Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / September 2005
Jack's not doing so well
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Juls - 01 Sep 2005 04:37 GMT He seems to be getting worse, not better.
He's eating, but just little bits of this and that and when I give him one thing, he takes a bite, then stops.
He's sleeping a LOT, much more than usual. He's very clingy and crying a lot. (I can handle the cling, and just kind of carry him around with me)
I had to go to the store for a bit today, which was the first time I've left home since Dmitri died. (Though we left the house to take Dmitri's body to the crematory...that morning is all a haze in my mind) Jack was waiting at the window for me. That's not typical at all. He didn't care about the bags of stuff (that was one thing they did when I returned from shopping, rush in to see if there was something for them), just wanted on my lap.
He got mad and flung litter all over the place, then turned his box over. (Again, not something he does)
I bought him a new toy and he just wasn't interested, which is okay. Maybe later, or maybe I'll take it back.
Then he was sleeping in his tower bed, and sometimes he likes to hang out of the entrance cutout, his head and upper shoulders hanging out in an odd position. He does that sometimes. But today, he actually let his body fall out (the top half) onto the top stair of the tower. It didn't even wake him up. He woke up when I ran over to him and then curled back up into a ball. But I mean he literally let his top body fall out of the bed and hit the stair.
And when he's awake, he just goes from one place to another, crying and whining, and I try to feed him, doesn't want that, play, nope. Usually just picking him up and holding him tight against my chest will settle him down.
I know he's mourning, and I know he's really missing his big brother (we both are), but I'm starting to get worried about him.
Am I doing anything wrong? Is there anything I can do to make this easier on him? It's really breaking my heart. My poor boy.
Thanks, Juls
p.s. The only time he really seems at peace is in the evening when he takes over the cat bed and curls up. This is the time he would "steal" the bed from Dmitri. When I go to bed, he joins me.
And he does purr when I'm loving him.
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Justin L - 01 Sep 2005 05:05 GMT >He seems to be getting worse, not better. <snip>
>And he does purr when I'm loving him. seems to me he wants a buddy. Is it a bad idea for you to get another cat? Maybe wait a week or two?
I would just try to make him feel loved and spoil him until then.
Marilyn - 01 Sep 2005 05:06 GMT > He seems to be getting worse, not better. I have followed your story and my heart goes out to you. All I can think to say is that when you're ready, giving another cat a home might be a great distraction. Maybe a young female adult? Or whatever cat steals your heart. I know one will when you are ready.
Surely not right away, but when you're ready. No cat can replace Dmitri but Jack has to be lonely. Just a thought.
Charlie Wilkes - 01 Sep 2005 05:38 GMT >p.s. The only time he really seems at peace is in the evening when he >takes over the cat bed and curls up. This is the time he would "steal" >the bed from Dmitri. When I go to bed, he joins me. > >And he does purr when I'm loving him. This is heartbreaking. Eventually you should probably get another cat, but this may just have to take its course.
Charlie
Candace - 01 Sep 2005 05:45 GMT > Am I doing anything wrong? Is there anything I can do to make this > easier on him? It's really breaking my heart. My poor boy. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > And he does purr when I'm loving him. Wow, none of my cats have ever reacted so strongly to the death of any of the others. They would seem a little confused as though they were looking for the deceased one and a little lethargic for a few days but that's about it. Your situation is very sad.
They were obviously very close but you knew that. I would think time will heal Jack's pain, too, but I have no clue how long it might take. It's a good thing you work from home. He might like another kitty but I can understand you not wanting to do that yet. Hopefully, Dmitri is working on sending just the right one...
I'm sorry for both of you.
Candace
Rhonda - 01 Sep 2005 05:51 GMT Don't put him down! Hug that cat as much as you can. :)
I think too, he may need a cat-friend fairly soon. The two of you will decide when it's time.
In the meantime, it sounds like you're doing a good job of comforting him.
Rhonda
> And he does purr when I'm loving him. Wendy - 01 Sep 2005 10:50 GMT > He seems to be getting worse, not better. > [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > > And he does purr when I'm loving him. Give him lots of TLC. He's mourning and he's lonely. If it will make you feel more at ease have him checked at the vet but there is probably nothing physically wrong with him. This sounds so much like what I went through with my Tigger when we lost our Fluffernutter. She improved a lot after I had her checked at the vet probably because I relaxed and wasn't worrying about her as much. She got back to her old self after we brought home Ralf.
Hugs to Jack
W
happilycrabby - 01 Sep 2005 15:47 GMT oh hugs to you and to Jack. He is grieving,and he knows you are as well. Lots of tlc,like you told me. I wish I had better advice for you. I am truly sorry for your loss. Terri
Juls - 01 Sep 2005 19:44 GMT Thanks so much everyone for such great advice, and once again, phenomenal support. You're all the best!
I think time is going to be the biggest healer, but I'm happy to report he's a tiny bit better today.
He had a second helping of food. LOL. I had started him out with just a small spoonful because he wasn't eating much, but when he finished, he came in and for the first time since this happened, did the Oliver Twist routine. Yay for the Oliver Twist!
That was always done in tandem, after they'd cleaned their plates, and I would feel eyes on me, look down, and see them sitting side by side, these four huge, sad eyes saying "Could we have some more, Sir?" It never failed to make me laugh, because they had "the look" so perfected.
