Difficult Transition Back To Indoor Only. She Seems Depressed.

[huxleysmom]

Due to several behavior issues, Sophie has been an indoor-outdoor cat for the last 5 months usually spending 5/6 hours a day out and more over the weekend when I am at home and can leave the door open for her to come in and out as she pleases. Anyway, long story short, I am moving to NYC, which I didn’t know when I made the decision to make her indoor-outdoor, so she’ll have to be indoor again and last week she started limping. I took her to the vet and they said she probably fell from a high place or landed badly. Because of the injury, she spent 5 days on cage rest at the vet (I was leaving on vacation and she needed steroids. She has a heart condition and needed to be check on regularly). Since she came back, I have decided to keep her inside as she will have no choice in the matter when I move in a month. She meowed like crazy the first day, but I expected that. She seems very confused and depressed. Sleeps a lot, is not interested in playing whatsoever and has tried a few times to make a run for it when the front door is opened. I know the transition was going to be hard but I worry for her, especially because she refuses to play and sleeps all the time. Anyone has any idea how I can help her? Tips are always welcomed!

 

[FeebysOwner]

It sounds like she is bored - unless there is a health related issue brewing that hasn't been picked up on yet. Or, if she is on any new meds or had a change in her meds, that could be attributing to her sleeping a lot.

The article link below might help to give you some ideas about how to get your cat to better accept being indoors all the time. There are multiple links to additional articles within this article that address preventing boredom that might help as well. See if there is any information in them that you might be interested in trying.

The Five Golden Rules To Bringing An Outdoor Cat Inside

 

[huxleysmom]

She is taking CBD oil. She is a very anxious and can at times be aggressive. So the vet recommended it for her while she was there to calm her and make it easy for them to pill her without her fighting them too much and risk aggravating her back injury even more. I thought it would be a good idea to continue as she adapts to being inside again. She is not limping so I don’t think she is in pain. It’s still a bit sore though as I cannot pick her up without her meowing loudly. I’ll have to monitor her for that. Maybe the oil makes her too sleepy. I have tried to play with her many times and have used her favorite wand toys but got zero reaction from her.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Can you reduce the amount of CBD oil that she is on? The dosage could very well be attributing to how she is behaving. I can't imagine she would need as much at home as the vet might have thought she needed while staying there during recuperation and pilling.

 

[huxleysmom]

She only takes one drop a day. Maybe i’ll remove it all together and see how she does.

 

[FeebysOwner]

 

[PushPurrCatPaws]

... Because of the injury, she spent 5 days on cage rest at the vet (I was leaving on vacation and she needed steroids. She has a heart condition and needed to be check on regularly). ...

I read in a past post of yours that Sophie has HCM. I am not a vet, but from what I know, many cats with some particular heart issues do not respond well to steroids, esp. steroid shots like depo-medrol. Did your vet give Sophie steroids via oral liquid or [oral] pills? Have you let the vet know that Sophie is seeming to not act right and you are worried? I'm hoping her heart and lungs are doing ok.

 

[huxleysmom]

I read in a past post of yours that Sophie has HCM. I am not a vet, but from what I know, many cats with some particular heart issues do not respond well to steroids, esp. steroid shots like depo-medrol. Did your vet give Sophie steroids via oral liquid or [oral] pills? Have you let the vet know that Sophie is seeming to not act right and you are worried? I'm hoping her heart and lungs are doing ok.

She does, but when she did her last heart exam the specialist said that she could have it. So the vet put her on the smallest pill dose and that’s why she stayed at the vet’s while I was away so they could monitor her everyday and put her on something else. So I’m pretty sure it’s not that. She hasn’t taken any since Monday.

 

[huxleysmom]

She played a little bit with a new wand toy attachment this afternoon. I think she is just very confused and stressed because her world has been turned upside down. Poor thing. I’ll wait and see how she does over the weekend and will call the vet if she continues to sleep/not be very active. I don’t think she is in pain from her back. Her tail is back up and I can now scratch her romp (when she was in pain she howled and hissed at me when I did it). Poor little thing. I hate seeing her so sad looking. But I know it’s for her best overall. I am moving soon and the neighbor’s daughter is visiting for the summer and has her outdoor cat with her. Sophie WILL start fights with her and I don’t want her to get hurt, or have troubles with the neighbor. He can be weird at times.

 

[huxleysmom]

Took her off CBD oil and she is more like herself again. She just discovered her new favorite toy: a peacock feather! She’s my little weirdo. For better or for worse.