I'm writing on behalf of a friend, who has 6 cats. The latest addition has been living with her about half a year, and is the "problem child". He was born in 2000, is a rather small tuxedo (6 lbs.), and was an "indoor-outdoor" cat for about three years. His owner moved away, and abandoned him. My friend fed him, and then took him in. The 3 older cats now ignore him, and her 2 4-year-olds have accepted him. The problem is that he seems totally apathetic. He has been given a clean bill of health by various vets, and eats properly. He'll play with the two younger cats if they initiate it, but he refuses to go outside, and sleeps at least 20 hours a day. I know cats sleep a lot, but that seems rather extreme for a young cat. Our impression is that he is depressed. He does some grooming, but mostly it is his 4-year-old companions who groom him. He purrs if you pick him up and stroke him, but he never demands attention, which I find very uncatlike. My friend even consulted an "animal psychic", who said the cat was traumatized by being abandoned. Does anybody have any suggestions about how to help him?
