Sendhelp Posted March 2017
Caregiver's cats behaving badly.
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Does your Cat (or any pet) misbehave since caregiving your loved one?
Have you been required to take care of your loved one's pet after they have passed? Does your pet have cute antics that entertain your loved one?
And finally, has the cat or dog transferred their loyalty to your Mother?
There are a lot of good tips in the reviews on Amazon about this product. I bought it at the local PetSmart store, but always good to read about the experience of others using it.
I think the major active ingredient is tryptophan, the stuff in turkey and milk that makes one sleepy... and theanine, which is found in green tea... and ashwagandha. The fourth active ingredient is one I've never heard of, Eleuthero root.
I used to take theanine and ashwagandha during the caregiving years, they're natural anti-anxiety.
I have seen shows like that, and one rounding up en masse feral cats to be trapped/neutered/or spayed/and released. So many cats, so many volunteers.
I think it was done overnight, trapping them when they came for food.
You were not supposed to lick it!
(The Zen calming Licks, I mean.)
Find out what's in em, I think you have found the sleep-aid needed by so many caregivers on here. We could get our own ingredients, perhaps in an essential oil.
Report back, because Gershun could really use a good nights sleep, as she has said in the past. Or, we could just go to the pet store or vet!
It won't be the first time an animal med is good for people.
In James Herriot's book: "All Things Bright and Beautiful", he mentions
Mrs. Bond's cats, Ch. 22.
I had read them all! Of course, I cannot remember all the details, but you can look these things up online for a Chapter synopsis, and the name of Mrs. Bond's cat.
His books are still very popular.
Cats rule ok!
For my own non aggressive kitty I confine her to a powder room and into the crate
not tame at all
ran as soon as I opened the kitchen window
I left a pie tin of water in the shade for it
so hot here still
Thanks for all the tips! There are some good ideas in there, thank you!
(cousin's cat did that every time she was p'd off - lol)
My current old boy was a terror when he was young to get into a crate. He yells all the way to the Vets, but within the past few years he is a happy camper because he just loves all the attention from all the cute lab techs and the Vet herself. I use a dog size crate, it's a royal pain to carry because the crate is as heavy as the cat.
I had cats that were easy to scoop up and put into the crate. Had one that would yelp like a dog and pee in the crate. Glad his Vet had a good sense of humor. Always had to schedule as first patient of the day so not to clear out the waiting room with that very loud yelping.
Another cat I had to close all the bedroom and bathroom doors. And start a half hour early because I had to exhaust the cat before I was able to grab her. We put on many miles inside the house :P Oh, that cat would hear the handle on the crate and zoom she'd be in hiding.
Never found putting toys and treats in the crate would work, as my cats would associate the crate with the doctor office.
You won't be popular but you will have him in the crate and you won't hurt him (or you).
It's only going to be him at this time. The other gal shows no signs of any issue, I'm going to leave well enough alone.
We shall see what vet says about the spasms and if it's just part of being an 18 yo cat, or something else should be checked out.
Vet should have the old records by Monday, so if there's any kind of unusual indicator in test results, vet should be able to see it. Hopefully my description of The Issue will be an obvious symptom towards one or two possible problems, or just due to ... old age. I have no idea at this point what to expect! "Ali, your cat has parasites" sounds just as plausible at this point as "He's 18, did you think there weren't going to be normal symptoms of aging...?"
Lo and behold "Rosie" [13 years old] quickly came out of where ever she was sleeping and acted like she was fond of the music. She does this each time the music is played. Apparently in one of the two previous homes she had lived, someone was an Ozzy fan :)
One time I had an older cat who would squirt on the wall which is unusual for a female cat to do... turned out she had a feline type of a UTI.
If it turns out to be the cat just can't get to the litter box in time, then more litter boxes need to be placed around. I was able to get one older male cat to use those blue-sheets [doggy pads] instead of cat litter. He wouldn't cover his litter anyway, the old female cat would make that her chore to do. Jeeze, some guys are no different in feline life as they are in human life :))
As for litter boxes, I found I had better luck buying those Sterilite clear plastic storage bins that one can find at Target, the 6" tall ones work fine. And they are less expensive then a cat made litter box. Right now I am using the plastic storage boxes that one would use to hold rolled wrapping paper. It just gives the cats more room.
People can be caregivers to cats and dogs as well.
Well, I know you are not too worried, but felt the need to comment
about this community's value way past the caregiving years.
The friendships, the knowing others, being known and accepted, the wealth of experience passed on by former caregivers, and the support for past caregivers, and recovering from the difficult times.
All very helpful in my opinion.
A vet visit is in order to rule out parasites, or rule out some other things I haven't thought of. But the cat is just fine... with some gross habits that he can't seem to help. Probiotics for kitties seems a solid first step to helping him out some but I'll wait to talk with a pro. He's a character, and good company, and doesn't seem in any pain or discomfort in the least, except when he's spasming with tummy or other-end sicks. He's not ready for Rainbow Bridge just yet.
Is this bowel incontinence? I plan to have him checked out. The feces looks normal so I'm not thinking it's emergency for him at this time, just a problem with him controlling his urges, I guess.