Member

Posts: 48
From:Youngstown, OH USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 06-23-2003 01:14 AM            

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I'm starting to think my cat has some kind of problem because I don't think a normal cat would act like him! Sage (or Psychotic Demon Child as we've taken to calling him ! ) is soon to be a year old. I rescued him from a really bad situation (starving and had two broken legs and tail from some evil kids) when I moved away from home. We got along great where I was living, he'd curl up on my bed with me, anything just to be held after he got over his initial fear. Well, about a month after I moved I was in a really bad accident and was in the hospital for about a month before I moved back in with my mom, who had taken Sage in. She had the same sweet loving cat that I had had, but as soon as I came home he turned demented. It started with him clawing the furniture (used the spray bottle, tried everything and we ended up having him declawed when he got neutered on my dad's demands, he'd done at least a $1000 in damage in under a month!), went to him turning backflips for absolutely no reason, and now I'm afraid it's gotten to the point where he's going to hurt himself. He's constantly running full throttle into things, doors, windows, walls, you name it, he's crashed into it. He even watched me open the refrigerator door and then galloped head on into it, didn't even try to go around. We've had his eyes checked because we thought that might be the problem, but they're fine. I've been home for almost a year, so I know he's used to me being back and for the most part he has stopped snubbing and taking his aggression out on me, but it seems like he's taking it out on himself now. Is he being a sucker for pain or what? Is there anythig I can do to get him to stop or calm down? He's hit things so hard that we're afraid he's going to break his neck. Please help!

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Member

Posts: 68
From:Cleveland, OH, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 06-23-2003 10:32 AM            

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Question: Is this behavior of running into things at full throttle a new behavior or has it just started recently? If he's been doing this since you've returned from the hospital(by the way glad to hear you're back home and doing ok) this may be related to the "psycho kitty" throwing a temper tantrum to let you know that he's not happy with his change of atmosphere for the third time now. Cats have to adjust to their surroundings gradually before they become completely comfortable with it. Not to mention that while you were in the hospital he had to get used to another "owner" your mom as you were not there to care for him as usual. It sounds to me like he's expressing his confusion by bashing into everything in sight to let you know he's not sure of who his mommy is and which location is his true home.

However, if this is something new - cats usually don't harm themselves out of the blue like this and it could be related to something neurological or internal thats unrelated to his eyesight. I would suggest a trip to the vet for some consulting and bloodwork. He may have an increased creatin count (white blood cells) which is a sign of an infection internally and the bloodwork will also let you know about his liver, kidney, and pancreas functions - which is also a good thing to know about. If anything this will help rule out anything serious that may be on its way to presenting itself. Hope this helps you in determining what may be going on. Best of luck to you both, and give kitty a hug for me.

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Member

Posts: 48
From:Youngstown, OH USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 06-23-2003 04:59 PM            

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Lemme catch the little darling to give him his hug... He probably started doing it about two months after I got out, the first time I remember him running into anything was over Thanksgiving (THAT'S a horror story in itself.). His behavior was getting worse and worse until that point. He started pouncing at my mom, so we thought he was maybe showing his loyalty to me, then he started hissing for no reason at the walls, then he started acting like something had startled him into running, and now he's running into things (do we have ghosts?!). I made an appt for next week to try the bloodwork, let's hope something comes back or nothing would be even better I guess. He does have his normal moments where he's just as loving as when I first got him, do cats get schizophrenia or bipolar? Thanks for the advice, I keeping my fingers crossed!

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Member

Posts: 68
From:Cleveland, OH, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 06-24-2003 10:34 AM            

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As for the question of bipolarism or schizophrenia - I don't know the answer to that on a factual or scientific level - but as far as I go personally...in my opinion YES! Some times my cats act like they're from another world at times. LOL They can change their moods or personalities at the drop of a hat. And on another little note about your comment on ghosts - I personally feel that they can sense the presence of a spirit or any similar presence. You may think I'm a nut - but I really do believe in them, and that our animals can see or sense them. I hope that the bloodwork helps diagnos the problem but also that its not something that can't be helped with modifications or meds. I wish you both the very best - keep me posted.

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Member

Posts: 48
From:Youngstown, OH USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 06-24-2003 03:47 PM            

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Got an earlier appt. with the vet today. His office had an opening which was nice (and rare!). He said we should have results in about two to seven days, depending on how busy his lab is. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's nothing, I feel that he's been through enough before I got him . I was only halfway joking about ghosts, I believe, too. Sage was actually being social a few minutes ago (happiness!). He crawled up on my lap while I checked my fav fish page and "read" with me. I love this little kitty! Keep your fingers crossed for him!

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Member

Posts: 97
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 06-25-2003 04:17 AM            

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Please let us know the results of your kitty's tests. I'd love to know. I've never heard of that kind of behaviour. I don't feel it's anything connected with you anymore. But I'd really like to know what you find out. Lots of luck.

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Member

Posts: 68
From:Cleveland, OH, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 06-25-2003 08:03 AM            

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Yes - please let us know how the results turn out. Glad to hear he cuddled up with you he sounds just precious! Give him another hug for me. Lots of luck sweeites.

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Member

Posts: 48
From:Youngstown, OH USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 06-28-2003 07:03 PM            

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Good news! Call from vet today said that tests came back clean. Even better, Sage hasn't run into anything since we brought the puppy home. He's too busy trying to figure out whether to play with her or run from her to pull his "I'm crazy" act. He hasn't even attacked my mom, which is one of his favorite past times. So far he's been a great babysitter and I'm hoping that maybe he just needed a buddy to calm him down. I hope this keeps up. It's nice to have a somewhat "normal" cat who's worst habit is chattering at birds!

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