Forgive me for the long-winded explanation, but I'm hoping someone can give me some more suggestions for my long time scaredy cat, Nina. There has been a lot going on, so let me start from the beginning. I got her as a rescue who was found on the streets in a big city at 5 months old. She came into our house with 2 other rescues I got as kittens that were only a year older and everyone got along fine. Nina has always been very afraid of people other than those she lives with (my husband and myself).
So jump forward now many years and out of 4 indoor cats she is "last man standing". My oldest cat passed at 16 years old last month from kidney disease. I think she didn't feel well for a while and was demanding all my attention so she had become pretty impatient with Nina causing her to hide under the bed pretty regularly just to keep out of her way. (Nina is 15 now.) Nina did start to come out and spend time with us more often for a few days when she realized Mia was gone, more than she has anyway in a long time. When the other cats got sick, (thyroid disease, IBD, then CKD) they always got the bulk of the attention. Nina has always been a hider and I knew one day it was going to become an issue.
So with the other cat now gone I decided it was definitely time for Nina to get to the vet for blood work, a good check up and her annual teeth cleaning. Thank God her blood work came back fine but teeth wise.....anyway, after being sent to a dental specialist she has a disease that causes reabsorption of her teeth, turns out to be a very painful condition. So she had surgery to have 6 teeth removed, 2 needing root canals. She did well, has come home and of course is hiding under the bed again. Well, 2 times into the carrier within 2 weeks....but it's been a week since her surgery and she will have to go back for a quick check in a couple more weeks.
I did give her some pain meds for a few days that I imagine kept her a bit groggy so I just let her rest....she has urinated, but only one bowel movement since the surgery probably because of the medications. It was a pretty normal stool for her. I'm giving her Miralax trying to get more stool out of her. She does tend towards constipation normally and the Miralax usually does the trick. But she will not stop hiding and I don't know if she's feeling alright or not. She is so scared by any noise when she does come out, she quickly runs back under the bed again.
When I can get her to come out she acts like her old self, roles around, lets me pet her and brush her. Is interested in playing but I have to make sure that she doesn't bite anything right now so that is sort of out. I know she needs to get up and move around more to help the Mirilax to work. So today, I have gotten her out of the bedrooms and shut all the doors to force her to come out of hiding, although she found her old hiding place downstairs waiting for her and so now she's in there. I put some Rescue Remedy in her food which she hasn't eaten yet. And I just sprayed some Feliway spray around downstairs.
She used to be the kind of cat who would sit in the window and enjoy a little sunshine once in a while, but over the last couple years has gotten in the habit of hiding under the beds all day and coming out only when it's safe at night. She's friendly towards me but right now isn't real trusting which is sort of understandable. I also have some special cat calming music that I'm playing for her.
Does anyone have any further suggestions I can try? I plan to let her go back to the bedrooms tonight, but I really am trying to keep an eye on her so I can get an idea of how she's doing. And if I could get her to move around some she might have a bowel movement, but I don't want to chase her around the house.
So jump forward now many years and out of 4 indoor cats she is "last man standing". My oldest cat passed at 16 years old last month from kidney disease. I think she didn't feel well for a while and was demanding all my attention so she had become pretty impatient with Nina causing her to hide under the bed pretty regularly just to keep out of her way. (Nina is 15 now.) Nina did start to come out and spend time with us more often for a few days when she realized Mia was gone, more than she has anyway in a long time. When the other cats got sick, (thyroid disease, IBD, then CKD) they always got the bulk of the attention. Nina has always been a hider and I knew one day it was going to become an issue.
So with the other cat now gone I decided it was definitely time for Nina to get to the vet for blood work, a good check up and her annual teeth cleaning. Thank God her blood work came back fine but teeth wise.....anyway, after being sent to a dental specialist she has a disease that causes reabsorption of her teeth, turns out to be a very painful condition. So she had surgery to have 6 teeth removed, 2 needing root canals. She did well, has come home and of course is hiding under the bed again. Well, 2 times into the carrier within 2 weeks....but it's been a week since her surgery and she will have to go back for a quick check in a couple more weeks.
I did give her some pain meds for a few days that I imagine kept her a bit groggy so I just let her rest....she has urinated, but only one bowel movement since the surgery probably because of the medications. It was a pretty normal stool for her. I'm giving her Miralax trying to get more stool out of her. She does tend towards constipation normally and the Miralax usually does the trick. But she will not stop hiding and I don't know if she's feeling alright or not. She is so scared by any noise when she does come out, she quickly runs back under the bed again.
When I can get her to come out she acts like her old self, roles around, lets me pet her and brush her. Is interested in playing but I have to make sure that she doesn't bite anything right now so that is sort of out. I know she needs to get up and move around more to help the Mirilax to work. So today, I have gotten her out of the bedrooms and shut all the doors to force her to come out of hiding, although she found her old hiding place downstairs waiting for her and so now she's in there. I put some Rescue Remedy in her food which she hasn't eaten yet. And I just sprayed some Feliway spray around downstairs.
She used to be the kind of cat who would sit in the window and enjoy a little sunshine once in a while, but over the last couple years has gotten in the habit of hiding under the beds all day and coming out only when it's safe at night. She's friendly towards me but right now isn't real trusting which is sort of understandable. I also have some special cat calming music that I'm playing for her.
Does anyone have any further suggestions I can try? I plan to let her go back to the bedrooms tonight, but I really am trying to keep an eye on her so I can get an idea of how she's doing. And if I could get her to move around some she might have a bowel movement, but I don't want to chase her around the house.
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