Once a loving cat now a distant little, grumpy complainer?

Help meee....

I don't know what to do. I lived in Minnesota when I first met my cat (Meu Meu)... He was the BEST cat you could have ever found... loving, snuggley, would come when you called, would greet me and follow me everywhere...

He has gone through a lot to get to Alaska, he lived in many different places in a reasonably short amount of time. He grew up on a dairy farm but had lived in our apartment for a while too. He is about 1 year old.

It's been 2 weeks since we moved to Alaska.. He's grumpy all the time unless he's playing by himself or chacing our 15 pound cat around.. He doesn't snuggle, come when called, jump up on your lap or anything that he used to do.

He has been eating a lot of grass lately... Do you think that he's colicing? (I'm used to horse terms.. forgive me if that's not the word! ) How long does it take a cat to settle into his new surroundings? He started getting grumpy after he was neutored... but that could have been just because he had to go through a few different houses..

Anyways... All I want to know is if he's going to change back to the wonderful, loving cat he used to be... I don't want to keep him if he's not.. He's not the kind of cat I'd want as a pet anymore...

What can I do to help him? Do you think he's over stimulated by the new dog and cat? Should I put him in a quiet room for a few hours a day to "chill"?

Any tips would be wonderful!! Thank you

A year old and has already lived on a farm, an apt, moved to Alaska and lived other places? That's a lot of moving for a baby. Then you add in new furry friends....
Has your work/school schedule changed? Are you still giving him the same amount of attention as before?
Are you in an area in Alaska where the day/night schedule is diferent?

It takes time to adjust to new situations. Two weeks is a very short for anyone to adjust - even people. You could backtract and try keeping him in "his" room for a couple of days, with you spending some quiet time with him.

When was the last vet visit? When was the neutering?
Did you bring some of the old water with you from MN? Same food? Have you noticed any changes in the litter box?

I guess since I moved back when college got out, I was able to settle into my routines very quickly and forgot it takes a while for new comers.

I have been around a lot lately because I'm waiting on my job to start up, but he doesn't like to be touched anymore or at least for very long. He went to the vet right before we left MN, so about 3 weeks ago. And was Neutored 2 months ago.

I'll go buy some bottled water for him to drink and see if it helps his belly?

Alaska is now entering it's long days, so there is a lot more daylight that he's ever seen before...

I know his life has drastically changed, but I don't know how to make him comfortable and happy so he can adjust easier.

I'll probably try the back tracking thing and maybe play classical music while he's in the room.. He always calms down when I play it. His food hasn't changed, but he doesn't like it anymore.. he loves his litter box and goes no where else. I take him outside on a leash so he can lay in the grass and roll around too, cause I know he grew up being foot loose and fancy free.

Any other tips on how to make it easier for a cat to adjust?

It sounds like a whole lot of action going on for both of you. On the other hand, he is young and as long as you have been with him and supportive through out all of the moving, traveling, and vet visits, it should be easier for him to adjust. It does take a while for some cats to chemically balance out after neuter/spay. As well as the new surroundings and move during the time of what is puberty for them, all those emotions suddenly kick in at 6-12 months, regardless spay/neuter! There is still some territorial, possessive, aware of surroundings, emotions they are aware of all of a sudden. A new dog and cat on top of all, most likely a bit difficult to except when jealousy and territorial are new feelings......

Originally Posted by cheylink

It sounds like a whole lot of action going on for both of you. On the other hand, he is young and as long as you have been with him and supportive through out all of the moving, traveling, and vet visits, it should be easier for him to adjust. It does take a while for some cats to chemically balance out after neuter/spay. As well as the new surroundings and move during the time of what is puberty for them, all those emotions suddenly kick in at 6-12 months, regardless spay/neuter! There is still some territorial, possessive, aware of surroundings, emotions they are aware of all of a sudden. A new dog and cat on top of all, most likely a bit difficult to except when jealousy and territorial are new feelings......

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He would be at the preteen/teen stage. Imagine a 12 or 13 yr old child in the same circumstances - there would be some acting out. As long as you now have consistency, he should come around. He may be a bit different simply because he has matured. Just keep loving him as you would any rebellious teen and I'm betting he will come around

I'm not sure bottled water is the answer to anything - I imagine tap water in Alaska is probably fairly decent, and bottled tends to have either things put in it you don't want, or too much taken out that may be good for you (trace elements of necessary chemicals) apart from (another change) the different taste. But I'm also appalled at your attitude - even if you hadn't considered carefully enough how much time he'd need to adjust (never mind the neutering), your willingness to get rid of him so fast because he isn't sucking up to you as much just shocks me. How would it have been if your mother, when you were having a very hard time to begin with, just threw you out because you weren't being a ray of sunshine that week?

I would give him plenty of time and not force him into anything.

Cats usually like play so maybe try seeing if he'll want to play with you, "play therapy" can really help cats if they're feeling stressed out etc. Also maybe get a few treats and spend some quality time giving him them by hand with a bit of petting etc. to try to bond a bit again.

Mostly though, he's been through a lot of changes in a short time so give him time to get back to normal without giving up on him. It can take months for cats to mellow out again after a move.

..and really why wouldn't you want to keep him if he stays a non-lapcat. He's still a living creature that needs to be taken care of. It doesn't sound like you're having any serious problems with him (i.e peeing all over the place, spraying etc.) so yeah I'm rather puzzled with that attitude. Keeping pets is long term commitment and sometimes you can go through a tough patch but things usually get better eventually although it can take months.