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Thread: Cats and Seasonal Affective Disorder

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Denmark
    Posts
    773

    Cats and Seasonal Affective Disorder

    I know, I'm very much affected by the only few hours of daylight we have here in the "Cold North" during the winter...and it has already started.

    I've noticed how in the past month the behavior of the furbabies have changed as well - especially in Boomer. He's become completely food obsessed and is VERY whiny, so I began to wonder if he has S.A.D too.

    I started searching for info on it on the Internet and I found it mentioned briefly at Animal Planet's site.



    Q: Our 2-year old cat has a peculiar new habit. She sits on the end table with her head inside a lamp shade, and she sits and stares at the light bulb. Sometimes, she does this for hours, even sleeping there — with the lamp shade over her head. Her eyesight seems okay. But I wonder about long-term damage, and why she's doing this. J. C., Cyberspace

    A: What is your cat drinking at those late night parties? A lamp shade on her head? Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Karen Overall of Philadelphia, PA says your kitty could be seeking warmth, or maybe this has become a good place to hide. Another possibility is that your cat has no sunny window ledge to catch the rays and has what amounts to seasonal affective disorder. This is when people feel 'the winter time blahs' because they're not getting enough sun. The disorder has not been described in pets, but Overall says, "Why not. It occurs in people and it seems perfectly plausible to me that this might be what's going on with this cat."



    Does anybody have any info on cats and S.A.D. ?



    EDIT: Found an article on S.A.D in dogs where cats are also mentioned:

    http://www.roen.com/020128.html
    Last edited by Uniqueviking; 11-01-2004 at 01:16 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    California
    Posts
    13,005
    Interesting...

    I know my cats tend to sleep more when its cold and darker. They are much more snuggly and less playful during the winter.

    ...RIP, our sweet Gini...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Costa Brava,Catalonia
    Posts
    1,986
    My firts though was: Go get a iggy! Because all that UV lights they need. There is always sunny in a iggy home, at least in one room

    Now seriously. Paloo,the most sensitive of my cats, have been meowing for no apparent reason all day long , the day after the time have been set one hour backwards and the firts days of really fall wheather, yes, the winter haven't started yet(); we have got.

    How do you deal with S.A.D.? Maybe is not so foolish idea to get a day light basking bulb where you spent most of your time home instead a regular one.
    On Saturday I bought a extra basking bulb for Magda "the iggy" and I was amazed how bright and shiny the light was! It's called Crystal Sun spot by Namiba Terra, the manufacturer says it has the full spectrumlight up to UV range.Don't have to belive all they say.But really was a nice bright light to be next to that made you feel comfortable.

    Maybe it worsts a try, it's only few euros , or krowns, away. Just a though.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Denmark
    Posts
    773
    I'd love to get an Iggy, but I don't have room for one right now.

    I'm getting a full spectrum light bulb (bright light therapy) that gives of as much light as was it a "sunny day" (re. the lux).

    Now that you mention it. It's probably a lot cheaper buying a basking bulb than a "bio light" for humans, lol!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    Middle of Germany
    Posts
    8,761
    koxka, getting an iggy is a cute idea (would like to have one, too! ) And it sounds beautiful what you've told about the lights they need. Love your sig btw. What a cute picture!

    Tenna, good to hear that you've finally got the bulb you've been looking for for so long! We'll see if it has positive effects on Boomer also!

    BTW, here's Luna doing her bright light therapy:




    Kirsten

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    SE USA
    Posts
    18,443
    Wow! I never thought about that!! I just know mine DEMAND I opens the blinds first thing in the morning! (Year round)

    Special Needs Pets just leave bigger imprints on your heart!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Posts
    40,169
    This Wdnesday,I am going,to lok,into getting an ElectricStove,to warm,up theMain Bedroom,and warm,the hearts,and bodies,of The Found Cats,so the winter,wont be so long,and cold!
    THE RAINBOW BRIDGE FOUND HOTEL ANGELS HAVE A NEW FRIEND IN CORINNA.


    ALMOND ROCCA BATON AND ELLIE ANGELS ARE GUARDIANS TO ETERNAL KITTENS ROCC-EL AND T TEEN ANGEL, ALMOND ROCA , VLAD , PAWLEE , SPRITE. LITTLE HEX, OSIRIS AND ANNIE ANGELS.
    EBONY BEAU TUBSTER AND PEACHES BW SPIKE & SMOKEY


    NOW PRECIOUS AND SAM ARE TOGETHER WITH ETERNAL KITTENS SAMMY ,PRESLEY, SYLVESTER AND SCRATCHY JR , MIGHTY MARINA, COSMIC CARMEN, SAMSON ,UNDER KITTY AND SUNKIST AUTUMN & PUMPKIN.
    MIA AND ORANGE BLOSSOM ANGELS HAVE ADOPTED TUXIE , TROOPER , SONGBIRD AND LITTLE BITTY KITTIES MIA-MI BLOSSOMER, TUXEDO AND DASH AS THIER ETERNAL KITTENS.
    PRINCESS JOSEPH AND MICHAEL ARE CELEBRATING 19 YEARS AS LUCKY FOUND CATS

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