AboutJessica Expertise The areas in which I have gained the most experience are cat health and feral cat management/rescue. I provide supportive care to chronically ill cats, hospice care to terminally ill cats and also am involved in trap-neuter-return efforts. My specialities lie in taming feral cats and in the allopathic treatment of cats with illnesses or special needs. I also have owned Siamese, Himalayans, Abyssinians, Russian Blues, Savannahs, Bengals, Peterbalds, Don Sphynx and Oriental Shorthairs and am well-versed in cat breeds as well as cat behavior and nutrition.
Experience I have 15 years of extensive experience with cats ranging from breeding to medical care. My daily routine consists of caring for cats with diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney failure, feline leukemia, feline AIDS as well as feral cats. I have experience with liver patients, heart patients, feline infectious peritonitis, cancer, recovery from amputation and trauma, congenital deformities and most every disease in between. I have assisted cats giving birth and hand-nursed kittens who were neglected by their mother from 2 days old through weaning.
Question recently my mother passed away,and left me her cat she is about 5 yrs old and has always been healthy regular visits to vet shots etc. i spent 2 weeks in the house with her adjusting her to my smell etc all seemed well so we traveled from calif to colorado we have been home almost 2 months we have other cats but i kept her secluded from the rest of the animals she was fine and then she started sleeping more and more sometimes i wouldn't see her for 2 and 3 days in the past 3 weeks her appetite has dwindled to almost nothing i have experimented with just about every kind of cat food and now tuna,sardines and even baby cat milk but still to no avail she is long haired and she is becoming horribly matted she moves around and i have even given her access to outdoors she goes out and returns but she just seems so distant and moves ever so slowly what can i do? is she mourning? help debra
Answer Hi Debra. I don't think she's likely mourning at this point. Typically the mourning period resolves within 3 months. If she is mourning normally, she should be improving by now.
It is a fact that some cats slip so deeply into depression that they can't get out without help, just like people, and they need medications to stabilize their moods. This is a possibility.
However, I fear a physical illness is probably present here because of the severity of the symptoms. A vet visit is definitely in order. If there is no obvious sign of infection, the vet will probably suggest a full blood panel to check for kidney, liver and pancreas function, as well as thyroid levels, diabetes, anemia, high or low white blood cell count, feline leukemia and AIDS (if these haven't been performed), and protein levels. He or she will also listen for heart function, breathing problems, and palpate the abdomen for growths or obstructions. A urine test might be wise, as well, to check for urinary tract crystals or infection.
If all tests come back normal, it may be wise to discuss an antidepressant with the vet. Most often, these can be discontinued after a few months' use.
