Could I have some advice about my cat please?

[CrazyCatMum]

He's always struggled with anxiety according to the vet and they have put him on meds to help him as he was pulling his hair out of his back and had managed to pull it out around his neck and top of head. I'm hoping the new meds will help him with that,
The other problem is, is that from 3 O'clock onwards in the morning he is banging, scratching and crying to get into my sons room, this can go on for hours.
We have tried ignoring him, tried offering treats, giving him his breakfast early or I take him into bed with me and try and get him to settle down. He even does it when my sons away to his dad's for a weekend.
He can do this through the day to but not quite as bad.
He's driving me up the wall, feel like I've gone back to having a baby again.
Oh and he will be 2 in July.
Can anyone suggest anything?
Thanks

[cozietoesie]

Do you let him into your son's room?

[cozietoesie]

PS - is he an indoor cat?

[CrazyCatMum]

Yes he's an indoor cat. He very rarely sleeps in there, if he does get in he wants out within 10 mins and is banging, scratching and crying to get out. It's like he thinks he knows what he wants and then when he gets in he realises he doesn't want in there.
He gets plenty of attention through the day, plenty of toys, food, clean litter but come 3 O'clock none of that matters.
I just don't know how to fix this

[hollinhurst84]

What meds is he on? (I have an anxious over grooming cat too!)

[cozietoesie]

How do the family actually play with him - if they do? (Interaction that is as opposed to letting him play with his toys by himself.)

[CrazyCatMum]

The vet tried him on amytriptalin but he wouldn't tolerate it, he's had some steroids but they were causing him to put on lots of weight. He's been tried on nutricalm but although he didn't lose as much hair on them the vet wasn't happy with the progress so he has now started on a herbal mixture that she hopes will help. If it doesn't then she will do blood tests and skin scrapings to chaeck for allergies.

He gets chased about the house, he likes to play hide and seek, he has all the feather and bell toys that get waved about and he jumps and pounces on them.
He plays with foil balls you throw them up the stairs and he rolls them back down the stairs.

When it's sunny he doesn't want to play he just wants to stretch out on the floor and sunbath, gets very avoid when the sun moves and he has to reposition himself (bit like me when I'm on holiday sunbathing and sun moves)!!

He is really fussy with food, he will eat his dried food ok most of the time but the wet food is a hit or a miss, he isn't great at drinking either. His water dish is in the kitchen on the window sill which is where he likes to sit, the taps are left with a small drip.

He never used to be as bad as this but it can't go on with the morning wake ups, I love him to bits, he makes me laugh with the daft things he does but I'm losing the plot over it. The food and over grooming I can live with but not hearing him cry for hours and nothing I do seems to help him.

[SingingMyOwnSpecialSong]

My cat did a similar thing in the early hours and I eventually got him a crate to sleep in, with blankets, food, water, etc. He seemed to settle much better in there and although I only used it for a few months he is still generally fine. Maybe a big soft toy as a substitute mummy would help too.

[hollinhurst84]

Ok. I ask because mine had a steroid injection which seems to be helping break the itch/scratch cycle
The crying has been solved with clomicalm - the branded version is about £40 so don't suggest that! But the generic name is clomipramine (about £4)
Mine was v sleepy on it for the first few days, now he's no different except he doesn't cry at me 24/7. Haven't noticed any personality change at all
I also feed him salmon oil to help his skin

[thecatneuterer]

Wouldn't the simple thing be to leave your son's door open so he can go in and out (or even fit a cat flap to the door)? Or am I missing something?

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

mine certainly don't tolerate closed doors... which is not a problem unless the inlaws are here,....they like to close all the doors. Cats demand to be let in to the closed room almost within nanoseconds of any door being closed.

[CrazyCatMum]

There are only 2 doors in the house that are closed, either at night or if we aren't in and that's the living room door and my sons door.
my son hates his door open through the night, so if the cat gets in then he can't get out.
If the door is open then he crawls all over my son, runs about his room mad, and although he's not crying he's making a different noise constantly.
It's hard trying to work out which is the best out of a bad situation, my son has school and has his exams starting in a weeks time so I need to work out a plan.

When my daughter was at home her door was always shut and it's still shut now and he never bothered about with it and the 2 doors are next to each other it just seems to be my sons door.
The bathroom door is a definite not to shut, no baths or going to the toilet in privacy anymore(like when mine were toddlers)

We think we've figured it out and then he changes the rules, am guessing that's cats for you.

[Lottie999]

My friends cat was very nervous & pulling out her own fur, I guess it's like mental illness & maybe over grooming / OCD etc ( who knows as the kitties can't tell us what's wrong ) anyway my friend tried the Feliway plug in, it's not cheap but it did the trick & kitty is happier & has stopped pulling out her own fur. Vet should be able to give you more info on Feliway .

[lottielou7]

My cat was doing this - banging and scratching, trying to get into my room. She also doesn't like being left by herself in the day. My solution was to get another cat because I have a disabled child who mustn't be disturbed at night. She got used to him very quickly and the night banging has stopped. Although since your cat is anxious perhaps that would be more difficult for you?