Cat Behaviourists

[oldwomaninashoe]

Has anyone here got any experience, consulted one, or knows anyone who has consulted one?
Do you go through your vets?
Are they expensive and are they effective and useful.

We have a cat with all sorts of problems but are unsure we are tackling it correctly, and could do with some advice and guidance.

No experience, I'm afraid - but what sort of problems?

I was given one of Vicky Hall's books when I first acquired my cats, it's very good and I'd recommend them.

If you want to discuss it here, there's some very wise people around who might be able make suggestions?

Both my local vets have a vet nurse trained as a cat behaviourist. So try calling the vet first. They were free.

The one I saw was v good but I have to say our problem isn't solved unfortunately.

Vicky Hall was a major contributor to the behaviour part on this website [www.fabcats.org] . I would start here first.

Have read all the Vicky Hall books plus some more!

We have had Fergus for 6 months now. He came from the cat protection league and had been rescued as one of six cats that had been "locked out" of a house when the "owners" moved out. All six cats were fending for themselves and food was being left by concerned neighbours, who also contacted the RSPCA and Cats Protection when it appeared two of the cats seemed "sick".

One of the two had to be put down the other was Fergus who was 60% bald due to a flea allergy and over grooming when anxious.

He was in a "pen" in a CPL's carers house for 5 months then came to us (still bald). He is a lovely natured cat and is a handsome ginger fellow now his fur has grown, however he is a bag of nerves, (yes we use Feliway and herbal calmers) but 6 months on he still prefers to live upstairs alternating his time between one bedroom and the bathroom and refuses to come down the stairs, and shows no sign of ever wanting to go outside!

Any suggestions?

The vet says give him bags of time for his confidence to grow.......

Does it matter if he doesn't go outside?

It sounds like Fergus has had a really hard time in the past, so it's no wonder if it takes him a long time to get over it. I think your vet is probably right that after all that, it will take time for his confidence to grow. If it's not causing you any problems, then I wouldn't try to force it.

He will probably come downstairs one day when he thinks you won't notice. You could try encouraging it by leaving a nice treat out for him, first of all on the landing, and then close to the top of the stairs, then on the top stair ... etc.

Well done on settling him in so well after all he's been through.

The last time he went out he was shut out for good so that is probably why he wont leave the house poor thing. Also if he was in a pen then he probably felt secure in there which is probably why he likes just a bedroom or small bathroom.

Two of my rescue cats was shut in one for 9 months from birth and one for 3 days with a puppy in a shed both are terrified of small spaces and rarely stay in so they are doing the opposite.

One of them has died now at a ripe old age but the one that was shut in from birth and beaten with sticks will only now plop half his bum on my lap and the other half on the arm of the chair and that has been 7 years of coaxing!

It takes a lot of time for a cat to put trust in people as they never forget.