My cat has gone off the deep end!

[RolliePollie]

I was away on a trip for 6 days and left my two cats to fend for themselves. I've left them before and they seem to do fine. They're not too good with other people anyway, so I figure it's better to just leave them alone. Quinn, aka "the perfect house cat," acts like she could care less that I'm back. But Claudia, who is very neurotic, usually takes a day or two to "recover" when I get home. She meows a lot, wants to be on me constantly (right now she's sitting on my lap kneading my stomach), yowls if I leave the room, etc. But this time it's MUCH worse than usual. She is a wreck! I got no sleep last night because she absolutely would not settle down. She was walking on me, meowing like crazy, and licking me. But there's no point in locking her out of my bedroom because she just has to get this out of her system. This afternoon she is losing her voice from the incessant meowing. It's sad that she's so traumatized by being left alone. She's acting like a raving lunatic!

Does anyone else have a cat that reacts like this? I think she's officially gone off the deep end. She may have to go stay with a friend the next time I take a trip. Can't you see the potential for psychosis in that cute fuzzy face?

[Zen]

I see more than just potential:eek:

[Tuckervill]

Oh, the little darling.

My black cat, Cooler, does the same thing. He insists on having skin to skin contact with me for days after I've been gone. It doesn't matter if I've left him all alone or hubby or kid stays home with him. He needs ME.

After he gets it all out of his system, he's not so bad. But, the longer I'm gone the worse he is. I think 6 days is a long time with no one checking on them...I'd be worried that something happened if I didn't send someone to check, at least on the house. But it wouldn't make a difference with how Cooler reacts when I return.

Karen.

[teigyr]

She's cute! But yeah, there's something there. I bet she'd lock you in the house if she could.

We've got one that was normal but clingy until we went away for the weekend. Now, every time we are trying to sleep, she marches around the bed in circles kneading her little paws. Around and around with her back bent like a hedgehog. If we try to stop her with attention, she will accept the attention then go back to the exact spot where she stopped.

Now that I think about it though, 6 days is a LONG time. While our cats aren't what you'd call social, we'll have someone check in to make sure everything's ok. The cats will come for treats or canned cat food so the person can check to make sure all are accounted for.

[RolliePollie]

Yeah, 6 days is too long to just leave them. Even with four litterboxes, it was pretty apparent that it would've been good to have someone come over at least once while I was gone. Next trip, I'll be rethinking this. It's nice that cats are so independent that they can take care of themselves, but obviously they also get very attached to their humans!

Zen - you crack me up! I did choose one of the more psycho-looking pictures. I should've chosen the one where she's got her head stuck in an empty Kleenex box.

[bikerz]

Sara, your cat looks so much like one of my cats, and she behaves the same way sometimes, but just because she wants to, not because she's been left alone. Honestly, they could be twins separated at birth!

[winddance]

Oh yes. I know that look well. I have one cat that was so clingy that I got her a cat (dragging her across the carpet while she clung to my pant leg was the last straw.)

I'm in and out of town these days, so I had to come up with something. I play with my cats when I get home. We run around, I pet them, I dangle their jingly toy while they flip themselves all over the place...and then...they fall asleep in the middle of the floor. I go to bed. Sometimes they try for a bit of a reprise at odd hours of the morning and end up playing Thunder Chase/Freight Train/Feline Bowling, but for the most part this works well.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/winddance/cat/actionshot.jpg

My limit for leaving the cats alone is 4 days. At 4 days, I usually come home to find that they've climbed up the refridgerator and knocked down anything that's on top of it. I am not sure what they would do after 5 days, much less 6. I do not wish to find out, however, so 4 days it is.

[mimitabby]

I never leave my cats unattended for more than 24-36 hours. after that, I have someone stop in; longer than a few days; i hire a petsitter. it is extremely traumatic for some pets to be left without you. They have a routine, they are comfortable with it. Since you can't really explain to them when you'll be back; imagine YOU being left somewhere for 6 days without anyone telling YOU when they'd be back with food; water, whatever. Even if you had enough.... How would you know without being told that you weren't going to run out, that you weren't abandoned?

[mimitabby]

ps is she in heat?

[colby]

Your poor baby! It sounds painful... for both of you. ;)

I have one that looks just like her, she has her needy moments. She has this tiny little meow, and loves to fluff her pillow (especially your full belly and/or bladder). She's pretty friendly, but I think if we all disappeared for 6 days she'd get a little neurotic.

