Adopted cat struggling to settle in (we think)?
Discussion
We adopted Ted the cat from an old lady who had to go into a home. He is an 8 year old Persian cat who, while loved, was probably not the best looked after cat in the world. We have had him for a month.
We took him to the vets and it turns out he was underweight, has a heart murmour and has very bad teeth. We're getting the teeth sorted in the new year and will monitor his heart while feeding him up. He wasnt chipped or vaccinated so we did these too.
Anyway, he is a really lovely little thing when we're around - very cuddly and has never scratched us or been a problem - he follows us around and purrs non-stop. He's even had a bath with pretty good grace.
Two things make me think he is unhappy:
1. He wees in the house on rugs/floors/clothes when we are around. He uses his litter tray at all other times (ie during the day)! This happens a few times a week at least now.
2. He makes the most deathly crying/screaming noise when he doesnt know where we are, generally at night when he's on his own as we dont let him into the bedroom. For an experiment we let him sleep in the bedroom last night and he was pretty quiet - although I woke up with a cat on my head so not ideal.
I'm a bit worried that he is unhappy, perhaps has his last owner was around all of the time (we go out to work during the day) so he isnt getting the attention he was used to. Is there anything we can do? He has games and toys, but we took a few away as he was weeing on them. His favourite toy is a ping pong ball (wish I'd known this before buying the various cat toys).
Any tips on the weeing thing? His litter tray is huge, clean and out of the way - and he does use it.
We took him to the vets and it turns out he was underweight, has a heart murmour and has very bad teeth. We're getting the teeth sorted in the new year and will monitor his heart while feeding him up. He wasnt chipped or vaccinated so we did these too.
Anyway, he is a really lovely little thing when we're around - very cuddly and has never scratched us or been a problem - he follows us around and purrs non-stop. He's even had a bath with pretty good grace.
Two things make me think he is unhappy:
1. He wees in the house on rugs/floors/clothes when we are around. He uses his litter tray at all other times (ie during the day)! This happens a few times a week at least now.
2. He makes the most deathly crying/screaming noise when he doesnt know where we are, generally at night when he's on his own as we dont let him into the bedroom. For an experiment we let him sleep in the bedroom last night and he was pretty quiet - although I woke up with a cat on my head so not ideal.
I'm a bit worried that he is unhappy, perhaps has his last owner was around all of the time (we go out to work during the day) so he isnt getting the attention he was used to. Is there anything we can do? He has games and toys, but we took a few away as he was weeing on them. His favourite toy is a ping pong ball (wish I'd known this before buying the various cat toys).
Any tips on the weeing thing? His litter tray is huge, clean and out of the way - and he does use it.
Last night was another quiet night and no weeing - he was on the bed for a few mins then slept on the floor (we think)... if this continues and thats the trade off then we'd be really happy!
I've ordered a couple of diffuers, so will plug these in to 'his' room and the lounge. I do have a spare litter tray, but really would sooner only have one - especially if his weeing is a nervous/territorial thing so will see if that calms down first for a bit longer
I've ordered a couple of diffuers, so will plug these in to 'his' room and the lounge. I do have a spare litter tray, but really would sooner only have one - especially if his weeing is a nervous/territorial thing so will see if that calms down first for a bit longer
He seems ok this week - I think he might just be a bit thick! We have had quiet nights mostly this week, but only when we've left the bedroom door open and carried him in there to show us where we are. The one time we didnt actually show him where we were was a noisy night!
We havent had any weeing this week either which is great news - we're making sure there is nothing on the floor which looks remotely inviting, which is probably helping, but he does seem a bit more relaxed too.
The vet says most of his teeth need to come out in January and that might help him too as he's probably putting up with a bit of pain.
We havent had any weeing this week either which is great news - we're making sure there is nothing on the floor which looks remotely inviting, which is probably helping, but he does seem a bit more relaxed too.
The vet says most of his teeth need to come out in January and that might help him too as he's probably putting up with a bit of pain.
telecat said:
On the teeth front. If moggy can eat biscuits I would hold fire on the teeth. Too many seem to go downhill fast after that particular treatment.
He does eat biscuits fairly easily - he will only eat dry food actually. I've heard him crunching them, so assume he isnt just swallowing whole. 
that's good news, something is working anyway 
We are still struggling with Ted. We have finally found some decent food he likes (applaws salmon) and will eat, so thats great.
