Help my goth cat.
July 28, 2024 1:48 PM Subscribe
My boy-child cat (triangle face) is only six. With every passing year, he gets more lethargic and unhappy. I'm at my wit's end for how to turn him around.
He's had a laundry list of health problems since kittenhood. He caught calici virus at seven months and later developed asthma, which I now manage with an inhaler. He swallowed a toy mouse and had to have a section of intestine removed at one year old. He's prone to urinary tract infections, stomach upset, and mood disorders. He's on a very low dose of kitty Prozac, but it doesn't seem to be making a damn bit of difference.
For the first few years of his life, he balanced the dark times with a robust appetite for play, a sense of mischief, and a loving relationship with his kid sister. He ran to greet people at the door and regularly got the zoomies. Unfortunately, all of that has slowly been bled out of him as the years have brought issue after issue. Nowadays, he just sits immobile and looks miserable. I try to engage him with all of the surefire toys that used to make his heart sing, but his eyes barely register them. Every once in a while, he'll rally, but it lasts all of a few seconds before he gives up.
He's on weight-management food, but is still putting on weight because of how little he actually moves around on any given day. He's been tripping through these low-grade health issues his whole life. And his sister has lost her playmate and cuddle buddy. He just sits alone in other parts of the house, not wanting to interact with any of us.
He has a good vet and gets all the medical care a cat could ask for (and probably then some). But he's just kinda flatlined, and I can't seem to resuscitate the spark, no matter what I do. His co-parent and I usually just call him our goth boi and let him be his sulky, hidey self, but remembering the cat he used to be just breaks my heart. I'm exhausted by the constant anxiety of worrying about his condition, not to mention the cost of handling all the flare-ups.
To answer the usual questions: Yes, we did move recently (January). They had a catio at the old house with my ex, so they've lost access to a yard full of wild critters to watch. This is also, I'm afraid, the fourth move since I first adopted them (the story as to why my own life is so unsettled is a longer one). But they have a ton of space, a clean house, access to the outdoors (however unsatisfactory), and a very attentive papa who makes increasingly useless attempts to engage them. I have bought all the toys, tried all the catnip, experimented with pheromone diffusers (did nothing), even hired a cat behaviorist (which is money I won't waste again).
Parents of terminally sad animals, help me out here. Assuming his physical health checks out (as well as it can under the circumstances), have you brought yours back from the brink? When a cat has forgotten how to play, how do you re-engage them?
He's had a laundry list of health problems since kittenhood. He caught calici virus at seven months and later developed asthma, which I now manage with an inhaler. He swallowed a toy mouse and had to have a section of intestine removed at one year old. He's prone to urinary tract infections, stomach upset, and mood disorders. He's on a very low dose of kitty Prozac, but it doesn't seem to be making a damn bit of difference.
For the first few years of his life, he balanced the dark times with a robust appetite for play, a sense of mischief, and a loving relationship with his kid sister. He ran to greet people at the door and regularly got the zoomies. Unfortunately, all of that has slowly been bled out of him as the years have brought issue after issue. Nowadays, he just sits immobile and looks miserable. I try to engage him with all of the surefire toys that used to make his heart sing, but his eyes barely register them. Every once in a while, he'll rally, but it lasts all of a few seconds before he gives up.
He's on weight-management food, but is still putting on weight because of how little he actually moves around on any given day. He's been tripping through these low-grade health issues his whole life. And his sister has lost her playmate and cuddle buddy. He just sits alone in other parts of the house, not wanting to interact with any of us.
He has a good vet and gets all the medical care a cat could ask for (and probably then some). But he's just kinda flatlined, and I can't seem to resuscitate the spark, no matter what I do. His co-parent and I usually just call him our goth boi and let him be his sulky, hidey self, but remembering the cat he used to be just breaks my heart. I'm exhausted by the constant anxiety of worrying about his condition, not to mention the cost of handling all the flare-ups.
To answer the usual questions: Yes, we did move recently (January). They had a catio at the old house with my ex, so they've lost access to a yard full of wild critters to watch. This is also, I'm afraid, the fourth move since I first adopted them (the story as to why my own life is so unsettled is a longer one). But they have a ton of space, a clean house, access to the outdoors (however unsatisfactory), and a very attentive papa who makes increasingly useless attempts to engage them. I have bought all the toys, tried all the catnip, experimented with pheromone diffusers (did nothing), even hired a cat behaviorist (which is money I won't waste again).
