So I have 2 cats who I love dearly. They are rescues. One is very confident and friendly, the other is very friendly (on his terms) but he needs time and before that is incredibly timid. We’ll call them friendly cat and timid cat for the purpose of this post. TC is very much FC shadow for the majority of the time. They are rarely separate and love to snuggle.
Today a dreadful incident happened. I opened my window to let some air in and there was a huge gust of wind which slammed the door shut and caught FCs tail. It was bleeding and I could see some gory stuff so we rushed him to the emergency vets. He had to have stitches as thank heavens it wasn’t broken but he isn’t coping great. He is having to wear a cone and is still a bit dodgy from anaesthetic for stitches.
DD has a mid sleeper and is away with her dad for the weekend so I’ve set FC up the cosiest bed I can under her bed and while he’s not his usual self he seems relatively comfortable. TC however is beside himself. He has spent the whole evening sitting outside DDs bedroom pacing the floor and crying. But every time I try to encourage him in he takes one look at FC and he legs it. It’s like he’s lost all his confidence. If I stroke him he tenses up and walks away. It’s like he’s the same cat he was when he arrived from the rescue? FC was feeling a bit better so I tried to encourage him out to see TC and TC just ran away. FC went back into his little den and is fast asleep but TC will not leave even for food or water. When FC sees him he looks pleased but then TC just legs it. Obviously I’m heartbroken already at my poorly boy but also heartbroken that it seems to be affecting his brother so much!!!