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Boots Update

I’m beginning to wonder if it isn’t something upstairs that’s scaring him. I have no idea. I don’t even know if he’s scared. I know something isn’t right.

I can’t remember what I’ve already written here. Friday is when I took him to the vet. I didn’t want to put him back in the sewing room but he was still biting and I ended up with my arm bleeding again so I put him in the sewing room Friday evening.

Saturday morning I went down and worked in there and he was sleeping on a fabric shelf but he didn’t have much to do with me. At least he wasn’t biting.

Mid-afternoon, I went upstairs, fixed something to eat, and was going to stitch for a while and thought maybe he wanted to come sit with me. I went downstairs. His pupils weren’t huge, I held him for a while and he even purred a bit, which he hasn’t been doing since he started biting. I hoped the pheromones were working and he was back to being a sweet kitty. I left the door open and he came right upstairs but almost immediately, he got up in my chair and bit me. I took him back downstairs.

Yesterday, Sunday, it was the same thing. He was sweet and purred when I held him in the basement. He came upstairs and he was obviously very agitated again. His tail was twitching, he had his back humped up and his pupils were huge and black. I sat and watched him and he was jittery and nervous so I took him back downstairs. I’ll just spend time with him down there and keep him in there for the week and see what happens next weekend.

I have walked every step of this house and cannot see anything that’s different that should be causing him a problem and I have not brought anything in that is scented or should be an issue. I did have a new lamp that arrived but it’s just a lamp and it’s in a corner and as far as I can tell, it isn’t on his radar. I had printer ink (cartridges) which I put in the printer which is in a bedroom and closed the door so he was in there for a while when I was in there but he isn’t going in there now.

When he came upstairs yesterday, he got on the back of the sofa for just a few minutes. He went into Addie’s bathroom where his food and water are upstairs, he walked through our bedroom, which is usually his comfort zone, and he came back into the living room and I saw how nervous he was so I took him back down.

I am at my wit’s end trying to figure out what’s wrong and how I can fix it.

In the sewing room in Texas, I had the radio on any time I was in there and I do the same thing upstairs here so I thought maybe that was it and turned the radio off before he ever came up.

It’s easy to know that nothing has come in because I haven’t been anywhere. I picked up groceries but it was only about $50 and I think everything went into the fridge. No doubt floss and charts arrived but that’s been happening for several months now.

I am at a loss as to what could be wrong. This is when I really need Vince. He would figure this out in a snap!

If anyone has any suggestions, I’d love to hear them.

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Comments

  1. maybe he just misses Vince. Can he here you when you and Vince are on the phone. Maybe hearing Vince’s voice would help. Just a suggestion.

    • I have two ragdolls cats one started doing what boots is doing. She was constipated number one. Took care of that. Then again did it, we had a metal roof put on and snow falling off scared her so tail shaking etc. now even winter snow same situation she is moody- vet prescribed a med so I can give it if she gets anxious.
      Also we noticed as she is getting older her front nails grow curling under just two of them! So when they start she will act like Boots. Just thought I would let you know. They are sisters five years old. She is calm with my husband will be more relaxed.

      • They cut his nails at the vet and they were fine. It could easily be something I’m not even hearing. I’ve been checking the litter box and all seems normal there. I knew the vet would ask about that.

  3. I have a heated throw that Echo (cat) loves. If she is driving me crazy when I am trying to sit and knit or weave on my Inkle loom, I’ll put the throw on my legs, turn it on, and she is down. I also have 4 “huts” (I have 2 cats and 2 mini doxies). The huts are for cats, but both doxies are small enough to fit. I think the cats love the simi-dark space where they feel very secure. Maybe Boots feels there is too much open space upstairs and he feels insecure. Your sewing room in Texas, even though large, was still a confined space. Same with your sewing room in your new basement. Here is an example:

    https://www.amazon.com/PETMAKER-Cozy-Kitty-Igloo-Plush/dp/B00WMVUWIA/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1YA3273XK7FB0&dchild=1&keywords=cat+hut&qid=1612801206&sprefix=cat+hu%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-3

      • Hope Boots likes it as much as my kitties. Sputnik got in one yesterday and didn’t come out for about 3 hours, maybe longer. He is solid black, so every now and then I could see his eyes, then he would move around and back to sleep. Echo and Sputnik will be 3 years old in May and very active, but they love their huts.

    • I just don’t think so. The lamp arrived on Thursday evening and he started acting weird on Wednesday. The lamp/magnifier are one thing but he was acting weird before they arrived.

  5. Have you had his teeth/gums checked? My cat was in pain with her teeth and behaved really strangely – tearing her own hair out and scratching everyone. Once she had her teeth removed she was like a new cat. Boots may be in pain.

    • They checked all that at the vet Friday and the fact that he’s a sweet kitty in the sewing room but gets agitated the minute he comes up the stairs (and he comes up on his own . . I don’t carry him up), tells me it’s not pain related but more about something in this room.

  6. Is there any low hum, noise, vibration that started in recent weeks – I know you like the temp cooler, but did you increase the heat since this cold front came through? He may be reacting to some noise that you can’t hear. It could be a combination of things which are adding up to cause the nervous reaction.

    On the weather front – OKC/OK has freezing mist. There are many accidents in the area, usually on bridges. One has 29 cars piled up on a bridge and the firemen are walking on top of cars to help pull people out of cars. Another accident involved several cars, trucks, and a cattle car. And, this weather is supposed to continue for over a week!

    • After reading your comment, I went through and checked to be sure no fans were on but turned down to where they weren’t turning, which might be making a noise. Nothing seemed amiss with any of those. I checked everywhere I could check to see if anything was buzzing. I unplugged everything not in use just to be sure. I can’t figure out anything that has changed and since it was so sudden and is so obvious, I feel like it has to be something that just happened.

      I did not change the temp. Keeping the thermostat at 69 degrees is 69 degrees inside whether the outside temp is 100 or 20. I do keep the master bedroom door closed because the thermostat is near the door and I don’t want the warm air coming out of the bedroom to cause the thermostat to fluctuate. I have a thermometer in the family room ad it’s spot on. With the thermostat near the bedrooms set at 69, it’s 69.3 in the main living area.

      Also, when he started this, it wasn’t really cold. It was short sleeve weather outside Wednesday through Friday morning last week so I don’t feel it’s temperature related.

  7. Aldi has cardboard cat houses every holiday, most recent is Valentine’s day. Kitties love them.

  8. Could something be in you attic….bats, squirrels, mice? Can you close the bedroom and bathroom doors and then open oneat a time? Didn’t you say you reduced his food?

    • No. I keep a small litter box in the bathroom in case he accidentally gets closed in our bedroom so I want him to have access to that if he’s in the bedroom.

      I did reduce his food but that was about a month ago and the vet wants me to reduce it even more but I’m keeping it where it is for now til we get him calmed down.

      I can’t say there’s nothing in the attic but usually a squirrel, we’d hear it and we haven’t. Who knows about mice. I’m tempted to get some kind of trap and put it where big Boots can’t get to it but if I caught something, I don’t know what I’d do with Vince not here.

    • Y’all stop with the ghost stuff. I’m such a chicken but I’m about to think it has to be paranormal because I absolutely do not have a clue.

      • I don’t think it can be ghosts. They can go anywhere, so why would they only stay upstairs? I’m wondering if it doesn’t have something to do with Rita. Does she come into your bedroom here, or does she always stay in the kitchen? If she’s never in the bedroom I’d be curious to see if Boots still gets bitey with you in there. I hate to even mention this because it’s far-fetched and I don’t want you to worry, but the only thing I can think of is that something has changed with Rita and Boots can smell it.

        • Rita stays in the breakfast room. She doesn’t go in our bedroom. It may not be far fetched but she seems ok. Who knows? Boots would probalby know before I do.

      • Judy, I was fixing to post….There is one thing I know about Judy, ladies!! Don’t be telling her that!! She will never close her eyes and sleep!!!! LOL

  11. I wonder if he misses his own domain. In Texas, he had his own “digs” separate from the house and had a lot of alone time. I’m not sure that makes sense though since he was ok before Vince left. Cats are weird. Molly Mae stays in the family room with us unless someone knocks on the door and then she’s off like a shot to the longarm table in the studio. She doesn’t reappear until whoever it is leaves.

    Just when you think you have them figured out, they throw a curve ball or a hair ball. 🙂

  12. Have you checked all your electric cords and plugs? We had a cat once that got her teeth on a cord and found out what it was! She was upset for days but she did not ever do that again! Cats especially are attracted to electric cords. Make sure to check them all out if you have not done so already. From plug to connection. They are sneaky little devils!

  13. My cat would act all sweet and lovey dovey when she wanted dinner but if you pet her you’d better watch it she would bite you.

    • The vet said it seems to be much more effective in an area 700 square feet or less and I don’t have that upstairs. The kitchen, family room, dining room, breakfast room are all open, plus the hall that connects the bedrooms and the stairs that lead downstairs . . and then family room down there. I think in a space this large, there wouldn’t be much concentration.

  15. I wonder if all the chasing of the laser might have a bad effect on Boots? I know they are terrible for dogs, and I read a few things on a simple google search that say chasing and never catching might cause anxiety in cats. Did the vet ask about this?

  16. My cat will bite at my hands and hair if he wants my attention. He stays upstairs away from my doxies and will howl to let me know he needs my attention. I can lay across the bed and watch/ nap tv and he cuddles with me and no more biting.

  17. When at the vet, did they do any xrays? Is it possible he ingested a pin or some thread that’s tangled in his innards? Is his stool normal; same litter or new stuff? Apologies if these questions have already been asked & answered—I did try to review your posts and the comments. My mom had a cat she called “pit bull kitty”, it would be in your lap and all lovey, purring, then attack your face without warning, no known reasons. Our cat that looks much like boots (including weight) tends to be a biter when you try to pet her, not at all a lap cat, and we think she just sees it as play, though that doesn’t seem to be Boots’ issue. Hope Boots gets back to normal soon.

    • They did not do x-rays but the fact that he’s normal when downstairs makes me think it’s not anything physical. No change in kitty litter.

      Boots will even walk up and bite me on the foot when I’m least expecting it and this is not his normal behavior.

  18. A couple of thoughts. Are you running the gas logs? They have a smell. Could that be it? Or maybe a static electric charge from the floor and he’s getting zapped? Also new cross stitch fabric (dye smells), you aren’t supposed to use any essential oils around cats. Many are poisonous. As are a lot of plants. Poinsettias. Lilies. Read the list online. One other thing. Cats hate change. I can leave a book on the floor and it scares them. Even if I just was reading it by them. Try spending time with him downstairs for a bit. Not just a day. See if anything is different about him.

    • Not running the propane fireplace. Saving the propane n case we lose power. When Vince was here in December, he ran it non-stop and Boots never reacted. I have the humidifier going and I haven’t been getting zapped but that doesn’t mean Boots isn’t.

      No essential oils. No indoor plants. The floss and cross stitch fabrics, except for the ones I’m using are stored in our bedroom and that door stays closed. He’s not had a problem with those before and not many new ones have arrived. I spend quite a bit of time downstairs with him because I’m still working down there plus it’s warmer down there so I’ve spent the last two days down there mostly but when I come up, he comes up with me.

      I only hold him briefly down there because he mostly likes to sleep in the downstairs bedroom when I open the sewing room door.

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