How can I help Angel?

Angel was an abandoned kitty who found me in January. I think he may have been abused by whoever abandoned him. He had a bad eye infection that took 2 months to clear up (I've been giving him l-lysine every day and it works).

I feed him dry cat food that has no by products, animal digest, preservatives or unidentified meat sources (he won't eat the wet food). I bought him a Petmate drinking fountain. I use Cat Attract cat litter. I give him tons and tons of love, but I work away from home 8 hours per day. I brush his fur every day. I'm doing everything I can to make him a happy healthy kitty and it isn't working. Maybe there is something I'm missing and the TCS cat experts can offer some advice.

Over a month ago, Angel started peeing on the carpet. I took him to the vet and she prescribed Clavamox. At the end of the treatment he was still peeing on the carpet. He tested negative for crystals. The vet said that it is probably caused by stress, but he seems physically unhealthy to me.

Angel seems like he doesn't feel well most of the time and he never wants to play. He has very little energy. He is only about 1 year old. He is jumpy and nervous. I don't have any other pets and there are never kids or large numbers of people in my apartment. He just doesn't seem healthy or happy and I don't know what to do. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

You know, sometimes rescues kitties are the bestest kitties in the whoooooolle world...and othehr times, they just do not let go of what they have been thru.

We have a female, about 2 years old, and her mom got killed by a car at 2 weeks..we got her at 6 weeks..and SHE STILL is very nervous and jumpy...she does know how to fetch and we do that for her and she enjoys it...but that is recent. Usually, she likes to be alone, in the window...she will get love sometimes but then backs off and walks away...she is good with the kids...but she is NOT an extrovert or very playful.

I am sure you are doing everything right...she just may be shy and shellshocked...

We have a lot of commotion in our house and this is one of the reason we foster so many kittens. They get used to noise, kids, animlas, smells, etc fairly quickly...maybe since the house is so quite..the noise when it happens does startle him...

But if you have had everything checked..he just may be a shy baby.

How about trying some Feliway diffusers? If you do a search here on the site you'll find a bunch of information. It's worth a try

Originally Posted by 5catsandcountin

You know, sometimes rescues kitties are the bestest kitties in the whoooooolle world...and othehr times, they just do not let go of what they have been thru.

We have a female, about 2 years old, and her mom got killed by a car at 2 weeks..we got her at 6 weeks..and SHE STILL is very nervous and jumpy...she does know how to fetch and we do that for her and she enjoys it...but that is recent. Usually, she likes to be alone, in the window...she will get love sometimes but then backs off and walks away...she is good with the kids...but she is NOT an extrovert or very playful.

I am sure you are doing everything right...she just may be shy and shellshocked...

We have a lot of commotion in our house and this is one of the reason we foster so many kittens. They get used to noise, kids, animlas, smells, etc fairly quickly...maybe since the house is so quite..the noise when it happens does startle him...

But if you have had everything checked..he just may be a shy baby.

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I hope it is just that he is a shy baby. Thank you for your insights. I hope I can eventually help him to overcome the shell shock of what he has been through.

Originally Posted by byclops

How about trying some Feliway diffusers? If you do a search here on the site you'll find a bunch of information. It's worth a try

Click to expand...

I'm definitely going to try that. Anything I can do to make him healthier and happier I will do. Thanks for the advice.

I was thinking baout this thread today. I went to pet our shy female and she wants love, I touch her, she backs away and then comes back. lol Cannot figure why...she is just shy and nervous...Feliway has helped people, I hope the best for yoU!

If Angel were my kitty, I'd take him to another vet for a second opinion. You want to rule out physical problems, and the combination of him being lethargic and peeing outside the box sounds like it could be a medical problem. Try to find a feline specialist in internal medicine, if possible. A one year old cat who doesn't have energy is unusual. Make sure the vet checks his heart carefully. You know Angel best and you've written he doesn't seem to feel well much of the time - you may be right about that so get him checked ASAP.

In the meantime, try the Feliway diffusers. If you don't already do this, also make sure to leave lights on, a radio playing soft music and/or TV on for Angel while you're not home. If you live in a house, put a bird feeder near a window so he can watch them during the day. If you're in an apartment, there are small feeders that can be attached to a window with suction cups.

Your kitty may have been abused or neglected. It's possible that whatever happened before you came into his life is "haunting" him. Who knows what trauma the poor baby suffered? Get him looked at by a new vet, and continue to give him TLC as you've been doing. If it's not a medical condition that's causing his behavior, you may just need lots of patience until he feels more at ease.

Thank you so much for rescuing this little guy and loving him!