two weeks of rest with me after the weekend.
http://www.nwsurgeons.co.uk/
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Loads of good wishes for the op and so pleased you have insurance :hug: :hug:
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Very pleased I have insurance, too or I'd have to sell a kidney - and I only have one as it is! ;)
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Pleased to hear Dave seems to be doing OK, fingers crossed the op goes smoothly and she makes a speedy recovery :hug;
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oh my!! :'( :'(
Poor Dave!! :hug: :hug: she's certainly been through the WARs and I am so pleased that her road to recovery, though rocky is starting with positive hurdles climbed :hug: :Luv2:
I was just starting to read about Dave's aggression - and was going to suggest whether she had been hurt (big cause of aggression as the weak are singled out) AND then I read on and the poor thing has been through all this :'( :'(
Nuggie was ran over aged 2. He lost use of his bladder, tail etc. His breathing was laboured and critical. I was caught in a catch 22 as his breathing problems meant he could die under anesthetic, but without it, the broken pelvis, lack of bodily function could also kill him too :'( Anyway - he made a full but slow recovery and the only good thing is that he cant stand traffic, doesnt wander far and sticks to where he knows best. The bad thing was it made him a more nervous cautious cat......
BUT big loves and healing purrs to Dave :Flowers: :Flowers:
xxx :hug: xxxx
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Dave's out of surgery and she's doing well. I'm waiting on a call from the surgeon for more details, but she's been doing everything right. Using the litter tray still, moving about fine (all things considered).
Awful though it sounds and it's been such a difficult time for us, but I'm hoping that she'll be scared of traffic like Nuggie. I'm hoping that her injuries slow her down and that some good can come out of this.
She's such a tough little thing, I know she'll be okay now. Obviously she's been checked out thoroughly, so I'm not sure what the earlier aggression was about. Before all this happened we'd found a pattern for the time being. She was coming home most of the time without problems (this being the exception) and I knew when to keep the others separate from her. She knows that she's the only one allowed upstairs, too.
As far as I know, I have to keep her rested for a fortnight, which means she'll have the spare room. We're not expecting too many complications with healing since only the break in the pelvis was causing her problems. She's playful and has no injuries to her chest or front (bit of a scraped up face, though). I'm desperate to get her home! Just need to get my gerbils out of the spare room, or she really will have a reason to move.
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So ppleased she is doing well after the op and long may that continue :hug: :hug:
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I just had a call from the surgeon to say that she's already ready to be discharged! She can go as soon as tomorrow. I'm leaving for Suffolk on Friday, so they've kindly agreed to keep her until I get back as part of the fee I'm already paying. I won't get the insurance papers for another couple of days and it's a 60 mile journey, so I wouldn't be able to get her anyway, but I'm so happy that she's recovering so well. She's definitely using her tail, too. So amputation seems unlikely. The surgeon's described her recovery as 'remarkable'. :Luv:
I have one tough little cat.
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Well done Dave ;D ;D
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Oh the relief. Go Dave Goooooooooo ;D
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:wooooo: go Dave! :) Will she have to be on cage rest when she comes home?
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Yep! But cage rest is translating to box-room rest on advice from my vet since I don't have a cage. I'm going to clear it out for her over the bank holiday (not that there's a lot in there), because I can't get my hands on her until Wednesday and have a bit of extra time. Not sure I can wait that long!
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When Theo was on "ground level" rest after his cruciate ligament op, I ended up putting a plank as a ramp to the windowsill, he was just so bored he kept trying to jump up there. With the plank at least he could walk up there and down again which gave him an extra dimension to his enclosed world.
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I was thinking about doing something like that as a possibility. I'll have to work something out for her, I think. I'll leave the spare bed in there and put a ramp to both that and the window and take everything else out. Since she's only a little over a year old, she's still pretty frisky. :doh:
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Yep! But cage rest is translating to box-room rest on advice from my vet since I don't have a cage.
