Conference misery::feline

    Lisa...If the problem is not medical, I would have to assume that
    your poor kitty is overwhelmed with his new house and is in
    panic mode.   He's probably using your bed because he does not
    have the nerve to go search the house for a litterbox.
    
    I would recommend confining kitty to a small room with
    his own litterbox, food and a comfortable place to sleep.  Once
    kitty gets use to one room you can slowly start getting him use
    to the rest of the house.   Give him alot of attention and assure
    him that his new home will not hurt him.
    
    I also would suggest keeping a litterbox on the same floor with
    kitty until he gets use to going down in the basement.
    
    If kitty hasn't eaten for a week....I'd be very concerned.
    
    Sandy

    We (myself, husband, & 2 cats) just moved recently as well to a much
    bigger house (my parents).  We did not confine the girls to one room 
    but we did put the litter box (temporarily!) in a corner of the 
    bedroom since they were familiar with the furniture in that room.
    
    Neither cat "takes" to strangers (we attribute this to them being
    born in a barn to a semi-feral mom and never receiving any human 
    interaction until my husband brought them home. It took them months
    before they would have anything to do with us) so I wanted to make 
    sure that while they could explore when they wanted, that they also 
    had a room with familiar things in it that they could run to if they 
    wanted.  
    
    Anyway, we did not move the litter box to the laundry room on the
    ground floor until they had explored the house, gotten used to
    their new home, met (ha ha, from a distance!) my parents.  (We've 
    been there almost 6 weeks and they still run like h*ll when my father 
    comes in the room.  Mom can pat them if she is sitting absolutely 
    still and one of them walks up to her.)
           
    Exploring the house, adjusting to two *unknown* people and not
    freaking out when they find themselves in the same room as my parents 
    took about 2 weeks.
    
    I then moved their litter box from the bedroom to the laundry room
    and showed both girls where the litter box was now located.  They both 
    use it and I haven't come across any "accidents" anywhere.
    
    

    Well, after a trip to the vets office, she found that Sam is running a
    low-grade fever.  It does not appear that he has cystitis, but his
    bowels are backed up, probably from not going poops since Saturday.
    Right now, she isn't sure why he is running the fever. 
     
    The vet gave him a heavy duty shot of antibiotics and sent some home. 
    I have taken everyone's advise, as well as the vets, and put him in the
    bathroom (the only room, other than the bedrooms that will close off)
    with his food, water, and own litter box.  I'm going to let him out
    when I get home then put him back in tonight when we go to bed.  I'll 
    see if this works.  
    
    He actually did eat when I put his own food in the bathroom.  OH WELL, 
    we'll see what happens.  How come cats are more of a problem than kids 
    when it comes to adjusting?  :)
    
    Thanks for all the replies and notes. 
    
    Lisa Cozzens
    

>    we'll see what happens.  How come cats are more of a problem than kids 
>    when it comes to adjusting?  :)

I noticed your smiley face, but still have to reply.  I've moved twice with 
my older kitty and she didn't take it well either time.  I tried putting 
myself in her place -- one day life is normal -- the next, a new house.  At
least with kids, you can talk about the move and prepare them, but our poor
kitties don't know what's hit them.

			SQ

    
    My vet mentioned that cats sometimes run a slight fever in response to
    stress.  And changing their familiar environment is stressful (e.g.,
    many of the same smells, but many new and different ones, and
    everything in a different place, different paths, etc.).
    
    len.
    

    I need to add my experience to this particular topic.  I moved in with
    my SO (or is it "LP" now) the end of May.  Both my boyfriend and Andie
    liked eachother (or so it seemed) prior to the move.  I even took her
    over to visit our new condo several times before the actual move.
    
    About 4 weeks ago, Andie began climbing up on the kitchen table (she
    never did this at my previous house, I wouldn't allow it).  
    I tried to explain to my boyfriend that Andie is in new surroundings
    and needs to learn what she can/cannot do - in other words, she needs
    to be disciplined and it will take some time (at least she wasn't
    pooping, etc. all over the house!).  To make a long story short,
    my boyfriend became very angry and apparently yelled at her several
    times (I don't believe he hit her).  My Andie hates loud noises and
    I NEVER yelled at her.  In the past, if I did raise my voice at all, 
    she would get very angry at me.  Besides, I hate loud noises myself.
    
