New kitten questions

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

I have a male cat Joey, (fixed) that is about 3yr's old. I got him when I lived with my parents, and recently took him when I moved out 4 months ago. My parents had dogs, and I noticed that he was quite lonely. So we got a new kitten.

The kitten's name is Rylie, and the shelter states that she is 6 weeks old and she is very young. She was completely weened from her mother.

The issues are:

1. She makes it to her litter box to go #2, most times, but she seems to get it all over herself. She has messed on our bed twice, but I dont think she could get down.

2. She does not always make it to go #1 in the litter box. She will go right next to it.

3. At night, we have been putting her in a large bathroom with a little cage that has a blanket in it (no door), a food dish, litter pan, and toys. She seems to cry quite a bit. Is this the best thing to do?

4. My new wife and I are both gone from 7 - 5. What is the thing to do with the new kitten? We have tried keeping her in the bathroom, but that just kills me to do that to her.

Any help would be great!

Thanks!

-Aaron

ANSWER: Hello Aaron!

My guess is your kitten has Separation Anxiety Syndrome (SAS). It is an involuntary physiologic effect of extreme distress (eg, stress-induced diarrhea or urination) associated with separation from a companion or group. In one study house soiling was the most common problem in cats with SAS.

Signs of mild SAS is normal in newly adopted young pets as they adjust to separation from their littermates. But some new pets get severe cases of it. Separation reactions in some kittens have much in common with phobic disorders and panic attacks in people. Anxiety can escalate to panic, and coping mechanisms may fail (thus the litterbox problem).

Being locked in the bathroom may also trigger Barrier Anxiety (similar to claustrophobia) in the little kitten and increase her feelings of loneliness and sadness.

Kittens need intimate social interactions. They need a kitty partner for sleeping, comfort, playing together; sharing food; grooming, company, learning, etc.

She is confused and scared because she is in a new situation, has new owners, lost all her cuddle companions, and is all alone all day. Plus she was weaned at an early age. Some kittens can adapt better than others. Some more sensitive ones, like yours, show mental and physical reactions from trying to deal with it all.

Some options are...you can take your kitten to the vet to get some anti-anxiety medication which can calm her until she adapts, OR, you can get another kitty her age to relieve the mental misery and loneliness she is feeling.

Is there a person who can keep the kitten company for a while during the day? She needs LOTS of love, attention, and affection right now until she can adapt.

A companion for your older kitty is a great idea, just this kitten is a little young yet mentally and physcially to be much of a playmate yet.

I bet she is a little sweetie, and I hope things work out soon for you AND for her.

Carol










---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much for the input.

I wish another kitty was an option, but we really are not supposed to have this one.

The medication you speak of, will it harm that cat in anyway?

Today we are trying to leave her in the living room, and we will see how that goes.

Answer
Aaron,

The medication is the same as Prozac. The vet may have different kinds or suggestions though. Usually it is given for two weeks. It makes the kitten calm with no anxiety. If the kitten is taken off the medication and reverts back to the previous behavior then the vet usually will put the cat on the medication indefinitely. But usually that doesn't happen. As with any medication there are/can be side effects. If the vet prescribes a medication he feels the benefits to the cat/kitten override the side effects.

I'm including a link to an herbal website that has only natural medication for pets and they have a calming medicine also:
http://www.naturalpets.net/naturesherbs.shtml

Here is an article for you to read on separation anxiety that is pretty good:

http://www.petnutritionproducts.com/Catfaqs.asp?answer=true&fid=84

Keep me updated on how the little sweetie doing.

Carol