Conference misery::feline_v1

    A few random thoughts:
    
    > .................................................I feel something
    >happened in the dining room to thoroughly scare Jillian (by the
    >way both cats are 1 1/2 yrs old), and Oliver having been in the
    >room with her, is being blamed for the incident. ...
    
    By whom?  You?  Your husband?  Jillian?
    
    It might be that Jillian is not "blaming" Oliver, but now associates
    him with whatever happened.   And along that line: is there and
    clue about what _might_ have happened?  Overturned chairs?  Things
    on the floor?  Bloodstains?   Having some idea of what went on might
    make a cure easier.
    
    >.....................................................Jillie is
    >currently on 1/2 tab. of Valium to try to calm her down.  About
    >the only thing the valium is doing, is making her much more vocal.
    
    I've found similar reactions: not all tranquilizers work on all
    cats.  One tranquilizer I gave my late Angelica foir a trip just
    caused her to complain loudly and continuously until she got hoarse.
    If you think you need a tranquilizer, check with your vet for
    alternatives to Vallium.
    
    I'd keep them separate ulness you're with them, at least until some
    of this is cleared up of she starts accepting Oliver again.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    
    
    RE:  801.1
    
    Thanks for your reply.  I feel that whatever happened in our dining
    room that is causing Jillie to be afraid is being blamed on Oliver.
    No overturned chairs, no cat dander found on the rug, no blood,
    no NOTHING!!
    
    And, yes, I truly believe the vallium is having an adverse and not
    a positive effect on her.  I will discontinue its use, and speak
    with my vet.  
    
    Any other suggestions would be helpful.
    
    Diane
    
    

    
    I don't know if you'll ever be able to figure out exactly what
    happened, don't you wish the little critters could talk to us?
    
    However, in the spirit of returning their relationship to the way
    it was, I would use some positive behavioral tactics.  For one thing,
    if it is the fact that something "bad" happened and Jillian is
    associating it with Oliver, I would suggest making her associate
    something "good" with their being together again.  Like Kitty Treats!!
    (Oh Boy!)  Try giving them lots of kitty treats ONLY when they are
    together and lots of affection and love, and even try playing with
    them (Jillian may not respond to playing, but at least she may get
    the picture, and her mood may lighten watching Oliver play)  If
    this becomes successful, move into the dining room with both of
    them and repeat the same procedure.  Or make them have to come into
    the dining room to be fed, petted, given treats or whatever.  Grooming
    is a good thing to try if she likes that.  Tell her what a good
    kitty she is when she does accept Oliver and give her a treat. 
    
    It may be a very slow process, and try to be patient.  I think allowing
    her to experience "good" feelings like feeding, petting, treats,
    when Oliver is not around may only prolong the problem.  You may
    want to keep separate litter boxes however, because this seems to
    be something cats can get highly sensitive about.
    
    Again, the worst thing you could do is force a situation or rush
    her.  
    
    It's worth a try, anyway!!  Good Luck, and let us know how it turns
    out.
    
    Amy.
    

    
    
    REF:  .3
          .1
    
    
    Thanks so much for your help and good feelings.  I am trying to
    remain positive, while not letting either cats feel how anxious
    my energy level is.  As of this morning, I am using the treat method
    at the infamous french door separating the bedrooms from the rest
    of the house.
    
    By the way, my veterinarian called with the bood test results. 
    The tests taken indicated high calcium, high cholesterol, and high
    tyroid activity levels.  The next set of blood tests which will
    be taken, will indicate whether a tumor is present causing the thyroid
    activity level to be high.  
    
    So, possibly, what we are dealing with here, is something more than
    fear-aggression.  Needless to say, I'm worried sick, literally.
    I had to have my first Abyssinian put to sleep at the ripe old age
    (what a joke) of 1 1/2 yrs (just a baby) because he had FIP.  I
    just pray that this turns out OK.  Emotionally, I don't think I
    could take this a second time around.
    
    Thanks for the support.
    