A lot of rescues lend out cages for a refundable deposit or small charge. Might be worth checking with any local to you :hug:
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That's a good idea Edd, and lovely to see you back :hug:
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I'd heard that, but with our 200 bank holidays and me being away, it may be hard to arrange. :-:
I'd thought about seeking other alternatives if she's in a terrible old state. They wanted me to keep her on cage-rest for about a fortnight originally, but that was before we'd arranged her to stay with them longer. So it might just turn out to be the final week, since she'll have had the operation over a week before by the time I get her.
Just want her home now. :Luv:
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:wow: go Dave!! She's a real tough cookie, bless her :hug: :hug: and great news about her tail ;D
Great idea from SheilaRose about the ramps! Would certainly drastically reduce further strain should the temptation of the window be too much (cats do love a good nosy :evillaugh: )
Awful though it sounds and it's been such a difficult time for us, but I'm hoping that she'll be scared of traffic like Nuggie. I'm hoping that her injuries slow her down and that some good can come out of this.
I hope so too :hug: :hug: it certainly changed Nuggies perception of the outside world :shy: and if the best you get is an more cautious cat where traffic is concerned you can at least rest easy when she's out :Luv2: :hug:
I didnt even know Nuggie had been ran over until I got him to the vets. He was found, in a very sorry dirty state in a neighbours garden. In an awful lot of pain, even his paws were bleeding :'( - which apparently is common sign of road/impact injury the vet said? :shy:
Thankfully he was at a vets not far and they did visiting times (interesting discussion with the boss on that one LOL) Its such a great feeling getting them home :Luv2: :Luv2: he was then greeted with a swift punch in the face from his brother Tazi :rofl: not sure if it was a "where've you been" or "i thought i'd got rid of you forever, dammit" :rofl: :rofl:
(Also, :shify: do not include, like I did, a dozy relative AKA my Brother :stupid: who - knowing Nuggie was housebound - spotted "Nuggie" on his way to the shop. He scooped up the cat, took it home, fed it, watered it, cuddled and watched TV with it - until the REAL Nuggie hobbled into the living room :rofl: :rofl: He even rang me to ask if I had the right cat!!??!! :rofl: :rofl: ....Goodness knows what this poor random cat thought :shify: :rofl: )
Big Hugs to you & Dave :hug: :hug:
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(Also, :shify: do not include, like I did, a dozy relative AKA my Brother :stupid: who - knowing Nuggie was housebound - spotted "Nuggie" on his way to the shop. He scooped up the cat, took it home, fed it, watered it, cuddled and watched TV with it - until the REAL Nuggie hobbled into the living room :rofl: :rofl: He even rang me to ask if I had the right cat!!??!! :rofl: :rofl: ....Goodness knows what this poor random cat thought :shify: :rofl: )
:rofl: That's tickled me for the day!
Not a lot phases my David Cat, so I'll have to just hope that she's had a personality transplant as well as a metal hip. She spent so much time living outside, so it's really her original owner's fault. She can't help herself. The only time she ever stayed in properly was when she was heavily pregnant. I've never known her to be clingy, but she really was and still is on her own terms. I couldn't so much as leave the room for 2 minutes in the 11 hours of labour she went through. I had to run and get the phone to ask the vet for help at one point and she chased me with one of the kittens half out of her. :doh:
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(Also, :shify: do not include, like I did, a dozy relative AKA my Brother :stupid: who - knowing Nuggie was housebound - spotted "Nuggie" on his way to the shop. He scooped up the cat, took it home, fed it, watered it, cuddled and watched TV with it - until the REAL Nuggie hobbled into the living room :rofl: :rofl: He even rang me to ask if I had the right cat!!??!! :rofl: :rofl: ....Goodness knows what this poor random cat thought :shify: :rofl: )
:rofl: That's tickled me for the day!