Parents of terminally sad animals, help me out here. Assuming his physical health checks out (as well as it can under the circumstances), have you brought yours back from the brink? When a cat has forgotten how to play, how do you re-engage them?
Just in case you haven't already done this, have you checked his thyroid levels? My (limited) understanding is that hypothyroidism is much rarer in cats than in dogs, but weight gain and lethargy can definitely be symptoms. My dog, while still a challenging household member, certainly perked up some when we diagnosed and started treating his.
posted by praemunire at 3:29 PM on July 28 [4 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 3:29 PM on July 28 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: UTIs in male cats are not that common. I hope your vet has confirmed these with a urinalysis and since their recurrent they’ve done a culture and sensitivity.
We had a urinalysis done in late May when he was experiencing some litterbox stress. He came back negative for a UTI and all his other levels were normal, so I think we're in the clear there. As with his tummy stuff, his behavior rectified itself within a few days.
I'm very much aware of how well cats in particular hide pain, which is one of the reasons I'm something of a hypochondriac on his behalf.
Just in case you haven't already done this, have you checked his thyroid levels?
It's been a few years, but I'll raise this with his vet.
posted by mykescipark at 4:24 PM on July 28
We had a urinalysis done in late May when he was experiencing some litterbox stress. He came back negative for a UTI and all his other levels were normal, so I think we're in the clear there. As with his tummy stuff, his behavior rectified itself within a few days.
I'm very much aware of how well cats in particular hide pain, which is one of the reasons I'm something of a hypochondriac on his behalf.
Just in case you haven't already done this, have you checked his thyroid levels?
It's been a few years, but I'll raise this with his vet.
posted by mykescipark at 4:24 PM on July 28
Oh my goodness, he looks just like my Raoul. My husband did a double take at the photos.
Our first cat was on Prozac for some anxiety and spraying, and it turned his cuddly self into the aloof kid you described, for what it's worth. Even on a low dose. Is it possible to wean him off and see if his personality comes back after several weeks? I also second the recommendation of trying gabapentin as OsoMeaty mentioned. It's a bit backwards, but if pain management helps you'll know there's something going on that warrants further investigation from the vet. (Note that higher doses are sedating, so 25-30mg is what we use for our 10lb boy.)
I'm wondering if pancreatitis has been ruled out - lethargy is a symptom and it's a test we needed to do on our IBD journey with Raoul.
posted by It Was Capitalism All Along at 6:34 PM on July 28 [2 favorites]
Our first cat was on Prozac for some anxiety and spraying, and it turned his cuddly self into the aloof kid you described, for what it's worth. Even on a low dose. Is it possible to wean him off and see if his personality comes back after several weeks? I also second the recommendation of trying gabapentin as OsoMeaty mentioned. It's a bit backwards, but if pain management helps you'll know there's something going on that warrants further investigation from the vet. (Note that higher doses are sedating, so 25-30mg is what we use for our 10lb boy.)
I'm wondering if pancreatitis has been ruled out - lethargy is a symptom and it's a test we needed to do on our IBD journey with Raoul.
posted by It Was Capitalism All Along at 6:34 PM on July 28 [2 favorites]
What a beautiful cat, I’m sorry he isn’t feeling like his best self. I can add that the type of food that cats eat can play a surprisingly big difference in their weight, energy levels, overall health, and ultimately longevity. I started taking my cat (at the age of 12) to a vet who happened to be an expert in feline nutrition. She pointed us to CatInfo.org—which contains a lot of resources about cat nutrition. A big part of what you’ll read there is that cats feel better when eating a moisture-rich, high-protein diet that can only be found in wet (canned) food.
