Comments on: Does your cat have a “bladder migraine”? http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/06/09/does-your-cat-have-a-bladder-migraine/ Blogging by a team of pet-care experts. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:26:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: The OTHER Pat http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/06/09/does-your-cat-have-a-bladder-migraine/comment-page-1/#comment-456281 The OTHER Pat Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:01:12 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=7487#comment-456281 I had a situation a little over a year ago where my new young cat ("the kitten") would repeatedly charge and steamroller the previous adult cat, who was not NEARLY as into such rough play. The adult cat started peeing about every 15 minutes at which point I took her in to the vet immediately. The vet diagnosed FIC and explained there was a good chance that in this case it was stress-related. For a few days I shut the adult cat up in a room with a Feliway diffuser (and also ran diffusers in other parts of the house) until her peeing was back to normal. I continued the diffusers for a few more weeks, and adopted a practice I continue to this day - at bedtime, the "kitten" gets shut into the front bedroom and the adult cat gets the rest of the house as a Kitten-Free-Zone overnight. I also make sure the adult cat gets about 15 minutes dedicated play and attention time every morning. This has really helped. The adult cat has remained much calmer, and her self-confidence has improved. And she's not hiding all the time like she was. With the addition of a third young adult cat, the dynamic has changed slightly - for the better. Turns out the new cat and the kitten BOTH like rough play, so they pretty much keep each other occupied. I've kept an eye out to be sure they're not ganging up on the adult cat (they're not) and the overnight Kitten-Free Zone is still in effect. I have another area of the house (bathroom and hallway) that the new cat stays in overnight. I'd let her in the bedroom with me and the dog, but he's just five pounds and scared of her, so I have to be fair to him, too. So far it's working . . . . . . . . . I had a situation a little over a year ago where my new young cat (“the kitten”) would repeatedly charge and steamroller the previous adult cat, who was not NEARLY as into such rough play. The adult cat started peeing about every 15 minutes at which point I took her in to the vet immediately.

The vet diagnosed FIC and explained there was a good chance that in this case it was stress-related. For a few days I shut the adult cat up in a room with a Feliway diffuser (and also ran diffusers in other parts of the house) until her peeing was back to normal. I continued the diffusers for a few more weeks, and adopted a practice I continue to this day - at bedtime, the “kitten” gets shut into the front bedroom and the adult cat gets the rest of the house as a Kitten-Free-Zone overnight. I also make sure the adult cat gets about 15 minutes dedicated play and attention time every morning.

This has really helped. The adult cat has remained much calmer, and her self-confidence has improved. And she’s not hiding all the time like she was.

With the addition of a third young adult cat, the dynamic has changed slightly - for the better. Turns out the new cat and the kitten BOTH like rough play, so they pretty much keep each other occupied. I’ve kept an eye out to be sure they’re not ganging up on the adult cat (they’re not) and the overnight Kitten-Free Zone is still in effect. I have another area of the house (bathroom and hallway) that the new cat stays in overnight. I’d let her in the bedroom with me and the dog, but he’s just five pounds and scared of her, so I have to be fair to him, too.

So far it’s working . . . . . . . . .

]]> By: Phyllis DeGioia http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/06/09/does-your-cat-have-a-bladder-migraine/comment-page-1/#comment-456273 Phyllis DeGioia Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:39:25 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=7487#comment-456273 This can be difficult when there are other circumstances, i.e., dogs to be kept out of the litter box and basement. I feed Dickens in the basement - it's his room, his place to escape to from the dogs if he wants to. In a small house, it's the only option. But I can move things around within the basement. Having more than one species in a home can make for some interesting juggling. Good points all around, Kim. Instead of looking for easy fixes like popping a pill, the harder and slower environmental fix is often just the ticket. This can be difficult when there are other circumstances, i.e., dogs to be kept out of the litter box and basement. I feed Dickens in the basement - it’s his room, his place to escape to from the dogs if he wants to. In a small house, it’s the only option. But I can move things around within the basement.

Having more than one species in a home can make for some interesting juggling.

Good points all around, Kim. Instead of looking for easy fixes like popping a pill, the harder and slower environmental fix is often just the ticket.

]]> By: Colorado Transplant http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/06/09/does-your-cat-have-a-bladder-migraine/comment-page-1/#comment-456192 Colorado Transplant Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:28:41 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=7487#comment-456192 My cats hate any movement or noise when they eat so I go away from the area until they finish. I do the same when they are using the cat litter. My cats hate any movement or noise when they eat so I go away from the area until they finish. I do the same when they are using the cat litter.

]]>