Not Claim Related, But Can Show You How Depression Works On Your Mind

[Rockhound]

My Tom Cat that I have raised from a kitten and who used to sleep next to me at night has turned ferrel since I brought home a female kitten nearly a year ago. He still comes home most days to be fed, but he will no longer allow me to pick him up without trying to scratch and bite me, nor does he respond anymore to being called to meal time, when I normally feed the other cat. I do seperate the two when feeding them and I do provide seperate feeding dishes. If I try to keep him inside he puts up such a fuss and claws at the pet door with such force, he has caused some small damage to the pet door incasement.

He is no longer around 99% of the time when he used to give me injoyment when playing with him and now he no longer seems to find any interest in these games, since I can no longer ingage him into them, no matter how hard I try or varied the games he used to, or at least seemed to find interesting and engaging.

I don't know what to do with him now, I worry so much when he stays away for more than a day. I'm certain it is not good for my health or my level of depression and anxiety

It may seem overly silly to some of you, but it is like a unrully child who has run away from home and only comes home whe it pleases them or they are in need of something.

I don't know how or what I can do to regain my Tom Cat's affection again, I nursed him through cat fight wounds and what appeared to have been a bad wound on his leg from a trap and now none of this seems to register in his mind that I am him friend and can be trusted. I long for my old Tom Cat to return to me and to once again find him sleeping next to me as before.

I find it hard to believe that he is this way because I brought another cat into the house, since he is much bigger and stronger than the younger one, yet he will have nothing to do with this other cat and will pin her down should she try to press her attention on to him or he will excape to the outdoors where she will not follow him.

Their has to be a way to regain the trust and affection of a cat that has gone ferril, but I am at a loss at how to go about it without limiting the cats movements by placing them in a cage until the do.

I ask of those out there who are Cat lovers, what they think I should do. I don't know how much longer I can stand this situation of being just a food way station for him without some return of affection in kind.

My Cats are like my children and to have one act this way, plays havic on my depression and when he is not there when expected, raises my anxiety to an unbearable level, that worries me as much about my depression level is.

I've been ranting far to long and it has me longing far to much for my next dose of medication so I will go for now and check back tomarrow for any replies.

Thank you all for being out there even if it is to lisen and respond to my ever present rants of whoa is me.

Rockhound Rider

[vmo]

Hello,

You have received the answer: your tomcat must be neutered in order to become tame again. (Also is your female spayed?) Whatever bills you have, this is the most important thing you can do with your money. Continue to investigate low cost spay/neuter programs in your area.

Your tomcat will fight and roam until he eventually loses his life. After the neuter, it takes over a month for the testosterone to leave his system. The other benefit is the urine will not have the strong odor it has in the non-neutered male.

You should crate him after the neuter for a couple days. This will speed his return to tameness because you will be his only source of socialization. This is not cruel because it is temporary.

When introducing one cat to another it is best that they smell each others' scent through a closed door, then switch the bedding between them so they smell the other cat without the threat. Next let them see each other between cage doors or a screen door. Finally allow them to be together. The slow introduction over several days decreased stress and allows the cats to accept each other gradually.

Your cat will return to your affection once he does not have hormones ruling his behavior. Now he has all the reason in the world to run.

I read all this in a cat behavior book. I know it is true because of volunteering in animal shelters. Please feel free to ask me any cat questions in the future. Good luck, you can solve your problem with a little effort.