Expert: Dear Tabbi - 6/11/2008

Question
Last summer we adopted 2 cats from friends who moved to Europe and could not take them along. We already had 4 cats in a very small house, but hoped they would eventually become part of the group.  We introduced them slowly, allowing them the bathroom to themselves for several weeks until everyone settled down from the initial knowledge of strangers in their midst.  The new male ('Rio') ventured out to the rest of the house after a while, but has never become friendly with the other cats and fights constantly.  The new female ('Via') however, is the real problem.  She loves her buddy Rio but is terrified of our other cats.  She is traumatized and does not come out of the bathroom.  She has lived in my tiny bathroom for 10 months now.  At first I had a basket with her blanket in the bathroom, but she would not come out of the bathroom to use the cat box in the laundry room and began going in her blanket instead.  I put a 2nd cat box in the bathroom, but that didn't help as she is afraid to be on the floor.  The basket and blanket had to go.  She prefers to stay on top of a wall cabinet or in the window sill, or on the top shelf of the shelves behind the toilet...all being high and safe and giving her the vantage point of seeing any other cat that comes in the door.  She will come down to eat, but only briefly.  Now she has started going to the bathroom on top of the wall cabinet....where she often still sleeps!  I am at my wits end and don't know what to do.  I do not know anyone who loves cats enough to put up with her behaviour (and Rio...they need to be together) who does not already have cats.  She is extremely loveable and loves to be held and cuddled, although I am reluctant because she is now often sleeping on top of her own feces and urine. (I clean up as fast as I can....)  What in the world do I do?...she is getting worse everyday.  We really love these cats and want them to be happy, but they are clearly not.

Answer
Terri,

Poor kitty! She has serious depression and emotional issues. I would suggest a visit to the vet for a prescription for some kitty Prozac. It is commonly prescribed for stress and emotional problems.

Have you let her outside? Maybe she would be happier as an outside cat. There isn't much else you can do except find a home for her and Rio, or for your original 4 cats and let them stay. Do you have a garage with an escape hole where you can give them "their own home"?

I would call some vet's offices and talk to the receptionists. They may know of a loving client who had to have their cat put to sleep who would be willing to take both cats....which would help you and them. Or write a flyer describing the problem you are having and find out if you can put them up on the bulletin boards at the vet's office.

I hope you find a solution! Keep me posted.

Tabbi