Self-indulgent pet thread
- Thread starter ShiftyBagLady
- Start date
Great expression 
red rose
Fee-Ai-Esh-See-Oh
I'm looking for some advice from the lovely people of the Self Indulgent Pet thread.
Over christmas I went to visit my family. I was gone less than 48 hours so I didn't take Schrodes, I left him plenty food (he only eats when he's hungry so dry food can be left out without having to worry about him eating it all in one go and then puking it back up)
Whilst I was gone the flat was burgled, someone forced the kitchen window. They didn't get much but they had gone through all my stuff, so they were in the flat for a little while. When I got back the cat was a little distressed but once we had secured the window he calmed down and he's been fine ever since. Playful and eating normally and purring like a furry little bastard (see above)
Today my landlord sent a contractor round to examine the window and quote for a replacement. He didn't make any loud noise, he didn't have any tools, he didn't do anything except look at the window and take a couple of measurements. The cat dove under the bed, right to the back behind some boxes and started yowling, it took me ages to get him to come back out after the guy left.
I'm devastated, my heart is breaking for my poor little cat. Throughout this whole thing I've been fine, it's hardly affected me at all, but to think that Schrodes is so upset and so changed by it is awful. He's always been a friendly and sociable cat and he likes to play with new people and have a fuss and I can't deal with the idea that he might be too scared of people now to cope with any visitors.
Does anyone have any advice for how I can help him? I'm struggling to believe that he could be this affected just by the break-in, now I keep wondering whether he got under the burglar's feet or got in the way and got kicked/hit
I checked him over as soon as I got home and he seemed fine but now I'm not so sure.
Please help
Over christmas I went to visit my family. I was gone less than 48 hours so I didn't take Schrodes, I left him plenty food (he only eats when he's hungry so dry food can be left out without having to worry about him eating it all in one go and then puking it back up)
Whilst I was gone the flat was burgled, someone forced the kitchen window. They didn't get much but they had gone through all my stuff, so they were in the flat for a little while. When I got back the cat was a little distressed but once we had secured the window he calmed down and he's been fine ever since. Playful and eating normally and purring like a furry little bastard (see above)
Today my landlord sent a contractor round to examine the window and quote for a replacement. He didn't make any loud noise, he didn't have any tools, he didn't do anything except look at the window and take a couple of measurements. The cat dove under the bed, right to the back behind some boxes and started yowling, it took me ages to get him to come back out after the guy left.
I'm devastated, my heart is breaking for my poor little cat. Throughout this whole thing I've been fine, it's hardly affected me at all, but to think that Schrodes is so upset and so changed by it is awful. He's always been a friendly and sociable cat and he likes to play with new people and have a fuss and I can't deal with the idea that he might be too scared of people now to cope with any visitors.
Does anyone have any advice for how I can help him? I'm struggling to believe that he could be this affected just by the break-in, now I keep wondering whether he got under the burglar's feet or got in the way and got kicked/hit
I checked him over as soon as I got home and he seemed fine but now I'm not so sure.Please help
izz
Increased Leisure Citizen
Feliway or maybe some zylkene in his food ? I'm not remotely surprised he was upset, he wouldn't have needed to be kicked or harmed in any way to be distressed by the experience, IMO.
I reckon if he's been a laid back friendly mog before he may revert to that in time, probably less time than you think. I guess if you can put him somewhere away from the contractor while he's doing his workman thing, that might be good, maybe a new cardboard box or two to hide in in a different room might help. When all's secure, maybe having the odd visitor around that he already knows and see how he is in a little while ?
Poor Schrodes
I reckon if he's been a laid back friendly mog before he may revert to that in time, probably less time than you think. I guess if you can put him somewhere away from the contractor while he's doing his workman thing, that might be good, maybe a new cardboard box or two to hide in in a different room might help. When all's secure, maybe having the odd visitor around that he already knows and see how he is in a little while ?
Poor Schrodes
StoneRoad
heckling from the back!
Feliway or maybe some zylkene in his food ? I'm not remotely surprised he was upset, he wouldn't have needed to be kicked or harmed in any way to be distressed by the experience, IMO.
