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Cats/cranky kitty

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Expert: - 5/23/2009


Question
I have a 1yr old female cat and she is very affectionate and most of the time she is pretty good..lately she isolates herself and hides in her kennel, she will growel and hiss at company and people she usually likes, if she comes up to you for attention she only cries and if you try to pet her she runs.i was wondering if she is lonley or if it is more then that?
any feed back would be appreciated, thanks

Answer
Tina,

Such a drastic change in a cat's behavior could indicate that she's sick. I'd suggest having her assessed by your veterinarian as soon as possible, if the physical exam doesn't reveal any obvious reason for her behavior you will want to ask for a pre-anesthetic blood profile which gives the vet an idea of how your cat's major organs are functioning overall, a urine test is also a good plan, that will show if the issues are related to a bladder infection or crystals causing pain and burning when your little girl urinates. If she hasn't been spayed it's possible that she's become pregnant by accident and is having a problem with the pregnancy, labor or a complicated delivery.

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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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