Today's scene with them laying together encourages me.
I think that scene is very encouraging. Waffles and Mooshoo have been more on edge since Ziggy came, another intro for them, but have to roll with how they feel.I really was feeling discouraged about them last night, thinking it's been 9 months and we should be farther along than this. Today's scene with them laying together encourages me. And so do you guys - thank you!
They are doing well today! They're SHARING! Charlie tried to get Finn off his chair once and it got heated, but Finn absolutely refused to move, and I had to get up and leave the room so I wouldn't interfere. They followed me when I left and that was that. Then Charlie reclaimed his chair and Finn joined him. Charlie wasn't real happy but finally acquiesced with a really grumpy look on his face. You can see his facial expression change as the pictures progress. They stayed in the chair all afternoon - part of me wonders if it was a contest of wills! "I'm not getting down, YOU get down."How are the boys this morning? Did they bond over their vet visit without Mom?
Yes, I think you're right! I think that's why Finn usually hates it when Charlie licks him. Something tells me it's a bit of a dominance thing with them - though I think sometimes it's been friendly, on rare occasion. Then yesterday, when Charlie was acquiescing on the chair situation, followed by Finn licking him...maybe it's part of them working it out. I'll take it - at least it's working it out without fur flying.Love the butt-to-butt pics. Not sure if that screams "friends' or not, but better than fur flying.
About the licking/grooming, this TCS article might answer the question.
spoiler: it can be about aggression.
Why Do Cats Groom Each Other? (the Answer Will Surprise You!) – Cat Articles
No. With anxiolytic mood stabilisers and antidepressants, such as SSRIs, a slow reduction, slowly lower dose, is exactly appropriate, to protect the liver, but also prevent sudden mood swings, aggression, depression, somnolence (lethargy, behavioral rather than metabolic lethargy). So good instinct, but not applicable to Zylkene, or tryptophan, or L-theanine, common calming ingredients in neutracutical supplements. Good instinct to see if discontinuing Zylkene will make a difference for Charlie. Just because there is no evidence of Zylkene affecting neurological norms, does not mean it cannot occur in his particular case. Many things that start out with "there is no evidence that..." become debunked, and suddenly, we have evidence, either clinically or deliberately, in research.I don't know anything about zylkene, would eliminating it have this fast a "result"? Wow, nonetheless, I'm glad!
Yeeees. Testing the dynamic, assessing tolerances and intolerances. This is very calm, "check-ins" Finn is doing, and Charlie is letting him know, with behavior indicating, uh, no, homey, that won't fly.Yes, I think you're right! I think that's why Finn usually hates it when Charlie licks him. Something tells me it's a bit of a dominance thing with them - though I think sometimes it's been friendly, on rare occasion. Then yesterday, when Charlie was acquiescing on the chair situation, followed by Finn licking him...maybe it's part of them working it out. I'll take it - at least it's working it out without fur flying.
Yesterday evening I was working at my table and came to realize I'd not seen the boys for a while. I went looking for them all over the house - finally found them in my bedroom on my bed! They weren't laying together, but the fact that they chose to lay in the same room together rather than lay close to where I was working was also a first. Interesting to watch this unfold.
Finn has spring fever today and is tearing around the house like a crazy man. I hear Charlie hissing at him in the next room while I type this. He also refused his breakfast and his lunch - I wonder if he's tasting the Zylkene and refusing food that has it in it, now? Argh!
Overall, feeling pretty hopeful.
Yes, try to focus on less superficial nerve hypersignaling zones. Under the chin is a favorite of most FHS. Ears can be a trigger, as can the whole dorsum and tailhead. Once controlled, though, they love their pets and rubs return. No fear, it is very treatable if he does have FHS also called psychomotor seizure disorder, as it is mild focal seizures of muscle/nerve bundles.I also just realized when watching the vid that I instinctively go and stroke his back - the wrong thing to do, from what I'm reading. I'll attempt to stick to stroking his head.
