raindancer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,095 
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Post by raindancer on Jul 23, 2014 2:23:09 GMT
Our cat is 17 and loves my dh. Whenever my husband leaves on business (a few times a year) he becomes very distressed. He has spent the past five nights wandering the house yowling loudly all.night.long. I'm exhausted and he is a disaster. He also stopped bathing. (He is eating/drinking and using the litter box)
I am just plain over it but also I feel trapped. It's not like I can lock him in another room or something. He's an old man who wants things to be normal, and this is not normal.
I'm an old lady who wants some beauty sleep because I can't keep living on coffee.
Any suggestions?
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Post by Ryann on Jul 23, 2014 2:26:29 GMT
No suggestions from me, but I feel for you and your old man cat and hope someone is able to help.  |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 5, 2024 13:15:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2014 2:28:45 GMT
Is there a piece of clothing that your DH wore that you could put out in your cat's favorite spot? Or maybe even you wearing a shirt your DH wore and then you trying to pick up the cat to comfort him?
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Post by miss_lizzie on Jul 23, 2014 2:30:54 GMT
In the future, perhaps your DH could wear a T-shirt for a few days before leaving to make it smell like him and place it somewhere your cat likes. That calmed my cat when I was gone. Extra attention also helped.
Eta: Does kitty have a food/treat that he loves but never gets? If so, maybe he could get it from you when DH is gone.
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Post by melrose on Jul 23, 2014 2:30:55 GMT
Is there a piece of clothing that your DH wore that you could put out in your cat's favorite spot? Or maybe even you wearing a shirt your DH wore and then you trying to pick up the cat to comfort him? Ditto GaJenny's suggestion. Poor kitty..... |
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MaryC
Full Member
Posts: 213
Jun 25, 2014 21:52:55 GMT
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Post by MaryC on Jul 23, 2014 2:54:32 GMT
It may sound silly, but can you call your DH and put him on speakerphone? That's what I do with our kitty who is super attached to me, and hearing my voice seems to call her down even if I'm not physically around. Also try giving the cat a piece of DH's clothing to scent. If you have any catnip you can give him tonight - sometimes that will help calm a distressed kitty. A Feliway diffuser or spray will also help.
I would call the vet tomorrow and ask about short-term anti-anxiety for the cat for when your DH has to travel. We have an older cat who gets very stressed by any changes in her surrounding, and we have to give her anxiety meds to get through the 4th of July noise.
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raindancer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,095
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Post by raindancer on Jul 23, 2014 3:01:13 GMT
He normally calls but this trip has been difficult to connect with the hours. I will try the shirt thing next time, I am all caught up on laundry but maybe I will take his pillow case off the pillow and put it where my cat sleeps to help this trip. I also never thought about meds and the vet! That is seriously something I wish if thought of! I will contact her in the morning and see if she can help. Thank you everyone. It's so stressful for everyone!
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Post by Skellinton on Jul 23, 2014 3:18:04 GMT
There is a drop called rescue remedy we used to give one of our cats when my husband went out of town and he didn't love me ( he has decided he loves me now though, only took 7 years of me being the one passing out cookies and special wet food dinners!!!) and that worked really well. Without it he would walk around the house and cry piteously at bed time, broke my heart!!!!
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raindancer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,095
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Post by raindancer on Jul 23, 2014 4:50:04 GMT
There is a drop called rescue remedy we used to give one of our cats when my husband went out of town and he didn't love me ( he has decided he loves me now though, only took 7 years of me being the one passing out cookies and special wet food dinners!!!) and that worked really well. Without it he would walk around the house and cry piteously at bed time, broke my heart!!!! Is that something you can just order or is it prescription? Also right now he is laying on me and I really need to use the bathroom but he is outing and content for the first time in days so I'm trying to not move! The crazy things we do for our pets huh? I have never been liked, except last summer I can home in the middle of the day and found him sick and lethargic. I rushed him to the vet and for three days he was on IV fluids and antibiotics. But he knew I think, that I saved him and for about three months he loved me. Short lives but it was nice that he appreciated my efforts. He won't eat cat treats or wet food, just the same exact kibble as always. So no bribery here! Bummer. |
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Post by katlaw on Jul 23, 2014 4:59:47 GMT
You can try a thunder shirt. I have not had to try one for my cats but I know someone who said the shirt worked miracles for her dog. He would have anxiety attacks. We have them at our local pet store so you may be able to find one at yours and try it out. Thundershirt for Cat Anxiety |
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