We have one in particular that is very needy. If he squirts out the door and gets stuck outside overnight, or stuck in a bedroom with the door closed for too long, or if you leave for any period of time, he is very clingy after you are reunited. Following you around, winding between your feet, drooling, licking, meowing, demanding the pettins NOW, you name it. He was originally a rescue, and I think the whole experience rewired his poor little brain. He has a food complex, too. If we left him alone for 6 days, he might revert to kittenhood.

I have a couple that do the "aloof" thing. When I'm gone for a while and return, they have to go everywhere I go, but they don't necessarily want attention, just to be NEAR (with that STARE). They also seem to meow at me a lot more than normal, I could swear I'm getting a lecture ("now mom, I know you understand how picky we are about our habits, and you just had to go and ruin it, how rude!"). Normally, when I get up in the morning, they come downstairs with me and go upstairs when I go to bed, but when I return from travel it seems like everywhere I go there they are. Thankfully, I usually travel alone but don't live alone, so someone is at home with the cats almost all the time.

It would be cool if you could find someone they could get familiar with, so they weren't freaked out when someone new came in (half of mine would hide if a stranger came around, but thankfully the most needy would come out no matter who it was). Even a friend that could sit in your house for a couple of hours, watch TV, read a book, do normal "you" things that would make them feel less alone. It's not a substitute for you and there will still be some neediness when you come home, but at least they can satisfy some of their apprehension and fluff someone else's pillow for a while. ;)

[LBTC]

We've always had the dog and cat combos, so even an overnight away requires a stop in from a friend, but we always prefer a pet/house sitter. I try to make friends with 20-30 somethings who find themselves living with mom and dad again, and could use a break - of course, they have to love dogs and cats!

Crazy as it sounds, I always tell them how many sleeps we'll be gone and who will take care of them; and that they need to listen to that person and be good, just like kids. Yes, reunions are still wild, but not as crazy or long as you're talking about!

I did read in a really fabulous book once, that the if we set aside 5 minutes when we first get home to play and interact with our pets, then they will be better behaved for the rest of the day.....

Good luck with your little monkey cat!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[RolliePollie]

We're off to bed and Claudia seems a little calmer this evening. I have my fingers crossed. I fully expect to be walked on, kneaded on, meowed at, and probably drooled on too...but I hope it's just one or two times throughout the night tonight!

This cat really is a nut...she's a joy to have around, very entertaining and very sweet...but my house is way beyond child-proofed. She's a serious cleptomaniac, she carries things around like a dog, and she's OCD about always placing certain toys in certain places. She'll eat anything, including string and electrical cords, and she has Psychogenic Alopecia, which means she obsessively eats her own fur off in patches due to nerves. The vet wants to put her on Prozac but her mommy isn't so keen on the idea (yet). I guess expecting this particular cat to stay home alone for 6 days is asking a little much. Next trip, a cat-sitter is definitely in order!

[Zen]

I would not want to see your cat on catnip.
If I were better at Photoshop I'd turn her into SuperCat! with that pose.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/SuperCat.jpg
this outfit was not the cat's idea

[short cut sally]

When we go on camping trips (usually 3-4 days) "Grandma" comes and visits twice a day, she cant' bear to think that her little one is left alone. I've tried to tell her that once a day is fine, check foods, litters etc. NOPE, litters done twice a day (which I do anyways-he's fussy) and she entertains him and he loves it. Of course, he loves it when we come home too. My cat would not know what to do if he was left alone for so many days, he is a social bug.

[Brandi]

I have a lot of experience with this since my husband and i travel all the time for work. We have three cats. I agree the 6 days is a lot of time for them to be alone, at least having someone come in and feed them and clean their box is a good idea. Just having them come in is a good thing wether the cats like other people or not.
I have left for over 6 weeks at a time. When I get back they act like they don't know who I am. But after a day they won't leave me alone. My one cat Bo won't leave my side (it's so cute) and he does that meowing thig too. I have had a friend who said that thier cat lost he's voice from the meowing after they got back from a trip too.
I red once that they think you have been dragged off by a preditor evey time you leave. I don't think i believe that.
I would get someone to look in on them. You know just in case they need med attention or something. My cats get used to their sitter after about the 4th day. good luck.

