Need Help Don't Know What To Do

I don't know if this is the correct board to post this or if it should be under the behavior board.

Lynxx is 9 years old. He's always been an only cat, and even as a kitten never showed interest in other cats.

Back in August we saved Luna a kitten who was thrown out of a truck in front of us. We made sure she was ok, and she was except for fleas, we got all the fleas off of her. She isn't a trusting cat, she has a lot of problems because of what was done to her in her previous home. We've worked really hard with her to make her feel safe and comfortable. And she's grown to be a gorgeous 6 month old kitten who trusts and loves us.

Luna liked Lynxx right away, she wanted to cuddle with him, and play with him. Lynxx hated her right away. He doesn't know play with other cats, and he doesn't know cuddle with other cats, and he doesn't want to know play or cuddle with other cats.

We thought it would help if we got another kitten someone Luna can do all that stuff with. My mother's friend rescued a kitten, Midnight, and gave him to us 3 days after Luna got here. Only Midnight was 3 weeks old at the time, way to young to play with Luna, who was 12 weeks old. So that didn't work.

Autumn came in the hopes that she could play with Luna. Only Autumn was just like Lynxx, and wanted nothing to do with the other cats. But unlike Lynxx, Autumn attacked the other cats including Lynxx.

Lynxx has gotten so upset about these new kittens that he's stopped eating. Started pulling his fur out. Feliway did make him more friendly to us. The new vet we go to prescribed Prozac for him. But that could take 2 months for any changes.

I don't even think the Prozac is going to work. I know the only thing that's going to work for Lynxx, is if we get rid of these kittens. Maybe if the original vet had done something like this for him back in August this could have worked, but he was useless and only wanted our money. In fact he knew exactly what was going to happen, and wanted this to happen so he could rip us off when it came to surgeries to fix the organs Lynxx damaged by not eating. Right now his blood tests came back ok, he doesn't have any organ failures or damage, but if this continues I know it's going to happen and I know he's going to die.

Autumn went to a good home with people I know will take good care of her, a place where she can be happy as an only pet. We couldn't keep letting her attack the other cats, especially Lynxx.

As for Luna we saved her, we can't give her away. She's doing good here because she's finally in a place she feels safe. We know how to treat her, and she knows she'll never be hurt here. She panics if she's away from us. She had a horrible day at the vet after being spayed. She had a horrible day at the groomers. But both times was fine when she saw us and we picked her up and brought her back home. She has behaviors that she does that will drive people nuts, which is probably why her previous owners abused her. We know exactly how to calm her down, and how to treat her. I do believe if we give her away she will have even more problems than she does already. She doesn't let us out of her sight, not even for a second. Other than my father, she can't be around men. She has a hard time when we have to go places and leave her home alone. I can't get rid of her.

Midnight doesn't have any issues, I don't think he'd have any special needs problems like Luna. But we're all he knows, he was here since he was 3 weeks old. He doesn't like strangers he climbs to my neck and sinks his claws into my clothes, whenever someone new comes to the house and tries to pat him. Except he did have his picture with "santa" yesterday and he had no problem letting "santa" hold him, but he kept his eyes on us the whole time.

I've had Lynxx for 9 years. He's been my best friend for 9 years. I don't know what to do. I've worked so hard with Luna to help her, I can't get rid of her. I never meant to hurt Lynxx by bringing these kittens home. I don't know what to do. I can't make Lynxx eat. He'll never accept these kittens. I can't lose him, I love him more than anything.

I've talked to my parents. My father is determined that Luna and Midnight stay here. I want Luna and Midnight to stay here to. But I don't want Lynxx to die, and that's what's going to happen.

We've tried keeping them away from Lynxx. We have a small house we barely fit in here never mind the cats. Lynxx refuses to stay away from them. Lynxx will sometimes go up to them and touch noses with them on his own. But if they come up to him he freaks. We've tried giving Lynxx all different kinds of cat foods, even kitten food. He does sometimes eat the kitten food. He did for awhile just eat tuna, but now he's stopped even eating tuna. He does drink water, he drinks his water, and drinks it from their water bowls as well.

All of us give Lynxx the same amount of attention and love that we gave him before. We each spend extra time with him talking to him and patting him, but even that doesn't help him.