However, he has started weeing on the floor again - only in the kitchen and bathroom. This is now daily (at least) and we have cleaned the areas thoroughly with biological washing liquid as advised. We've also tried using aftershave to 'mark' the territory.
The bathroom may be because he can still smell his wee, as its an old lino which is being replaced in April as we re-do the bathroom.
The kitchen we are lost with. He has pee'd on the floor and also on the worktop(!) once. We are starting to think its some kind of protest as we've stopped him having some 'treats' he really liked (dentabites) as he was refusing normal food and just expecting those. Will cats protest like this?
We're fed up of cleaning wee up every day (at least). Are animal behaviorial specialists worth a try?
We will move one of his Feliway diffusers into the kitchen tonight, but I'm not sure thats the issue, as there is one only a few feet away anyway.
However, he has started weeing on the floor again - only in the kitchen and bathroom. This is now daily (at least) and we have cleaned the areas thoroughly with biological washing liquid as advised. We've also tried using aftershave to 'mark' the territory.
The bathroom may be because he can still smell his wee, as its an old lino which is being replaced in April as we re-do the bathroom.
The kitchen we are lost with. He has pee'd on the floor and also on the worktop(!) once. We are starting to think its some kind of protest as we've stopped him having some 'treats' he really liked (dentabites) as he was refusing normal food and just expecting those. Will cats protest like this?
We're fed up of cleaning wee up every day (at least). Are animal behaviorial specialists worth a try?
We will move one of his Feliway diffusers into the kitchen tonight, but I'm not sure thats the issue, as there is one only a few feet away anyway.
Edited by Maxf on Wednesday 21st January 08:45
ali_kat said:
How many litter trays had he got & how often are they cleaned out?
2, cleaned out daily. He still uses them daily for 1s and 2s - he just seems to like to do a protest wee in the same places too. I've read a huge amount about it online, luckily mostly non-conflicting stuff, and we spent ages cleaning properly to get the places 'cat clean'. We havent tried surgical spirit as I was worried about ruining the floor more - but I will give it a go. I've also read that strong citrus floor cleaner may help - although that seems a bit cruel, as he will obviously dislike the smell but has to walk around on it - perhaps I'm just soft though.
I wonder if we should get him back on his 'dentabites' daily, but I really cant believe its just down to protesting about us not giving them to him. Trouble is, I bet there is no real nutition in them, and he (judging by past performance) will go off his proper food again.
I imagine Bec is right about him doing it in the past and it being habitual.
That is my worry - that it is linked to being left along 
We both work all day, so he is alone (although he does the same thing at night too, but less often). We try and have a day at home a week, and are around all weekend, generally. He was ok for a while, but this all started up again after Christmas, and worse than ever.
He is a very cuddly cat and his prime seating perch is on one of our knees - he relly does like company. We leave the radio on during the day, as we thought odd noises from neighbours might be spooking him and we also have lights on timers.
He isnt a big player, and is probably quite clever as normal things like feathers on a stick and ping pong balls get played with for a few minutes, then left alone indefinitely once he figures them out.
When we adopted him we were specifially told he liked to be on his own and he definitely didnt like other cats. At this point we hadnt realised his old owner was elderly, but realised that later - so she probably was around all day.
He hasnt been to the Vets for cystitus, but has had a general checkup about a month ago and was fine.
We both work all day, so he is alone (although he does the same thing at night too, but less often). We try and have a day at home a week, and are around all weekend, generally. He was ok for a while, but this all started up again after Christmas, and worse than ever.
He is a very cuddly cat and his prime seating perch is on one of our knees - he relly does like company. We leave the radio on during the day, as we thought odd noises from neighbours might be spooking him and we also have lights on timers.
He isnt a big player, and is probably quite clever as normal things like feathers on a stick and ping pong balls get played with for a few minutes, then left alone indefinitely once he figures them out.
When we adopted him we were specifially told he liked to be on his own and he definitely didnt like other cats. At this point we hadnt realised his old owner was elderly, but realised that later - so she probably was around all day.
He hasnt been to the Vets for cystitus, but has had a general checkup about a month ago and was fine.
Got in yesterday and he'd wee'd on the tinfoil we put down to keep him away from his weeing area in the kitchen! Last night he slept in our bedroom all night and was super chilled out.... got up this morning though to find 1 wee in his litter tray, 1 in the bathroom near his tray and 1 in the kitchen.
We've booked a vets appointment, so will see what they say. I've also just ordered a load of activity type toys, which may help him during the day. As soon as I can find a climbing thing which looks decent, I'll get that too.
