My Siamese

Question
Dear Jennifer,
I envy you and your career.  I wanted to be a vet as soon as I
could read and was absolutely convinced it was my destiny.  My
love of animals is such that I couldn't picture myself doing
anything else.  Alas, I found myself working with creative people
and Mac computers, leading me to my current career as a Mac
computer consultant (after being in the service, a drug
counselor, and working with the criminally insane, to name a few
career choices).  I love my work and owning my own firm, but
my love of animals persists.  They are incapable of malice, unlike
humans and give love so unconditionally.  I've always had dogs
and cats, although all I have now is a cat since my ex made off
with my Italian Greyhound (I never saw him again after constant
companionship for 4 years).

I have had a tough time with a very unprofessional vet.  A series
of "bad judgement calls" on his part culminated with his
insistence that my chocolate point Siamese have her teeth
extracted (she didn't express any discomfort, but he said it was
cruel not to take them out).  She was 17 and healthy.  He took
her teeth out and two weeks later, she developed some terrible
disease of the mouth that he could not identify.  Her tongue
swelled up and I cry now years later, hating myself for not
putting her down sooner.  Ultimately, she died in my arms as  
another vet injected her when I took her to euthanize her.  

4 years later, for my 37th birthday, my mom gave me a
chocolate point Siamese kitten.  I got to pick her out of a litter
and she was so cuddly and affectionate (the rest were much
more interested in playing and running).  She was, and is, such a
blessing.  She slept every night with me, riding  on my shoulder
in the car whenever I went out.  I was surprised that she was so
much like my old SIamese, warm and friendly (not a trait I think
of when I think of Siamese cats).  She has double paws, too, a
very unusual trait.  She's an "apple head" with a rounded look
and not the "space alien" look that is so "in" now.

When she got to about a year old (she's two now), she suddenly
stopped being very affectionate, liking instead to bite or scratch.  
She stopped sleeping with me and when she did, it was just at
the foot of the bed.  I was a bit surprised.  When she was
spayed, there was no noticeable change.  She began to  have
longer "spaz" periods in the morning, where she would start
running around the house at a steadily increasing speed,
eventually behaving totally out of control, at which point she was
put into a quiet room alone with the door closed for 15 minutes.  
This always calmed her down but I don't know what starts it.

There's another  cat in the house, Flea, who is a Maine Coon
looking cat and is a bit bitter and elerly.  Gretchen, the Siamese,
will pester her and there are a few hissing/spitting episodes per
day, but then I will find them sleeping on the same bed together
(4 feet apart though).  I just wish that Gretchen was a bit
sweeter.  She used to LOVE to be carried and held.  Now, she
starts howling and strugglng whenever she's picked up, even for
a few seconds.  She does like to go out, though, and escapes on
occasion, but comes back after  being chased or getting cold.  
We've taken to putting on a collar and leash, for which she will
sit perfectly still for because she knows she's going out.  She
really surprises me sometimes and is very bright.  I just wish I
had a clue about her pulling away.  

My room mate, by the way, has managed to get the cat to let her
cuddle her, which is tough for me to take despite its cuteness.  
She seems to trust her more now than she does me.  

Any thoughts would be appreciated.  I'm a volunteer in the Mac
area.  No hurry.  Thanks so much.
Sincerely,
Jeff

Answer
Jeff,

I would recommend having some blood tests done to check for any underlying medical problems such as kidney disease or liver infection.  Pure-breds are more prone to kidney disease and often Siamese cats can have bad dental problems early on.

You can try using Feliway/Comfort Zone diffusers in the house to help ease the stress and anxiety of the cat fights as well as put Rescue Remedy in the water dishes.  Cats are funny creatures...my one cat would let me hold her as a kitten but as an adult wants nothing to do with me and definitely has some anxiety because of the other cats in the house.  Cats often don't get along as they are more solitary creatures but will often "put-up" with each other.

You can also try to bribe her with some special treats like Freeze Dried chicken or Kitty Kaviar.  I would also recommend some alone time with her to play with a pole toy or laser pointer where the other cat is out of sight to help increase your bond again.

Good luck,
Dr. Fry