I reckon if he's been a laid back friendly mog before he may revert to that in time, probably less time than you think. I guess if you can put him somewhere away from the contractor while he's doing his workman thing, that might be good, maybe a new cardboard box or two to hide in in a different room might help. When all's secure, maybe having the odd visitor around that he already knows and see how he is in a little while ?
Poor Schrodes
^^^^^^ I'll second this - zylkene will help, almost certainly.......as will boxes to hide in and some friends visiting with treats / toys, but mostly give him some time and space.
(and hopefully some really Bad Karma will catch up with the toe-rags extra quick)
red rose
Fee-Ai-Esh-See-Oh
I called the vet this afternoon and they recommended a Feliway diffuser too. If he's still distressed next time someone comes round I will look into the Zylkene, I'd never heard of it before but it sounds like it might be a good supplementary thing for the day that the window is actually being replaced.
I started work on making him a new kitty bed today, a covered one with thick foam sides and a fleecy bottom so that he can hide away if he wants to and I have a few boxes dotted around for him to hide away in when he wants to. When they replace the window I can't really put him anywhere safe - it's a studio flat - but I will put a couple of cardboard boxes around the edges of the bed so that there's just a cat-sized gap, that way he will have a safe space whilst there are people here. And I'll make sure there's a bowl of water for him under there.
Lord Camomile has been enlisted to come over for a couple of hours every now and then, during which time Schrodes will be left alone unless he chooses to come and investigate, if he does come out then he will be given much fussing and a treat or two. And even if he doesn't come out whilst Lord Cam is here I'll give him a treat after Lord Cam leaves, so that he builds a bit of an association.
I started work on making him a new kitty bed today, a covered one with thick foam sides and a fleecy bottom so that he can hide away if he wants to and I have a few boxes dotted around for him to hide away in when he wants to. When they replace the window I can't really put him anywhere safe - it's a studio flat - but I will put a couple of cardboard boxes around the edges of the bed so that there's just a cat-sized gap, that way he will have a safe space whilst there are people here. And I'll make sure there's a bowl of water for him under there.
Lord Camomile has been enlisted to come over for a couple of hours every now and then, during which time Schrodes will be left alone unless he chooses to come and investigate, if he does come out then he will be given much fussing and a treat or two. And even if he doesn't come out whilst Lord Cam is here I'll give him a treat after Lord Cam leaves, so that he builds a bit of an association.
Puddy_Tat
happy mew year
at schrodesit is by no means unknown for cats to get very nervous of men in general (or at least men they don't know) after one incident. I'm not sure there's an easy answer.
at kitteh sexismalthough to some extent, a cat that will keep out of the way of trades-persons is not a bad thing. i had to resort to getting the hoover out when i had anyone round to do stuff when I lived with kittehs, otherwise friendly mog would either generally get in the way / try and climb into his tool box or something like that...
appearance of hoover tended to result in the somewhat comical sight of two pretty substantial mogs trying to exit simultaneously through a standard cat-flap...
after i had police thundering around my flat last year (with a fair bit of screaming from me), pepper seemed fine afterwards. until i had a plumber round a month or two later - he was in the bathroom, but she immediately froze where she was in the front room and started trembling. i built her a little fort out of cushions, and did my best to distract her with strokes and filters (her obsession) while he was here, but she still seemed scared stiff til he left. it was horrible
she was fine with un-clattery people, mind. and when he came back a couple of months later, she didn't have a problem - not sure about the why/how.
fingers crossed schrodes calms down - the Lord Cam visits sound like a good plan.
she was fine with un-clattery people, mind. and when he came back a couple of months later, she didn't have a problem - not sure about the why/how.
fingers crossed schrodes calms down - the Lord Cam visits sound like a good plan.
red rose
Fee-Ai-Esh-See-Oh
Ta everyone.
Hopefully things will calm down once the window has been replaced. He's an intelligent cat and despite being a git half the time he's actually very low maintenance. He's always been fine with people, with loud noises, with fireworks... so I'm sure that with a little work and some gentle coaxing he'll be back to his old self soon.
I hope Pepper is alright now too
Hopefully things will calm down once the window has been replaced. He's an intelligent cat and despite being a git half the time he's actually very low maintenance. He's always been fine with people, with loud noises, with fireworks... so I'm sure that with a little work and some gentle coaxing he'll be back to his old self soon.
