Cat stress 😞

[Claire W]

Some members may already be aware that we have 3 cats, Austin and Morris are 5 and a half and came as a pair as although not related, they were brought up together from baby kittens and Harrison is nearly 16.

Austin and Morris are indoor cats and Harrison goes out due to Austin having pica syndrome and eating everything in sight so we’ve never dared let him out but that’s a different story

Up until the summer of 2022, they got on relatively well and all slept together in the kitchen at night but all that changed the year before last when we had our then 4 year old nephew and then 14 year old niece stay for a week over the summer holiday. Our usually quiet house (there’s just the two of us and we do not have children) was suddenly very loud and chaotic and Harrison wouldn’t come in although he’s always been a cat to stay out more during the summer months

There was suddenly a lot of bad blood should we say between Harrison and Austin especially who would growl and hiss at each other and Austin would swat at Harrison whenever they saw each other When inside, Harrison would spend most of his time upstairs in our spare bedroom. We then started letting Harrison have free roam of the house over night as he started to poo all over the kitchen and wasn’t happy sharing with Austin and Morris

Harrison had a thyroidectomy at the beginning of January 2023 after being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and we had to keep him indoors for quite some time while he recovered. He wasn’t happy but him and Austin stayed out of each others way and we coped.

Things had been ok for the past couple of months and Harrison started spending more time downstairs in a doughnut bed we bought him and all 3 cats would even snuggle together although there was still some hissing and growling but we could go out and leave them all in bed together although not overnight

Things have spieled again and Harrison and Austin had a proper fight last Tuesday Harrison will come in but it takes some coaxing and he’s only happy if he’s in his doughnut bed but we do not dare go out and leave them in together unless we shut Austin and Morris in the kitchen and I’m on tenterhooks when they’re all in together and Chris (my husband) is at work

I can’t cope with the stress anymore and really wish we didn’t have them Chris says they’re just being cats and it’s mainly handbags and looks worse than it is but he wasn’t here when Austin and Harrison had the fight and I’m so scared it’s going to happen again and one or more of them will get seriously hurt

My mum house and cats sits when we go away for a few days and she’s due to stay for 4 days at the end of this month but I’m so scared about leaving her here with the cats while we’re away even though she says she knows what she’s doing and will be fine

I don’t know what to do anymore

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry you are going through this stress with your cats Claire. I don’t have any advice really. Would a chat to the vets help?

My sisters dog had behavioural issues and he was put on anti depressants. He was a much happier calmer dog after that. He was a rescue so had a rough start.

I hope you can find a solution to their issues. Hugs

 

[eileen]

I'm sorry this is happening.it maybe worth ringing cats protection to see if they can give any advise.also i would get them vet checked to ensure there is no illnesses underlying.give them one of everything,especially litter trays.if one goes outside could you provide an outside shelter so he can go out under cover when the tensions are high.Cat behaviourist maybe able to help,and sometimes you can get that covered on some cat insurance polcies.
ive just got one cat,shes undergoing chemotherapy treatment.ive thought of getting another cat,but i feel i will wait until Katie departs.
you could put one cat in a cattery whilst your away,if you think its too worrying to leave all 3 cats.

 

[Claire W]

I’m so sorry you are going through this stress with your cats Claire. I don’t have any advice really. Would a chat to the vets help?

My sisters dog had behavioural issues and he was put on anti depressants. He was a much happier calmer dog after that. He was a rescue so had a rough start.

I hope you can find a solution to their issues. Hugs

Thank you. If you do not mind me asking, what kind of behavioural issues did your sisters dog have? Austin had a rough start due to being separated from his mum and being abandoned on the streets at a very young age hence the pica syndrome Him and Morris are at the vets on Monday so I’ll have a word with the vet then x

 

[Claire W]

I'm sorry this is happening.it maybe worth ringing cats protection to see if they can give any advise.also i would get them vet checked to ensure there is no illnesses underlying.give them one of everything,especially litter trays.if one goes outside could you provide an outside shelter so he can go out under cover when the tensions are high.Cat behaviourist maybe able to help,and sometimes you can get that covered on some cat insurance polcies.
ive just got one cat,shes undergoing chemotherapy treatment.ive thought of getting another cat,but i feel i will wait until Katie departs.
you could put one cat in a cattery whilst your away,if you think its too worrying to leave all 3 cats.

Thank you, it’s so stressful Harrison was last vet checked in November and Austin and Morris are at the vets on Monday. Harrison does have a cat house outside and we open the summer house for him during the nicer weather. Sadly my insurance doesn’t cover behavioural problems I really wish sometimes that we’d just stuck with Harrison after Dexter died, I just do not understand how Austin and Harrison have gone from relatively getting on to hating each other

I’ve been following your thread on Katie, bless her x

 

[weepweeps]

Thank you. If you do not mind me asking, what kind of behavioural issues did your sisters dog have? Austin had a rough start due to being separated from his mum and being abandoned on the streets at a very young age hence the pica syndrome Him and Morris are at the vets on Monday so I’ll have a word with the vet then x

He was a year old and he would bite people and other animals because of anxiety. He hated children. Hated being at the vets or groomers. Was naughty on walks. He really was awful.

He’s maybe 15 now. She has two children which would have been impossible if he wasn’t on the medication.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Feel for you, that must be so stressful! I’m sorry I have no answers Claire

 

[jayne]

They are just cats ! It was probably the kids that upset there system you can buy out pets at home etc a cat calmer thing to see if that helps !