Anyone else ever have this problem? What did you do? The Prozac he just started. I don't want to lose any of my cats, especially Lynxx. I know this post is super long sorry about that.

Loss of appetite is one of the side effects of prozac in cats. I'd call the vet to discuss taking him off the prozac.

As he's unhappy with the other kitties, perhaps you can try giving him his own space for a little while? Can you keep him in your bedroom - with litter box (or two, if he needs more than one), food & water? If he mellows in his own space (make sure you give him lots of attention and play!), then maybe work on reintroducing him properly and very slowly to the girls.

I'd watch the prozac too- it has some adverse side effects and it can harm the kidneys if used long-term. First of all, if you can erase the phrase "getting rid" of the cats, this might help you. If you are trying to make your home and your cat(s) happier, then you are trying to find a solution or a loving home for the unhappy ones.

Cats aren't like people. They don't get lonely- some cats prefer to be solo cats. They don't socialize like we do, they have their own heirarchy and are such fierce survivalists that sometimes putting them together can prove the wrong thing to do.

I suggest strongly a book by Dusty Rainbolt Cat Wrangling 101 Also making your home more cat friendly with tall cat trees, cat caves which can be anything from cat carriers left open draped in dark towels, an empty dresser drawer, a spot in the closet or an empty cardboard box on its side with lots of soft padding and a dark towel to drape over it.

Almost sounds like Lynxx has hepatic lipdosis? If he does, keeping his stress level low and him eating is key to him beating this.

Buy Dusty's book- she tackles all the challenges of living in a multi-cat household. I know this for a fact trust me.

best of luck-

Originally Posted by My4LLMA

We thought it would help if we got another kitten someone Luna can do all that stuff with. My mother's friend rescued a kitten, Midnight, and gave him to us 3 days after Luna got here.

I don't even think the Prozac is going to work. I know the only thing that's going to work for Lynxx, is if we get rid of these kittens. Maybe if the original vet had done something like this for him back in August this could have worked, but he was useless and only wanted our money. In fact he knew exactly what was going to happen, and wanted this to happen so he could rip us off when it came to surgeries to fix the organs Lynxx damaged by not eating. Right now his blood tests came back ok, he doesn't have any organ failures or damage, but if this continues I know it's going to happen and I know he's going to die.

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Why would the original vet have done something right away, when it is 100% normal for cats to act strange when new cats move in? I honestly hope you're venting, because all of these claims against that vet sound kind of like you're mad in general and looking for a scapegoat. Really, you believe your vet knew right away that the introduction of new cats would cause lynxx to stop eating and have to be put on drugs? I didn't know Miss Cleo was a vet.

I'm very sorry to hear you and Lynxx are going through these difficulties, My4LLMA.

I don't have a solution to offer you, as my tendency would be to respect the original cat's need to be an only cat, especially since he's stressing himself sick; as Hissy mentioned, some cats just don't do well with others.

This must be terrifically stressful for all of you - I hope that you are able to work it out soon. <<<Hugs>>>

AC

Originally Posted by rad65

Why would the original vet have done something right away, when it is 100% normal for cats to act strange when new cats move in? I honestly hope you're venting, because all of these claims against that vet sound kind of like you're mad in general and looking for a scapegoat. Really, you believe your vet knew right away that the introduction of new cats would cause lynxx to stop eating and have to be put on drugs? I didn't know Miss Cleo was a vet.

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I firmly believe everything i said about my original vet! so far i've yet to read 1good review about him online. i'm not the only 1. the place used to be owned by an excellent vet, back when i first got Lynxx. She then sold. Once she sold, it began to go down hill. By next year this place isn't even going to be in business anymore, since so many people have left. they used to be so crowded you couldn't even park to get in. They used to be good. They've lost all their business due to the way they not only treat their cat patients, but the cat owners. They used to care about the cats at 1time, but the new owners only care about money. At 1 time I would have recommended them to any cat owner, I even would have recommended that vet to anyone. There was a time we even requested that vet! And yes it's our fault we should have left sooner! We should have left right after the first time we had a problem with Lynxx, that the vet did nothing for, but charge us for the visit, and that was about 2 years ago, before these kittens were even born. Not leaving then is my biggest regret! just hoping that that this new vet is able to help Lynxx, the way the other vet should have. So far she is doing everything she can, which is more than i can say for that original vet.