We're going to get him back on his treat food too - but hide it around the house rather than just feed it to him. He wont touch wet food, so thats no good - we've tried him on raw food too. At the moment we're just happy he is finally on Applaws rather that whiskers.
His coat is also a lot longer than when we first got him so we're getting him a trim too, in case that is pissing him off. We just thought that it was maybe strange that he went to the adoption place with a newish trim, so perhaps he was used to it being done regularly. £60 a pop though, so hopefully not too regular!
We've booked a vets appointment, so will see what they say. I've also just ordered a load of activity type toys, which may help him during the day. As soon as I can find a climbing thing which looks decent, I'll get that too.
We're going to get him back on his treat food too - but hide it around the house rather than just feed it to him. He wont touch wet food, so thats no good - we've tried him on raw food too. At the moment we're just happy he is finally on Applaws rather that whiskers.
His coat is also a lot longer than when we first got him so we're getting him a trim too, in case that is pissing him off. We just thought that it was maybe strange that he went to the adoption place with a newish trim, so perhaps he was used to it being done regularly. £60 a pop though, so hopefully not too regular!
Well, he was great and we got a sample within about 2 minutes of trying on Saturday. Sadly the easy part stops there.
We were going to drop it in on Monday for the tests, but on Sunday he wasn't himself (wouldnt eat or play and wasnt really interested in being stroked and was falling asleep sitting up) so we took him to the emergency vets with the sample. Some blood tests later and it looks like his kidneys have started to fail!
He stayed in overnight on an IV, so hopefully we get some good news today. The vet said it would be irreversable but manageable on the right food. Fingers crossed.
We were going to drop it in on Monday for the tests, but on Sunday he wasn't himself (wouldnt eat or play and wasnt really interested in being stroked and was falling asleep sitting up) so we took him to the emergency vets with the sample. Some blood tests later and it looks like his kidneys have started to fail!
He stayed in overnight on an IV, so hopefully we get some good news today. The vet said it would be irreversable but manageable on the right food. Fingers crossed.
No real news yet - apparently he is pretty chilled out and is showing a bit of interest in food now but is still on the drip and anti nausea meds. The vet would like to keep him in for another night (unless he really perks up this afternoon) and if he isnt showing greater improvement tomorrow, give him an ultrasound to check for cysts.
It all came on really quickly - literally over the space of 12 hours he went from normal Ted (albeit weeing in odd places, as discussed) to groggy, sick Ted. I'm glad we got him in on Sunday though - rather than waiting to see if he got any better.
It all came on really quickly - literally over the space of 12 hours he went from normal Ted (albeit weeing in odd places, as discussed) to groggy, sick Ted. I'm glad we got him in on Sunday though - rather than waiting to see if he got any better.
Today's news is still not great. Ted is still at the vets and was still on the drip this morning. The vet I spoke to this morning said he had developed a pronounced swelling in his mouth/face - probably an absess caused by bad teeth.
After a bit of thought and some online research, it seemed that Teds best chance was to remove his infected teeth ASAP to immediately reduce the level of bacteria he is dealing with, so we steered the vet in this direction. Before doing this, we had a scan of his kidneys done, which showed no cysts - this was a bit of a relief and showed us that doing the teeth may not be a fools errand and was worth a try.
So, he had the problem teeth removed within about an hour of the go-ahead, including some rotten bone(!) and the absess drained. He came through the anestetic fine, and tonight they are slowly taking him off the drip, so they can see if his blood/urnine tests are better and show a level of kidney functionality. If that is positive, then he may be home tomorrow. If his kidneys arent funtioning then he may not be comng home
He's probably not going to grow to be an old cat, but a summer with him chilling out, not in pain, would be very, very nice indeed. We only took him in expecting some tablets, and havent seem him for 3 days now.
Fingers well and truly crossed.
After a bit of thought and some online research, it seemed that Teds best chance was to remove his infected teeth ASAP to immediately reduce the level of bacteria he is dealing with, so we steered the vet in this direction. Before doing this, we had a scan of his kidneys done, which showed no cysts - this was a bit of a relief and showed us that doing the teeth may not be a fools errand and was worth a try.
So, he had the problem teeth removed within about an hour of the go-ahead, including some rotten bone(!) and the absess drained. He came through the anestetic fine, and tonight they are slowly taking him off the drip, so they can see if his blood/urnine tests are better and show a level of kidney functionality. If that is positive, then he may be home tomorrow. If his kidneys arent funtioning then he may not be comng home
He's probably not going to grow to be an old cat, but a summer with him chilling out, not in pain, would be very, very nice indeed. We only took him in expecting some tablets, and havent seem him for 3 days now.