[Thorn]

We used to have my parents look in on the cats when we were gone. They're great people and treat the cats well, but..uh...my cats are of that one-person type. When we came home, they'd be hiding for a day or more.

A few years ago we found the ultimate cat sitter. She's a gem. The cats love her. She brings them toys and catnip. When we get home, the cats are no longer hiding--it is more of a "Darn! You're here again? Can't you send the sitter, instead?"

We also try to get away every month or so for a weekend. We have the sitter come over even though it is only a day or two just to keep a familiarity. An animal behviourist said that this would help with their anxiety. It seems to have work.

[jandmw]

A friend of mine had a cat like this, except she would go nuts after 12 hours only. She had to be put on some kind of kitty valium for a bit. I am not sure what is funnier, cats on valium or cat nip! :D

[sbctwin]

I spoiled my little fur friends. I had the "Animal Nanny" come in to tend to Kallie when we were gone. The 'animal nanny' would do just about anything for your pets. I also have bird feeders and he would fill them and fill my bird baths. I would be afraid to leave my little girl home alone. I would leave her overnight, but that was rare. If I didn't need benefits, I would seriously consider becoming an 'animal nanny'.

[Tuckervill]

My mom has a cat that wouldn't come near me, because I was the one who traumatized it by rescuing it from the middle of the street when it was a wee kitten (It bit me, but I forgave it. It would not forgive me, though.)

When Mom would go out of town, she'd ask me to come in and check on the cat. A few times I never saw it, but I scooped and fed and watered. Then Mom went on a much longer trip, and I didn't go for about 3 days into the trip. THIS time the cat was lonely and came out at least to show me its face. The next time I came, it came and rubbed against my leg and let me pet her. Now when I go there she comes out to greet me. They can change.

Karen

[smilingcat]

professional pet sitters, relative or friend who adores cats are in order.

Next best thing is to board your kitty. but this sounds like it won't do with your baby. Cats need their familiar sourrounding. Boarding place isn't one of them.

Suprisingly, lot of cats are quite social. They need social interaction and stimulation. Have someone drop in at-least once a day for half an hour to feed, change water bowl, clean box and play. Water bowl should be changed (preferably) everyday. Dirty water can cause cats to get zits on their chin. And unclean litterbox can cause cats, both male and female, to get UTI. And we all know how uncomfortable that is.

Get a referral from your vet on pet sitters.
Smilingcat

[teigyr]

When I used to watch a friends cat, I would stop by and watch TV. She (my friend) would leave me a bottle of wine and I'd plan to spend an hour or so just hanging at the house. That kept me from rushing in to feed the cat then immediately leaving -- I'd sit and give her a lap to sit on. I figured it was as much normalcy as I could provide! I would even lie down on the couch so the cat could curl up and having someone to sleep with a bit.

Loved that cat :D

[mimitabby]

Suprisingly, lot of cats are quite social. They need social interaction and stimulation.
Smilingcat

no surprise here. Cats are great company, great buddies. and are very social!

[Tuckervill]

Both of my adult sons have become unintended cat aficionados, to my surprise They each have 3 cats. My eldest son was just telling me the other day something he read about cats. He said there's a theory that cats are always in some kind of mother/child relationship with their humans...that sometimes they're the kitten, and sometimes we are. I don't know how a cat "mothers" really, but I definitely see them acting like kittens and I'm their mother.

Karen

[suzieqtwa]

6 days is much to long to leave a cat alone.:eek: Don't you have a neighbor ,or friend who can come check on them. They do have pet sitters ,who come , and spend about 1/2 hour with them. When I leave mine alone for 2 days they tear the place apart.

[Ninabike]

We would leave our two previous cats alone for 3 days when we went to Catalina Island. When we came back, one would go crazy that we were home; the other would just give us a "dirty look" and go back to sleep. That was the cat we locked in the bathroom by accident once for a whole day and when we came home, she just looked up and then went back right back to sleep - in the bathroom. We haven't left our two cunnent cats alone yet. They are quite sensitive. I tell my DH we should board them, but he says that would be more traumatic than if we left them in their own environment with pleanty of food and litter boxes. We haven't decided yet, but our cats pretty much control our lives.