    Apparently, he scared her so badly one day when I wasn't home, she
    pooped right in front of him and hasn't been the same since.  I can
    tell there is no love lost between the two of them at all now.  If 
    my boyfriend even walks into the same room, she'll hiss at him.
    
    She has been depressed and literally stays in the breakfast nook
    all day and night.  She used to sleep with me, cuddle with me 
    in the evenings, etc., play with me, talk constantly - all of which
    has stopped.  At least she's eating and using her litterbox
    regularly.  
    
    I'm a firm believer that they are well aware of their surroundings
    (especially when they change) and even more so of who loves and
    cares for them.  I adopted Andie 4 years ago and never saw her
    fuss or walk around depressed as she does now and this is the 2nd
    move I've made with her in 2 years.  The first move was a piece
    of cake. 
    
    I've tried giving her EXTRA hugs, kisses and lots of reassurance
    that I love her, but its difficult when she won't come out of the
    kitchen corner.  I just wish I knew what I could do to make peace
    in our household.  They are both very stubborn ;-(
    
    Thanks for letting me vent.  I feel I've lost my Baby and I miss
    her very much.  I don't know who is more sad - Andie or me.
    
    Judie
            

    Judie,  I'm not so sure he didn't hit her.  If she's cowering in the 
corner, she's really scared.  Yelling isn't usually enough to cause that.
All my warning alarms are going off in my head.  This doesn't look good 
for him or your relationship.  Maybe I'm overreacting, but my experiences 
with people who can't win the affection of a pet have been total nightmares.
As much as I liked my husband when we were first dating, it would not have
gone any further if he didn't pass the "Sophie test."  He had to not only 
"seem" to get along with her -- they had to be totally enamored.  Well, they
were (and still are 6 years later) and we've added four more to the house.
If he has completely rejected her and she won't let him near, I'm concerned
for all of you.  You could have some tough choices ahead.

			SQ

    Uh, yeah, I'm worried also.
    

    Judie, people say (and I believe it) that animals, especially cats have
    this "PSI" and do feel a lot more than human beings whose feelings are
    often misleaded through the thinking or so. If my boyfriend would react
    so awfully to the cats I would give him a kick, no problem (but really,
    he likes them very much and they love him).
    
    Ilona
    

Re .7:

Is your guy in here?  I think he needs some.... input.  Yeah.  Some outside
input.  :-|

    Thanks, everyone, for your inputs.  Here's an update:
    
    Yesterday morning, I got up to find 2 piles on the floor.  Andie had
    thrown up during the night.  I picked them up and didn't think too
    much about it except saying to myself - I need to give her some butter
    for those damn hairballs today!  Anyway, I got to thinking and a little
    later on, did some investigating.  I checked her out, looking in her
    eyes, checking her body for some discomfort and guess what I found...
    a tiny white worm on her bum.  I freaked! 
    
    To make a very long story short, we (my boyfriend was very concerned
    and sympathetic) rushed Andie to Natick Animal Hospital (my first
    experience with these people).  The doctor could find no fleas
    or tapeworms, but gave her the pill and I purchased a flea collar
    from them.  She's a little tired, but in MUCH better spirits.  I
    suspect that much of her disposition over this past month has been
    due to the fact she hasn't felt well.  I was pleasantly surprised
    and grateful for the support and concern my boyfriend showed.  
    He and Andie actually seemed to "make up" and she let him pet and
    console her, which I thought was a blessing!
    
    Anyone had any experiences with finding tapeworms but no fleas,
    nor has she been around rodents?  She's strictly an indoor kitty
    and we've never found any evidence of either.
    
    I think it took a crisis to hopefully "end the war" and establish
    friendly relations again, one day at a time...;-)
                                                
    Judie

    I would like to address a couple replies in here, re .12, yes my vet
    found a "dermatitis" on Fluffy my (possible) main coon with major long
    hair.  He said it indicated to him the possibility of worms, and that
    he probably had HAD fleas at some point because of the above.  He gave
    him a shot for worms, and sent me home with two syringes of medicine
    for worms, to be given a week or two apart (I've forgotten which), so
    far no fleas, no worms no problems.
    
