Feline stress

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LOUPI : When Zorro arrived in February, 2012, I was first totally indifferent to this small intruder … Seemingly at least.  As he grew up, and although he was quickly neutered, I became more and more nervous and aggressive : I hissed at everything, anything, and whoever, I growled out, and I attacked Zorro with big slaps if he was at less than 1 meter 50 of me. It really became hard in autumn, 2012.

Claire had never seen that. I am a shy and emotional cat for a long time : when it is necessary to apply to me the fleas treatment to the nape of the neck for example, I kick up a fuss about it, I am terrified. Claire thus discussed with the veterinarian at the beginning of 2013. He knows me well, and after the narrative of some previous anecdotes upon the arrival of Zorro, he confirmed that I was a cat very put under stress by nature. A big anxious cat. The arrival of Zorro had thus completely put me in a whirl.

The veterinarian then suggested to Claire spreading permanently Feliway® everywhere in the house to calm my tensions. Feliway® is a product which imitates our facial pheromones and thus has so soothing properties. It exists in spray or in electric diffuser with refill. Normally, it seems that that gives very good results, but not with me.

After 3 months of diffusion, there was only not much change in my behavior. We are outdoor cats, it was summer, and windows were opened almost always. I did not thus soak permanently in Feliway®, and I think that it is possible that the product was not able to develop all its efficiency because of it. I would like to have the opinion of somebody from Feliway® on this matter, moreover.

Claire informed regularly the veterinarian. According to his advice, she stopped using Feliway®, and gave me Zylkene® daily during 3 other months. Zylkene® is a nutritional supplement with casein of milk which decreases strongly the answer to the stress. And there, it was great : every day, late in the afternoon, I was entitled to a small dose of liver pâté in Zylkene®, it was yummy ! Zorro was very interested, then he could also have it just a little, but without Zylkene®.

Claire, Momo, Zorro and I had happy Christmas 2013 : I was much less stressed, I could meet Zorro or be next to him at less  than 1 meter without being aggressive, I began again to play even if he was there (not with him all the same, it’s not necessary to exaggerate!) and to go to sleep in several places which I liked but which I had abandoned.

miracle 3

We are not still close friends, but at least the atmosphere is relaxed …

10 thoughts on “Feline stress

  1. da tabbies o trout towne

    loupi…sum times it takes a while…what can seem like a long while…. and even de best oh pals, be they litter mates, adopted two gether, adopted separately, get into scrapz……noe one getz on well all de time….knot even peepulz…

    when sauce wuz still heer, de food serviss gurl used ta play harp mewsic for us when we were gettin into scrapz……just plane ole nothin else added to de mewsic

    harp mewsic….

    this link be an old one

    http://www.lifewithcats.tv/2011/09/26/music-therapy-helps-soothe-animals-and-humans-alike-2/

    but ask yur mom ta chek it out sum time…..it werked for uz !!

    tuna

  2. Kitties Blue

    Thanks for this info. Does this require a prescription from the vet? Mom uses calming collars on us and it helps some. Feliway has not been that successful for us. Please stop by our Thankful Thursday Post. We wrote about our dates for the dance, and there is a photo of Zorro and all our other dates. We also gave you an award. Drop by to pick it up. Purrs and paw-pats from the kitties at The Cat on My Head, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

  3. LP

    Some cats, like some people, simply do not get along! We are glad that you two are tolerating each other now. That is a nice improvement for everybody! We have tried Feliway ourselves but did not have any success with it…

    the critters in the cottage xo

  4. Teri and the cats of Curlz and Swirlz

    Teri has used a similar milk product on some emotional kitties when she is bringing them into our house to foster or rehab from litter box issue, too and think it helps. She has also fed Royal Canin Calm dry food which has a milk protein in it, and uses Feliway plug-ins around the house.

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