Fingers well and truly crossed.
Thanks for all of the support on this thread.
We picked Ted up last night after his final blood test showed that he was stable, albeit with poorly functioning kidneys. He seems almost like his old self, although last night was on pain killers for his mouth, so was a bit out of it. This morning he was on really fine form and eating well.
He came back with a selection of wet renal foods to try and so far seems to love them all (I really hope he wasnt on this before we had him, and we just put him onto normal stuff, as that would be rather tragic).
As keeping his fluid levels up is so important, we bought him a water fountain which he is making an amazing job of just ignoring - hopefully he'll work that out over time.
We have to take him back to the vets on Monday for a checkup and another blood test to check how he's going and check the level of protein in his blood, but for now he seems quite bright and getting back to his old self.
Happy owners!
We picked Ted up last night after his final blood test showed that he was stable, albeit with poorly functioning kidneys. He seems almost like his old self, although last night was on pain killers for his mouth, so was a bit out of it. This morning he was on really fine form and eating well.
He came back with a selection of wet renal foods to try and so far seems to love them all (I really hope he wasnt on this before we had him, and we just put him onto normal stuff, as that would be rather tragic).
As keeping his fluid levels up is so important, we bought him a water fountain which he is making an amazing job of just ignoring - hopefully he'll work that out over time.
We have to take him back to the vets on Monday for a checkup and another blood test to check how he's going and check the level of protein in his blood, but for now he seems quite bright and getting back to his old self.
Happy owners!
If he keeps eating the wet food, we'll just keep him on that - he seems to like it with a splash of water to really wet it down. We'll add a few more water bowls too.
One strange thing he is doing is licking the bare walls in the bathroom, where we havent finished the refurb - maybe thinking he needs some salt they are giving off? We've shut that door now, and will speak to the vet about it on Monday.
One strange thing he is doing is licking the bare walls in the bathroom, where we havent finished the refurb - maybe thinking he needs some salt they are giving off? We've shut that door now, and will speak to the vet about it on Monday.
An update:
Ted is like a new cat! He looks brighter, is more spritely and is jumping up on anything he thinks he can (he's never been a climber). He is wolfing down his new food, so much so that you'd think he was starving - it even looks like he might be putting a bit of weight on (the vet said he coudl stand to gain a kilo).
We took him back to the vets this morning for another blood test, so will see what that says, but she was really happy with his progress and amazed at how he had sprung back. Fingers crossed for a couple of years like this!
Ted is like a new cat! He looks brighter, is more spritely and is jumping up on anything he thinks he can (he's never been a climber). He is wolfing down his new food, so much so that you'd think he was starving - it even looks like he might be putting a bit of weight on (the vet said he coudl stand to gain a kilo).
We took him back to the vets this morning for another blood test, so will see what that says, but she was really happy with his progress and amazed at how he had sprung back. Fingers crossed for a couple of years like this!
Well, Ted has been unwell again - he had a short stay in the vets on an IV drip which perked him up a bit, but he isn't eating too well now - this has further negative effects on his kidneys. It seems his poor blood is making him feel a bit sick, which he is linking to his food.
We're all set to try a few different foods to try and get him to eat, but if he won't then he will probably go downhill fairly quickly, which isnt something we want to put him through
Its a crying shame, as he is still playing around a bit and still enjoys a good cuddle - but he's sleeping more and just seems a bit confused about his food; he cries for food in the mornings still, but then doesnt really want to eat it when we put it down. Very sad.
Any tips to get him to eat? We've tried wet and dry renal food in various flavours and brands - with water and without, and hot and cold. We've buried treats in his food (he digs them out). I'm going to buy some salmon and sardines later, which the vet suggested yesterday.
We're all set to try a few different foods to try and get him to eat, but if he won't then he will probably go downhill fairly quickly, which isnt something we want to put him through
Its a crying shame, as he is still playing around a bit and still enjoys a good cuddle - but he's sleeping more and just seems a bit confused about his food; he cries for food in the mornings still, but then doesnt really want to eat it when we put it down. Very sad.
Any tips to get him to eat? We've tried wet and dry renal food in various flavours and brands - with water and without, and hot and cold. We've buried treats in his food (he digs them out). I'm going to buy some salmon and sardines later, which the vet suggested yesterday.
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