    P.S.  My poor dogs (a Dandie Dinmont Terrier and an Airedale Terrier,
    who both love the cats) are so bewildered that they are not eating.
                                 
    
    And who says -- Animals don't feel --  
    
    
    Diane
    
    

    First of all, my sympathy to you ALL in this situation!  Needless
    to say, it's very hard to live with.  But please, try not to imagine
    anything at this point.  For your sake, and your "family" and husband,
    just try to stay cool.  Cats especially are very responsive to our
    moods--good and bad.
    
    I only have one cat, but I have experienced some behavior from her
    strange enough that I actually thought she went schizo on me.  At
    my parents' house one Christmas, I had her with as usual, and she
    had gone downstairs.  We suddenly heard her SCREAMING, and ran down
    to see what had happened.  She was at the window, bushed out to
    3 times her size, glaring at something outside.  She was alternately
    growling, screaming, yowling, and "whuffling".  Like an idiot, I
    tried to get her off the window, since obviously something out there
    was setting her off.  She turned on me, and gave me quite a few
    nasty scratches and bites.  It was as though she was attacking me!
    I dropped her and she immediately jumped back up in the window,
    and continued all her noises.  Now Billie is ordinarily a nice,
    affectionate kitty, who loves me to pick her up and cuddle her.
    She also loves my folks, and their house.  This behavior was TOTALLY
    unlike her!  So I just let her alone until she was over her fit,
    and she came back upstairs as if nothing had happened!
    
    Turns out that she had seen another cat out the window (my dad saw
    it fleeing away from the scene of the crime), and Billie was merely
    protecting her property, as she saw it.
    
    I realize that this experience doesn't parallel what you are going
    through, but it does show you how a cat can change--for whatever
    reason.  I have since learned that whenever Billie sees a "stranger"
    near what she considers her house or people, she can have this
    reaction.  (NOTE:  This is with other animals, not people)
    
    It may be that your kitty saw something that frightened her, and
    the other cat was with her at the time, and she may associate the
    bad experience with him for now (think someone else already said
    this).  Please remember that bizarre cat behavior is USUALLY
    short-lived.  I think the things that folks have been saying,
    especially about giving treats, attention, etc. when the cats are
    together, would help a lot.
    
    I wish you luck, and please let us know how you all are!
    
    Jane
    

    
    
    RE:  801.5
    
    All you folks are so caring, thanks.  In a situation such as this
    it helps greatly to have other cat people care.  Interestingly
    enough, my expertise in with the canine kingdom, having two -- a
    Dandie Dinmont and an Airedale, and being a prof. handler -- But,
    the other half of my personality is definitely cat-like -- hence,
    my love and deep respect for felines.  
    
    As an update:  My veterinarian has results of some preliminary blood
    tests that I'm having taken -- Jillie has a high calcium value as
    well as high cholesterol value -- which COULD mean thyroid problems;
    i.e., tumor.  Now, another blood sample was taken to determine if,
    in fact, it is thyroid related.  If that's negative, then I am 
    recommending Jillian get titer tested -- that's a test for FIP.
    The reason I would be testing for FIP is that I lost my first Aby
    to it, and I couldn't bear a repeat performance -- I mean that,
    really!  Now, a high titer does not necessarily indicate the cat
    has FIP -- it just indicates that conditions exist.  By the way,
    for those of you not familiar with FIP, I'd be happy to fill you
    in -- like Feline leukemia, FIP is deadly -- attacks the immune
    system, and currently there's no vaccine, and no cure.  But, that
    test will be a last resort.
    
    Will keep you posted.  The worst part of this ordeal, is waiting
    for the test results.
    
    Diane
                                   "ABYluv"
    
    

    Diane - have you any further updates on Jillian? Please keep us
    posted. 
    
    Pat    

    
    
    REF:  .7
    
    Is this the same Pat Daley I knew when I worked in the Mill?????
    Tell me it is!!!!
    
    Anyway, I'm still waiting for the results.  The Thyroid test was
    to have been analyzed this morning at Tufts; so, I don't expect
    a call from my vet until Friday.
    