It was an ordeal to switch our cat from the open bar of crunchy kibbles that she knew and loved for so long to canned food twice a day. It took about a year to make the transition fully, with a lot of hangry mood swings, trial and error, and a system of rotating a selection of canned cat food that both met the recommended nutritional criteria and was something she accepted as food. But the results were astounding. Prior to this change, I’d had a vet who couldn’t feel her organs through her layer of fat, and though I couldn’t see it at the time, she was lethargic. After the diet change she became a slender, energetic, and contented cat who lived in impeccable health for another 7 years. I can’t say if making a similar transition will help with your cat, and I would recommend really stable conditions for yours before changing anything with his food, but wanted to share my experience in case it could be of interest. Wishing you and your feline family peace of mind and good health.
posted by inkytea at 8:08 PM on July 28 [5 favorites]
It was an ordeal to switch our cat from the open bar of crunchy kibbles that she knew and loved for so long to canned food twice a day. It took about a year to make the transition fully, with a lot of hangry mood swings, trial and error, and a system of rotating a selection of canned cat food that both met the recommended nutritional criteria and was something she accepted as food. But the results were astounding. Prior to this change, I’d had a vet who couldn’t feel her organs through her layer of fat, and though I couldn’t see it at the time, she was lethargic. After the diet change she became a slender, energetic, and contented cat who lived in impeccable health for another 7 years. I can’t say if making a similar transition will help with your cat, and I would recommend really stable conditions for yours before changing anything with his food, but wanted to share my experience in case it could be of interest. Wishing you and your feline family peace of mind and good health.
posted by inkytea at 8:08 PM on July 28 [5 favorites]
I think you need a veterinary behaviorist. I'm currently helping with rehab for a stressed dog, and the person we found has been very impressive. Veterinary behaviorists look at the animal from a different perspective, that of mental health. Our veterinary behaviorist immediately had a list of ideas to systematically pursue. She tested for allergies, handled the dog to assess pain, asked for a detailed history from the regular vet, checked for thyroid issues, prescribed pain meds as a trial, suggested some changes to home life and diet, recommended surgery for a breathing issue, and prescribed CBD oil. We've only seen her twice, and she has many more ideas to try next. I get the feeling she won't rest until this dog feels better emotionally, and that's where she's different from a regular vet.
posted by toucan at 8:15 PM on July 28 [2 favorites]
posted by toucan at 8:15 PM on July 28 [2 favorites]
to echo inkytea, I have a friend who had a low-energy, uti prone cat that really turned around after she started with wet food instead of kibble, so that does seem to be worth a try
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 8:52 PM on July 28
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 8:52 PM on July 28
Response by poster: Thanks for the food suggestions! They've been wet food cats since birth, and in fact they're on a prescription food to help both with urinary health and weight management. They get a dash of dry food for lunch, but it is also a high-protein prescription food with no additives, grains, etc., similarly targeted for weight management. No one eats free-range around here, and their portions and feed times are highly regulated. And, I should reinforce, he and his sister eat the same food and live in the same environment, but all this stuff is specific to him. She's been a perfectly healthy, active, happy, and slender cat since forever.
posted by mykescipark at 6:40 AM on July 29
posted by mykescipark at 6:40 AM on July 29
Older cats tend to slow down and spend more time napping as they age, especially if they have arthritis. Does he seem to have any stiffness while walking? If he does, there are monthly shots that can help with his pain and mobility.
If vet can't find anything physically wrong, try getting him a heated cat bed with enough room for 2 cats and set it up in front of his own TV that can play YouTube videos so he can watch Paul Dinning's Cat TV all day. He may just be the cat equivalent of the retired old man who wants to spend his days sitting in a recliner watching sports.
posted by Jacqueline at 8:58 AM on July 29
If vet can't find anything physically wrong, try getting him a heated cat bed with enough room for 2 cats and set it up in front of his own TV that can play YouTube videos so he can watch Paul Dinning's Cat TV all day. He may just be the cat equivalent of the retired old man who wants to spend his days sitting in a recliner watching sports.
posted by Jacqueline at 8:58 AM on July 29
I have tried 3 animals (1 dog, 2 cats) on Prozac for different reasons and they were all noticeably (unpleasantly IMO) subdued. It actually increased anxiety/volatility in our dog so we quit the experiment after 5 months. He immediately returned to playing normally and not shutting down in his training classes with it out of his system.
Prozac use was more successful in our senior cat for territorial marking and moving stress, but he was a zombie. He kinda just lived under the guest room bed. He's much more cuddly and active off the drug, and we put up with some sassy old man behaviors.
