m cat just started crying nonstop and wont stop

Question
My husband and I just moved into a new apartment. We have 3 cats that we just brought over from old place to new place lastnight. My one cat LJ who is 2 yrs old is normally a quiet good cat but today she woke us up at 3:30 crying nonstop and now here at 5am is still crying major. She seems to want to go outside which she hasn't ever tried at the other place. My husband and I got so frustrated this morning b/c he has to be at work in 2 hours and she won't keep crying and we're scared our neighbor is going to complain about the meowing. We're expecting our first baby in 3 months and my husband is saying if she doesn't stop this than we have to find her a new home. I'd hate to do that but she is driving me crazy right now and causing one of the other cats to start acting up also. I don't know what to do to make her stop crying at the top of her lungs. I'm tempted to just let her have what she wants and open the door to the outside. I know I'll regret it when I'm more awake and less cranky but I just don't know why she's doing this and how to make it stop. My husbands cranky and being kept up, I'm cranky, she's causing one of my cats to run and be hyper and my older one is cranky and keeps lunging at her to basically tell her to shut up. Any suggestions or help would be great. I can't lose this apartment b/c of her and honestly the office doesn't know about them yet as they want $200 a cat on top of every penny it took to move in. We plan to alert the office eventually moving just took everything. I don't wanna lose my cat but I'm considering finding her a new home b/c I can't let it affect my husbands job or our place to live.

again anything will help right now...advise, suggestions anything...


thanks

melissa

Answer
Melissa,

Some cats are very sensitive to change and they stressed and confused easily by it. I would keep her in one room until she acclimates to the move. Give her a lot of love and attention. Hold her and go outside so she can see that it is a different home.

There is a calming product that you can add to the cat's food or water that reduces anxiety called Bach's Rescue Remedy. It is available on-line and in health food stores (people use it too).  Here are 2 links about it:
http://www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm
http://www.nelsonbach.com/BFE_for_pets.html

Rescue Remedy, combined with the homeopathic remedy Aconite makes a wonderful calming essence that can be used on wild animals, and for rehabilitation, as mentioned above it works well on any kind of stress or fear situation and definitely helps with survival rate in these situations. A few drops of the combined essence on the gums or even onto the ear of the rescued animal will calm them down and make them easier to handle. It can even be sprayed onto the skin or ears with a spray bottle and will still have a beneficial effect. A dropper of the combination can be put in the daily water for rescued animals to help them withstand the stress of captivity, and make them more manageable.  You can buy Rescue Remedy online here!

Clematis
Increases attention span and ability to focus on the training lesson at hand. When the animal is comatose or unconscious for any reason; returning the animal to consciousness. After any surgery to increase recovery alertness time.

Impatiens
For the very nervous animal.
a. Any form of nervous difficulties, especially those that have the nervous shakes.

For the overly anxious animal.
a. At feeding times
b. Before a show
c. For animals that have epileptic type fits especially when agitated by being overly excited or upset.

Impatiens is for any form of pain.

Rock Rose
For any form of terror and panic
a. After an accident, injury, fire or any terrifying event.
b. For the overly fearful animal that possibly was terrified sometime in their life. Fear does not dissolve naturally.

Rock Rose is for dauntless courage.
a. For animals that are used in service to mankind such as police work.

For the courageous animal to accentuate their already innate abilities.

Cherry Plum
For the animal that looses control, becoming wild and crazed.
a. for vicious animals that become dangerous when provoked.
b. For the high strung animal, including horses, that lose control easily.
c. for the animal that is destructive, losing control.
d. Losing control when seeing another animal enter into their territory.
e. To help retain control during mating season for both sexes.

To remain in control when:
a. In competition when stressed by strange people, noises, animals.
b. Training animals not to react to gun -fire.

For the animal that becomes frantic when traveling such as horses that spook when being placed in trailers.

For the animal that suffers from:
a. Seizures or anxiety attacks

An animal who chews himself.
a. Allergies to grasses
b. Staying away from stitches after surgery.

