Stress chewing

[slvrwhispr]

Back last summer, I took two separate two-week vacations. One, the girls were cared for daily by a neighbor. The other, I had my roommate, so they were never alone. That said, during the time that I was gone, I noticed bald patches appearing on Izzy's tail. Off to the vet we went.

They tested her skin and blood and everything came back normal, so it was determined that she was having anxiety issues. I made sure to make her environment SUPER calm once I was home, her fur grew back, and all has been well.

Now, with us packing to move, she's gone into overdrive on her poor tail. Half of the top of it is bald and I wake up in the middle of the night hearing her licking at it. I call her over and she comes and snuggles with me for a little while, but it's getting a little worse every day. We move... tomorrow. I don't have time to get her back to the vet. Not real thrilled with the vet here anyway as she didn't give me any actual options to help Izzy other than to try and keep her calm.

I give her plenty of attention, she sleeps with me at night, if I catch her during the day I distract her with toys or treats or cuddles. But as soon as we start moving boxes around, off she goes again. What can I do in the next few days to minimize her stress during this move? Would there be any harm in loosely using vet wrap to cover her tail so she doesn't do any more damage to it? The skin is starting to look pretty red, but there's no broken spots, flaking, peeling, or anything like that. It breaks my heart to know she's so worked up.

[Traci]

The problem with vet wrap is that it can prohibit fur growth and prohibits new skin growth.

Your vet is correct, in that reducing stress is the most that you can do at this point.

As for moving, it's unfortunately one of the worst forms of stress for cats. I think there's a post or two in Debbie's Cloud for moving tips. (use search function, "moving" or "moving with cats".

During travel, she may not pull at her fur/tail much, but when you arrive at your destination, keep her and Emmy confined to only one room for the first couple days, keeping that room calm and comfortable. In a couple days, let them explore at will, as long as it is safe, no open doors, etc. Immediately when you get there, put the cats in one room and close the door so they can't escape when you're moving things and boxes inside.

Please instruct your parents not to keep any doors open, and to watch doors when the cats are allowed out of their room.

Set up an appointment with your new vet for the week following the move. Ask for a topical you can use on her tail that will help keep infection at bay if she's chewing at it enough to cause a wound. Ideally, an elizabethan collar combined with a short-course of a topical would help further to keep her from licking the topical.

[E's]

Oh dear. Glad for y'all to be going 'home' but sad to not have you up there in old Killeen anymore. As for the traveling/moving stress on kitties: this is an antique thing, passed down from the days when folks moved in wagons, but it's harmless and I've posted it here several times without Traci objecting. You could begin now with Izzy - maybe isolate or keep her in her carrier for a while...

Spread a small amount of butter ('real' butter if possible) or heavy cream on the top of both front paws... licking the good tasting substance has a calming effect.... can't hurt to try!

Dot B
Austin

[slvrwhispr]

My poor babygirl... I dunno why but the thought of having the e-collar on her makes me so sad. I hate that I can't make it better right now.

I don't think my old vet is there anymore, but my parents adore the vet they take Tyler to, so I'll probably make an appointment as soon as I'm there. Probably for both cats; Emmy hasn't been to the vet since I finished her kitten shots, which was a year ago in October, so it wouldn't hurt to have her get the once-over.

(Going to have to see them soon to send Tyler over the bridge soon anyway... but we're not talking about that yet...)

[Traci]

Are you driving? If so, how many stops do you plan to make? Any nights at a hotel? Are you taking advance steps to keep them safe, i.e., when you open the car doors, transferring to a hotel room, hotels allowing pets, etc.

PLEASE, make sure the cats are in carriers BEFORE you ever open a car door, and don't unroll windows (except for a bare cracx). Keep the cats in their carriers whenever going into gas stations, restaurants, hotels etc.

I wish I could tell you more about the fur-pulling, but because it is stress-induced, it is stress you have to minimize. Izzy probably remembers the previous move, and you've been through a LOT of changes in the last year! The more you can keep everything calm, quiet, give them a safe haven, give them lots of love and attention and make sure they're eating etc, the better.

[slvrwhispr]

Eating is NEVER a problem with these two. They have an almost golden retriever-like joy when I fill the food bowl. It's so cute. Both of them meowing happily at the top of their little kitty lungs.

As for the drive, we're doing it in two days. Only staying somewhere one night, and it's at a family member's house where they will have a bedroom secured. I bought new collars (ones where the breakaway bits haven't been worn out, so they can't pop them just because they're feeling ornery) and got new tags with our new address on them. And they will most likely not be coming out of the carriers in the car. There's just too much that can happen to them. I have puppy pads for the carriers for when they need to go, and I'll change them out when we make restroom breaks, but they both BOLT when they get scared, and I'd never be able to catch them if they got out. I'd like to give them the opportunity to stretch their legs now and again in the car, but... there's going to be three people, not a lot of space, and Emmy especially would be FAR too prone to want to play with the drivers' feet. She loves feet.

If they start getting too antsy in the carriers... I might revise my plan. I'll play it by ear depending on the circumstances. I know Izzy actually LOVES the carrier. She just goes in and sleeps. When I first brought her down to Texas, I left the carrier out for her because it was familiar and soothing to her. She'd sleep in it like it was her bed for a long time. I only put it away when she stopped using it. Emmy... has more energy and is a total unknown. I'll see how she does. Hopefully it won't be an issue.

[Traci]

Are the cats microchipped???

Be careful, Slvr, just keep them in their carriers at all times and only allow exercising when you're locked into your hotel room!

[slvrwhispr]

They're chipped, but I know not everywhere has the same scanners. Doesn't hurt to be double-sure. Plus the new tags and collars are super-cute.

[slvrwhispr]

Argh... mother-in-law is here and Izzy is extremely displeased. She was sitting on the bed with me while I was folding laundry so I picked her up and brought her out to the living room to say hello. MIL is a good woman but she has a rather loud voice, and Izzy did NOT like her. She bolted back to the bedroom. I went back in and sat with her for a while but I'm pretty sure she won't be coming out. I put food in there for her and left the tap running in the bathroom. Poor thing... I have more laundry to fold soon so I'm sure she'll come snuggle with me some more. Both girls love "helping" with laundry.

Emmy, on the other hand, adores MIL. But she loves everybody. I have never seen a more people-oriented or attention-desiring cat in all my life.

I will be so glad when this is over... people will be here to move furniture soon and I'm trying to decide where to hide with Izzy...

[Traci]

Hang in there Slvr, just keep giving her lots of attention and your time, she really needs to know her mommy is protecting her from all these changes.