Suddenly very nervous

[shellybean]

I’ve already taken her to the vet and had blood, urine, fecal, heart and the whole nine yards done…but everything came back perfect! The only think the vet can think of is if something really scared her and she’s weary of leaving the dining room. I did come home from work Saturday and she did have quite a few scrapes around her head and neck…we had new furniture delivered the day before so maybe she was exploring inside of it and got stuck and scared some how?? Or maybe she was hunting a mouse (we are dealing with a couple living in our basement ceiling right now) and got herself in a tricky spot and got stuck?? I have no idea what could have happened!

Since last Sunday Ting has been very quiet and doesn’t want to leave the dining room dog bed. She’s been distancing herself from my bf and I and both dogs and doesn’t have any desire to be by us. She doesn’t really use the cat trees, exercise wheel, sit in the window sills…cuddle with any of us. She hasn’t even been getting into any trouble…knocking things over and throwing our mail on the floor like usual. It’s heart breaking. She’s alert and I can coax her out with treats but once they are gone shes goes sprinting back to the dining room dog bed. I’ll sit and lay on the floor next to her and give her head smooches and chin scratches and she loves it but refuses to leave that dog bed other than to eat, drink, litter box, and treats.

What do I do?? I miss my social little girl

 

[Toa and Ross]

Could very well be somethinh scared her and now she is afraid. Is she more afraid of the dogs? Or only to leave the room? You could try to give her treats and speak soflty to hear when taking her or letting her walk to another room. Try it everyday a few times. Make it a great experience with lots of attention, treats and playtime so she forgets she was scared.
Oh and can it be the new forniture smells to other cats or dogs? Maybe that makes her afraid.

 

[shellybean]

Thanks for your reply!

She’s not afraid of the dogs at all thankfully. They all get along really well and usually play every night. She seems to be nervous of leaving that room. She will do it but is on high alert when she does.

I bought her another cat tree (she has 3 now lol) so she has one in the living room too. But she came to investigate for a minute or two, scratched the posts, then went back to the dining room dog bed. One of her cat trees is next to it but she chooses the dog bed on the floor.

It hurts my heart not knowing what’s wrong or how to help We bring home our new kitten in 3 weeks so if she’s not out of this funk by then maybe her new play mate will help distract her.

I’ll keep talking to her and coaxing her with treats and hopefully it’ll help!

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Try the warm blanket out of the dryer trick. Swaddle her and walk around the house so she can feel your comfort and look at you as the safe zone. @shellybean

 

[shellybean]

Try the warm blanket out of the dryer trick. Swaddle her and walk around the house so she can feel your comfort and look at you as the safe zone. @shellybean

That’s a good idea. I’ll give that a try. She’s not a fan of being carried or held unless it’s her idea but I’ll give it a try!

My bf and I have been trying to think of things that have changed in the last week to try and eliminate them one by one and see if that makes a difference (air fresheners, new fabric softener etc).

Would it be evil of me to move that dog bed that she won’t leave to the living room?

 

[shellybean]

I wonder if a Feliway plug in would help her relax? Has anyone used one?

 

[Catzzzmeow]

@shellybean how is it going? Feliway diffusers have been helpful to some, but it can take a few days. You can perhaps try Feliway spray on her blankets. At our vet they always offer a towel sprayed in Feliway to all patients which is a nice touch.

 

[angela1974]

I would try moving the bed like they said.. That's a good idea. I'm so sorry this is happening. I would be freaking out too!

 

[shellybean]

@shellybean how is it going? Feliway diffusers have been helpful to some, but it can take a few days. You can perhaps try Feliway spray on her blankets. At our vet they always offer a towel sprayed in Feliway to all patients which is a nice touch.

I just bought a plug in online but I’m going to look for the spray too. I never knew about that!

She has been coming to the living room when I shake her treat container. And I’ve been leaving some pieces of treats on each level of her cat tree out here too so I’ve seen her check a couple times a day for more treats. She’ll hang out in the living room and sit on the tv stand and watch everything…I’ve tried to play with her wand toys and she’s not super interested, but then again she’s always been more treat motivated.

She did randomly hop up on my lap while on the couch and dug at me to lift the blanket to go in but she stood there staring under but wouldn’t go lay down so she isn’t 100% comfortable yet. But she’s made some progress.

I also moved the bed to the living room and it took her a couple hours but she did come in here and eventually burrow in her favorite blanket on the bed.

 

[shellybean]

I would try moving the bed like they said.. That's a good idea. I'm so sorry this is happening. I would be freaking out too!

I ended up moving it and after a few hours she finally came to the living room and burrowed in her favorite blanket on the bed. She’s still acting off but it’s a step in the right direction!! She has me stressed out for sure.

My bf just keeps joking that I just need to ignore her and then she’ll want my attention again bc I’m annoying her right now being a helicopter mom

 

[pussiette]

Warm blanket for the dryer or a heat pack helps be careful of temperature.

 

[angela1974]

I ended up moving it and after a few hours she finally came to the living room and burrowed in her favorite blanket on the bed. She’s still acting off but it’s a step in the right direction!! She has me stressed out for sure.

My bf just keeps joking that I just need to ignore her and then she’ll want my attention again bc I’m annoying her right now being a helicopter mom

My boyfriend says the same thing! It does work but I hate ignoring her. I always feel so bad!

 

[Sheldon13]

It sounds to me like maybe she might not be feeling well. That could be due to stressors, pain, neurological, all kinds of causes. When my previous girl stopped acting like herself it turned out she had feline hyperesthesia. I took her in for an evaluation with a neurologist and once she was on the right meds she was herself again. Have you had her evaluated by the vet?


Love and Sphynx ~ It’s all you need