Question:
Last February, a lady with Alzheimer's gave me a very large, beautiful cat. She had kept him in two tiny rooms of her apartment, and she couldn't tell me when or where she got him. She thought he was about 4 years old.
For the first few months with me he seemed happy with his new spaces, including a huge screened balcony with climbers, toys, scratching pads, good food and attention.
Recently he has changed. He will be snuggled close to me with his head in my lap when he suddenly breathes faster, his ears go back and he attacks me with his claws and teeth. Or sometimes when I'm walking, he sneaks up behind me and claws my legs seriously enough to draw blood. Neither my vet, who is excellent, nor our SPCA specialists can tell me how to deal with this. For some reason, he never disturbs me when he is sleeping peacefully at the foot of my bed during the night. I live in a cooperative retirement community in a two-bedroom apartment, so he has plenty of space.
I diagnosed the problem as a fearful, easily frightened cat who needs love and a playmate. The vet suggested a female; the SPCA says to get a male. I do have a backup home available with a relative in Arizona, but I doubt that another big change would help Charlie. I don't want to desert my cat, but what am I to do?
D.B., Virginia Beach, Va Jan 09, 2012
Answer:
My sympathies go out to you. I believe that your diagnosis may well be correct. Still, I would first rule out a possible underlying medical cause -- hyperactive thyroid disease is all too common and often associated with increased irritability and aggressive behavior.
Next, try behavioral play therapy. Get a cane, and tie a string on it with a small fluffy toy on the end as a lure. Wave it around the cat and across the floor to encourage him to chase and grab. A 20-minute play session, two to three times a day, especially early in the evening, may prove to be the best remedy. Some cats prefer to chase a laser spotlight across the floor and along the walls.
The steps needed to introduce a new cat into a home where there is already one feline occupant are described on my website, www.twobitdog.com/DrFox/. This might be the best remedy if your cat wants to engage in rough-and-tumble play fighting. A young adult female cat may be your best choice.
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