Expert: Karen Craft - 4/15/2007

Question
Hi Karen,
My Maine Coon mix cat Zeke is 1 year and 8 months old.  Last September we
moved into a new apartment (about the same size but a studio instead of 1
bedroom).  Since the move he has become more aggressive and compulsive -
he scratching the walls (he used to just scratch the litter box walls as a kitten,
but now he scratches the walls after using the litter box and in the middle of
the night), digs plants, climbs the sofa and eats newspapers.  Before I was
fully unpacked from the move he would attack the boxes and create human
size fist holes in them.  His aggression seemed to be better for awhile but the
last week has been bad.  My hands and arms are a mess from scratches and
he actively seeks me out to attack my legs when he is worked up.  I am
currently unemployed and home a lot more then I used to be and I thought he
would be happier with me around.
In the fall I took him to a vet who put him on cat Valium (which was a disaster
and I stopped after one treatment).  I now put Resume Remedy in his water
twice a day.
I am thinking of getting another cat so he has a friend, but am worried about
living in a small space with 2 cats that hate each other, or that he will harm
the new cat.
Please let me know if you have any recommendations on how to improve his
behavior.
Thank you,
Cannon

Answer
Hi Cannon,

He sounds very highly stressed right now. The stuff you are giving him right now, is it Rescue Remedy? If it is it has two ingredients that are on the Cat fancy list of plants poisonous to cats. There is an antihistamine that you can ask your vet about. It works like Prozac. It's called cyproheptadine (Periactin). You can get a product called Feliway. It works great calming down cats. I wouldn't get a new cat at this time. Maybe later. He needs time to relax and to feel safe again. But another cat will be good for him later on. It just needs to be introduced to him the right way. Good luck and let me know what you do.

Ciao, Karen