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Versace

I think my kitty is depressed?

My kitty Versace (15 months old, male, neutered) has seemed depressed for the last few days. He is normally very active and playful, but it seems like he only wants to sleep and cuddle up to me. His eyes are bright and alert, and he has been eating, drinking, and using the bathroom normally.

We added a new family member about three weeks ago, an adult spayed female cat. I thought at first maybe he was mad/upset about that, but it seems odd that it would start 3 weeks after she's been here.

Sace has always been very attached to me and my fiance (particularly me - he's "my baby") but since yesterday morning all he wants to do it sit right on top of me - he pretty much HAS to be touching me or he throws a tantrum.

Any thoughts on this kind of behavior? Thanks!


Asked by Versace on Sep 12th 2010 Tagged depression, clingy, crying, needy, sad, moping, sleepy in Other Behavior & Training
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Izadore (Izzie)

Yes, Versace is jealous of the new cat even though you've had her for 3 weeks (which isn't really that long of a time) You admit that he was your "baby" and now he feels like yesterday's tunafish. Imagine if your fiance brought home another woman and said, "Honey, I've brought home this other woman to live with us forever. I still love you but I love her too and you'll just have to get used to it." How would you feel? What would you ask your fiance to do for you? Pay more attention to you? Reassure you? That's what Versace is asking you to do for him. Extra playtimes, extra attention...


Izadore (Izzie) answered on 9/13/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 1 Report this answer


Navar

It always takes time to adjust to new things and for Versace, a new house mate is a big adjustment...after 3 weeks of this new house mate, he has finally expressed himself, he is letting you know he feels left out and wants your undevided attention...if you spread the love equally between the 2 and teach them cuddle time works well with both of them included, they will adjust to each other in time. I had Willow and Navar together since birth and they were always jealous of each other getting attention...when Willow passed away, I got a puppy and Navar felt the need for more attention, since a puppy takes a lot of attention away...so, now I spend my time as equally as possible and cuddle with Navar even more and he is happy and content and loves the dog...his new companion and playmate!!! Patience and love, that is the key!!!


Navar answered on 11/16/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Playful the Empurress

One of my cat's went through this depression/jealousy and I began training her to walk on a collar and leash outside. Just having something special for the two of us and being alone with me perked her right up.


Playful the Empurress answered on 11/16/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 1 Report this answer


Skeezix

The other answers are spot on. Cats are very emo creatures and can have strong reactions to any changes in their environment, esp. the addition of another cat. My Siamese is especially sensitive, so I began having alone time with him before I get out of bed in the morning. Hubby leaves for work in the wee hours, so at that time he lets Mao in and we cuddle for an hour or so. It seems to be very reassuring for him.

There are a couple of over-the-counter remedies that often help a resident cat adjust to a new family member. Feliway (a pheremone-based diffuser) or Rescue Remedy (a natural stress reliever).

Also, do you have additional scratchers and litter boxes for the new cat so that she isn't poaching on Sace's territory? For example, if you have 2 cats, you should have 3 litter boxes. You should have at least one scratcher for each cat (scratching releases "I OWN THIS" hormones, so Sace won't like it if the new princess is using his scratcher.)

HTH!


Skeezix answered on 3/9/11. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Marmite

Sounds like he has just realised that the new family member is here to stay. She may be establishing pecking order with him and as he is younger she is likely to try to dominate him. Lots of love and cuddles and time with him plus something like Feliway to destress him.
All the best


Marmite answered on 6/29/11. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


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