≡ ▼
ABC Homeopathy Forum

 

The ABC Homeopathy Forum

cat is scared & not eating

I do foster work for a local shelter, and 2 weeks ago I brought home a pair of 8 year old cats. It's unclear if they're littermates, but they were raised together for all 8 years. Their owners dumped them at the shelter (I believe the excuse was "moving").

Gordon is an outgoing, very adaptable cat - he wasn't doing bad in the shelter, and he seems to be enjoying his time at my house. It's his brother, Lt. Dan, who's having problems. His surrender paperwork described him as shy, but he was just terrified in the shelter - always cowered at the back of their cage, and yowled if he was taken out. They asked me to foster them both to see if a home environment might calm Lt. Dan down. I keep them confined to my den, where I spent a fair amount of time because that's where my computer is.

At first, he did seem to respond - hid in the closet a lot, but would eat some canned food, and would purr after I petted him for awhile. But the past few days have been a complete backslide: I'm not sure that he's eating or drinking much at all, he runs from me, and hasn't purred in days. He's not aggressive and doesn't try to bite. Because of the low food intake, for several days I've been giving him a dose of Nutristat, just to get some calories into him. I know that doesn't help, because he sees me coming with the syringe and panics even more. He seems to be actually quaking with fear sometimes and cries, although he will let me pet him.

Here's what I tried so far: A product called Composure (L-Theanine, Thiamine, and a calming Decapeptide). Flower essences in his food or by mouth - Aspen, Mimulus, Rock Rose, Rescue Remedy, and Walnut. Neroli hydrosol sprayed in the air. I'm thinking that some of his trouble stems from grief at being abandoned, so last night I tried some Ignatia. I had some 200C pellets, so I mixed a few in distilled water and gave him a 30 ml dropperful last night and today. No change that I can see.

I'm concerned that he might be getting dehydrated, and I can administer fluids, but that would stress him even more.

He is front-declawed and neutered, and would have been vaccinated when he arrived at the shelter (about a month ago).

So does anyone have any ideas of what to try next? I have Don Hamilton's book, but I'm not sure if the remedies for fear are the right one for this guy. If he doesn't improve and begin to eat on his own, the shelter will recommend that he be put down.

This is my first post on this forum. Thanks in advance for any insight or advice.

A Friend to Cats
 
  A Friend to Cats on 2005-12-12
This is just a forum. Assume posts are not from medical professionals.
"I had some 200C pellets, so I mixed a few in distilled water and gave him a 30 ml dropperful last night and today." 30 ml? 200C? That's a huge dose, for something you weren't quite sure was correct to begin with.

Bless you for trying to help the kitty out. Aconite would be very short-lived, but might help settle him down. I have had great success with a few DROPS of Aconite 30C (diluted in a pint of water), repeated at 15 minute or so intervals a few times. This for a cat who was much too terrified for something like Rescue Remedy to be effective.
 
Daisy43 last decade
Yes.A few doses of Aconite is a good idea.Follow that up with two or three doses of Opium 30.It might help the little cat to calm down.

Rajiv
 
rajivprasad last decade
Do you know if he was "shy" when that guy had them or he became that way only after being left at the shelter?

Aconite is a great first aid remedy- no harm in trying it (although it's been some time since abandonment). Read about mag.carb.- for aband. /adopted kids.
I do not think he was abused (staphys. is great for fearful victims of abuse).

Distilled water is not good to drink. Use just pure water.
 
Astra2012 last decade
Thanks for all your replies. Sorry about the error on the Ignatia dose - I misspoke. I dissolved a few pellets in 30 ml of water, and dispensed a half-dropper (.5 ml) of that two times. So it was a much smaller amount than I originally indicated. I know I did choose a powerful potency, but I did so after checking the archives and found posts recommending 200C for animals. And I was starting to feel a little desperate by then!

As far as his personality/history is concerned, I also don't think he was abused - he doesn't seem to behave as if that's what he's used to. The surrender paperwork did say he was shy, and his shelter intake said he was scared.

I will get Aconite 30C today, prepare as instructed and try that. If he still needs more help, I'll try the opium or mag. carb.

Thanks so much for all your suggestions. I'll post an update later.
 
A Friend to Cats last decade
Please, if you can use 30C remedies first.

Aconite first. It should alleviate his shock. They are hysterical with fear, running, pacing, circling, howling. Think of feral cats.

Gelsemium-Paralyzed with fear, they tremble with fear and do not move.

If he is silent with grief-Nat. Mur. This is good for cats with abandonment issues. They pine, sulk and withdraw.

Crying and loud with grief/loss of appetite-Ignatia.

Or if one of the previous two remedies fails, try the other.

Did you try Rescue Remedy? Do you know how to do T-Touch?

Do you play any soft music for him? Enya does wonders for my herd.

Have you tried catnip to stimulate his appetite and relax him?

If you have any Bio-Plasma, try dissolving some tabs in some goat's milk or water and dropping some drops on his nose or forehead.

Could he possibly also be upset because he forsees a possible upcoming separation from his sister. Or are they going to be adopted together?

Show this cat in your mind what happened, why his owner left him, why he is with you and where he is going. Explain that he is safe, he needs to knowm this and please let him know if he does not get better he is going to be euthanized. He will understand this. Center yourself, and ask him what he needs from you. The answer may surprise you.

NAMASTE
 
Namaste27 last decade

Post ReplyTo post a reply, you must first LOG ON or Register

 

Important
Information given in this forum is given by way of exchange of views only, and those views are not necessarily those of ABC Homeopathy. It is not to be treated as a medical diagnosis or prescription, and should not be used as a substitute for a consultation with a qualified homeopath or physician. It is possible that advice given here may be dangerous, and you should make your own checks that it is safe. If symptoms persist, seek professional medical attention. Bear in mind that even minor symptoms can be a sign of a more serious underlying condition, and a timely diagnosis by your doctor could save your life.