Cat Behaviour advice

Admin

I need some advice with one of our cats Lucky. She's about 4 now and we've had her for 2 years. Recently she's started getting really fat and hiding away upstairs sleeping all day.

The changes are Aaliyah's here
Hugo's here
and we've opened up a room just for them upstairs. This is where she is all day, rain or shine. She comes down for food then back again.

Anyone know why she's started this? I'm slightly worried that its because of Aaliyah and if this is the case maybe it would be a good idea to rehome her somewhere quieter but I dont want to do this really.

Subject: Re: Cat Behaviour advice Mon Apr 13, 2009 3:00 pm

don't know if i can help, but my cat (at my mum's house) is exactly tthe same. One day just decided she only comes down for food and toilet then goes back to bed. Does come down for a little fuss occasionally, but prefers us to go to her.
She's about 4 aswell so must be an age thing.

Had her checked out as i got worried and all my vet said is it's just one of those things. She prefers to be an old lady then play all day

Admin

Thanks,

I dont mind too much if she wants to do this, am just worried that her weight is going to be a problem.
My worry is that she doesn't really want to do this but aaliyah is driving her mad so she's hiding. She's still a VERY nervy cat.

Subject: Re: Cat Behaviour advice Mon Apr 13, 2009 3:27 pm

think she would let you know if it was about her. She wouldn't come for her food either. Give her time to re settle and once aaliyah gets a bit bigger you might find she wants to move around the house more.

Just keep an eye on her weight so she doesn't get to big, but don't stress to much at the moment.
How long has she been doing the hiding thing for?

Admin

Shes been doing it for about 4 months now. She is quite big but shes still very agile when she does decide to move her fat butt outside (Rarely)

Subject: Re: Cat Behaviour advice Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:57 pm

Well aslong as she can move herself (when she can be bothered.lol) i'd just leave her to it for now.
If she was that upset with things within the house, she would move outside and refuse to come in alot.
Just watch she doesn't get to lazy or you'll end up with a mini elephant. lol.
I just play with cat toys with mine in her room (well she thinks she owns it) with just me and her to keep her active, which she seems to prefer

Admin

Ok first I would take her to the vet to rule out any health problems she may have that are coursing her to act like this.

If the vet can't find anything wrong with her then I would suggest getting feilway plug ins and putting a few drops of rescue remedy in her water.

Make sure you have plently of resoures by this I mean
1. Litter trays
plenty of litter trays the golden rule is one tray per cat plus one,make sure you clean the litter tray out regularly cats hate dirty trays,make sure the tray is in a quite place where you cat won't get disturbed from other pets or humans,make sure if you change the litter that you do it slowly and bit by bit.Never put the trays in the same place as one cat can stop another from going into one by looks alone.

2. food and water stations
by this I mean have plently of food and water in different areas again so one cat can't stop another from getting to eat and drink.

3.sleeping and hiding areas
by this I mean places for them to sleep and hide both up high and low down as cats like to over see things.

4.Toys and scratch posts
make sure you have plently of these again not in the same place.

watch your cats and see if you can see if any of the others might be stopping your other cat from getting to things look out for a cat lying down stopping other from getting past some where this is a sign that your cat is being bullied and the only way to stop this is to make sure you have plently of the above so they don't feel they have to fight to get things.
which then can go on to a cat having toileting problems. good luck