Author Topic: Please help - my cat is self-harming  (Read 4609 times)

Offline MessaCats

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Re: Please help - my cat is self-harming
« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2023, 09:41:27 AM »
Thank you Sam.
I am in the office now.
I will reply as soon as I can.
Take care and many thanks,

MessaCats

Offline Sam (Fussy_Furball)

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Re: Please help - my cat is self-harming
« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2023, 08:40:35 AM »
Hi Meesa,

I have sent you a message :)
In ancient times cats were worshiped as gods; they have not forgotten this.

Offline MessaCats

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Re: Please help - my cat is self-harming
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2023, 09:24:41 AM »
Hi Sam, thank you for your answer.
No not really. I cannot afford to have Sophie in "therapy". We already spent so many resources on her and an animal behaviourist would be an impossible stretch for us.

Since yesterday I tried to hold her in my arms and carry her along with me wherever I move around in the house, to make her feel closer to me. But she claws in on everything she touches so it's not an easy task as well.
I just noticed she is trying to slice up also the new calming vest (she has since last Friday). I am afraid it won't last long and in the 15 days I will have to order another one. Endless story.
Thank you for your advice.
Have a good day.
MessaCats

Offline Sam (Fussy_Furball)

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Re: Please help - my cat is self-harming
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2023, 09:14:17 AM »
Hi  :welcome:

I'm so sorry to hear about Sophie and her condition. I'm afraid I have no advice :(  Have you tried speaking to an animal behavourist?
In ancient times cats were worshiped as gods; they have not forgotten this.

Offline MessaCats

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Please help - my cat is self-harming
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2023, 00:19:20 AM »
Hi everyone,
we are a family of 6 humans of different ages and 3 cats. All our cats have been rescued.
The first cat, Misty, 16 y/o, 3 years ago decided to take a long vacation away from us as she thought there were too many proletarian felines in the household and, as she considered herself Royalty (who knows why), she decided to temporarily leave our house and get spoiled by all our neighbours. We miss her dearly, but she doesn't, apparently.
The two other cats are Stella and Sophie. Both females, both 8y/o, have very different temperaments. Stella doesn't have a worry in the world and adores my GrandDaughter (7 years and 10 months). Stella has assumed that she is my GD's babysitter and her guardian angel. Her total devotion is recompensed by my GD's adoration towards her.

Sophie is our serious, clinical case. We adopted her when she was 3 months old, from a family who kept her locked in a room, alone, without anyone getting close to her as, apparently, they were afraid of her.
She is the most harmless cat that anyone can imagine and she is small in size.
She is a very anxious cat and she has periods when she is "sort-of-quiet" and others when she self-harms. After years of trying every spray, tablet, ambience diffuser on the market, I resorted to keeping her sleeping pillow next to me on my bed, next to my head and pillow, to help her relax. From time she used to wear the calming. For over a year, the experiment worked perfectly but now she is again slicing herself open. As she back wearing the calming vest (to stop her from scratching on her shoulder blades/back), she manages to self-harm inside her ear, under her throat and wherever she can reach with her paws.
Our Vet (better say Vets as we tried more than one), have no clue on how to stop her from injuring herself. She is a quiet cat, always with me and she is very happy when she is with me. I work from home so she stays with me most of the time, although sometimes I have to go out for shopping or errands.
Sophie doesn't want to have anything to do with Stella. Or, previously, with Misty. When Stella gets closer to her or tries any friendly approach, Sophie hisses and tries to attack her.

I am extremely worried. In fact, I am scared, that she could cause herself too many injuries and die of a related infection's illness.
Is there anyone who went through the same terrible experience and found a miraculous way out?
Extremely grateful for your help and advice.
Thank you for reading my long message.
MessaCats


 


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