Wolfie ran away for a week. After getting back he's become obsessed with food, water, and getting out the door. Normal?

Hellenww

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Another thought. Chamomile, from tea bags, can help a stressed cat. I've only used it topically to relieve itch so I don't what the maximum you can let him drink.
 

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From Mamanyt1953 Mamanyt1953
You might also try giving him chamomile tea internally. Purchase the plain, unblended tea bags at the grocery store. Brew a cup, chill it to at least room temp, and administer 1-3 teaspoonfuls (tablespoonfuls if he is over 11 pounds) up to three times a day via syringe. It is gently calming without being sedating. I always recommend buying the prepared tea bags, as those are ALWAYS German Chamomile, which is medicinally active and safe for cats in prescribed dosages. The English variety that grows in so many gardens is useless medicinally, and toxic to cats.
 
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EveAndHerThieves

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Thanks to you both! I'll do research on it. It's kinda frustrating having him follow me around panicking for food/water. Now he's shoved himself into a tiny box/cave and won't come out. He's also been taking epic poops.
 
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I have a large box that I had blankets in. It has one or two pillows in it now. I shoved it under a table on it's side to get it out of the way. There's a tiny bit of space on the side he's shoved himself into. It's deep, but squishy.

He's finally settling! :) He doesn't panic ad much for food. I did find out he's bored. He happily shredded my hand. (To be fair, I encouraged it to get him to play) I got him a fishing pole toy with feathers on the end. He's back to his old self with it. If I move it where he's expecting it, he doesn't care. If I put it on a cat tree or shelf he flies up to it and hauls it back to where he wants it. Then I tug on it so he can growl and hiss at it violently. Eventually I rip it away and the cycle repeats. I've never had a cat hiss at their toy before. But it's helping distract him from his hunger.
 
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EveAndHerThieves

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Follow up question if I can.

Wolfie is a male. Which means he roams. A LOT. He's used to having a huge five bedroom house with a large lawn, and often traveled to the neighbors houses. Often times three or four houses away. Tons and tons of freedom.

Buuutt.... He's now an apartment cat. There's no way around it. He's going to have to be indoors unless taken out for ten minutes here and there on a leash. No bushes to hide in, no houses to explore, no yards to sleep in. Not even a neighbor's porch that belongs to a different cat for him to take over.

He's not handling it well. :( I had to open my (screened) window to air it out after bleaching something. He glued himself to the window and began crying. He's now pacing back and forth to the door crying. He's incredibly sad. Sometimes he comes over for sad pets. It's clearly very, very upsetting. He's no in a studio apartment and will shortly be going to a small three bedroom.

How can I transition him? Will he adapt? CAN he adapt? There's literally no way around it, and everyone works so we can't take him out a lot. :( He's so sad today it breaks my heart. I knew he wanted out, but the window seems to have broken him. Not even toys can distract him. (Again people will be gone for the first time. It's going to be a rough year before they buy) he's also been back panicking about food and water. :( Last night I got home super late after a hard day. So to save time I took a bath and ate dinner at the same time (I know, I know) he sat on the toilet meowing at my food. The second I put the plate down he was on it. One step forward, two steps back I guess.

I think he's only three, so maybe that will help?

He's eaten so much food he's blocked his plumbing. *Rolls eyes* he was horribly sad because the door was open less than two feet away from him, with his face pointed towards the opening. But he was too busy pooping to go out. He never did poop in the end.

Once I figure him out for today I'll go figure out which cat is barfing TONS of hairballs! In the middle of my bed. After I've been helping my mom move for 12 hours. On my favorite blanket. Then at 3 when I woke up to let Demon Kitten out (she has me weirdly trained) I stepped on another one. Right beside my bed. Where I always get off. *sigh* idiots. At least hairballs aren't as important as Wolfie bring freaky?


** I'm aware I ramble. So. Freaking. Stressed. Organized thoughts aren't something I'm able to do.
 

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He'll adapt. I've read that ferals have to be kept contained for at least a month or they try to return to their old location, so your boy just needs time. It could be the same in his new location, he'll just need time.

Hang in there, you're over-exhausted and letting yourself get too inside his head with him, and he's not actually thinking anything more than wanting out. Things could be so much worse.

He never did poop in the end.
Will you be able to get him back to normal?
 

Hellenww

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How can I transition him? Will he adapt? CAN he adapt?
People who've done the transition it indoors say it's best to not let/take him out at all. Going out just once makes them want out all the time. But most adjust eventually.

He never did poop in the end.
My Yoshi gets backed up and hairballs. He won't take any hairball remedy. I put 1/8 teaspoon of Miralax in his wet food every other morning to keep my 15 yr old regular. I use the store brand. Have you left to faucet on for him? Extra water will help him poop and knowing he always has water might make less obsessed.
 
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EveAndHerThieves

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Hang in there, you're over-exhausted and letting yourself get too inside his head with him, and he's not actually thinking anything more than wanting out. Things could be so much worse.

You were right. Reading that was a much needed knock on the head! I took a few days to sleep.
I'm happy to say it worked out with Wolf in the end!! He somehow managed to get out twice more. The first time he was in the yard. The second time I found him within 12 hours. He went "home" again. I realized he wasn't happy at all. Before I took him home I called my mom to ask if he could come there. So he went straight from "home" to HOME. More space, no other cats to share with, and more focus on him. He rode the entire way up wrapped in a towel. I hauled him into their apartment that way, poor thing. But I just couldn't have him. Kira doesn't like closed doors so he wouldn't go out. He shrunk into himself again and turned into a scared cat. He began peeing on the floor. Spoon began pacing. Socks stayed outside all day. Without Wolf I can leave the door open for them. It's much easier.

As for Wolf, he got "kidnapped" within ten minutes. My younger brother let him into his bedroom. Wolf wanted to hide at first, then realized there's pets to be had. Lots of pets. And string. All the string. And food! All his! My older brother (Wolfie's human) came home from work and they've been glued together since. Wolf is THRILLED, my brother has his stress reliever cat, my cats are relaxed, and I'm able to breath with less stress in my apartment. That was a heck of a week!! Wolf still needs shots, but that's later. He's not nearly as freaky about food if he gets pet 12 hours a day.

The smack on my head made me realize I couldn't handle him and my other cats at the same time. So instead of trying to hold my head above water I decided to just get out of the water. Now everyone is happy and it's weirdly quiet...

Onto the next! Kira and his epic hairballs. Spoon and her epic hair mats. Socks and her attitude. ( I was late last night. She sat on the sidewalk staring at where I come home with her ears back. Neighbor said she had been there 20 minutes. She didn't speak to me all night for it. I was only half an hour late. *Rolls eyes*)


Rambly post! Typing one fingered. Burned my throat with hot potatos. Spit it out onto my hand. Burned hand. Ow. (The outside of the potato was cool!!!)
 
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