Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The litter tray

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

What to do about stressed cat?

12 replies

justpoppy · 20/09/2020 21:13

Apologies in advance - this could be long! Me and my son (15) rescued a beautiful ragdoll boy over a year ago now. He was apparently being bullied by the two dogs and the other cat that the family had and took a while to settle at ours but was fine after a few weeks. One thing he never got quite right was his toilet habits. Indoor cat with litter tray which he’d wee in but poo just outside of which was annoying, but as his litter tray was in a little used downstairs bathroom with a tiled floor, it wasn’t the end of the world.

Three weeks ago me and my DP of five years moved into our home we’ve bought together. DP has a very very elderly male cat who we carefully introduced to my DC to mainly ambivalence on both sides - the younger cat hissed a bit initially but now they just ignore each other.

Since being at the new house my DC has done all his toileting in the litter tray - happy days! He also seemed to settle down quite quickly and seemed happy and content.

Last few days he’s had a bad tummy and has been having multiple accidents, mostly on my ds and my dss bed but also on bathroom rugs, stair carpet etc. He’s gone from being a happy cat who loves to be fussed and purrs very loudly on demand, to one who just doesn’t. He’s just not himself at all.

He’s my first cat so I’m a little inexperienced about how to handle it. I will obviously take him to the vet to get checked over tomorrow but it’s so sad to see him so anxious. He has free range of our small garden but has taken to hiding right at the back of a large bush. I want my lovely, affectionate boy back but don’t know how to play it. Like I said, vets tomorrow but any advice in the meantime would be really appreciated.

OP posts:
chocolatespiders · 20/09/2020 21:17

Has the food stayed the same?
You could try a feliway plug in, there is also a friend's feliway one if you think the other cat is the issue.
An outdoor cat house tucked somewhere might be a good idea. My cat loves his - I carpeted it.

justpoppy · 20/09/2020 21:30

Food has stayed exactly the same. Litter has changed but as he’s now pooing in the litter tray I saw that as a good think.

OP posts:
Veterinari · 21/09/2020 08:43

Definitely vet check.

How many litter trays do the two cats have? They should have at least 3

How do they interact?

Do you have feliway?

JamieLeeCurtains · 21/09/2020 08:44

My stressy cat responds very well to Zylkene (available online), as well as good old catnip.

justpoppy · 21/09/2020 09:40

@Veterinari they have one each which (until this week) was working. They don’t really interact at all. My younger cat will sometimes go up to him and have a sniff but older cat just completely ignores him. Will get some feliway.

Thanks @JamieLeeCurtains one of my previous dogs had zylkine and it worked well.

He’s been hiding in the same place all night and is still there now. He must have come out as he’s been in the litter tray but he’s usually pestering me from about 6.30am for his breakfast.

OP posts:
Oldestchild90s · 21/09/2020 09:54

It's definitely the change of circumstances that has stressed the cat out. We recently had a baby and two of our cats went crazy, one spraying everywhere and one pooing outside the tray. We conquered this (an accident happens every now and then) by moving the litter tray into the places that she was pooing and it stopped her doing it straight away!

As pp have said the calming capsules and feliway plug ins may be worth a try. When i discussed it with the vets i personally found them useless as they took my money and fobbed me off with a load of unnecessary things that didn't help but i help you get the answers you need 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Veterinari · 21/09/2020 09:58

@Oldestchild90s

It's definitely the change of circumstances that has stressed the cat out. We recently had a baby and two of our cats went crazy, one spraying everywhere and one pooing outside the tray. We conquered this (an accident happens every now and then) by moving the litter tray into the places that she was pooing and it stopped her doing it straight away!

As pp have said the calming capsules and feliway plug ins may be worth a try. When i discussed it with the vets i personally found them useless as they took my money and fobbed me off with a load of unnecessary things that didn't help but i help you get the answers you need 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

You have no idea what has 'definitely' caused this. It could very well be medical. @justpoppy please do get a vet check ASAP. Is he definitely still urinating? Its not clear from your OP, but was it diarrhoea outside of the tray?

Stress definitely could be triggering this but it's important to rule out medical problems first

justpoppy · 21/09/2020 11:43

@Veterinari I have an appointment for him this afternoon. Yes he’s had diarrhoea for the last few days. He’s licking himself lots and have just noticed his poor bottom looks really sore. I don’t think it’s the change in circumstances as he settled here really quickly. It’s only been the last few days that his behaviour has changed.

OP posts:
Oldestchild90s · 21/09/2020 21:26

@Veterinari no need to dig me out, was trying to help.

justpoppy · 22/09/2020 07:06

Took him to the vet last night. He had a temperature so vet gave him a jab of something and some probiotics along with a special food for him. DC just jumped on the bed right onto my chest and started padding away on my hair! This is his way of telling me I should be making his breakfast. I’ve never been happier to have this do this today. My boy is getting back to normal ❤️

OP posts:
chocolatespiders · 22/09/2020 08:16

Brilliant news.. Hopefully a corner turned now.

Veterinari · 22/09/2020 18:18

[quote Oldestchild90s]@Veterinari no need to dig me out, was trying to help. [/quote]
I understand that, but giving definitive medical advice online is fraught with risks, and I'll highlight that even if it bruises your ego. It's not personal, it's about doing what is best for the cat - Intentions are irrelevant to the DCat - it's outcomes that matter.

OP I'm glad he's doing better - fingers crossed the treatment you have, sorts him out Smile

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread