Even though I’m not 100% sure that Boots’ problem is overstimulation, I’m about 100% sure it’s all related to the move and changes associated with the move.
Today I was thinking . . when Chad started middle school, I told Vince that unless it was absolutely necessary, I didn’t want to move til Chad graduated from high school. I didn’t want to add that stress to a teen or said teen’s mom! Maybe I should have said . . move all you want with Chad but we can’t move because we have a cat.
At this point, it doesn’t matter but for you cat experts . . when Vince got here with Boots, we put him in the sewing room, which had all the stuff he was used to – longarm, cutting table, machines, fabric. We let him get used to being in there before giving him the run of the house. I was wondering . . if when he got here, we let him loose in the entire house, would this not have happened? Would it have happened sooner? It’s like we got him accustomed to one room, then sprang the rest of the house, along with noises and sounds from outside on him.
It isn’t going to happen but if we went back to Texas, I wonder if he’d go back to being normal if he was back in the sewing room there.
I was thinking back to old Speck — he moved from one house in Kentucky to another house in Kentucky, to the house in Missouri, to the rental in Texas, then to the house we bought in Texas and he never missed a beat. He was always the same.
Maybe because I’m desperate for a solution but I’m feeling pretty confident now that I’m onto this overstimulation idea.
Sara F says
I’m not sure it would have made much difference. Our cat was about 5 years old when we moved. He had freedom to go anywhere he wanted in the house, but hid in our closet and our bedroom for about 2 weeks. Then he gradually felt confident enough to claim the whole house as his. He was a biter too – mostly me, and almost always in the same situations. He seemed to outgrow the biting as he got older. Our vet felt it was a dominance thing. The old cliche about cats viewing their people as “staff” has a lot of truth to it.
Val says
One other thing Judy, pet food manufacturers sometimes make changes to their food. The are the obligated to notify consumers of the change and it can cause upsets to stomachs or agitation. Not enough to make an animal throw up but enough to make them “antsy”. You are on the right track with the garage door, sometimes when the eye acts up you can push the button down and hold it till the door closes.
danielle says
I have been wondering if it was related to the move. New house – new boundaries – new things outside. And first no Vince in “his” house all the time; then Vince was there and everywhere; now Vince is gone again….so maybe there is some anxiety involved. But who knows – I am highly allergic to cats so never have had a cat!
Judy Laquidara says
Actually Boots stayed in Texas and Vince brought him when he came in November. I’m sure it’s all a lot for Boots to handle and that’s why I’m being patient and trying everything I can to make it better. He didn’t ask for any of these changes.
Lee Young says
I may be in left with something I just thought of, but is there any carpeting in your house? Static electricity is a thing! If there is, perhaps static from dry air (a/c and heating both dry out the air—I’m sure you already know that). Our poor kitties can hardly be petted without getting zapped. Both of ours are 9, one is built like Boots – she is more prone to biting when you try to pet—her way of ‘play’ or maybe just not wanting to be petted. The other is a skinny thing, more active, gets more static, and in the past year has become far more vocal and “wanting something” we have no clue about, and we’ve tried it all!
Judy Laquidara says
Not a lot of carpet but I have had the humidifiers on and haven’t noticed the static electricity being bad. Today is gorgeous and I have the windows open so the MO humidity will help that too.
Linda L Warren says
Have you considered CBD drops? I have an extremely anxious Australian Shep/Great Pyrenees cross (70 pounds) who periodically loses her mind, climbs bookcases, end tables, etc. Vet can’t find a cause. He suggested CBD drops. We use them on days that look like Sadie will be nuts. It does help. We also used them to reduce seizures in an old cat so I know they can be used on cats. We got 10 months more time with cat as the seizures went from 5-6 a day to some seizure free days and some 1-2 seizure days. Dog gets 7 to 10 drops. Cat got 2 to 4 drops.
Donna Keating says
Maybe you should limit Boots’ access to just the downstairs area. He was used to a much smaller although comfortable area. It could just too much space with the move and all the other changes. My previous cat was not socialized well before we got him so he was a very moody guy. If his eyes got to looking wild or his tail was swishing hard and fast or if his ears were pulled back at an angle, I armed myself with a shoe to protect myself if he lunged to bite or scratch me. As he got older he stopped doing it. He was my best buddy otherwise and died at age 16. Miss him still.