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Expert: - 4/27/2009


Question
The last two days my cat, three year old tabby, appears afraid to come out of one room into the others. Yesterday it was necessary for me to take him to his litter box so that he could go the bathroom. He appears to be afraid of heights now, and he has never been before. He's not playful, nor interested in eating. I even tried catnip to lure him out into the other rooms. Before he went into every room and was very playful. He doesn't come to the door when I come home and he has done this since he first adopted me two years ago. I am concerned. He will be seeing his vet Saturday for his booster shots. Should I bring this up to the vet?

John

Answer
John,

This kitty needs to see a vet immediately, such a drastic change in behavior is a pretty good indication that your cat is very sick. Cats are quite stoic and can endure a lot of discomfort, usually by the time they start exhibiting behavioral changes they're much sicker than they look. I don't think that this cat should wait til Saturday to see the vet and if he's still sick I'd highly suggest not vaccinating him until he's better. There's actually plenty of good research that suggests we over vaccinate our cats and it's causing serious health problems like auto immune diseases, renal failure and certain types of cancers. According to newer research cats vaccinated properly once during their lifetime may not require any further vaccines. There is a test to determine whether or not your cat actually needs to be vaccinated for anything, but it's a bit pricey. The test is about checking the levels of immunity in blood, and your vet can do this fairly easily. If your cat is proven to be immune to the stuff normally vaccinated against he doesn't need any further vaccines unless his level of immunity changes at some point. If your cat does require vaccines I'd suggest taking the time to look into cycling the vaccines which means that your cat won't necessarily get vaccinated every year and he'll received one vaccinate each time he gets his shots done.

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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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