    On a lighter note . . .Oliver and Jill touched noses this morning
    through the opening of the french door (big deal, right?).  Last
    evening I was able to carry her in my arms throughout the house
    with ole' slob Oliver (I mean that with the utmost affection) followed
    us around like my Dandie does.  She wasn't hissing, growling, yowling,
    spitting, etc.  I'm just taking it real easy with her.  I do, however,
    think there is something medically off, but this is only a hunch
    at this point.  I'm coming to realize that Abyssinians are not as
    hardy as some of the other breeds; i.e., American Shorthairs, Maine
    Coons (some live to be 20!).  About the average life expectancy
    of an Aby is around 10 - 12, from what I've seen.
    
    Obviously, the cats are still separated and cry and stare at each
    other through my door and Oliver misses her sorely.  And he's such
    a love.  I'll keep you posted.  Thanks for asking.
    
    Diane
    
                                    "ABYluv"
    
    
    "ONE LITTLE TWO LITTLE THREE? LITTLE ABYS"  (MAYBE!!)
    
    

    yes - it is!!
    
    I was really sorry to hear about your first Aby - he was absolutely
    beautiful, and had a sweet personality.  
    
    My second Siamese died a couple years ago, 24 years old. Since my
    other Siamese died at 20 years, I think Siamese must be at the other
    end of the "life" spectrum. My cat family has increased to five personal
    cats - and 2 additional humane society cats who have been living with 
    me for the past five months while they healed from assorted injuries. I
    am what is called a "special care foster home"  - I take the ones 
    who need medication or some other kind of special attention, and
    look after them until they can be put up for adoption. Some are injuries
    inflicted by humans, but some are acquired from other cats, dogs,
    cars, exposure, etc. 
    
    Anyway, such is my feline family.
    
    Please let me know what's happening with Jillian and Oliver. The
    thyroid problem   - does it occur frequently in Abys - or is it one 
    of those things that just seem to happen and we don't know why? 
    Does a thyroid problem necessarily indicate a tumor or can something
    else cause the problem?
    
    Glad things went a little smoother last night.
    
    Pat
    
    

    
    REF:  801.9
    
    Hi, Pat
    
    Good to hear from you again.  Thyroid problems are not something
    that occur frequently in Abys, nor is it a condition peculiar to
    the breed.  It can happen with any breed, and is not necessarily
    indicative of a tumor, but because of Jillie's value levels being
    so high, the vet is leaning towards that.  
    
    I have not heard anything from my vet, yet.  Maybe I'll have some
    news for you this afternoon.  Jillian seems to be getting back to
    normal (very slowly) with Oliver.  I'm still keeping them separate.
    At least now she's walking around with her tail held high, and not
    crouching about the rooms as she was previously doing.  Oliver is
    still confused, poor thing.              
    
    I can't believe your one cat lived to be 24!! That is more the
    exception, than the norm.  I just hope Jill doesn't have a tumor,
    because from what I understand, it is an extremely delicate operation
    which she'll have to have done at Tufts.  I just couldn't bear losing
    her.                
    
    I'll keep in touch.
    
    Diane
    
    
    

    
    
    REF:  .9
    
    Hi, Everyone;
    
    All of the blood tests came back negative.  This cat has had the
    most "complete" physical of any cat, I'm sure!  The reason for the
    high values of calcium and cholesterol was probably due to Jillie's
    high stress level at the time.
    
    
    But, I have even more good news to report . . .The two cats are
    back together.  Of course, this took me the entire weekend to
    accomplish, having thoroughly analyzed their behavior and using
    a bit of reverse psychology and play tatics to divert their attention
    when it appeared they would go after each other again.  It was well
    worth the loss of sleep.  Last night, they were both thundering
    around the house again, in what appeared to be, a clearly euphoric
    state of being.  Oliver really missed his little friend.  Hopefully,
    this won't happen again, but if it does, I clearly know what to
    do!
    
    Thank you all for the support.  This is a GREAT notes file !!
    
    
    Diane