I have a 2yr domestic short hair female cat, Thea, who is declawed, spayed, and up-to-date on all vaccinations.
I have had Thea since she was 6 weeks old and she means the world to me. It upsets me to even have to write this or attempt to look for a new home for her, but she has become threatened by my 1yr old son now that he is crawling around. We have put her on Paxil (antidepressant) under the guidance of our vet to try and calm her down a bit and maybe take away some of the anxiety she is feeling towards my son. We have kept her in the basement while my son is awake and roaming around to let the medication take effect. Once he is in bed or out of the house, she has her normal full roam of the house. It has been a few weeks now since we started her on the meds and we have started to let her out of the basement with the baby around, but she is still hissing, growling, and getting in complete defense mode when she sees him moving about on his own. She has not bitten him (and I am afraid one day she may).
When she is with us alone or around other adults she is such a sweetie pie - she is loveable and kind - and means the world to me. My vet cannot help me any further now and I am up against a brick wall now. It is too stressful having to consistently keep them apart, worry, etc... I will only have peace of mind knowing she will be at the shelter until someone - with NO CHILDREN - can take her.
Can anyone help?
I have had Thea since she was 6 weeks old and she means the world to me. It upsets me to even have to write this or attempt to look for a new home for her, but she has become threatened by my 1yr old son now that he is crawling around. We have put her on Paxil (antidepressant) under the guidance of our vet to try and calm her down a bit and maybe take away some of the anxiety she is feeling towards my son. We have kept her in the basement while my son is awake and roaming around to let the medication take effect. Once he is in bed or out of the house, she has her normal full roam of the house. It has been a few weeks now since we started her on the meds and we have started to let her out of the basement with the baby around, but she is still hissing, growling, and getting in complete defense mode when she sees him moving about on his own. She has not bitten him (and I am afraid one day she may).
When she is with us alone or around other adults she is such a sweetie pie - she is loveable and kind - and means the world to me. My vet cannot help me any further now and I am up against a brick wall now. It is too stressful having to consistently keep them apart, worry, etc... I will only have peace of mind knowing she will be at the shelter until someone - with NO CHILDREN - can take her.
Can anyone help?