OT Consultation: The Undisputed Cat

[Dale]

Yes. Someone should write a tune and call it "The Undisputed Cat." But that's another story.

The Undisputed Cat is 11 years old and named "Memphis." Long-haired. In apparent good health. I'm hoping another cat owner will have some idea of why Memphis has been engaging in very odd behavior for the past week. And before anybody makes any wisecracks about that fact that I'm a mental health professional: I work with PEOPLE.

There's really nothng different going on at the house. No change in the home environment that would account for it.

First, The Undisputed Spouse and I agree that Memphis seems vaguely distressed and anxious. Independently, we both used the word "paranoid," although neither of us have any reason to think that Memphis believes that there are organized packs of dogs outside plotting against her.

But, the most conspicuous behavior we've noted is a rather strong and sudden aversion to being on the ground or on the floor. More than usual, she wants to sit on relatively high pieces of furniture with fairly hard surfaces. She often sits on piece of furniture with a glass top and she's recently taken up residence on top of my computer monitor. The latter strikes me as odd because it's September in Alabama, and that monitor vents heat right on her when she sits there.

When she has to be on the floor, she runs full out to get to her next perch. I even noticed her today sort of lifting her paws and shaking them when she had to walk across the den floor. Weird.

Then the thing that makes me really wonder if Memphis is going nuts: Today she went into the fireplace (not operating, obviously) and tried to GO UP THE CHIMNEY. I've never seen that in 11 years!

Any ideas?

[FJohnSharp]

Ghosts.

[chas]

How long has this been going on? Did you go anywhere for the hurricane, and might the onset of this have coincided with the hurricane? Any change in her grooming habits?

Cats just do odd things sometimes. Our senior cat started picking at his fur a couple of years ago. We figured it was because it was a particularly severe winter, so he wasn't able to go outside much (he cut his teeth on a farm). But when the weather got better, he kept picking. He's had a bare patch about 8 cm on a side on his belly ever since. Vet says he's probably "just a picker." He's overweight and arthritic, so I suspect that's still a pretty good explanation. Plus, he doesn't go out anymore, probably because of his arthritis.

[Dale]

Ghosts.

mayBE.

[Dale]

How long has this been going on? Did you go anywhere for the hurricane, and might the onset of this have coincided with the hurricane? Any change in her grooming habits?

Cats just do odd things sometimes. Our senior cat started picking at his fur a couple of years ago. We figured it was because it was a particularly severe winter, so he wasn't able to go outside much (he cut his teeth on a farm). But when the weather got better, he kept picking. He's had a bare patch about 8 cm on a side on his belly ever since. Vet says he's probably "just a picker." He's overweight and arthritic, so I suspect that's still a pretty good explanation. Plus, he doesn't go out anymore, probably because of his arthritis.

We've just noticed in the last couple of weeks. In time, it certainly coincides with the hurricane, but we had no problem here.

[chas]

Ghosts.

I'm not one who takes much stock in the supernatural or spiritual world, but I HAVE seen a cat interacting with a ghost. It would happen every so often at a friend's house -- we'd see her cat brushing up against something that wasn't there, even chin-marking it, purring offering his chin or ears to be scratched. It happened so often, in so many different parts of the house, and he was acting as though he was interacting with a human to such a great extent, I couldn't come up with any other explanation.

[herbivore12]

Any other changes: increase/decrease in drinking? In urination? Hiding more often?

I ask only because my cat Sasha began behaving weirdly about being in the open or crossing the floor, too, and suddenly began seeking ways out of the house, and having noted this I found some other weird behaviors (drinking more, urinating less, pickier about food). It turned out then that she was entering the final stages of kidney failure (she had a congenital condition that left her with only one, partially-functioning kidney). After the vet made the diagnosis -- blood tests and an ultrasound -- we had to spend a few minutes each evening delivering fluids to her subcutaneously, which helped her a lot, and gave her another two years or so of healthy, active life before her kidney failed completely. Many cats do remarkably well for years with this therapy, though.

I don't mean to be alarmist, by the way, or imply that your cat is suffering from the same condition. It's just that seeking escape, shelter or high places seems often to be indicative of illness in our feline friends.

[Cynth]

I've looked at a number of cat sites, and none describe the symptoms your kitty is having. Trying to go up the chimney sounds like an attempt to hide, I guess, and must show fearfullness---that really sounds pretty awful. For a suddenly fearful cat, for which you can't find a stimulus, they all say you should first take her to the vet---I would try to find a cat specialist---because she could be reacting strangely to a health problem. She sounds very uncomfortable. I have seen paw shaking in cats with wet paws or cats walking on snow. They are not liking it needless to say. The problem is to find the stimulus for her behavior if she is healthy. The only thing I can think of is has there been a subtle change in the sounds in your house? Like new neighbors next door or something like that? Sounds coming in from outside that your cat might think are actually inside? Anyway, the vet might be able to give her some medication if she thinks she is so stressed that she could be harming her health and might have some ideas for you. I will be very interested to hear how things progress, poor little one.

Edited to say that you should get blood tested for kidney function to prevent if possible what herbivore12 is talking about---regardless of this particular situation. If your kitty is 11, she should have kidney function checked.

[Redwolf]

I'm guessing she may have some health problem...something that may or may not be related to her paws. In any case, my first line with any odd behavior in my animals is a visit to the vet. Often health issues cause behavioral changes. Hyperthyroidism is common in older cats, and can cause "paranoid" behavior. I've also seen odd behavior in my dog prior to the onset of a seizure (and, actually, sometimes "petit mal" seizures in animals take the form of weird "wired" behavior). I'd say get on the horn to the animal doc.

Redwolf

[Nanohedron]

Yes, ask a veterinarian. It's possible that escape-type behaviors could suggest trying to get away from something distressing inside. Best of luck.

[jsluder]

I'll add my voice to those saying, "Take her to the vet." A sudden behavioral change in an animal is usually associated with a change in health. Our 19 year old cat developed hyperthyroidism and underwent radioactive iodine treatment recently. Her behavior now is quite different from before the treatment. In fact, it's more like she was several years ago, which leads us to suspect her thyroid problem had been gradually getting worse for quite some time. So, take the Undisputed Cat to the vet for some blood and urine tests.

John

[Joseph E. Smith]

Have you recently shampoo'd or washed the floors with something new (hopefully not Lysol as it is deadly to kitties)?

[Jack]

Sometimes cats are just crazy, sometimes they are sick, and sometimes they are both at the same time. It's the same situation with people.

I'd take her to a vet, and, if nothing is physically wrong, just let her be.

[perrins57]

When she has to be on the floor, she runs full out to get to her next perch. I even noticed her today sort of lifting her paws and shaking them when she had to walk across the den floor. Weird.

Then the thing that makes me really wonder if Memphis is going nuts: Today she went into the fireplace (not operating, obviously) and tried to GO UP THE CHIMNEY. I've never seen that in 11 years!

Any ideas?

ACID!!!!

[buddhu]

Sometimes cats are just crazy, sometimes they are sick, and sometimes they are both at the same time. It's the same situation with people.

I'd take her to a vet, and, if nothing is physically wrong, just let her be.

Yep, I'd go with that. Cats are crazy, but they are so totally brilliant that they have earned the right to be as crazy as they like...

Our cat is not only crazy, but she is also legendary. Behold Morwenna, the legendary, mighty, giant tabby of Kings Walden...


<img src="http://www.kingswalden.com/e107_plugins ... Walden.jpg">