For years after the "Random Nuggie Twin Cat" snuck in the cat flap for food stealing!! You'd hear it & Nuggie scrapping through the flap :shocked: I too, was also guilty of trapping it in my house once by locking the flap one night! :shify: I thought my 2 were acting strange the next morning, all fluffed up and walking around like bouncers!! I found the cat hiding, with eyes the size of bin lids about 12hrs after i'd locked the flap - and I only locked it to keep the thing out!! :rofl: :rofl: poor thing must have thought we really were Catnapping Nutters!! :rofl: :rofl:
Aww Bless Her :hug: sounds like my Tazi, much the independant but in times of need, just want their mammy and you may find that during her recovery you'll be clung to as she obviously knows she can rely on you :hug:
I hope this doesnt change her too much, but a fear of cars is a good thing and she may still be an outdoor cat but sticking closer to home and avoiding roads. I hope so!
I must say, roads have always been my biggest fear with my cats (and I've always picked my homes based on this) my Nana lost a few on the roads over the years.
I'm just so pleased shes doing so well :Luv2: shes certainly had you worrying of late!! :hug:
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Davey is home! I was waiting ages in the waiting room and absolutely chomping at the bit to get her. The others have had a mixed response (I haven't let them pull her about, just let them see that she's here) which is mostly 'you smell funny'. Hal hissed at her a bit, but I know that will go. He's always like that. I expected her to be naked, but it's still shocking seeing your kitty furless, isn't it? She's skinny enough with her fur, let alone without it!
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/387325_10150514169312649_516997648_8612651_1845526047_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/397581_10150514163647649_516997648_8612635_1427490147_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/387811_10150514158292649_516997648_8612574_999077432_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/399600_10150514201247649_516997648_8612880_857722926_n.jpg)
As you can see from the bottom one, she's already so desperate to get up on the windowsill that I've had to put her favourite blanket up there. She's also already asked to go out, which is not a good sign. :scared:
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So pleased she is at home and they always look thin without fur and dont think she looks too bad really :hug: :hug:
It looks a very neat job on her scar :hug: and hope it heals quick.
Cats are so amazing in how they get up and around so quick but hope that she doesnt start jumping up and down.
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poor little naked thing! I actually missed all of this, I hope she does decide home is worth staying in for
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Bless her :Luv2: :hug: Hope the home recovery goes OK and she's fighting fit in no time :hug:
P.S If you want to change the title on your own thread you need to edit the title of the first post. If you change it on a later post it's only changed for that one post and then reverts back.
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Aww Bless Her!!!!!! :care: :care:
Certainly looks like nothing keeps her down!! :bike:
and like Gill said it looks like she's going to have a lovely neat scar, well done to the vets they've done a very tidy job (not so much on the hairdressing :evillaugh: )
Welcome Home DAVE!! :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: and stay away from them roads young lady! :smack:
xx
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Thanks for all the support, I'm sure she'll be back out mousing for me before I know it.
She's got quite a comfy little set up in my guest room. I've moved in there for the week, too. My bedroom is too big for her at the moment and there's more furniture in there. She isn't pulling about too much at the moment. She's walking around a bit (who can blame her, she's been away from home for nearly 2 weeks and stuck in a pen), but the jumping is minimal. I've caught her trying and helped her up or down a couple of times. She's using a basket I got when I first had her and she was about to give birth. It's hooded and I got it so that she could have some P and Q from Brian. She didn't use it for a few weeks, but gave birth in it. I suppose it's her place to go when she's feeling a bit vulnerable. Glad she's got somewhere she feels comfortable, anyway.
The scar is going to be quite tidy, yes. There's a bit of a lumpy bit at one end. I suspect she pulled it a few days ago because it looks like what happened to Belle's neuter incision after one of the others got hold of it. She's not in the collar of shame just yet, but I have one on standby.
Thanks for the advice on changing the title, Tiggy's Mum. I kind of knew that, but only change it occasionally out of laziness and because I know it needs changing since it's now totally off topic.
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Nothing is ever simple, is it?
