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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Do cats pine for their owners? Not eating

45 replies

3amEternal · 09/08/2016 19:53

We've gone away and mum is house sitting our 2 Burmese. They know her well. One hasn't been eating much and needs encouraging with hand feeding. Otherwise full of beans but is scent marking with his face all the things that are ours. The other cat is fine. I'll get her to take him to vet for check over if doesn't improve. He's the high maintenance/sensitive one of the pair and follows me everywhere. They get on great. I didn't think cats pined for owners though. Any thoughts?

OP posts:

Costacoffeeplease · 09/08/2016 19:59

Yes I think they can

cozietoesie · 09/08/2016 19:59

Bonded Siamese certainly can pine for their Person. I don't know Burmese that well but I think they share some of the same characteristics ?

cozietoesie · 09/08/2016 20:03

PS - but bear in mind that he is eating, albeit not so much/making a big show of how upset he is.

laidbackneko · 09/08/2016 20:03

Yes, Burmese do pine. Mine cries and "looks" for me when I'm away according to DP. And won't leave my side when I'm back. They're quite a dog-like breed in that sense.

Fluffycloudland77 · 09/08/2016 20:04

I think they do.

Mine doesn't because he's a git but others do.

PolterGoose · 09/08/2016 20:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cozietoesie · 09/08/2016 20:23

PS- and does the 'hand feeding' involve little taste treats from the fridge, perchance?

ifcatscouldtalk · 09/08/2016 20:31

Not got a burmese but my current moggy pines for us from what I have been told. Recently on holiday and my sister told me cat was eating but come out eat then straight back under the bed. He is usually very sociable and he was my shadow for a few days when I returned. My previous cat on the other hand couldn't care less.

Original poster

3amEternal · 09/08/2016 21:45

Thanks everyone. They're a very 'dog-like breed' - won't tell them no doubt they would be insulted, talk to us all the time and very much lap cats. DD and I are his people and I guess with both of us away he's going to notice. He got stressed at his neutering and got cystitis so hopefully he won't get too upset. I've ordered him some recovery food to tempt him. She says he's eating just not much. When she hand feeds him the dry he eats more. He's been out and otherwise well and playing. Little bugger. I hope he's not ill..

OP posts:

stoppingcontact · 09/08/2016 21:52

When I went away to university (many years ago), the old family cat got so sad that she pined away and died. I have never over the guilt! I was the only one in family who truly loved her.

Your cat will get over this, I think. You are aware of the situation and doing everything you can.

stoppingcontact · 09/08/2016 21:53

And you will be back very soon.

Original poster

3amEternal · 10/08/2016 11:06

Wasn't pining...
Refused his breakfast again.
Spoke to Mum who tried him with some 'old' tins I had left over (I swapped him onto Royal Canin as kittens as their guts were better with it).
Of course he wolfed down a tin of Applaws and a third of a tin of OmNomNom...
Was a food strike.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 10/08/2016 11:20

The blighter's been trying it on. Your Mum is likely seen by him as a 'soft touch'.

Original poster

3amEternal · 10/08/2016 13:12

Isn't that the truth cozie? Apparently last night he was laying on her lap while she worriedly hand fed him. Little sod

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 10/08/2016 13:16

It's just that I've known pining Siamese and they certainly don't bounce around, full of the joys of Spring, and merely refuse food. They're just little bundles of misery, all cloaked in an 'Oh death, where is thy sting?'. Your lad doesn't sound like that.

Wolfiefan · 10/08/2016 13:22

We had Burmese when I was growing up. I went away. "My" cat sat outside my bedroom door yowling and trying to rip up the carpet to get in!!

cozietoesie · 10/08/2016 14:00

He wanted you badly.

When Seniorboy's first Person died, he hid himself somewhere in the house - we never did confirm exactly where, it being an old and roomy place - for close on a month. We just put out food and a tray every night and left him to it. Eventually, he decided to come out, re-bond (with me) and to rejoin the family.

They're different cats right enough, but lying on the mother's lap allowing the odd morsel to be fed to him ('Yes - I might just be able to manage a prawn or two' ) sounds like a bit of a chancer to me.

iloveeverykindofcat · 10/08/2016 17:44

hahaha. Smart cat.
I'm on holiday at the moment. The sitter, who they just met, has sent me two batches of pictures - in the first they're both facedown in their foodbowls, the second chilling in the garden and being fussed. I expected this from Bibi, but I thought Zara was my cat!

cozietoesie · 10/08/2016 18:12

Oh you'll receive The Sulk when you get back. Zara won't waste that opportunity.

Fluffycloudland77 · 10/08/2016 18:56

You should be proud of her coping skills ilove

Lillagroda · 10/08/2016 18:58

Oh they do. I have an over attached cat - and one who couldn't care less - I am on hols at the moment and I know she will not let me out of her sight when I get home. And will shout at me. Lots. For a good two days.

Apparently she's very unsettled whenever I am away overnight for work. Won't go to sleep, wanders around looking for me. It's nice to be wanted

Hs2Issue · 10/08/2016 19:16

We have an Asian/Burmese cross. I went away for work for a week when she was about a year old - she got stressed and pulled out her own fur. Nowadays at 15 she seems far less stressed.

YesItsMeIDontCare · 10/08/2016 19:23

Sounds like my old cat. We went away, DP (who I didn't live with at the time) moved in to look after him. Several upset phone calls later about him not eating I found out he'd been given fresh fish on the first night! DP has since learnt his lesson. Sort of.

cozietoesie · 10/08/2016 19:38

The sad thing is that if I were in the situation of 3am's mother, I'd probably be doing exactly the same!

iloveeverykindofcat · 10/08/2016 19:42

Fluffy and Cozie - I go back Friday. I got an early start on my grovelling today by buying them a canvas play cube and a new fur-lined tunnell

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