is my cat depressed? help!

[firemuse]

I am concerned that one of my cats is deperessed....I dont know what else it could be.

We have a male cat named Cooter.....hes almost 2 years old. Hes always been our spoiled baby and he loves us to death. A couple months ago, we got a girl kitten. Shes about 4 months.....I'm not sure of her exact age because we got her form a lady who rescued her.

Ever since we brought Isis home (thats her name), Cooter and her gradually bonded and they play and nap together. But after the last vet visit, I was told that he needs to lose a few pounds. Hes 15 pounds right now. They told me to give him diet food. Furthermore, they told me Isis needs to gain a few pounds.....and she has grown since shes been with us. It has been hard to give her kitten food while feeding him diet cat food....he seems to know shes getting different food and he wants it! For some reason, she wants to eat his food, too.

This past week, I notice he has been acting a bit withdrawn. Meal times arent that exciting for him anymore, but he does eat a little. He spends time sleeping a little bit more than usual. Isis is quite aggressive with her desire for attention. She is contactly crawling all over us and purring and being very affectionate. Cooter used to come and sit right on our lap when she did that, but now he doesnt even try. He just goes and lay on the other couch and stares.

This evening, I noticed he was laying alone in the hallway and wasnt very active at all. I decided to put her in the bedroom for a moment and I got the brush out. Cooter adores being brushed.....he usually starts slobbering and doing the "marching dance".....and lovingly nudges his head against me when I brush him. But tonight, he just layed there while I brushed him. He didnt purr or anything. He acted quite emotionless. He kept swishing his tail in a quite aggressive manner. What hurt me the most, is he was glaring at me the whole time. He had a very angry look on his face and wouldnt take his eyes off me. He got up and walked away....sat on the other couch. He started off into the distance and still had the angry face, and started swatitng his tail around like I never saw him do before. I dont know what to make of it or what to do!

I havent noticed him sneezing or throwing up....and I havent noticed anything different with his bathroom habits,....so I dont think hes sick. It has been raiging so it might be scaring him....but Im not convinced it is because of that.

If anyone has advice or anything, please help. I am afraid my cat is upset.

[kehorner]

It could just be that he is upset about the changes to the household, but you should really get him to the vet asap just to make sure that it's not something more serious. Bloodwork will show if there's something going on that you can't see. Cats are good at hiding illness, so sometimes sleeping extra and not eating are the only signs they give.

[firemuse]

Thanks for the advice......if I do take him tot he vet...I might take him to a different vet that the one I took him to last time.

I took him to get his shots updated the day after I brought Isis home. He was really disturbed when she first came home, so to be brought to a vet was the last straw for him. He flipped out and went crazy! I had to leave the room so the vets could give him his shots. I had never seen him act that way and I havent seen it ever since that day, it was horrible.

Im afraid he'd act that way again....but I would rather take him to a new vet. Reason being is because of that incident, they noted his outburst on his records and I dont want them to treat him badly, assuming hes going to flip out again.

My poor cat....Im so scared for him.

[firemuse]

Updates...okay I put her in the room and gave him a dish of soft cat food. (Not diet.......I guess a yummy snack cant hurt once in a while.)

Hes eating and looks quite content. Like I mentioned, his dining experiences havent been that great lately. We have been seperating the cats so they can eat thier own food. Usually when we let her out of the room, she runs straight towards his food and tries to eat it up before I put the dish away.

When she does that while hes eating, he backs up and looks a little frustrated. I notice he hasnt been eating as much and he seems more concerned about the food shes getting in the room. Im glad to see him actually enjoying a meal.

I still need to get him checked out though...I cant risk his health. My poor baby... The thing that scares me is that he just lays there....and most of the time, his eyes are open. Hes not even sleeping...he is just laying there. If things arent better by tomorrow....I'll try and bring him in.

[Ash]

Definitely have him checked out! I hope he turns out alright physically, but with cats, as I'm sure you know, emotional stress can also trigger physical illness. So, a check up will definitely be necessary.