Just got back from the vets. She's got a fairly icky case of cystitis and needed painkillers and antibiotics. Cystitis all over my bed, I should add. :innocent: :doh:
Otherwise, she's moving about alone well. She has a system. It involves staring me out until I lift her up onto the windowsill. :)
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OMG Lauryn I'm so sorry I had completely missed this thread until tonight. I'm so pleased Dave is home and doing well ... she really is a tough little so and so isn't she.
Sending lots and lots of heal quick vibes her way :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:
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aww bless her!! :( hopefully it wont last too long for her :hug:
I like her system :evillaugh: it clearly works well :rofl:
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She's much more comfortable now that her painkillers have done their job. Definitely tough. I've had 9 cats altogether. Never known one quite like her! ;D
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Poor Dave, she's really in the wars isn't she :hug: Hope it clears up quickly for her :care;
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It's just a bit of bruising around her pelvis, they think. That or the stress.
At the moment it's very much a game of who I can let her mix with in the house. She won't have her brother-husband anywhere near her, but the kittens are okay so long as they don't pull her about (which for the most part they aren't). One of the kittens won't go near her, though. He's hissing and growling at me as well as Dave. He has done this before, but it hasn't gone on for as long. He hasn't been apart from any of them for as long as Dave's been gone, though. Feliway doesn't seem to be helping either of them. Any ideas? :-:
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You could try scent swapping, rubbing a cloth over Dave and then rubbing it on the hissing kitten and vice versa to try and get him used to her again.
When my cat spent just one night in the vets his brother was hissing at him for several days afterwards, think it was nearly a week in the end. Riley just ignored it though and kept plonking himself next to his brother and pretended he couldn't see/hear the hissing :evillaugh:
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I'd also try what Tiggy's mum said about scent swapping. (Nice to see Riley was phased by all hissing :evillaugh: :evillaugh: )
When Nuggie arrived home after nearly 2 weeks - Tazi punched him on the head and wasnt impressed by him at all. (it didnt last long)
On the other side of the coin Tazi was very poorly last year with a bad cold and Nuggie constantly hissed and swiped him. Granted he did breathe like Darth Vader - but Nuggie upped his abuse when he came home from the Vets :shy:
Here's a link, might give some tips also (I hope!)
http://cats.about.com/od/amyshojai/a/How-To-Stop-Aggression-After-Vet-Visit.htm
Also on the same site I found this useful insight:
However, the lowest ranking cat (often an older, or ill kitty) can become a target picked on by the other felines. Acting like a victim (slinking around, using submissive body language, hiding) is the equivalent of wearing a "kick me" sign and invites bullies to increase their bluster. Never allow cats to "fight it out" as that rarely settles conflicts but makes matters worse.
Bless her :Luv2: Wont be long before Dave is putting the house back in order :Luv:
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Thanks. I think I'll keep to keeping them separate for the time being while she's still not especially strong and try again in a few days. I have no desire for them to be together, really. It's just that it would be nice for Dave to sit with me while I'm downstairs, but her lack of patience for Brian and Hal's hissing is just not worth it.
Thanks for the site, funkiechicken. I think it's just the smell of her because she's mostly ignoring him. She's not displaying particularly submissive behaviour. Obviously she's limping, half bald and sleeping lots, so that isn't helping.
I'll try the sent swapping and see how we get on. Even in the two days she's been home, I can already see her getting stronger. She's shaking less when putting weight on the leg and walking is clearly easier. Admittedly, she has had painkillers in her system for the last 24 hours, but that aside.
Her bladder trouble seems to have cleared up, too.
Sleep is best...
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/403713_10150518772287649_516997648_8629456_576205475_n.jpg)
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She looks very peaceful there and having a happy dream ;D
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Peaceful = off her face on metacam. ;)
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Metacam induced or not, she certainly looks very cosy :Luv2:
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Aww bless her! I'm sure she's plotting on how to get those kitties back in order once she's fit and well :evillaugh: :evillaugh:
I dont know how factual the site is, but all of them definitely run along the same theme of scent & sensing illness/weakness, so it will at least lead you in the right direction.
