Tabbytudes Cat Behavior Column - June 2003

Urinary stones/crystals are most commonly blamed for these problems. But sometimes cats develop cystitis just out of stress and there are no stones/crystals present. If Megan is a shy kitty, she may be prone to idiopathic cystitis (no known physical cause). Relieving her stress level by keeping to a routine will help.

It's true that some drug therapies can help relieve cats that suffer from idiopathic cystitis. For instance, amitriptyline (brand name Elavil) works in people to counter anxiety and depression, and has been used to relieve feline stress. It also inhibits the release of mast cells in the bladder wall that cause inflammation, so it's very helpful for feline idiopathic cystitis.

When cost is an issue (when is it not?!), a common antihistamine called hydroxizine is a good option, because the chemical structure is very similar to amitriptyline. One owner I've interviewed treated her cat with hydroxizine for a cost of about $15 a month. Ask your veterinarian about this option-but remember, it may take a few weeks for the drug to build up in the bloodstream to the right levels to show a benefit.

In the meantime, know that confining Megan to the laundry room is NOT being mean. She doesn't want you to be upset with her. She wants you to love her the way you always have-and if that means preventing problems in the short term by confinement, that's much better than the alternative of losing her home, or her life.

Good luck and best wishes, Amy

Other letters this month have to do with making vacation plans for outdoor cats, early morning demands, diarrhea/constipation concerns, and cat introduction problems. Whew! That's quite a range of topics.

It's always tough to know what to do when we must be away from home for any length of time. Cats usually prefer to stay in familiar territory, so sending them to a boarding facility (or finding a good one that doesn't unduly stress them) can be tough. Hiring a pet sitter is my preferred choice for indoor cats. When the felines are primarily outside critters, though, the issue becomes more complicated. When the cats are closely bonded to a particular place-say the garden area of your home; when good cattery alternatives are not available; and when a reliable "cat feeder" can visit twice a day or more; my inclination would be for the cats to stay in their garden. If possible, ask the cat feeder to start coming a week early for several introductory visits, and hopefully the cats will be willing to get their snuggle "fixes" from him or her. Cats do jump fences, but there is a product that can help keep them confined, called "Cat Fence-In Systems." This is netting that attaches to existing barriers-it has a money- back guarantee. Visit www.catfencein.com for more information.

Early morning meow-demands to "feed me" or otherwise wait on Her Highness are quite common. Every time an owner gives in and rolls out of bed at five a.m. to cater to the little dickens, you teach Kitty that you'll give in-eventually. About the only way to extinguish this behavior is to totally ignore the demands. That's very hard to do when she's pawing your face, or yelling for you to lift her into the litter box-and you must clean up the mess. One way to handle this is to close demanding cats in a room by themselves for the night, with a door between you and their meow- demands. Tough kitty love can work, but it takes time and patience.

On the cat introduction front, it's never too late to start over from scratch, particularly when aggression develops. Separate the kitties, confining the "new" one in a room and act like this is the first time they've been introduced. You can try the perfume trick again. When the aggression takes place primarily when you are present, the older cat is likely defending her territory-you-from the younger. It may salve the older cat's feelings if you simply ignore the younger kitty when they're both in the room together. Reinforce the status of the older cat-feed her first, pet her first, and try giving the younger cat attention when the older cat is otherwise engaged.