Star of Bethlehem
Star of Bethlehem is for all forms of trauma.
a. To give comfort to animals who were left alone or are in a kennel feeling unloved.
b. For an injured or ill animal who is required to remain at a veterinary clinic, during which one time their owners are there with them.

Cerato
keeps animals "on track". Therefore, it is ideal to administer before and during a training session and during competitive events.

ADMINISTERING BACH FLOWERS?
To make up a combination, use 2 drops of each desired flower essence to one ounce of water; for Rescue Remedy use 4 drops per ounce of water. You can add up to 20% alcohol (usually brandy or vodka) as a preservative as desired, but some animals dislike the taste. (You can use flower remedies straight from the stock bottle, but they taste terrible!) You may use up to 6 essences in combination, with Rescue Remedy counting as one essence. In general, use the fewest essences possible.

The remedy can be given by mouth, which is the most effective method. Only a few drops (4-8) are necessary, and need not be swallowed, but only must contact the mucous membranes (gums, tongue, lips). Be careful not to contaminate the dropper by touching it to the animal (if this occurs, rinse the dropper in very hot water before returning it to the bottle). You can also add a dropper full to the water dish, or a few drops on wet food (there is no effect of dilution). You can add a dropper full to a spray bottle filled with spring water, and use it to spray a room, carrier, car, around litter boxes or plants, or other problem areas. You can even put a few drops in your hand and pat the animal on the head and around the ears with it--the head is very sensitive to energy and will absorb the flower essences in this way. In the case of chewing or excessive licking or hot spots, you might want to try applying the remedy directly to the problem spot (IF it isn't too raw, otherwise the remedy will sting); the animal will then consume it when it next licks that area.

The Bach Remedies can be taken directly from the stock bottle or from the personal dilution bottle by placing 2 - 4 drops in your animal's feed or water. The Remedies are easy and convenient to use with varied methods of application that can be selected to suit an individual's specific needs.

The most common forms of administering the Remedies are placing them into the animal's food or water; dropping them directly into the animal's mouth; or rubbing the needed remedies on one's hands before petting them.

There is no improper or wrong method of applying the Bach Remedies. It is truly not necessary to be precise in counting the number of drops in any of the dilution methods. The suggestions given, herein, are merely to offer a reasonable parameter of accepted dilution methods. Follow your own judgment and insights. Remember that you cannot overdose the Remedies for they are non-toxic.

DOSAGE AND TIMING

Just a few drops (4 - 8 ) at a time are sufficient. For serious or acute conditions the remedy can be given as often as needed, even every few minutes. For most behavioral problems , you can give 3 to 4 times a day for 2 to 4 weeks. If the response is reached by that time, you may begin to decrease the dosage gradually. You may need to add a dropper full to drinking water or give once a day long-term for some problems.

MULTIPLE ANIMALS

The Flower Essence remedies are non-toxic and have no side effects. Therefore, they are safe if another pet in your household should receive the flower essence via drinking water. With flower essences, if the animal needs the remedy, the remedy will work and vice versa.

CHOOSING REMEDIES FOR ANIMALS

Assess the characteristics of the animal exactly as for a person. Drops of remedy can be given on food or in the animal's drinking water, 2 drops for birds and small animals; 10 drops in a bucket of water for large animals such as horses.

If it still is a problem the vet can prescribe a temporary prescription for kitty Prozac. It is very commonly used to treat stressed and upset cats. Usually a 2 week dosage is enough. I would speak to your vet about it.

I am also including some articles about cats and babies that you should find helpful on cats and new babies:
(copy and paste, or type the whole links into your address bar)

http://www.sthuberts.org/petpouri/articles/catmeetsbaby.asp

http://westwoodanimalhospital.com/BhvArticles/Infants,%20Children,%20And%20Cats....

http://www.petplace.com/cats/helping-your-cat-and-new-baby-get-along/page1.aspx

I hope this helps.

Tabbi