Dear Fisher,
My name is LiL Girl. I’m a small female five year old bob-tailed cat. My best friend Buoy, was about 12, and passed away a few months ago. Well, my human went and brought in a rescued female named Blue who is about one year old. She is bigger than me. She’s totally black, like a blank panther to my bobcat status. At first it was all good, but now she is always attacking and I get really scared she is going to hurt me. I have been hiding in the sofa and under the bed a lot. Now my human has taken to locking me in the bedroom with my own litter box, food and water, because every time I see that other cat I can’t stop freaking out. I didn’t used to be like this.
Blue is a really nice loving cat and just wants to play, but lately she’s been nothing more than a stalker and my human is frustrated and sad. Will i ever be the same? I miss playing fetch with my humans (I am an excellent fetcher) and just running around and everything else.
LiL Girl
Dear LiL Girl,
It sounds like you are experiencing some pretty major life changes. The loss of Buoy has surely been very difficult for your humans and you. Blue, still an energetic kitten is just so happy to have a forever home – and her kitten energy has not been seen in your household for several years. You have very different issues, but you may both suffer from a dose of separation anxiety just now.
Of course this is all frustrating for your owner. Cats are pretty hard to understand, they were not meant to be understood, and many agree they do not particularly like it. There are very few studies on bereavement issues in cats. This is probably true because we all know cats are just born with an element of “coolness.” That is the one trait that makes us so intriguing. For more information, visit fab – feline advisory board to learn more about different cat reactions to the loss of a loved one. Also search the animal rescue sites for insight into Blue’s behavior.
The fact that the two of you got along fine for the first while is a great indication that you will come to terms with your separate issues, and learn how to get along with each other again.
A few things your humans can try:
1. Each should have a turn in the bedroom while the other is out romping and playing. Start with 4 – 8 hour intervals, then shorter and shorter eventually leaving door ajar to see if you are making progress.
2. Food, water bowls, and litter boxes should be separated, then slowly moved closer together.
3. New toys! You should each have time to play alone with the same toys before learning the great lesson of sharing.
LiL Cat, try to let your inner kitten come out to play. The holidays are coming up and you and Blue can have great adventures hissing at Trick-or-Treaters, stealing turkey off the Thanksgiving table, and climbing the Christmas tree! Oh, and please tell your people they are more than welcome to write another letter when the two of you have reached this level.
Your friend,
Fisher
