Problem Puss, Taranis - need suggestions
Taranis is the cat I most sigh over because she has multiple small problems and gives many false signals. I've also ignored her for far too long.
I need suggestions on diet, "exercise", and just plain understanding her.
I adopted her from the Humane Society three years ago, when she was 2 years old, as a companion for Macduff, a 10 year old adult feral, very gentle and friendly, who lives in the lower part of my house. It was her second stint at the shelter and mine is her fourth (and forever) home, so she went through a lot of changes in her first 2 years. The shelter treated her for a UTI and I put her on Hills CD at home. She was fine with Macduff, though not friendly, but loathed LOS, the perpetual motion pest. Taranis peed in the sink, on drapes, etc. for a while but then stopped (she didn't have another UTI, it was behavior). She asked for attention but hissed and snapped when I stroked, scratched or massaged her - a behavior that continues. She likes to lie next to me and lean on me, sometimes.
I was very busy with a full time job, volunteer work, and caring for several long-time and extremely ill cats upstairs (the main area of the house) for nearly 3 years. I spent far too little time downstairs and didn't build up a relationship with Taranis. She ate well and was coping but not happy.
Now that all my really sick cats have died, and given Taranis' reaction of peeing everywhere and constant hissing as Tom joined the downstairs cats, I tried bringing her upstairs. She peed all over the place. She had a bladder full of crystals and was on Hills SD for 6 weeks plus antiobiotics. I tried bringing her upstairs again and she peed on the carpet, etc. again. She is now on Clomicalm and there were no incidents when I brought her upstairs for long periods recently.
I now plan to isolate her in my dressing room upstairs during the day and let her out with us at night. These are the issues/questions:
She is obese. She has never been an active cat, doesn't play with the others or with toys and was overweight when I adopted her. Now she must lose weight. However, she is on IVD Urinary SO to prevent crystals, and that isn't a food that will help weight loss. I've mixed it with WD to decrease calories but it hasn't helped much. I visited the Walthams site, since they now own IVD and Royal Canin, but it didn't help. Has anyone found a diet that addresses both problems?
Does stress increase the likelihood of a cat developing crystals? My hope is that by reducing her stress levels, I'm reducing the risk of her getting crystals which means I can address her obesity better.
How do you exercise a cat that doesn't like moving? I chase her, very gently, round and round the living room and down the hall. She used to play with her feather toy a little but now she's on Clomicalm, she's lost interest in it. She needs to stay on the Clomicalm for a while so that she can adjust to being upstairs without peeing on everything. If she pees on things, it will set off Ted again and then I'll be living in a cat toilet all over again.
In desperation, to exercise and insert some joie de vivre into her, I've allowed her outside in the garden. She simply walks round from the back door to the front and waits to come inside again.
What does she mean when she runs up to me for attention and the moment I give it hisses at me and snaps or swats? She does it before I've even touched her very often. I know cats are enigmatic and contrary but Taranis seems to take this to extremes.
I really, really like this cat and will appreciate any input.
