Another cat question - cats and depression?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Can cats get depressed? It sounds silly, but I recently moved into my parents house from a small Brooklyn apartment that I shared with a roommate/best friend. I took the cats as my roommate didn’t want the responsibility and we thought they were more attached to me.

My male cat, Oscar, has completely taken to the house and become the alpha cat. He’s all over the place - didn’t even hesitate to tackle the stairs after I let him out in my room where I keep their food and litterbox. He dominates my parents’ two male cats (both much older) and while he doesn’t dominate my old (15 yo) female cat, he pretty much knows to stay the hell out of her way unless he wants a nice swat on the butt from her.

My female cat, Emmy, however, has always been a fraidy-cat. Since moving her upstairs, she has ventured down the stairs one time - then she saw Isabelle (15 yo) and took off running back up the stairs. Any attempts to bring her back down usually end with her freaking out and flying back upstairs to the safety of my bedroom. She likes my mom and lets her pet her, and she’s starting to warm up to my dad (men freak her out…we think she was abused by one as a kitten before we got her). And she’s just as affectionate with me as ever - if I’m upstairs on the computer or watching TV, she’s either on my lap or under my feet. And when I tell her it’s time for bed, she hauls ass into my room, flies onto the bed and plops her little 12 lb self down at the bottom of the bed. So her behavior with me hasn’t really changed - she’s clingy when I have to leave in the mornings, but she did that in NYC, too - I think she figures if she’s really cute, I won’t leave her (and I’m almost embarrassed to say it’s worked a couple of times…I took a sick day and stayed home.). But my mom made a comment that she looks lonely and unhappy this morning. I’m not sure if I should take it seriously, as Emmy typically has that ‘poor me’ look on her face - it’s just her. But I know that she’s used to having Oscar to play with all day while I’m gone, and now that he’s the Big Cat and off exploring the rest of the house all day, maybe she misses that.

The only physical change I’ve noticed in her is that she’s vomited a couple of times in the past two weeks. The few times she’s done this in the past, it’s been because she ate too fast. Yesterday, she jumped up on me at 6 AM and threw up on me in bed (I got out of the way just in time). I’m not sure if I should take her to the vet and have her checked out or not - I don’t think she’s sick, and I’m pretty sure they would laugh at me if I said I thought she was depressed.

I also don’t know how to get her downstairs. This is a temporary situation - I’m leaving for graduate school in August and they will be going with me, so they’ll be back to the smaller apartment situation at that point and she’ll have Oscar back as her buddy. I just think if I could find a way to get her to come downstairs, she’d be happier. There’s a lot to play with down there, including two more male kitties whom she seems to like when they’re upstairs, but while I can always get her halfway down the stairs, that’s as far as she’ll go.

Any advice for my out-of-sorts baby?

Ava

2

Well, I don’t know as there’s any definitive scientific proof that cats get depressed, but empirically, I’d say they do indeed. And clearly Emmy is having some issues.

Looks like she is stressed about the move (I think that being suddenly placed in an unfamiliar environment is as disruptive to a kitty than it would be to anyone else). I don’t know quite how recently you moved, but she’s probably just going through a normal settling-in period; trying to establish herself in the heirarchy, and figure out what territory is hers. I’d expect her to calm down a little, in time.

As for getting her to go downstairs, that would mean adjusting to ANOTHER new environment (thus more stress), and she’s apparently not ready for it yet. Give her some time, she may venture down herself, once she’s more comfortable in her new digs.

If you’re worried about her health, by all means give your vet a call, but it doesn’t seem that there is too much physical evidence that she’s ill. She might be vomiting because she’s wolfing down her food as a stress response (“If I don’t eat fast enough someone will steal my dinner!”), and the unhappy look your mom noticed would be understandable, given Emmy’s apparent emotional discomfort.

So my advice would be: love her, give her some more time to adjust, and try to make her new home as stable and comfortable an environment as possible. Once she’s settled in a bit more, she’ll probably cheer up.

3

Cats abhor change and are very territorial. Therefore it is no wonder she is stressed out. As you have observed with your other cat, some adapt more easily. All she needs is time and alot of love, like kn*ckers has advised. She’ll be okay. A vet visit never hurts, but at this point I wouldn’t say it’s necessary.

lorinada, cat owner, rescuer and soother for 45 years now

4

I used to move a lot and it was difficult for whatever cat I had at the time just like the change was an adjustment for me.

As for depression, yes, they do get depressed. I don’t believe the vet would laugh at you since there are now kitty antidepressants available.

Like lorianada said, cats are territorial. Some adjust more easily/quickly then others.

Right now, Duffy is depressed because of the death of his sister Saturday. Rico says he’s just confussed, but Rico hasn’t been around cats as much as I have been. Duffy is depressed.

When in doubt, check it out. It never hurts to make a visit to the dr. to make sure Emmy is healthy. Perhaps the doc would have some suggestions to make the transistion easier for her. Then again, sometimes it just has to be given time.

YMMV but there’s my 2 cents based on my 45 years experience. And, I’m still learning!

Please keep us informed on how Emmy does.

Please give her chin and ear scratches for me.

Kathy

5

We just moved with our three cats and while we’ve had some adjustments, no one is depressed, thank goodness. But Cleo, Chloe and Tweak are confined to a much smaller area than usual and aren’t overly pleased.

If Emmy is allowed downstairs (mine aren’t!) why not pick her up and carry her down there and just hold her awhile while she watches the frolicking, and gets used to the smells and sounds? Start with a few minutes at a time,taking her back to safety when she starts to freak out. It may help to ease the transition if she doesn’t have to face those big old mean cats on her own at first. Use food to bribe her. Then just give her time.

6

Of course cats can get depressed, and no veterinary staff is going to laugh at you for thinking so. If my past and current coworkers are any indication, vets and techs tend to believe in the emotional life of animals more than most folks, and we tend to empathize with animals as much or more than we do humans. (After all, we don’t go into this business for the money, glamour, or prestige.)

Like everyone else has pointed out, Emmy’s had some huge changes in her physical and social environment, and it’s going to take her a while to adjust. Some cats are very assertive and take such things in stride, but others don’t. Emmy’s one of those who doesn’t, and it’s possible that she won’t be fully adjusted by the time you move again. Just give her time and love, and maybe try to keep her buddy upstairs with her once in a while. It might help her adjust.