I hope Pepper is alright now too
CRI
Registered Chooser
Sorry to hear about the break in, and Schrodes being so upset. Herbert was the same when OH had two break ins, one after another inside a week (yes, I know.) Herbie wasn't exactly a gregarious cat to start with, but he totally freaked and took to hiding in almost impossible to find places, well basically until he moved with OH to mine a few weeks later. He settled in really quickly, but stayed pretty shy until maybe his last year when he just had to get used to lots of people coming to visit. Time and Feliway I do think will probably be the best healers.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Time and drugs is the answer to so many thorny problems
aye, she's a proper people cat these daysI hope Pepper is alright now too
CRI
Registered Chooser
They are just SO gorgeous and wow have they grown!What a difference 3 months makes!
CRI
Registered Chooser
Griff's still having bouts of squeaking when he wees and/or poos, but the vet's recommended he not take more pain killers as if the problem is GI related, that might be aggravating rather than helping it. I'm keeping track of his weight weekly, just to make sure he's in good condition. He's still such a happy chappy, except when he's "on the loo" poor guy.
1.3 Kg today. Mal is 1.38 Kg.
(was leaning a bit in this shot - trying make the scales weigh lighter I suppose!)
1.3 Kg today. Mal is 1.38 Kg.
(was leaning a bit in this shot - trying make the scales weigh lighter I suppose!
)
eatmorecheese
He's fallen out of the car again
Alfred gets neurotic about one of the cats. So highly strung, and he's only little.
CRI
Registered Chooser
At the risk of totally taking over this thread . . .
Few more snaps of Mal and Griff
And Malcolm's Burns Night Greetings already posted here:
http://www.urban75.net/forums/threa...andwidthz-pt-5.261392/page-1815#post-12882339
Few more snaps of Mal and Griff
And Malcolm's Burns Night Greetings already posted here:
http://www.urban75.net/forums/threa...andwidthz-pt-5.261392/page-1815#post-12882339
Schmetterling
I saw something nasty in the woodshed!
I'm looking for some advice from the lovely people of the Self Indulgent Pet thread.
Over christmas I went to visit my family. I was gone less than 48 hours so I didn't take Schrodes, I left him plenty food (he only eats when he's hungry so dry food can be left out without having to worry about him eating it all in one go and then puking it back up)
Whilst I was gone the flat was burgled, someone forced the kitchen window. They didn't get much but they had gone through all my stuff, so they were in the flat for a little while. When I got back the cat was a little distressed but once we had secured the window he calmed down and he's been fine ever since. Playful and eating normally and purring like a furry little bastard (see above)
Today my landlord sent a contractor round to examine the window and quote for a replacement. He didn't make any loud noise, he didn't have any tools, he didn't do anything except look at the window and take a couple of measurements. The cat dove under the bed, right to the back behind some boxes and started yowling, it took me ages to get him to come back out after the guy left.
I'm devastated, my heart is breaking for my poor little cat. Throughout this whole thing I've been fine, it's hardly affected me at all, but to think that Schrodes is so upset and so changed by it is awful. He's always been a friendly and sociable cat and he likes to play with new people and have a fuss and I can't deal with the idea that he might be too scared of people now to cope with any visitors.
Does anyone have any advice for how I can help him? I'm struggling to believe that he could be this affected just by the break-in, now I keep wondering whether he got under the burglar's feet or got in the way and got kicked/hit
Please help
Hmmmm
; contractor was the burglar? *soz My previous boy cat never forgot that my Papa was The Noisemaker, i.e. the One wielding ye olde bigge drill, and usually scrambled when he arrived.
Schmetterling
I saw something nasty in the woodshed!
Lotte and Diddie don't photograph too well; i.e. it's hard to tell the difference and what makes them special. They are both gracious and beautiful and endearing in their own way whereas Prince Shaffi is just ridiculously cute.
Lotte
Prince Shaffi - I bloody well rotated that image!
Will have to wait with Diddie's . Stupid computer keeps reverting back to larger file when I try to save.
Lotte
Prince Shaffi - I bloody well rotated that image!
Will have to wait with Diddie's . Stupid computer keeps reverting back to larger file when I try to save.
They're really pretty