I'm sure the drug does help a lot of animals in times of stress, but I think it makes some of them zombies.
posted by GrimmblyTuna at 7:07 AM on July 30 [1 favorite]
Prozac use was more successful in our senior cat for territorial marking and moving stress, but he was a zombie. He kinda just lived under the guest room bed. He's much more cuddly and active off the drug, and we put up with some sassy old man behaviors.
I'm sure the drug does help a lot of animals in times of stress, but I think it makes some of them zombies.
posted by GrimmblyTuna at 7:07 AM on July 30 [1 favorite]
We had a urinalysis done in late May when he was experiencing some litterbox stress. He came back negative for a UTI and all his other levels were normal, so I think we're in the clear there. As with his tummy stuff, his behavior rectified itself within a few days.
If there are no signs of infections and he is experiencing litterbox stress, he is probably experiencing a FLUTD flare-up. UTIs are uncommon in cats. FLUTD is a complex disease complex, and management of chronic pain is causes is important and a quality of life issue. UTI =/= FLUTD. They are different disease complexes and a negative urinalysis does not mean your cat does not have FLUTD.
posted by OsoMeaty at 10:42 AM on July 30 [2 favorites]
If there are no signs of infections and he is experiencing litterbox stress, he is probably experiencing a FLUTD flare-up. UTIs are uncommon in cats. FLUTD is a complex disease complex, and management of chronic pain is causes is important and a quality of life issue. UTI =/= FLUTD. They are different disease complexes and a negative urinalysis does not mean your cat does not have FLUTD.
posted by OsoMeaty at 10:42 AM on July 30 [2 favorites]
Here's is great overview of feline idiopathathic cystitis which is the most common cause of FLUTD.
I'm married to an emergency veterinarian, have over ten years of experience as a credentialed veterinary technician, love cats, and deeply believe chronic pain is chronically under-treated in this patient population.
posted by OsoMeaty at 10:46 AM on July 30 [1 favorite]
I'm married to an emergency veterinarian, have over ten years of experience as a credentialed veterinary technician, love cats, and deeply believe chronic pain is chronically under-treated in this patient population.
posted by OsoMeaty at 10:46 AM on July 30 [1 favorite]
No fun! What a beautiful boy!
Came to say 1) higher Prozac dose or switch drugs to another option - the therapeutic range on prozak is huge in dogs and I'd suspect the same in cats - for some animals a low or moderate dose does nada. 2) test thyroid and kidneys and vet should check teeth (they can develop an autoimmune reaction to their enamel(?) and it's painful - I know a human who developed it - ouch!)
Agree with heated bed and gabbapentin if your vet is aprox 30/5 or under in age and thinks it's pain. If vet is older, you may need to push harder on pain control (and prozak). You could try felaway if you haven't, but I'm not hopeful - if you don't see marked results, stop.
posted by esoteric things at 11:05 PM on July 30
Came to say 1) higher Prozac dose or switch drugs to another option - the therapeutic range on prozak is huge in dogs and I'd suspect the same in cats - for some animals a low or moderate dose does nada. 2) test thyroid and kidneys and vet should check teeth (they can develop an autoimmune reaction to their enamel(?) and it's painful - I know a human who developed it - ouch!)
Agree with heated bed and gabbapentin if your vet is aprox 30/5 or under in age and thinks it's pain. If vet is older, you may need to push harder on pain control (and prozak). You could try felaway if you haven't, but I'm not hopeful - if you don't see marked results, stop.
posted by esoteric things at 11:05 PM on July 30
If you're open to a treatment that sounds a little woo, I'd like to recommend a woman who has done outstanding energy work for both me and a super timid feral cat I adopted. Her name is Melody Rae Jones. She works over Zoom or phone so can manage international clients. You'd be looking to book the Personal Clarity Session. Feel free to pm me if you'd like to discuss it more. Good luck!
posted by Amy NM at 7:07 PM on July 31
posted by Amy NM at 7:07 PM on July 31
Can you get him a stroller so he can have some outside time now that the catio is gone?
posted by Amy93 at 7:02 PM on August 1
posted by Amy93 at 7:02 PM on August 1
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posted by OsoMeaty at 2:44 PM on July 28 [5 favorites]