Shelter cat is broken and super depressed

[iPappy]

I have the results but I'm not well versed. Vet says it's all consistent with stress and dehydration. When we got her she was underweight with dry skin and hair. She's looking better. Cancer sounds unlikely. Vet keeps saying it could sometimes be that. I think vet is trying to cover bases.

She hasn't recovered from the litter setback. For three days she's camped by her potty. I'll see if she explores the new boxes once she's over that. In a weird way I'm glad to see her fighting for her litter. She's trying to assert herself.

I'm very concerned that multiple lab visits plus dental surgery will be too much for her. She's barely put on enough weight to look normal. Hubby and I are thinking delay the labs/surgery for a few more months.

How badly does she need the dental cleaning? If it's causing her pain, I'd get that done but forgo other things and get it out of the way so she can feel better and settle in. If it's not bad, I'd opt to wait on that as well.

 

[VAMama]

She eats her kibble with no trouble. Teeth need major cleaning but no extractions. None of them look rotted.

 

[artiemom]

I would wait on the dental and the additional lab tests. Give Cosette a chance to come more comfortable in her new home. Stress can do so much to the body.

As far as dehydration: You could do as I do. I add a tiny bit of extra water to Geoffrey's wet food. Just a tad. I just mix it up before giving her breakfast.
I also give wet in morning, and then leave out dry food for the rest of the day.

As far as a fountain: I would wait on it. The running water could scare her.

Just my thoughts..

 

[VAMama]

She was dehydrated when she came here. She's putting on weight and looking shinier. Labs were done after 2-3 weeks of her coming here. Not enough time for blood levels to change.

 

[IndyJones]

She eats wet canned food in the morning and dry kibble at night. A fountain is beyond her at the moment. She doesn't interact with anything other than food dish and toilet. We got her a blanket, pillow, catnip toy, etc. and they've all been ignored.

We've decided to put off all labs and procedures until her behavior improves.

Are you saing she is drinking from the toilet? I would close the lid and redirect her to a water dish.

 

[VAMama]

No she drinks from her water dish. Her food/water and her litter box are the only two things she's interested in. I referred to her litter as her toilet.

 

[IndyJones]

Ok i got confused I guess. I assumed you meant the actual toilet. Indy will drink from the toilet and play in it if I leave the lid up. Its gross but genneraly harmless.

Is a water source available for her? Also are you on a well or have yucky city water (chloriene smell, hard water, excess iron)? Some cats can be sensitive to water tastes. When I brought Indy and Kabuto up north with me they would not drink the well water there, turns out it was high in iron and sulpher even though they had a purifier.

Maybe try bottled water or distilled water.

 

[VAMama]

She's not dehydrated anymore. She's getting water now and she goes pee twice a day. She was dehydrated when we adopted her. Looking at images of her from back then, there's a big improvement in her looks. We need time for her blood levels to stabilize.

 

[Caspers Human]

Just pour a container of tap water then let it sit out for a day or so to let the chlorine evaporate. If your water has other bad tastes or smells, use a filter pitcher like a Brita or something like that.

Unless you have known issues with your water, that’s all you really need.

 

[VAMama]

I think someone abused Cosette. She does that certain wince like she expects a smack. I bathed and brushed her tonight.

 

[iPappy]

I think someone abused Cosette. She does that certain wince like she expects a smack. I bathed and brushed her tonight.

Poor little girlie. I've found building their confidence is easiest if you ignore the wince and just talk to them in a soothing voice, and let them know humans don't do that anymore. How was she for her bath?

 

[VAMama]

She tolerated it fairly well. She'd look around for a minute then hide her face again. She seems to know I won't hurt her but can't get past her fear.

 

[artiemom]

I think someone abused Cosette. She does that certain wince like she expects a smack. I bathed and brushed her tonight.

Poor baby... Yeah, I get it... I suspect someone, somehow abused Geoffrey. It took several months for me to gain his trust and love.
All he did was hide under my bed, and keep me up all night long, crying... Each time I tried to go near him, he ran under the bed. I used to call him: my 'Vampire" cat, because he only came out at night.
It is heartbreaking to see them react, as if they are expecting something bad to happen..
All you can do is ignore it, speak softly, sweetly to them, and show them your love.

The best thing was when he had a Vet appointment. It was torture getting him into the carrier, but upon his return, he knew that he was coming back to his FOREVER home. Security is important to these kitties.

Cosette is doing really good, under your care and love!! She will come around.

You are doing a really good job with her.

 

[Caspers Human]

Casper was afraid of shoes when we first adopted him.

He would come to greet me when I came home from work. I sat down on a chair in the kitchen to take off my shoes and put them away when Casper was sitting nearby. The moment I reached down to untie my shoe, he bolted and ran into the other room. He did it several times afterward, even though I always tried to take off my shoes when the cat wasn't around.

I don't know what caused Casper to become "Shoe Shy" but I can only guess that somebody used to throw shoes at him.

He's a lot better, now. He almost never shies away, anymore, unless you surprise him or do things to abruptly.

 

[VAMama]

My box experiment worked! She's now sitting in a new box closer to the door!

Get this. She spent four days sitting by her litter. She had dirty litter in her hair, which prompted the bath. Last night something told me to pick her up and clean her. She complained of course, but it snapped her out of the litter thing. When she returned to her room, she went to a different corner.

Last night when I brought her dinner, she stayed in the open! She went for a hiding spot, but then she hesitated and looked back at me. I calmly walked by her to leave.

This morning we found her watching the door from a new box!!

 

[Alldara]

My box experiment worked! She's now sitting in a new box closer to the door!

Get this. She spent four days sitting by her litter. She had dirty litter in her hair, which prompted the bath. Last night something told me to pick her up and clean her. She complained of course, but it snapped her out of the litter thing. When she returned to her room, she went to a different corner.

Last night when I brought her dinner, she stayed in the open! She went for a hiding spot, but then she hesitated and looked back at me. I calmly walked by her to leave.

This morning we found her watching the door from a new box!!

Oh my goodness! Yay for you and yay for Cosette!

 

[tabbytom]

This morning we found her watching the door from a new box!!

Wonderful!

 

[iPappy]

This is great progress!!!! I'm very excited for you all!

 

[Caspers Human]

You must be a cat whisperer!

 

[artiemom]

AWESOME!!!