I think Isis simply disturbs him more than you realized at first. Young and energetic kitten soften have this kind of effect on older residents. The result might in some instances be constant fighting, or withdrawal and depression like in Cooter's case.

I would completely feed them seperately and also not allow Isis to finish his food if he left some. Take the bowl away before you let her out of her 'dining room'. Make it his feeding time, his enjoyment, his food, and his bowl. NEVER allow her to disturb him while he's eating.

Continue with the brushing, make it a daily little ritual and for that time lock Isis in another room, so she won't disturb. Do it even if he doesn't seem to enjoy it as much as before. At other times too I would make it a point to give attention to him instead of Isis. Put him on your lap or the sofa beside you. You have to not let his demeanor discourage you but continue to show him extra love and attention even if he's grumpy. Just continue.

His behaviour is a bit odd because it started months after you introduced Isis to the household. My cats reacted very similar when we brought Noodle home. But they did so right away and continued for weeks, then gradually relaxed and adjusted. But you never know what exactly goes on in a cat's mind. His vet trip and change in diet, which he obviously isn't very keen on, certainly aggravated his problem. Therefore I would also talk with the new vet about another tastier diet for him.

You cold also try Feliway, which has a mood enhancing effect on some cats.

Good luck! Let us know what the vet said!

[firemuse]

Thanks so much for your help...I will definitely keep you posted.....Im so scared for my poor little baby.

[slvrwhispr]

Huh. My friend Liz has a new kitten named Isis, too. I miss her. She moved to Alabama about a month ago.

Definitely keep us posted.

[firemuse]

Thanks so much for all your concern and advice.....I am worried sick about my poor little baby boy.

Poor Cooter was laying on the couch the whole time last night. He wasnt exaclty sleeping because I noticed he was just laying there with his eyes open. It made me wonder if he had a pain and was feeling miserable. I felt like making him feel extra loved so I let him sleep in the room with us and let silly Isis stay out in the living room. She kept wanting to play with him but he didnt wanna play. I thought he could use some quiet time away from her.

When I got up this morning, he was still acting the same way. He came out into the living room and just sat there. He didnt run for his food or the litter box. That is sooo not him. He usually wants food and starts scampering around the house with Isis, creating a fun little kitty cat riot! It was so unnatural to see him act so lethargic.......I had to take him in to the vet. Hes there now...right across the street. They said they would call me in a while because the doctor isnt in yet. I think they wanted to just monitor him until then. I hope hes okay....

[Traci]

Glad to hear you took him in, you should NEVER wait on getting your cats seen when you KNOW something isn't quite right.

If your vet has prescribed a weight management diet, you MUST be compliant and do NOT give him canned food, treats or anything outside of the prescribed diet. To do so it totally defying the purpose, that is for him to lose weight, safely and gradually. You can't expect him to lose more than a pound every month or every other month or so, it MUST be done slowly and gradually, this is the only safe method for weight loss in cats. You also need to follow up with your vet and get monthly weight checks to ensure he is not losing too much weight too fast, and/or to possibly modify the diet/feeding amounts as your vet recommends. Don't fall for the emotional upset when your cat looks at you and wants treats, you have to deny the treats if you want him to safely lose the weight, be healthy and stay healthy.

Continue feeding the cats seperately, in seperate rooms. Remember that your kitten requires more feedings, since she expends alot of energy...you may have to give her 3 or 4 small meals a day so that she meets her energy requirements. As with your male, follow up with your vet for the female's weight checks.

Don't let the kitten around your male when he's eating. Keep them both in seperate rooms UNTIL they are both finished eating, this will resolve the left-over food issue. Put up any food that is not eaten, until the next feeding.

[firemuse]

Thanks for your advice!

The nurse lady there told me that he has lost almost 2 pounds. They said I can feed him normal food but not to over feed him........just the normal portions he should be eating.

The vet hasnt called yet...Im so worried.