Stressed cat?

[firespirit]

So my vet thinks my cat might have colitis which would be a reason for some of her accidents on the floor. They gave her some anitbiotics to reduce inflammation to see if that helped. First, it is apparently very horrible tasting and it was a not fun experience to give it to her, so I'd like to avoid that if possible. Second, I'm not all that conviced it worked.

In looking online I do think the vet is probably right, but I don't think the reason is medical and can be treated with antibiotics. We came home to a bunch of accidents over the weekend (always just outside the litter box) I think it's because she is stressed.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to de-stress a cat? She's always been a bit nervous but I think the problem is just getting worse as she gets older. I started reading about Comfort Zone with Feliway and it doesn't say it's specifically for stressed out cats but some people have said it has helped their cat. Any cat owners here try it? Or have stressed cats and found something that worked?

[PGDesigns]

While accidents are often physically-related, they can also be caused by stress as you said.

I don't own cats, but I know many people who have had great results with the Comfort Zone for stressed pets (mostly cats). Do you have any ideas on specific things that may be stressing her out?

[firespirit]

While accidents are often physically-related, they can also be caused by stress as you said.

I don't own cats, but I know many people who have had great results with the Comfort Zone for stressed pets (mostly cats). Do you have any ideas on specific things that may be stressing her out?

Well, they just started construction recently on the docks next to our house and took them away, so the house moves a lot more when boats go by(floating home). Plus, we did get a second cat a year ago so it could be longer term stress that built up after we got her.

But I'd almost bet this past weekend was because we we're gone, the house was probably moving a lot and our neighbors probably had people over for thanksgiving, so a lot of noises and momvement she isn't used to and we weren't there.

[ger]

Oh, my...this is too strange! We took Bella, our German Shorthair, to the vet today because she got sick over the weekend while we were gone. My daughter was watching her and she made huge messes all over our living room and dining room. She hasn't eaten since Wednesday. She pants like she's hot and shivers at the same time. AND, she got me up 3 times last night to go outside!!

Well, the vet thinks she is stressed. I don't buy it. She hasn't gotten any better since we've been home. She gave us some special (read expensive) food for her to see if we can't get her stomach under control. I guess we'll have to see.

[firespirit]

She pants like she's hot and shivers at the same time. AND, she got me up 3 times last night to go outside!!

Awww poor baby! She sounds a lot worse off than mine. I'm not sure I would buy stress in that case either.

Chewie at least got a little better when we got home, no new messes yet and her stool is getting firmer, so that's why I'm thinking stress and it just got really bad over the weekend.

[WebLady]

We had a bout with what we think was colitis a few months back. Colitis is an inflammation of the intestines that causes diarrhea and such. You can't know for sure if that is what it is without a biopsy of the colon.

This sort of thing can be caused by stress (strangers in the house over the holidays?), sudden change in diet, something ingested that didn't sit well with them (certain foods and/or treats, grass, etc), and so on.

The worst of it is diarrhea for a few days or more, sometimes with mucus and/or blood in the stool, listlessness and even vomiting and dehydration. It can be viral or bacterial, it can just pop up once or can be a long term/cronic problem too.

Here is more info - http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/colitis.html

I learned is that colitis is a general term often used to describe many different aliments having to do with "upset tummy"

We were given an anti-inflamitory and antibotic. We were also told to keep the dogs on a bland diet for a while. After a couple of weeks and two rounds of meds, we seem to be back to normal. But we have had some signs come and go since, so we have altered their diet now.

If you are sure that stress is the cause, you should keep the cat inside and safe and away from strangers or other animals if this is sort of thing bothers her. If it is something else, there are some herbs and wraps and such you could try, or you can ask your vet about other options.

Good luck; hope your kitty feels better soon!

ETA - Maybe you can leave her with a friend that she likes if you can't be home for a while. Or maybe get her a special place (a crate sometimes works with dogs) that she can go to hide and feel safe.

:goodluck:

[ger]

I'm glad your kitty is feeling better. That is soo awful to have to clean up those messes. Darcy did it over the weekend while we were gone. Thankfully we don't have carpeting...that would have been totally gross!!

[firespirit]

Weblady, thanks.

Looking at timeline and her history I would be surprised if it wasn't stress. She's an indoor cat and we don't keep a whole lot around for her to get into, no plants in the house, etc. (because she does tend to chew on things, hence her name...).

Do you happen to know the name of any of those herbs or wraps?

I'm looking for other things that could be wrong, but if I'm right about her stress factors they are pretty hard to control (since I can't tell the construction people to quiet down and yell at everyone that drives their boat by too fast).

I'd love to have someone come and spend time with her when we aren't there, but she doesn't trust anyone but me and Ryan. So unless I can get her to be comfortable while we are gone I'll have to board her when we are on vacation, which I really don't want to do because she's already so nervous I'm afraid that would just be torture to her.

[WebLady]

Weblady, thanks.

Looking at timeline and her history I would be surprised if it wasn't stress. She's an indoor cat and we don't keep a whole lot around for her to get into, no plants in the house, etc. (because she does tend to chew on things, hence her name...).

Do you happen to know the name of any of those herbs or wraps?

I haven't used any thing like this for my dogs, but I hear good things about them. Here are a couple of websites I found for you ~

http://www.anxietywrap.com/

http://shop.robbinspetcare.com/cats/calmcat.html

I'm looking for other things that could be wrong, but if I'm right about her stress factors they are pretty hard to control (since I can't tell the construction people to quiet down and yell at everyone that drives their boat by too fast).

I'd love to have someone come and spend time with her when we aren't there, but she doesn't trust anyone but me and Ryan. So unless I can get her to be comfortable while we are gone I'll have to board her when we are on vacation, which I really don't want to do because she's already so nervous I'm afraid that would just be torture to her.
Yeah if she doesn't like other people then boarding would be bad.

I would try some of that herbal stuff and maybe get some sort of covered bed/cave like or crate that she can go to hide and feel safe in. If she is not use to such a thing it may take some time to get use to it.

:goodluck:

[KMS]

My old kitty was having problems like that a few years ago. She would throw up quite frequently and make messes just outside of her litter box. We took her to the vet and he gave her meds. She did not like them and it was horrible to get her to take them. After the meds, we started giving her food that was made for cat's with troubled digestive systems. That's what has seemed to work. She seldom gets sick now.

[StJohnBride]

I'm sorry to hear that. My cat gets stress-induced eye infections. (The vet said it's a virus that she always has, but it acts up and makes her eyes ooze and we have to put cream on the eyeball when she's stressed..TMI!)

Anyway, for us, we just spend more time with her. We turn the tv, radio, etc. off and make sure that we don't have visitors. It goes away within a few days.

There's also a plug-in thing they say is good - but it's pricey at $28.