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Norman, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your response and what you said makes great sense.  In regards to why I include a very small amount of psyllium husks and slippery elm to Molly's morning meal started out because of problems with hairballs.  First Molly would get constipated then have terrible diarrhea - long hair cat with diarrhea was terrible for both her and I!!  I read in Anitra Frazier's "Natural Cat" that these herbs were good for the problems.  We brush Molly every day, 90% of the time, but have not found a cure for hairballs BUT SHE NO LONGER HAS THE CYCLE OF  CONSTIPATION THEN DIARRHEA since including the psyllium husks and slippery elm in her diet.

I had also read that psyllium husks was something that should be added to the diet for allergies.  For the last 2-3 years Molly ATTACKS/BITES her tail, mostly the tip.  I changed her food,  gave her different vitamins specifically for skin allergies, have done many vet visits that included buying vet hydrating products and having veterinary neuronal adjustments done on her but the problem still exists; I am surmising it is something to do with the nerves in the tail.

Also regarding the slippery elm, I have read that slippery elm is a good thing to add to their diet to help maintain urinary tract problems.  Molly has had 2 bouts with urinary infections.  One thing we learned was the proper way to brush her so that we weren't helping to cause that : (

SO those are the reasons!!  

I don't mean to abuse your kindness but would you have any ideas of what else I can pursue to help Molly out with her tail biting thing?  It drives ME mad and I can't even begin to think what it does to her.  

Again, thank you for your time and your efforts in sharing your expertise to people like myself who just want to provide the best life we can for our pets/family/friend.

Annie
Hi Norman,

I am really concerned about our 5 year old female Maine Coon cat, Molly.  Molly is a in door, an only cat/pet, who is so sweet, can I mention BEAUTIFUL too, and used to be quite calm about ANY little old thing. My Mom came over recently and brought Molly a toy that her cat had prior.  Molly sniffed the toy, started playing with the toy then it appeared as something "snapped".  Molly was visibly shaken and quivering.  Then the rest of the day she was stalking, for the lack of a better word, any and every thing and would jumped at any movement or noise.  I understand that she has not been around any other cats and the smells of one would probably shake her up but she is STILL VERY SKIDDISH 2 weeks later.

I supplement her food with vitamins, psyllium husks powder, and slippery elm. Thinking maybe it had something to do with that I have looked up each to find out the side effects were but nothing indicates to be a problem.  I have brain stormed everything I can possibly think of but haven't come up with anything. Can you please help me help Molly?  She is the love of our lives.  

Thank you for your time and efforts and with any insight you can provide us.

Sincerely,

Annie Koury
Answer -
Annie,

First off kudos to you for supplementing Molly's food with additional vitamins and herbs.  We can continue this dialogue on the food supplements, if you like.  I am not sure why you are giving Molly digestive tract herbs like psyllium husks and slippery elm on an ongoing basis.  I am used to using slippery elm when a problem arises like an upset tummy or diarrhea. Anyway, if you have been giving Molly these supplements for quite some time, none of them should have anything to do with Molly's behavior.

As to the behavior itself, first of all, I am assuming you have gotten rid of the toy.  There are numerous good reasons for not introducing toys from other households to an established cat.  Besides the scent of the "strange" cats on it, you never know what fungi, bacteria, and viruses may also be transported with the toy!  The cat's immune system should protect it from the pathogens in your locale, but may get challenged a bit by pathogens from other areas.  Most of these will be rather benign, but, occasionally, you may run into something that could cause Molly some discomfort for a couple of weeks.  When cats do not feel up to snuff, it may only be noticeable with minor changes in behavior.

So, besides the scent of the strange cat, Molly may have been slightly challenged by something on the toy. In either or both cases, the behavior you have witnessed is not unusual and will normally right itself back to the usual behaviors in a month or two at the most.  Two weeks is not long enough for Molly to get over whatever it was about the toy that spooked her.  In fact, she could have started playing with the toy got upset by the strange scent and some other event may have occurred that you may or may not have noticed that together with the strange scent absolutely upset Molly (either frightenedher or reminded her of some play behavior from kittenhood or who knows what).  BTW, the behavior you are describing is the behavior seen amongst siblings in a litter of kittens once they reach the playing stage (about 4-5 weeks and up).

My guess is that she will come around in a few weeks to her old self.  Right now, I would pay absolutely no attention to her "new" behavior. Do not reinforce the strange behavior by acknowleding it or participating in it in any way. Ignore the behavior.  If the "old" Molly is there, then lavish praise, affection, and treats.

Best regards... Norm.  

Answer
Annie,

I have been thinking about the tail biting.  Is she truly taking hair off her tail or just nibling at the tip?

Have short term steroid shots been of some help? (This would nail down whether or not it is an allergy).

Did she do the tail biting before the psyllum husks and slippery elm? (It is possible she is alletgic to one or the other.)

Did she do the tail biting before the "toy incident"?  (It could just be nerves.)

Do you live in a very dry climate (indoors)?  (She might need to have more hydration and the proper oils in her diet.)

No matter what, you might try putting a little Dream Coat (a collection of alpha 3/alpha 4 fatty acid oils) in her food.  Dream Coat is made by Halo and can be ordered via the Internet.  It lists for about $19.50, but I have found it for under $13.00 for a 16 ounce bottle,  I would start with an 8 ounce bottle and just give Molly a little bit (a few drops) and see what happens.  It could be something as simple as dry skin due to insufficient oils in the diet.

Another thing you might also try is to get a coat moisterizing product and spritz her without a couple of times a week.  Front Page is a pretty good product for this purpose.

Please let me know how it goes.

Best regards... Norm.