Liver metabolism of these supplements is minimal. What isn't absorbed is waste, in urine, water waste, pulled from blood. Not to say, his liver is perfect. We don't know without imaging.No, not at all. I'm just eliminating any "extras" and started with the most recent addition. I think I'll keep his CBD oil at reduced dosage, but eliminate the Zylkene and Comfort Max and any seafood from his diet. The Zylkene is just a peptide that binds to receptors in the brain which has a calming effect. I think it's a bovine or milk derivative, can't recall. I feel good about it, but I'm going to eliminate things one by one.
Edit to add: If this is FHS, I did read that cats can behave completely normally between episodes, so this wouldn't be unusual to have the bizarre behavior followed by normal behavior.
I also want to explore other possible causes or contributors. Could a food allergy cause the dermatitis? Could mites be irritating him? Could his liver be overloaded with the CBD, Comfort Max, and Zylkene? (I don't do them all at the same time, but I do alternate.)
Is it a psychological response, or is it physical? I sure wish I knew. Just super thankful for a good day today!
Aw, I had a Waffles growing up, a piggy/cavy. And fostered a giant fat Waffles surrendered to the shelter after owner passed on. The satisfaction of all those waffles of skin and fat disappearing over 3 months of medical foster was sooooo satisfying ;] He was a big red tabby boy. Yours appears gray tabby, with white markings? I can't tell in the image on your signature pearl99I think that scene is very encouraging. Waffles and Mooshoo have been more on edge since Ziggy came, another intro for them, but have to roll with how they feel.
I kind of think Charlie and Finn having some time separated and with you home has helped them. Took a breather to get some relaxation.
Stay well and glad Charlie is doing better!
Waffles is the opposite, white with gray/brown splotches of tabby on his back, the face as you see, and a gray/brown tabby tail. He's the one on the right of my avatar picture. Aren't Waffles's wonderful!Aw, I had a Waffles growing up, a piggy/cavy. And fostered a giant fat Waffles surrendered to the shelter after owner passed on. The satisfaction of all those waffles of skin and fat disappearing over 3 months of medical foster was sooooo satisfying ;] He was a big red tabby boy. Yours appears gray tabby, with white markings? I can't tell in the image on your signature pearl99
I am sleep deprived, sorry for the long tune.
How are you feeling, now, my friend? Have you been afforded some downtime during this shelter at home to recover? I don't know if you have shared in other threads some of the physical hurdles you are working around, and if so, forgive my ignorance. Praying that this note finds you a bit more rested.The stress compounding my pain, abdominal right upper quandrant, lower, at the colon, back spasms, herpetic neuralgia, old fracture and trauma sites flaring, old puncture bite wound sites malunioned, poorly healed, of my hands, and my arms.
Did you grow up in Hermitage? Are we neighbors? What a small world this is!I miss my family's 50 acres we once had, plopped in the middle, isolated, before COVID19, hahahaha. Hermitage is underrated. Food for thought, eh?
Regarding the fish oil, are the concentrations different in the veterinary formulations? I wondered if I'm able to puncture my capsules and add to their food, or if that would be too potent. I've always been hesitant to purchase fish oil for animals as it's something I doubt many people purchase around here, and so I feel that it sits on the shelves and becomes rancid.feeding oily, high omega 3 fatty acid content fish in moderation can be very beneficial to any chronic disease. It's antiinflammatory and contributes to cellular regeneration, at so many levels. If not the fish (canned sardines, 1oz every other day, for example) a veterinary concentrated omega 3 f.a. supplement is highly advantageous.
Allogrooming, is that what you called it? Both have back leg lifted to the sky...it appears a momentary truce has been struck.
Trying to avoid getting cranky in all this (I'm admittedly a little too type A) and reading a thoughtful, caring post like yours above makes a differenceSending virtual hugs to each and every one of you!