| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 5077.1 | | BOOVX1::MANDILE | Bad horse, bad horse | Thu Nov 21 1991 13:43 | 3 |
| She could be ill......
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| 5077.2 | stress reaction | WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JO | set home/cat_max=infinity | Thu Nov 21 1991 13:55 | 10 |
| Sleeping in the litter box is usually a sign of stress. If you have
had her checked out by the vet and found to be healthy, then it is
probably stress that is causing this. As she feels more comfortable
with you, she will probably stop doing this. In the meantime, try to
reduce the stress in her life. If you have other cats that are
bothering her, keep them away. If you have a dog that is bothering
her, move her to a room that the dog doesn't have access to. Just try
and make things a little easier on her.
Jo
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| 5077.3 | | TENAYA::KOLLING | Karen/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca. | Thu Nov 21 1991 14:01 | 4 |
| How terrific that she has a home. If she hasn't been checked by the
vet, I would have that done quite soon. Please let us know how things
are going.
|
| 5077.4 | | RLAV::BARRETT | Is it safe? | Thu Nov 21 1991 14:02 | 20 |
|
We have a lot of cats at the shelter who do this (although they
are in cages so have less choices of places to lay). What we do
is get another litter box, only put towels/blankets in it. They
usually choose the one without the litter. I think laying in the
box makes them feel a little more secure. You could try that -
put a second box with a blanket it in it near her litter, and then
try gradually moving it away. The other thing I have tried with
new cats in my house is leave the carrier open with a towel or
blankets in it - gives them a place to hide.
Since she's just been rescued from a stressful situation, she may
just be trying to feel secure.
But also as .-1 said, she could be sick - you might want to run
her into the vet.
It's great that you're taking care of this girl - good luck!
Sue B + Smokey, Spike & Trouble
|
| 5077.5 | | WILLEE::FRETTS | if u want to heal u have to *feel* | Thu Nov 21 1991 15:11 | 20 |
|
Thanks for the replies everyone.
Here's some more info. First, we have named her Veronica....which
really seems to fit her. We took her to the vets last week and she
basically has a clean bill of health (no FeLV thank God!)....but she
does have ear mites and fleas. These are being worked on. We do
have 4 other cats and a dog, and this behavior did start after she
was introduced into the household, so your suggestions of stress
being the cause is probably right on. We do keep her separated
during the day now, but while we are home we let everyone mix.
Will try the '2 box' approach and see if that works with her. She's
really very sweet but still not quite right after having almost
starved to death. She weighed barely 5 lbs when we found her and
she's about 4 years old and not small boned. It will take her
awhile to bounce back from this, I'm sure.
Thanks for the responses and support!
Carole
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| 5077.6 | Try a tempting alternative? | ASDG::ANDERSON | | Thu Nov 21 1991 15:42 | 12 |
| Don't some pet store cats sleep in their litter boxes? (Because in many
pet stores the only alternative to the wire floor of the cage is the
litter box, which feels a little softer.)
Two litter boxes sound good; maybe making someplace else soft and warm
and secure (so that it's too tempting to pass up!) would work, but
Snoopy's ignored some of the nicest places I've tried to make for her
in favor of some of the damnedest things.
Good luck--lucky cat!
Lisa Dean and Snoopy
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| 5077.7 | Our stray liked a box at first too | FENNEL::RETZEL | Who do you think I think I am? | Thu Nov 21 1991 17:51 | 8 |
| When we brought Sasha home after finding her lying in the parking lot at DEC
barely weighing 4 pounds at 1-2 years old and pregnant, we gave her a box with
big towel in it and that is where she stayed most of the time while she
recovered from surgery and got her strength and weight back. But now she
doesn't use it at all. So I guess she felt safer in the box in the beginning
too.
Dawn
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| 5077.8 | | WILLEE::FRETTS | if u want to heal u have to *feel* | Mon Nov 25 1991 08:38 | 16 |
|
Veronica's strange behavior has started to change already! We've been
keeping her pretty much to herself, and now she is sleeping on the
bed or next to her food dishes. Haven't caught her in the litter box
over the last few days.
She is still very obsessed with food and prefers to have enough in her
dish so that she can come and go all day for a snack ;^)! Her eyes are
starting to brighten and her fur is beginning to fill-in and shine a
bit. Once she is back to full health and feeling very comfortable, she
will be going to the groomer for a shampoo.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!
Carole
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