Either way she's coming on in leaps and bounds considering the nastiness of her injuries (albeit with the aid of Metacam :sneaky: )
:hug:
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It's strange, really. Because Hal is clearly quite frightened of her. Anyway, I've tried them together since - still hissing, so I'm keeping her apart from him as I caught him just before he made a swipe at her. There's no point jeprodising her recovery. She'll have Malcolm and Belle with her, but that's it. We'll work it out in another week or so, in the meantime, those two are keeping her company and are actually very sweet at giving their mummy love and cuddles.
Speaking of recovery, I had this question:
My vet didn't advise me to change her diet (it wasn't mentioned at all), but would it be a good idea to tweak it slightly in order to help her mend? She's definitely quite hungry, but is picking at foods she once liked, so it's a bit of a challenge.
Otherwise, it's so lovely to see her healing so well. She gets a bit stronger every day. It's been exactly a fortnight since the operation and she's significantly less lame.
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I thinking tweaking of diet is not a good idea unless it helps her to like her food more cos its essentail she eats.
However as she is not expending much energy she is likely to eat less, i think.
Sending loads more good wishes for her recovery :hug: :hug:
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Okay, I wasn't sure if she needed more of something to help her mend. She does seem to be having some toilet trouble this evening, though. So tuna in oil it is, tomorrow! My vet seems to think that will help her a little. I think it's probably partly because she's still got some nerve damage. She's still on antibiotics, but I'm not sure what she's trying for... :-:
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what a lucky little cat she is. Might be worth investing in some Purrfect fencing, to cat proof your garden? www.purrfectfence.co.uk/photo_gallery.asp, its not that expensive to put up, my friend at work has it as she lost her last cat on the roads and the fencing keeps her 2 in safe and well 8)
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I second that - I invested in purrfect cat fencing a couple of years ago after losing Jolie on the road outside our house. It is FAB and I can't tell you what a weight has been lifted off my mind, not having to worry about where they are and whether they're safe.
They still get lots of exercise and fresh air, catch mice and voles (and the occasional rat!) and get to sun themselves under the hydrangea bush. It's great, highly recommended.
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Hi, thanks for your advice. Unfortunately I don't own my house. It's also not really the kind of garden you can put it up in and far too small to confine them in permanently. Dave's the only real problem, to be honest and I'm going to have to play it by ear. The main road (where she was knocked over) is a fair way away, thankfully I'm not right on it. Brian would rather yowl at me when I cross a road than follow and the little (increasingly big) ones won't go near any roads. I've tried to take them for walks on their harnesses and they all shake like leaves and cling to me until I take them back. That's been the same very recently, too. So, touch wood and all that! ;)
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That sounds positive, at least they're scared of the road. So difficult, isn't it? Fingers crossed for no more dramas for you for a while :)
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Yes, definitely positive signs.
I had to go over to my Mum's last weekend and too her with me while the others stayed here to be fed as normal. My Mum hadn't seen her since a few months before the accident and she seems to think she's looking better than ever. I had to point out the scar for her, because she couldn't tell where it was (and it has healed so well) and she's definitely a better weight than she has been since her pregnancy.
She's incredibly mobile. According to the vet, she can start going out in a bout a week or two, but I'm being rather more conservative. She can go out in a years time as far as I'm concerned.
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Sounds very encouraging :)
She's incredibly mobile. According to the vet, she can start going out in a bout a week or two, but I'm being rather more conservative. She can go out in a years time as far as I'm concerned.
:evillaugh: She is officially grounded! :naughty:
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Yep, she'll be fine. Her tail is functioning completely normally again, by the way, so definitely no need for amputation. She's only just started using it fully.
Definitely grounded. :evillaugh:
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Cats are amazing ;D
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Cats are amazing ;D
Arent they just! ;D ;D ;D
excellent recovery in quite a short space of time! She's definitely made of the tough stuff :Luv2: :Luv2:
Good Luck with the grounding :evillaugh: