Is she disturbed?

Here's a question for you all: It's about Daisy, a six-year old cat we got from the shelter at six months old. She still acts like a kitten, everything is done at 100 miles per hour, she plays like a kitten, eats her food too quickly etc. Her digestion is delicate to say the least. It's her behaviour that's bothering me most though. She has the habit of walking round the kitchen, ears down at the side of her head, howling fit to burst. If she sees me watching she will come over and give the little 'hello' chirrup, but then goes back to howling. She has always done this, but it seems to me that lately she has been doing it more often. Last night she did it for about an hour, not all in one go, but spread over the course of an evening. I can see no reason for it, and have been wondering if she could be mentally disturbed. Does anyone on here have any experience of disturbed cats? Do you think she is a bit touched in the head?
If the answer is yes, it won't stop me loving her at all, I'd just like to know what your opinions are.
Thanks.

Sue

Sue i've no idea???. Has she done this since you got her?

She's always done this, but it's worse lately. She is a very peculiar cat all round, I think she has been traumatised (before we got her) but don't know her early history so I can't say for sure.

Sue

Originally Posted by millyanddaisy

Here's a question for you all: It's about Daisy, a six-year old cat we got from the shelter at six months old. She still acts like a kitten, everything is done at 100 miles per hour, she plays like a kitten, eats her food too quickly etc. Her digestion is delicate to say the least. It's her behaviour that's bothering me most though. She has the habit of walking round the kitchen, ears down at the side of her head, howling fit to burst. If she sees me watching she will come over and give the little 'hello' chirrup, but then goes back to howling. She has always done this, but it seems to me that lately she has been doing it more often. Last night she did it for about an hour, not all in one go, but spread over the course of an evening. I can see no reason for it, and have been wondering if she could be mentally disturbed. Does anyone on here have any experience of disturbed cats? Do you think she is a bit touched in the head?
If the answer is yes, it won't stop me loving her at all, I'd just like to know what your opinions are.
Thanks.

Sue

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Two things come to mind. The first is that she is waiting for a response - she was used to another cat or another person or someone 'meowing' back at her and she is calling for them. See if meowing back or mimicking her cries interrupts her and see what response you get.

The second is a little more controversial . . . one of my cats does this as well - he walks around and around 'crying' as if something is wrong. We have figured out that he does this more when someone in the house is stressed or unhappy or things feel out of kilter. He is responding to the 'environment' in the house and letting us know that there is something out of balance that we need to take care of. I have come to view it rather like a canary in a coal mine - the canary lets the miners know there is coal gas while they can still have enough time to get out and save themselves; the cats let us know that there is sometime of an emotional imbalance with their 'people' that makes the house feel less safe, and they are letting you know.

Some cats seem to be especially sensitive and atuned to their environment - whether it is their house or their people or both. These are the ones who exhibit unusual behaviour at times that makes you wonder if they are psychic. You mentioned she is also a 'sensitive' eater, so that indicates to me that she may be overly sensitive to her environment as well. Is someone stressed, or unhappy or worrying about something?

You will know best which of these two options is relevant - if either:-) but I am tending towards the second. If something comes to mind, see if you can reduce the stress or the worry - or talk to her about it and tell her how you are handling it - then see what happens.

Good luck
Kathryn