I think my cat is depressed

The three cats (and their owner) moved out on Friday last week from the flat below me. He was very friendly with two of them, BamBam and Pebbles.

He looks so sad and just sits in his bed with his head hanging over the edge. During the weekend he would go outside and I watched him from the window. He kept on looking for them by their cat flap and then in the garden. He must have come in and out about 20 times in one day.

I have been playing with him and loving him. Last night when I got home from work he ran to the bottom of the stairs to greet me at the door. I walked about for a bit, from bedroom to lounge to kitchen and each time he followed me. He also sat in the hallway meowing really loud for a while.

After I had fed him he came right up onto the sofa next to me and kept on staring at me whilst I stroked him. I could have sworn I saw him crying (if cats do cry that is).

Is it possible that he is depressed?

Awww Gilly it sounds like Guinness is missing his pals doesn't it

Just keep on giving him plenty of loving Or what about a friend of his own?!

That makes me so sad....and he really does`nt understand where they have gone ...and since he does`nt understand English and you can`t speak cat...there is no way to tell him. (Not that he`d feel any better about it if he did know) He just misses them and wants somebody to play with.
Let us know if you find a solution...and how he`s doing.
Linda

Originally Posted by rosiemac

Awww Gilly it sounds like Guinness is missing his pals doesn't it

Just keep on giving him plenty of loving

Or what about a friend of his own?!

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He is getting all the love that I can give him. There is a new kitten two doors away. She is called Willow and belongs to my friend Anna. She has not been spayed yet but when she is she will be allowed out to play. Anna has told me that she keeps seeing Guinness on her window ledge or looking in her cat flap - Willow and Guin have kissed noses via the plastic of the cat flap door! We hope that when Willow can go out Guin and her will be best mates! Also, she is jet black - the spitting image of Guin!

Originally Posted by stampit3d

That makes me so sad....and he really does`nt understand where they have gone ...and since he does`nt understand English and you can`t speak cat...there is no way to tell him. (Not that he`d feel any better about it if he did know) He just misses them and wants somebody to play with

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That is exactly what I am battling with. We can understand, but felines can't That's why it breaks my heart to see him like this...

I'm sorry BamBam had to move. He must really miss him. I hope his is able to make friends with Willow soon.

It probably wouldn't hurt to give him some Rescue Remedy, we found it hepled Daisy after we had to have Mog PTS. She had never known life without him, and I didn't know that cats got depressed before then. She just used to sit about staring at nothing. Our vet said to try Rescue Remedy before going for prescription drugs, it worked for her. Then we had to put her on it again when we got a kitten and she hated him!

What a sweet boy, missing his friends. I'm glad Willow will "debut" soon, but gosh... if I were you, I'd take this as an excuse to adopt another kitty! Then Guinness could have a friend with him day and night.

He's a beautiful boy, by the way... and your signature shows him off so nicely! Give him a snuggle for me, please...

I think he knows something has changed. When my sister lost her younger cat earlier this yr her senior missed him terrribly. She got a new kitten a couple of months ago and that has made a difference as Ashley wasn't a solitary kind of cat.
Can you get another one???

I have been thinking about adoption for a while... I keep saying that I might get Guin a brother or sister.... However, I shall wait and see how he is in Jan when Willow can go out to play.... If by end of Jan he's still down, I will look into getting a young cat. I am off work for 1 week start of February so that might be the time to do it so that at least I can supervise them... dunno...

Anyway, I went into the garden this afternoon (as I have a day off today) and Guin came running from knowhere and then for the next 15 minutes he was running about like a looney! He was so exicted to see me outside and it was so obvious he wanted to play! It's too cold to stay out long but I have bought him tonnes of drinking straws and some new toy mice to play with too!

Originally Posted by Anakat

It probably wouldn't hurt to give him some Rescue Remedy, we found it hepled Daisy after we had to have Mog PTS. She had never known life without him, and I didn't know that cats got depressed before then. She just used to sit about staring at nothing. Our vet said to try Rescue Remedy before going for prescription drugs, it worked for her. Then we had to put her on it again when we got a kitten and she hated him!

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Thanks for that, I might try it too!

Gilly: Guin is beautiful! I love black kitties, my Diablo is one and
Lexi is all black smoke with white locket!

As far as playing out side .. great toy for them... get a fishing
pole that is made for children size. No, don't laugh, it really
really works!! buy a toy with a feather or fur end, and cut it off.
Tie it to the end of the fishing pole line... use the pole to "cast"
and "reel" in the toy. Cats (at least ole Didi) go wild for this
toy. And IMHO its way better for exercising them...

But you do need some space, so outdoors is best...

And if Willow and Guin don't bond, do get that second cat...
your Guin obviously is a "cat's" cat! He likes others of his
kind.

Originally Posted by opilot

Gilly: Guin is beautiful! I love black kitties, my Diablo is one

and
Lexi is all black smoke with white locket!

As far as playing out side .. great toy for them... get a fishing
pole that is made for children size. No, don't laugh, it really
really works!! buy a toy with a feather or fur end, and cut it off.
Tie it to the end of the fishing pole line... use the pole to "cast"
and "reel" in the toy. Cats (at least ole Didi) go wild for this
toy. And IMHO its way better for exercising them...

But you do need some space, so outdoors is best...

And if Willow and Guin don't bond, do get that second cat...
your Guin obviously is a "cat's" cat! He likes others of his
kind.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips and ideas

Well everyone, I can't really say he is better He is getting really anxious now at new noises from the flat downstairs. 3 times in the past 2 days he has come running in and his tail is all bushy and his fur on his back is on end Poor boy.

He has always been anxious and scared of other people (the only ppl that he has ever let stroke him are me and my neighbour before she moved). I just think it will take some time for him to get fully used to the new people. Also, because it's winter their door is closed so he has hardly had the chance to learn their voices and noises etc.

I hope you don't think that I am overacting but I do feel really sorry for him and it is still breaking my heart going out to work in the mornings knowing that he does not have the company of his friends anymore

Gilly: Well then, it is time indeed to find a good laid back cat (younger but not a kitten) that has a known history for being mellow w/ other kitties, preferably one needing a rescue, and pair them up. Opposite sex worked well for me and mine over the years... esp. if it is older male younger female or vice versa...

Good luck!