[RolliePollie]

Whew...Miss Claudia seems to be back to normal. Sleeping on her back with her head on the pillow, carrying her "mousie" all around the house, drinking my orange juice this morning, and getting into everything...yup, she's ok now. Poor thing. I guess I really traumatized her :(

I grew up with outdoor pets, and leaving them home alone for a week or more was just what we did. They never seemed to notice we were gone. But inside pets definitely have a closer relationship with their "mommies." Evidently Claudia is getting more needy as she gets older. At any rate, I won't torture her like this again. Next time I go away, she's getting a cat-sitter!

[RoadRaven]

Ummm... just another thought here... the cat - the one who couldn't care less about you getting home - no chance that cat turns into a mini-dictator when you are not home? You know, "clean a space in the cat-box for me" "bring a nibble from the feeder, I'm too tired to walk" "wipe the toilet seat before I go drink from the bowl"...

No chance fluffy cat is so pleased to see you back because shes sick of being ordered around?

(You know, the way older siblings do to younger ones when parents aren't about)

[jeannierides]

My daughter and family have gone on vacation. I have the "honor" of keeping Junior the Cat while they are gone...

3736

[Tuckervill]

Cutie pie.

I put a lot of empty baskets around my house up high on shelves. The cats love them. None of them sleep in the sink, though.

Karen

[Ninabike]

That's so funny Road Raven. The cat who could care less, "Baby", was the dominant of the two, even though she only weighed half as much. The other one "Sissy", looked exactly like Jeannierides "sink cat", right down to the black spot on her chin.

[MyLitespeed]

My husband and I are retiring at the end of this month. We have three cats and two dogs which haven't been left alone for more then a week at time. Since we plan on doing more traveling, it's going to be VERY painful for me to leave them alone for 2 weeks. We will have a neighbor peek in on them everyday, but since they aren't use to strangers that won't do much good to comfort them. The last time we returned from being away for a week, the cats did much better and it only took them about 1/2 hr. to come out from under the bed and stare at us, making sure it was really us. I won't board them anywhere, I'm afraid that would really freak them out. The dogs I'm not worried about, they love everybody and as long as someone feeds them and pats their heads, they will be happy. I think I will be worse for wear when it comes to leaving my cats.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/Litespeed/Smiling-brothers.gif

[mimitabby]

mylitespeed, I ALWAYS am.
to compound it, I had one DIE when i was away for a week.
It sounds so stupid to be away in Italy worrying about my CATS.
but i do.

[teigyr]

My daughter and family have gone on vacation. I have the "honor" of keeping Junior the Cat while they are gone...

3736


CUTE!!!!!! And yes, it is an honor :D

[teigyr]

Mylitespeed,

Maybe your neighbors can stay a while in your house when they peek in on the cats? Shy cats will sometimes come out if someone gets food for them and then sits calmly and quietly. The cats are lonely, they'll break down to get some attention. When we go away, I feel worse for them because they don't get attention. Food and water are important, granted, but as asocial as some cats can be, they are so social in many other ways.

Mimitabby, I don't know what I'd do if a cat died while I was gone. I guess the only thing you can do is carry on but still, that has got to be so difficult.

[RolliePollie]

Hey Jeannierides - I have a sink cat too!

[ShubieGA]

It really does help the babies to get visited.
My friend "Auntie Jan" comes to see my babies (Stella, Gracie and Tigger) when I am gone for more than the day. She spends a bit of time giving them some loving and treats, on top of the bowl and box check. So I just get the normal close herding and cuddling when I get home. I get escorted everywhere.
Then when Jan is out of town, Auntie Shubie kicks in and I visit her babies. 2 need meds, but have adjusted to me administering them - except Hershey - he hisses at everyone except his Mom!
Sounds like a good "kitty auntie or uncle" is in order!

[mimitabby]

And, oh great! I just found out my built in house sitter is going out of town this weekend!!! And the rest of the family is doing the Seattle to Portland Ride
and I have to drive down there to pick them up and take them all home. aargh.

[jeannierides]

Hey Jeannierides - I have a sink cat too!

Sara, that is TOO funny! Junior is having a grand old time visiting. He has the *run* of the house - and lots of attention from me and my cat loving SO. My daughter's family consists of three very active little kids (6 and twins 4), and a 6 month old Weimaraner who loves to chase Jr., and eat his food, so you can imagine that Jr. thinks he's on a spa vacation!!:D