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Cats/Is my cat lonely??

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Expert: - 1/29/2009


Question
I have a 4 year old tabby/calico cross. I got her when she was 2 months old. She was raised around my mom's dogs. We had to put one of the dogs down a couple of years ago and after that it was just the Leo(dog) and Nala(cat). Leo was very lonely after the passing and I was in the stages of moving, so I brought Nala to my mom's and she stayed with them till my new home was ready. After the move, She talks all the time and will eat so fast she will bring it all back up, in fear that I am going to leave while she is eating. I'm very concerned that she just misses Leo and wants to go back..... is she lonely?

Answer
Chrissie,

Cats grieve the loss of a companion just the way that people do. Its quite possible that Nala is missing Leo. It will take some time and patience dealing with Nala while she grieves if you arent able to keep Leo at your place due to work or school schedules. You may find that a properly introduced kitten would help Nala to cope with the loss of her canine companion. If you do decide to add another cat to your household I would highly recommend that you read up on my previous answers regarding new cat/kitten introductions. In the event that you are unable to offer a home to another pet at this time you may find that giving Nala a homeopathic remedy called Bachs Rescue Remedy which is a blend of flower essences designed to calm and reassure might help Nala get back to normal more quickly. You can find Rescue Remedy in health food stores, naturopathic pharmacies, some mainstream pharmacies in the nutritional supplement section and I believe that you may also be able to purchase this remedy online. Rescue Remedy is safe for human beings and pets - it is often used worldwide by some veterinarians and pet parents to help traumatized, anxious, fearful, and abused pets recover emotionally. Ive also had some success in using Rescue Remedy with cats experiencing loss whether its a person or another pet that they care about.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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