Originally Posted by LDG

Loss of appetite is one of the side effects of prozac in cats. I'd call the vet to discuss taking him off the prozac.

Can you keep him in your bedroom - with litter box (or two, if he needs more than one), food & water? If he mellows in his own space (make sure you give him lots of attention and play!).

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That's part of the problem, Lynxx refuses to be locked away from them. If their out, he demands to be out to. We did try that.

We do give him lots of attention. Not so much play, he is very lazy even before the kittens were ever born, Lynxx refused to play with toys. He used to play all the time when he was younger.

Originally Posted by hissy

I'd watch the prozac too- it has some adverse side effects and it can harm the kidneys if used long-term. First of all, if you can erase the phrase "getting rid" of the cats, this might help you. If you are trying to make your home and your cat(s) happier, then you are trying to find a solution or a loving home for the unhappy ones.

Cats aren't like people. They don't get lonely- some cats prefer to be solo cats. They don't socialize like we do, they have their own heirarchy and are such fierce survivalists that sometimes putting them together can prove the wrong thing to do.

I suggest strongly a book by Dusty Rainbolt Cat Wrangling 101 Also making your home more cat friendly with tall cat trees, cat caves which can be anything from cat carriers left open draped in dark towels, an empty dresser drawer, a spot in the closet or an empty cardboard box on its side with lots of soft padding and a dark towel to drape over it.

Almost sounds like Lynxx has hepatic lipdosis? If he does, keeping his stress level low and him eating is key to him beating this.

Buy Dusty's book- she tackles all the challenges of living in a multi-cat household. I know this for a fact trust me.

best of luck-

Click to expand...

The vet is just keeping him on it long enough to get a change in him, then he'll come off of it. I made sure she knew that I didn't want him on Prozac or any medication for to long. Just long enough to help him.

I will look for the book.

I don't know if he has that, but I wrote it down so I could ask the vet to check for it.

When we adopted Hannah 5 years ago, my older cat, Callie was severly affected. I was shocked because when I first got Callie she had a little friend and companion that she loved. Callie didn't stop eating entirely, but there was a DRASTIC decrease in her food intake. She also developed a couple of URIs over the period of several months and she also started having UTIs. She stopped coming around us, wouldn't sleep in the bed with us, stayed to herself and basically hid out. I would seek her out and love on her. I spent many hours laying on the floor under the table or with my arm stuck in the closet loving on her. It took her 2 YEARS to come out of her funk, but I was sooooo concerned about her. We used Bach's Rescue Remedy for about 1.5 years, then gradually weaned her off of that. Now I run Feliway diffusers 24/7. She's even more outgoing NOW than before we adopted Hannah. I was extremely concerned about how she would respond when we were considering adopting Tumbles this past July. She's done GREAT with him, but Hannah's still having problems adjusting to his presence.

Make sure you provide Lynxx a "safe place" that's only his. It can be a box with a hole cut in one end or a closet or even under a bed, but make sure that the other cats are not allowed in there, especially if he's in there. Make sure the place is easily accessible for him. Shower loads of love on him, greet him first, feed him first, and all the stuff you'd do for a resident cat when you add a cat to your home.

Your vet likely doesn't carry books. Dusty's book, Cat Wrangling Made Easy is available at Amazon.com for $10 + shipping: http://www.amazon.com/Cat-Wrangling-...9334207&sr=1-1

There is a solution that doesn't involve such a drastic medication. But it takes time and patience, something you may want to work on.

We have a cat that does not like new cats in our home. But we rescue. We do all we can to make it work, but it still takes her a year to get over new intros. Ultimately, everyone is happy and healthy, and it requires no medication. It does require love, dedication, time, and commitment to a proper process. We have 8 cats living happily together in an RV.

Just because a 3-year old baby wants to run and play in the street doesn't mean you let them. Your Lynxx may "demand" to be out where the others are, but it is up to his guardians to decide what is best for him, and work with him to make him as happy as possible during any changes and transitions.