DEAR DR. FOX: Our household just lately misplaced our 16-year-old cat, Blinky. This is difficult sufficient by itself, however made more durable as a result of one among our different cats, Ford, noticed Blinky as a surrogate dad or mum.
When Ford was only a kitten, he was “adopted” by my old tabby, Shakespeare. Ford worshipped Shakes — following him all through the home, curling up with him and sometimes mendacity proper on high of him! Shakes would clear Ford, gently play with him and watch over him when he performed with the opposite cats.
After Shakes’ passing 14 years in the past, Ford grieved — for almost a decade. Ford started to over-groom, mowing by way of his fur along with his tooth, to the purpose the place he was practically bald on his tummy and legs and confirmed quite a few sore spots. A dermatologist was in a position to do little to change this habits with remedy.
About a 12 months after Shakes died, Blinky got here into our home. Blinky bore a placing resemblance to Shakes. For Ford, it was almost as if his “daddy” (although now feminine) had returned. But Blinky was aloof, having include just a few years of her personal trauma to beat.
Ford would attempt again and again to get near Blinky. After practically 10 years, she accepted his consideration, would cuddle with him and gracefully let him clear her. Ford stopped over-grooming often for the primary time in years.
Fast-forward to now: Blinky handed two days in the past. It occurred on the veterinary clinic and there was no alternative for Ford to see her physique, so we will solely think about that he believes she’s simply lacking.
We’re afraid for Ford, who’s now 14. He has his sister and one other adopted sister, however Blinky, in some ways his rock, is gone. How can we greatest help him in his grieving to come back? We are frightened that he could sink again into his old self-destructive habits. — E.L., Takoma Park, Maryland
DEAR E.L.: I presume your veterinarian has tried giving Ford gabapentin, which is a miracle drug for a lot of cats. If the primary tried dose was ineffective, it’s value a attempt at the next dose. Alternatively, some cats can shake out of their grief by rolling in catnip each night, however not all are attentive to this herb.
I might make sure you maintain Ford on a moist/canned cat meals as a result of a dry kibble might trigger points along with his fur being swallowed and accumulating in his abdomen when he over-grooms. Adding just a few drops of olive oil to his meals could assist with this situation.
If he does begin to interact in “trichotillomania,” I might give him 1 mg of melatonin within the early night and 50 mg of L-theanine at bedtime and round noon. Crush the capsules in his meals, starting with only a grain or two. Try these pure biologics for 3 to 4 weeks and proceed as wanted.
If none of those medicines assist, discontinue them and ask your veterinarian about utilizing a psychotropic drug. My first selection for cats is fluoxetine, however it is rather exhausting to get cats to take it as a result of it’s so bitter. (That’s why many veterinarians default to gabapentin.)
Alprazolam can also be one thing to think about. It works a lot quicker than fluoxetine, however we regularly see some ataxia (lack of steadiness) at first, which could be distressing. I might begin with half of a 0.25 mg pill and ensure there aren’t any adversarial results. Alprazolam could be dosed a lot greater, if want be.
You would possibly attempt wrapping Ford tightly in an toddler’s T-shirt, securing with Velcro or tape. I might name this a “grief wrap,” just like the “thunder wraps” that assist some dogs which can be afraid of storms and fireworks. This may even make it tougher for Ford to have interaction in extreme grooming.
FRANS DE WAAL: A GREAT CONTRIBUTOR TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF OURSELVES, OTHER ANIMALS
I deeply regretted listening to the information that Frans de Waal, world-renowned primate ethologist and evolutionary biologist, had died on the age of 75. He did a lot to overturn the view that attributing humanlike feelings to nonhuman animals is unscientific anthropomorphizing. Rather, he emphasised the numerous traits we now have in widespread with different primates.
One assertion in his obituary, posted at Animals24-7.org, particularly stood out to me: “Civilization is not some outside force: It is us,” de Waal stated. “… Social life may be very a lot a part of our primate background, as are cooperation, bonding and empathy. This is as a result of group dwelling is our most important survival technique.”
Yes, certainly — we aren’t the one species able to cooperation, bonding and empathy. But we now have but to evolve the power to respect these exterior our speedy group, and this exclusion of others can result in hatred, racism, slavery and warfare.
I ship my condolences to de Waal’s household and all who knew him.
(Send all mail to [email protected] or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The quantity of mail acquired prohibits private replies, however questions and feedback of basic curiosity might be mentioned in future columns.
Visit Dr. Fox’s web site at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)
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