Neurotic Cat

Question
Dear Tabbi,
I have a seven-year-old tuxedo cat (Charlie). He was orphaned at an early age, and he and his sister were without food for a long time until the Humane Society picked them up. When we adopted them, Charlie and his sister Angel were the usual way about food- they loved it. But then Angel died about three or four years ago, and Charlie since then has become very...well...obsessive. He has become OBSESSED with food-- I'm not exaggerating. Whenever someone walks into the kitchen he will immediately start yowling at them for food (it's definitely for food-- he does this all by the fridge). It gets to the point where we can't make dinner without an accompanying migraine, unless we stick him in the basement or sometimes dump water on him (this makes him scurry away to lick himself and he'll stop meowing at us). It's like he has to eat CONTINUALLY, or he'll die or something.
Not only that, but he has also become very clingy and neurotic. If we go away for vacation, even for just a day or two, he will promptly have diarrhea and sometimes urinate on the floor. Then when we come back, he spends all his time with us and becomes very upset if we ignore him.
These behaviors, combined with his sister's death and his period of starvation during his kittenhood, makes me wonder if he's got some sort of psychological problem. What are your thoughts on this? Is there some underlying psychological problem with Charlie, and if so, is there anything I can do for him?
Thank you so much!

Answer
Alice,

Poor kitty! Yes, cats, just like humans, can develop emotional problems from events that occurred in their kittenhood (childhood). Since they can't tell us what flashbacks they have or what associations trigger their emotional terrors we can only guess and respond with compassion and understanding. Never get frustrated (or try not to!) because they can pick that up from your voice and "vibes" and it will stress them more and confuse them. You don't know either what is going through his mind about why Angel is not there anymore. He may think that she abandoned him too, or that you took her away because she was a 'bad kitty' or you didn't like her anymore so he is trying to show you he is a good kitty and "in your face" to make sure you notice him and like him.

There are two things I would do if I were in your situation:

One, I would visit the vet and discuss getting a prescription of kitty Prozac for Charlie. It is very commonly used for calming and relaxing cats that are very stressed, and for kitties with emotional problems.

Two, I would consider getting a kitty friend (or two) for Charlie. Preferably one about his age and temperment. You would be helping prevent a death of an unwanted kitty plus you would be providing someone that would be company and a comfort to Charlie, especially when he is by himself. If he had that, it would take some of the pressure of his insecurities off of you, and the need to always give him attention. Charlie could have someone to play kitty games with, groom, and cuddle with. Another kitty can't replace Angel but it could help him feel more secure and less alone in his "all human world".

It's easy to see why going away and leaving charlie alone would traumatize him. He thinks he has been abandoned again, only this time he doesn't have Angel for comfort. Cats do not have any reasoning abilities and he does not KNOW that you will come back. And when you do, he won't settle down until he feels you aren't going to leave him again. It is a common occurance for cats that have been left for a couple of days alone to have "revenge" accidents or get destructive, but in Charlie's case it is a real terror and his "accidents" are a result of that terror and not revenge.

Do you feed free-choice? That is a bowl of a good quality dry food always available. Knowing that food is always there may help with Charlie's food insecurity. He then can nibble whenever he wants. He may gobble it down at first until he realizes the food is not going to disappear and will be there for him when he wants it.

If he has a bowl of food available and STILL goes through the scene in the kitchen, then it is for attention. He knows he can get it in there. Whether it is good attention or bad attention, he doesn't care...it's attention. He knows from previous experience his behavior will get some kind of reaction from you so he will keep doing it. It's very difficult and trying on your patience and nerves, but to get him to stop that habit you (and all family members) HAVE to ignore him....completely when he starts it. Give NO reaction to his behavior. IGNORE HIM! It may take awhile, but when he sees that his behavior is not getting the attention or reactions that he's looking for he will EVENTUALLY stop. You HAVE to be consistant though!! If you acknowledge his actions even once then it will no longer work and it will be worse because he then will realize that if he keeps it up long enough EVENTUALLY he will get attention. Modifying his behavior won't happen immediately but it will happen if you, and everyone else, is consistant in re-training him. Give him attention in other rooms....not the kitchen! That way he will NOT associate attention, petting, and play with the kitchen and will stop the annoying behavior. When it's dinnertime he probably feels abandoned again when everyone leaves and goes in the kitchen.

You need to be understanding of his problems BUT you have to have limits. He will learn to play on your sympathies and manipulate you  if you don't. He probably already does to a certain extent, using the kitchen episode as an example.

If you can't do the ignoring training for some reason or another here are a couple of other suggestions:
Locking him the basement alone for punishment seems like it would bring out more fears and mental terrors. I would get a large enough dog crate/cat carrier and put him in it and put him outside for awhile when he starts acting up. But becareful that he doesn't start acting up JUST to get to be put outside!
Putting mayonnaise or butter down his front legs is a good way to keep a cat occupied for awhile. I do that to mine when they start bugging me and I'm busy or eating. They HAVE to lick it off, I've never had one ignore it. Then the oil spreads as they lick and it keeps them very busy. And he oil in the butter and mayonnaise is good for their coat, digestive tract, and for hairballs.

A good treat to give him periodically is a raw beef rib. I get a package and have the butcher at the supermarket cut them in half. A few cats don't care for them (I have a 'vegetarian' cat that will not touch meat, raw or cooked!) but most do. Especially cats that have feral or 'wild cat' in their history. It satisfies the hunter in them. It is like a fresh kill to an inside cat that can't go out and really hunt. Some will growl and carry on if you even look at them when they have the bone. The fiber in the the meat also cleans their teeth. You can try giving him one at dinnertime so he can feel like a part of the 'family' at dinner.

I hope this helps. Keep me posted on how he is doing.
Tabbi