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Cats suffer stress, experts say
BBC News ^ | 10/27/04 | BBC News - Scotland

Posted on 10/27/2004 2:08:00 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

Cats can suffer from stress-related illness like humans, a study by animal experts suggests.

Rivalry with another cat is the biggest source of feline anxiety closely followed by moving home or the arrival of a new member of the owner's family.

Experts compared 31 cats with bladder disease to 24 healthy cats in the same households and used a control group of 125 other healthy cats.

Sick cats generally got more stressed by other cats in the house, they said.

Stress trigger

Dr Danielle Gunn-Moore, senior lecturer in feline medicine at Edinburgh University's school of veterinary studies, said feline lower urinary tract disease was frustrating for vets and owners because most cases had no apparent cause.

"This group of diseases of the bladder is most commonly seen in pedigree, middle-aged, overweight male cats which don't go out much and eat a dry food diet.

"We believed stress could be a trigger and wanted to identify differences in the cats' environments and temperaments which might cause this condition."

University researchers suggest cats with such illnesses should be fed wet food and encouraged to drink more fluid by adding tuna-flavoured ice cubes to water.

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Animals has welcomed the research.

Spokeswoman Doreen Graham said: "We've always known cats are extremely sensitive and this study highlights a problem more widespread than previously thought."


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: cats; experts; stress; suffer
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To: wimpycat

His, I mean "his" present owners.

Jeez.


41 posted on 10/27/2004 5:48:40 PM PDT by wimpycat (John Kerry has a fevah, and the only prescription is "MORE COWBELL".)
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To: NormsRevenge

Had two cats run away due to stress...


42 posted on 10/27/2004 5:50:12 PM PDT by stands2reason
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To: wimpycat

It sounds to me like you've got the perfect combo. From my experience, cats will have a little hissy fit when you introduce a new cat into their house, but the chances of them eventually getting along are much better if they are different ages and different sexes.


43 posted on 10/27/2004 5:51:09 PM PDT by Serb5150 (Look at me! I don't need subtitles!)
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To: Jaded
she pees on the bath mats

I'm about to pull mine out of the wash. I hope I got the smell out...

44 posted on 10/27/2004 5:52:06 PM PDT by stands2reason
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To: wimpycat

I don't think you'll find out in a weekend. We have the same situation - adult spayed female and a male kitten. We brought the kitten into the house at about 6 weeks old, and big cat had a snit for a week. She started coming around after a couple of weeks. Now it's two months later and they play all the time. Little cat had to go to the vet for shots a couple of days ago, and when he'd been gone about an hour big cat started following me around the house meowing. This kept up until mama and the little cat came home.


45 posted on 10/27/2004 5:58:52 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: wimpycat

Start slow. For the first day or so, but the kitten in one room and close the door. Let your cat get used to the scent throught the door first, before you introduce them.


46 posted on 10/27/2004 6:01:32 PM PDT by stands2reason
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To: wimpycat
that's "Put the kitten"
47 posted on 10/27/2004 6:03:18 PM PDT by stands2reason
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To: wimpycat

I think the "trial" is a good idea. My cat had an older cat already in the house when he was a kitten. Marlow didn't like little George at first, but he grew on him. Marlow would even clean George.

George is a territorial cat, but up until recently, he had no problem with ginger cats (orange haired--my hubby the Brit calls them ginger)---which was the color of Marlow.

Good luck. Let us know what happens.


48 posted on 10/27/2004 6:04:37 PM PDT by vrwcagent0498 (Mark Levin and Ann Coulter are my patron saints.)
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To: Serb5150

I may not do this after all, after thinking more and more about it. It's best if the kitten's owners either give their cat more time to get used to the kitten, or take it to a no-kill shelter to give it an opportunity to be the only cat in a new home. And I can't bear the thought of giving it away once I take it, and then it doesn't work out.


49 posted on 10/27/2004 6:06:59 PM PDT by wimpycat (John Kerry has a fevah, and the only prescription is "MORE COWBELL".)
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To: tacticalogic

See #49. I think the fact that we won't find out in a weekend is the main reason why I've changed my mind.

If we end up getting a new cat, I want to see it before it comes home, to judge its personality and temperament. And I'm not thrilled about a long-haired cat, which this kitten is.


50 posted on 10/27/2004 6:10:33 PM PDT by wimpycat (John Kerry has a fevah, and the only prescription is "MORE COWBELL".)
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To: wimpycat
See #49. I think the fact that we won't find out in a weekend is the main reason why I've changed my mind.

Cats are normally social animals, and I think they'd work it out eventually, in their own way and on their own terms (they are cats, after all).

If we end up getting a new cat, I want to see it before it comes home, to judge its personality and temperament. And I'm not thrilled about a long-haired cat, which this kitten is.

Sound like you have reservations already. If you're not comfortable with the situation, the cats probably won't be, either. Probably best to let this one go.

51 posted on 10/27/2004 6:20:03 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: wimpycat

We had Livingston (our purebred Maine Coon male) for about six months before we got Beauregard (also purebred Maine Coon male, a rescue). We ended up keeping them apart for a week on the breeder's recommendation...Beau came from a neglect situation and we weren't 100% sure about what kitty cooties he might've had, plus he was extremely skittish around people due to lack of contact. However, the two of them got along great and after four days they were both scratching at the door wanting to meet the scent on the other side of the door.

It's been almost five months and they get along great, except when they don't. Now granted, Livingston and Beau were both male, and Livingston was already fixed (we got Beau fixed the day after we picked him up), so that probably helped.

Keep them apart for a couple of days. And don't neglect your current kitty to spend time with the other one. My wife and I alternated shifts with each cat to keep them from feeling neglected, and it worked.

Good luck!

}:-)4


52 posted on 10/27/2004 6:20:44 PM PDT by Moose4 ("That was beautiful. Now never, ever, do it again.")
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To: tacticalogic
Yeah, I have some reservations, but if I did do it, I'd do it right and make it work. I've been sitting here wondering if it's just me, and simple unwillingness to change our present situation, but at the same time it would be better if the poor kitty wasn't passed around so often and could settle down in a home where there were no misgivings (or older cats to worry about). Now if it comes down to us or the regular county shelter, well, then I'd take it, but there are still some other options at this point. Gosh, I wish I didn't feel so guilty about it.
53 posted on 10/27/2004 6:49:51 PM PDT by wimpycat (John Kerry has a fevah, and the only prescription is "MORE COWBELL".)
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To: wimpycat

My two cats (both males, one aged 6 and the other 3.5) were together before I got them, so I don't know what was involved in getting them to get along.

Even to this day, sometimes they'll fight/wrestle (never to the point of actually hurting each other though), but they will sleep right next to each other when the weather starts getting cold.


54 posted on 10/27/2004 6:54:54 PM PDT by brianl703 (Border crossing is a misdemeanor. So is drunk driving. Which do we have more checkpoints for?)
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To: Jaded
When my cat, Alexis Colby Carrington gets in a SNIT, she pees on the bath mats and hides.<<<

Yes! Mine do that, too. It makes me so mad, I have to keep the doors shut or they christen the mats, usually fresh from being washed.

55 posted on 10/27/2004 8:53:03 PM PDT by Mjaye (PNN = Pajama News Network)
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