My 4 year old cat is compulsively overgrooming. He's either sleeping or licking. He was an outdoor cat at our last home, but we're in an apartment now, and I am keeping him indoors-- although my housemate's cats are indoor/outdoor, and my cat is thankfully very road-savvy.
When I got my Friendly Gray Lion, he was bald in the animal shelter, had all the advanced vet testing, skin-scrapings, allergy tests, etc. and nothing. No fleas then or now. So yes, I understand that this is merely stress-- but I don't think Feliway is going to help him. I'll purchase one, but itdidn't help him before, only being allowed outdoors helped him. (excellent hunter, came home each night to sleep with me)
I am worried that Lion wil never come back, because a neighbor lady leaves food out, and for the 2 weeks since we moved here, Lion has been kept in the room we share. (That's no fun) I do ay with him with toys that are interactive. Ive taken him out 3 times on a comfortable harness and 6 ft lightweight lead, but I think it makes him worse afterwards.. I'm not sure.
My only other option would be to get anti-anxiety meds from a vet, keep him doped up enough to break the cycle.
Would you do this, or allow Lion to be indoor-outdoor? (A quiet street, a road-savvy cat, very mellow, but one other cat, a potential tough-guy cat roaming the neighborhood) Yes, I know that this is a cost-benefits risk. I've always been an "indoor only" viewpoint person, until seeing how my cat responded to having freedom to enjoy the outdoors in our last home, watching his health improve as the overgroming stopped. I do worry of the risks though. Sigh. This isn't easy!
Thank you for your ideas for my sweet, friendly fellow!
When I got my Friendly Gray Lion, he was bald in the animal shelter, had all the advanced vet testing, skin-scrapings, allergy tests, etc. and nothing. No fleas then or now. So yes, I understand that this is merely stress-- but I don't think Feliway is going to help him. I'll purchase one, but itdidn't help him before, only being allowed outdoors helped him. (excellent hunter, came home each night to sleep with me)
I am worried that Lion wil never come back, because a neighbor lady leaves food out, and for the 2 weeks since we moved here, Lion has been kept in the room we share. (That's no fun) I do ay with him with toys that are interactive. Ive taken him out 3 times on a comfortable harness and 6 ft lightweight lead, but I think it makes him worse afterwards.. I'm not sure.
My only other option would be to get anti-anxiety meds from a vet, keep him doped up enough to break the cycle.
Would you do this, or allow Lion to be indoor-outdoor? (A quiet street, a road-savvy cat, very mellow, but one other cat, a potential tough-guy cat roaming the neighborhood) Yes, I know that this is a cost-benefits risk. I've always been an "indoor only" viewpoint person, until seeing how my cat responded to having freedom to enjoy the outdoors in our last home, watching his health improve as the overgroming stopped. I do worry of the risks though. Sigh. This isn't easy!
Thank you for your ideas for my sweet, friendly fellow!
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