    Now as far a the moving trauma, when we moved in with my inlaws for a
    few months (8 years ago) the only one I had at the time was totally
    freaked.  On the third day of no eating or drinking, no litterbox
    activity, and hiding almost 24 hours a day, even when we were right in
    the room with her (we were basically living in the upstair of their
    home in a huge room with ajacent bath, sort of a suite situation)  I
    was 6 months into a real rough pregnancy and constant nausea.  Anyway I
    called the vet who decided she was basically OK, but very scared.  She
    prescribed what she called "kitty downers". for two or three days.  It
    worked fine.  In fact I actually cut the dose in half, because the
    first dose she literally could barely keep her eyes open.  After the
    first week there was no problem.  Well until I gave birth and MIL
    decided that kids and cats don't belong in the same HOUSE, let alone
    the same room!  She was banished to the cellar in "solitary" until we
    moved three months later.  But that's another note ("Mother inlaws who
    should be banished to the Cellar, because they HATE ALL CATS!")
    
    As for the baby who is intimidate by the SO, Be sure it is the current
    man in your life.  My Fluffy is terrified a) of most men and b) won't
    let ANY one near him with a foot-with or without a shoe on!  All my
    cats like have always liked a bare foot rub them on their tummy, this one 
    takes off in a run when a foot gets too close!
    
    Lyn
    Barney, Bandit and Fluffy

    re.. tapeworms.
    
    
    Can't these also be the result from mousing?    I remember one time, my
    cat Shadow had been caught a mouse.  The vet said that they wanted to
    check her stools for tapeworms.
    

    Roundworms from mice...tapeworm from fleas.   Of course both of
    these worms can also be transmitted from other sources that
    are infected with the larvae.   Ie...another kitty, litterbox,
    outside dirt, etc.
    
    Even though no fleas are found on the kitty...you can still have
    a problem in the environment.  It's not normally until the house
    gets infested do you start seeing actual fleas.  Did you
    know that a flea at the pupae stage can stay in a caccoon for
    up to a year under the right environment!  They will only hatch
    if the tempature is warm enough or one of our little kitty happens
    to be in the area where the flea can attached themselves to the
    kitty and start eating.   Amazing...those little nasty critters!!
    
    Sandy
    
    

    actually, mice can get fleas, which can transfer to the mouser (kitty),
    which is anothe way tapeworm can get passed.
    
    Deb
    

    Using the bed as a litter box could also be a sign of anger.
    That might explain why kitty has a low grade temp/infection,
    he's feeling stressed out.
    
    Like human's, cats can lose it when things happen to them that
    they didn't chose to happen, they get angry and they punish those 
    they think are responsible.  The remedy is just about the same 
    as for humans, lots of love and wait it out.  In the mean time, 
    place a plastic backed paper tablecloth over the bed.  It's confortable
    for them to sleep on, water proof and disposable.
    
    Best of luck
    
    

    The vet called me yesterday and wanted to know how Sam was doing.  He
    is eating, drinking, peeing and pooping in his box, only if he is
    locked in the bathroom.  Whenever I let him out, he makes a straight
    shot for under our bed.  Can't get him from that spot.  
    
    The vet has decided to put Sammy on valium, 1 pill a day.  Last night
    he had 1/2 and this morning he had 1/2.  My husband is home with him
    today and said he is a bit calmer, but still won't come out from under
    the bed.  Bob tried to take him in to another room and Sam absolutely
    flipped.  
    
    Hopefully the Valium will work out. 
    
    Lisa

    Lisa,
    
    Have you tried bribery with catnip? Usually with my brood, when all
    else fails they will come running to the catnip container.  Followed by
    lots of cuddling.
    
    Lyn

    
    I have lured my kids out (when they were hiding from me because they
    figured out someone was going to the vet) with one of their favorite
    treats (like chicken or turkey or tuna [packed in water]), but I use
    this nefarious trick only in absolute desperation.
    
    len.
    

    Baby food seems to work, too.
    
    Here is something that you might want to try. First, you need to get
    the cat out of hiding, and bring him into a closed, comfortable room
    (like your bed room) with just the cat and youself. No noise, no
    distractions. Have the cat on your lap, or beside you. Altenate calmly
    stroking the cat with letting it lick baby food (like chicken noodle)
    from a spoon. Be calm, quiet, NO FAST MOVEMENTS and just act like you
    are trying to gain the cat's trust. You will have to do this for a few
    days, but I've had success with this technique.
    
    Good luck,
    Deb