Cat Thread :cat2: (rolling)

He was part of a litter of a feral cat and was separated from his kitten siblings too early, so hasn’t worked out that not everything is to be bitten or played with, but has made huge progress in the last week or so since we got him. He still randomly pounces on feet and hands but with less claw and teeth than previously. He’s very cute though. He’s up for adoption so I think we have him for about 6 weeks until he’s outdoors-ready and someone comes to adopt him.

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jalfrezi · 2021-06-21T09:12:55.626Z

Have some issues with our little Juno at the moment. A few weeks ago she was overlicking her side and gnawing on her front leg to the point where it was quite sore with missing fur. Vet suggested an insect bite (she hangs out sat in the garden a lot among grass and bushes), prescribed some anti-inflammatories, this plus a hilarious bodysuit seemed to clear up the licking. But it has started again with a vengeance. I think we have ruled out fleas as she and the house have been de-flead since birth, no evidence of them around and no interaction with other cats. This time too there is no actual sore or bite mark. She seems to do this odd thing where the skin on her back twitches up and down, she jumps up, licks a bit then runs away and repeats. In the midst of this she can be quite odd behaviourally too: either super-purry and affectionate or really get her claws out and bitey. Some googling has hit upon “Feline hyperesthesia syndrome (FHS)”

petmd.com

Twitch-Skin Syndrome in Cats

Feline hyperesthesia syndrome (FHS), also known as “twitch-skin syndrome” and “psychomotor epilepsy,” is an obscure cat disorder resulting in intense biting or licking of the back, tail, and pelvic limbs. Learn more about the symptoms and treatment...

Which seems to describe it perfectly but I really don’t want to be a google expert in going to the vets. Anyone with any experience of this or similar? Some other suggestions have been allergies, nerves or even boredom. She is a ten month old Bengal.

froglet · 2021-06-21T10:05:30.474Z

My cat over-grooms her belly and back legs. At one point she had quite a big patch of fur missing. She also goes sick quite a lot if she’s hungry, like in the early morning. She didn’t have the episodes of agitation described on that page but is generally an anxious cat. I think the verdict from the vet was “?? Allergies??” She was given steroid pills, which seemed to help on both counts. She was on those for quite a while on and off and has been off them for a couple of years I think? She seems better than she was at the start, although her fur is still a bit thin in the affected areas. I don’t know off the top of my head what the pills were but I could probably find out if you needed to know.

profk · 2021-06-21T11:57:10.659Z

have no idea where to post this as its so heavy, but I suppose here would be the most appropriate place - tw: death, just properly horrid, heavy shit:

so my great aunt and uncle, one of whose newly born kittens I’m adopting (detailed up-thread) ‘euthanized’ the second and only other kitten that I was unable to adopt. just found out this morning. apparently the family vet gave it an injection and its now dead. purely because they didn’t want more cats on the farm. honestly had absolutely no idea that they’d do something or be a capable or something like that, since (apart from not spaying their animals ofc), they always seemed like responsible animal owners.

I have absolutely no idea what to do now. I was supposed to be visiting them this afternoon and bringing them a blanket but fucking that off obviously. I dunno how I can go through his process now without knowing that I was responsible for the death of the other kitten because I couldn’t adopt it too - they wanted me to take both but I couldn’t for a few reasons. If I don’t continue with adopting the surviving kitten, then I assume it’ll meet the same fate, but how am I supposed to go there with a smile on my face like everything is hunky dory and they’re not kitten killers. imagine what the mother-cat must be feeling.

there’s not a lot I can do, like from a legal standpoint. I’m not gonna grass up my family as I’ve been really close to them and it would destroy relationships that my grandparents in particular depend on.

fuck me, just wanna cry.

grievoustim · 2021-06-21T12:30:01.799Z

Oh no that’s so so horrible but you can’t blame yourself because they didn’t tell you. How would you have known. Honestly in your position I would slap on a rictus grin and adopt the kitten as planned. I’m assuming they are older people and it’s a generational thing, you can’t put this on yourself but you can give that kitten a good life. Xx

Tuna · 2021-06-21T12:34:28.155Z

Absolutely not your fault mate, you had no clue they’d do that. Best thing you can do is give the other kitten the best possible life you can. Always hard when it’s family, innit.

profk · 2021-06-21T12:57:07.455Z

Adopting the other kitten was never gonna be in doubt and the choice is completely out my hands now innit. But it’s really soured my feelings towards my aunt and uncle and dunno how I’m gonna be able to visit without getting upset or angry. Had planned on going at least once or twice a week to bond with them etc.