So that's a very good start.
Someone suggested I squirt Feliway, so I'm in the process of trying to find my bottle of that.
So I think today is a better day. I told him last night it would be, and I'm thinking he might have believed me. :)
Juls
p.s. I will definitely get him a pal, I just think it's too soon yet. This "solitary" cat isn't so solitary after all.
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Annie Wxill - 02 Sep 2005 01:03 GMT > He seems to be getting worse, not better. >...> And when he's awake, he just goes from one place to another, crying >and > whining, ... Is there anything I can do to make this > easier on him? It's really breaking my heart. My poor boy. > Thanks, Juls Juls, I'm so sorry to read that Jack is having such a hard time (not that it's so easy for you, either). When we had a similar situation with Moxie, we went out and got her a kitten. At first Moxie didn't know what to do about Cinder, but it only took a day or two before they were snuggling together. Maybe Jack really needs another friend, either a kitten or a cat-friendly cat. You might check out who is available at the local shelter or rescue groups. Annie
Juls - 02 Sep 2005 02:44 GMT Thanks Annie.
Did you do the recommended procedure (introducing in stages, keeping the cats separated at first) with the new kitten, or just bring it in and say "look what we got you?"
I don't want to do the wrong thing, but I've got this strong feeling that if I put a little kitten in the middle of the floor, Jack would be too thrilled at someone to love to care about any territory issues. (and he and Dmitri never had any territory issues)
All I can say is that he's the saddest sack I've ever seen.
> > He seems to be getting worse, not better. > >...> And when he's awake, he just goes from one place to another, crying [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > You might check out who is available at the local shelter or rescue groups. > Annie
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Annie Wxill - 02 Sep 2005 03:21 GMT > Thanks Annie. > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > All I can say is that he's the saddest sack I've ever seen. Juls, We got a 7-week-old kitten for Moxie a week after her best friend, Josh, died, because she was acting just like Jack is. Moxie had never been an only cat and just did not know how to deal with it. We thought about rescuing an older cat, but we did not want Moxie to deal with the possibility of a cat that might be more assertive and try to usurp her position. She already had enough to deal with and needed a friend, not competition. So, we decided on a kitten and went down to the Humane Society rescue at PetsMart. It was February, and not kitten season. Only one kitten was there. She was a little feisty black thing with huge ears and protesting loudly for being all alone. She'd been brought in the night before with her siblings and was the only one left. We brought her home and did not bother with a slow introduction. We just turned her loose. It was fun to watch Moxie and Cinder discover each other. Cinder, of course, took to Moxie right away, but Moxie was a little more cautious. I think she was mostly puzzled. There was no hissing, however. I think they were both too lonely. I think a gradual introduction would be a good start if you rescue an older cat for Jack. Depending on the personality of the new cat, I would expect that whatever you did with Jack & Dmitri would work. I would not worry about a kitten. But, I don't claim to be anything of an expert. I can only say what worked in our particular situation. and let you be the judge of your situation. I'm wishing you and Jack the best. I remember well how you got him. Annie
Juls - 02 Sep 2005 05:26 GMT Thanks so much, Annie. I haven't made any decisions yet other than at some point I'll get Jack a new brother (or even a sister if that's what comes along). It's helpful to hear of a similar situation, and I'm so glad Moxie and Cinder sound happy!
> > Thanks Annie. > > [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > I'm wishing you and Jack the best. I remember well how you got him. > Annie
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Charlie Wilkes - 02 Sep 2005 04:47 GMT >Thanks Annie. > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >too thrilled at someone to love to care about any territory issues. >(and he and Dmitri never had any territory issues) Your intuition is probably right, then... better get a kitten!
Charlie
>All I can say is that he's the saddest sack I've ever seen. > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >> You might check out who is available at the local shelter or rescue groups. >> Annie hamandcheese@betweentheknees.com - 02 Sep 2005 05:18 GMT >>Thanks Annie. >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >Charlie One downside I have observed with pairing a kitten with a senior cat is that kittens like to hunt, stalk and then pounce on their playmate as part of their growing up. They are real active in their first year or two. Now I know Jack is not quite a senior yet but it may be a little too much for Jack considering he is blind. Perhaps a mellow rescue cat about his own age who has been observed in a multi cat home by a foster would be a better fit in his case.
-mhd
Candace - 02 Sep 2005 05:30 GMT > One downside I have observed with pairing a kitten with a senior cat > is that kittens like to hunt, stalk and then pounce on their playmate [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > rescue cat about his own age who has been observed in a multi cat home > by a foster would be a better fit in his case. Jack's not blind.
Candace
Juls - 02 Sep 2005 05:34 GMT > >>Thanks Annie. > >> [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > rescue cat about his own age who has been observed in a multi cat home > by a foster would be a better fit in his case. Jack has an eye that is prone to infection at times, but he's not blind. (Maybe you're thinking of Mary's Duffy?)
You know, just a couple of days before Dmitri died, Jack was stalking and pouncing him from the hall. (Dmitri loved it) At the time I thought, geesh, Jack sometimes acts like he's three months old when he does that. It was cute, and I'm glad they had happy times until the end.
But I do know what you mean about kittens being crazed. Entertaining, but totally nutzo at times.
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