Please help me with my cat Casey

[moosmom]

Hi everybody,

As you all know, I am now settled in my new apt in Michigan. All my cats are doing great except for Casey, my 7 year old male who is absolutely TERRIFIED of ceiling fans, whether they are running or not.

I brought all my cats over to the apt yesterday and he immediately went under the bed and has not come out. I coaxed him out with treats and put him in the back room (the kitty room) that has all the cat boxes, toys, one of the cat trees in a window with a view. He's been pacing back and forth and looking up at the ceiling.

I am beside myself with this problem because this happened once before. He went to stay at my best friends house and when we brought him into her bedroom, the ceiling fan was on and he hid under her wicker loveseat for 5 days, not eating or using the litterbox. He ended up with a very bad UTI.

I'm very worried about him. He still keeps looking up to the ceiling even though the fans are only in the kitchen, living room and my bedroom. None of the other rooms have them. I want him to be okay.

I'm under an extreme amount of stress right now because I've been trying to find a job (no success yet) and am running out of money. I am terribly depressed over Casey because he is my little lovebug and sleeps on the pillow with me every night. I was even thinking of sleeping on the floor in the room with him.

Please help me. I am desperate here. I don't want Casey to get sick over this. Does anyone have any suggestions. Usually I'm the one with all the answers, but this time I just don't have any.

[Cat-astrophic]

Hi Moosmom,

I can't say I know what the weather is like in Michigan, but could you dismantle the ceiling fan blades for the winter? Or perhaps just in the bedroom? Then maybe once Casey settles in you could put it back.

Another, not-quite-so-drastic suggestion is to surround him with familiar smells of you-- it sounds like the last time this happened he was also in a new, unfamiliar place. A t-shirt you've just worn, a pillow case you used for a week, whatever will smell like *you* put into his hiding place might help him make the transition to feeling more comfortable. It's also possible he is reacting to your stress and having a difficult time settling in, in which case (I know it's hard to hide your feelings from your cats!) you may need to try doing your best to be calm and not upset when you are spending time with him.

Good luck!! (I'm sure other folks will have many more --and better! -- suggestions.)

Cat-astrophic >*<

[Logan]

I don't see how we can offer much more help than has been offered. Only prayers. Hopefully, your Casey just needs some time to adjust. I would offer him comfort when he wants it, plenty of fresh water and food and the litter box, and just give him time to adjust. He will, I'm sure. But it is upsetting, I'm sure.


When you are feeling better adjusted, maybe he will too. In the meantime, we will keep you and Casey in our prayers.

Logan

[moosmom]

Dear Logan and Cat-Astrophic,

Thanks for the adivce. All he did was yowl when I put him in the back room so I let him out and back he went under the bed.

I have been under a great deal of stress (the crying jags, depression, etc.) and duh!!! I completely forgot that it would affect him. He's a very sensitive cat. I have a cat box and food and have been "serving" Fancy Feast to him under the bed. It's funny how I've got alot of knowledge about cats but it never dawned on me that I could be the one stressing him out.

I'm just leaving him be for now. I lay on the floor and softly talk to him and tell him how much I love him. He'll sometimes reach his paw out to me so maybe that's a sign that he just needs time.

Thanks for your support.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Sorry to hear things are not going as well as hoped, Donna.

As for Casey, the suggestion to dismantle the fan, I think, was a good one. The blades come off real easy (just a few screws I believe). But it sounds like your being stressed is really what's causing poor Casey's stress. You're both in a new environment and need to take time to adjust. Good luck and please keep us updated.

Thoughts and prayers are coming from across the big lake.

[Cataholic]

Oh, Casey, I am sorry things are going so poorly for you right now. As one who moved (at 23 no less) from Oh to Washington State...I know the stresses of moving. It took me six months before I even felt situated. Frankly, I never felt at home...two years later, I moved to Massachusetts! I also had (emphasis on HAD) two kitties that were soooo afraid of ceiling fans. For some reason, none of my other three even noticed! Mine got used to it, but, would crab crawl through the rooms that had them. When I turned them on in the spring, it started all over again. I don't know if I have any other suggestions for you, but will think good thoughts for your household! Taking down the blades/fans sounds the best...if that proves too difficult, maybe a white sheet could be affixed to the ceiling? Hang in there!!

[wolflady]

Awww...poor Casey. I've never heard of such a behavior before and can understand how it can be upsetting. I too think the dismantling of the ceiling fan blades is a good idea. I'm sure a lot of the stress is coming from the move and everything being new, so hopefully he'll adjust. If not, is there perhaps another room that you could put him in that doesn't have a fan? Also, be sure to continue to lavish pets and treats on him! Do let us know how he progresses!!

**hugs**

[moosmom]

You guys are all so wonderful!!! I have never met such a bunch of caring, supportive people in all my 40 something (okay, 49) years.

I'm going to leave him be. I will not turn on the fans. I truly believe that my being stressed has had a definite negative impact on him. I am going to do my best to be more calm. As they saying goes, "this too shall pass" (I hope!)

Thanks again everybody! I don't know what I'd do without you.

[Miss Meow]

Hi Donna

My folks have a ceiling fan (and cats). We turned the fan into a game by looping a length of string around a fan blade and hanging a favourite soft toy off the bottom of the string (if that makes sense). Then turned the fan on the slowest setting in small bursts. The toy then started propelling around the room in time with the fan - the cats just loved it and chased it for ages.

I don't know if this will terrify your baby or help. The other cats might enjoy it and encourage him to join the game.

Good luck! And good luck with finding a great job

[sasvermont]

Can you put a white sheet over them for awhile?

I have a friend who's dog barks continually at a ceiling fan, running or not. She has had the dog since it was a mere pup and never did anything to it to upset the dog to the point where it is afraid of fans.

I would either cover it or take off the paddles.

Keep us posted.

Aren't pets just so wonderful!

Good luck finding a job. What are you looking for? Not that I know anyone from your new home base.

[Nomilynn]

I don't have very good advice but I just wanted to say that I'm sending my prayers your and Casey's way!

[moosmom]

You guys are the best!!! Casey finally came out a little tonight for some Fancy Feast. He walked into the bathroom, took a look around, went back into the bedroom, used the litterbox and then laid down next to the bed, not under it. PROGRESS!!!!!

Today I cold-called temp agencies to see what they had. I faxed alot of resumes, went to the Michigan Job Bank. I know the progress on this will be slow, I guess I just have to have faith in my Higher Power. He took care of me today though...I found $551 I didn't know I had in my "other" checking account that I thought I closed down before I left CT. That will take care of my cellphone bill and car payment with some left over for emergencies such as food (the cats are all set for sometime now).

So things could be alot worse. I'm looking for any kind of job that will at least bring in money till I can get a more stable one. I'd like a job as a legal secretary (12 years experience) because it pays very well. But I'll settle for Receptionist, Secretary, Administrative Assistant, Executive Secretary. I've got alot of people here peddling my resume so SOMETHING has to happen eventually.

Thanks again for all your support. It really means alot to me. It's nice not to feel alone.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I just want to wish you good luck with your job search and good luck with your cat Casey. I'll say a prayer for both of you tonight.

[gini]

Donna, after having read through this thread, it sounds as though you have already received a lot of good advice.

Magic, the black cat and love of my life (Rainbow Bridge) was scared to death of ceiling fans. He had wanted to live with me so badly, he used to break into the house any chance he got. But he didn't like the fans. At first, what I used to do was get down on the floor with him and snuggle him, talk softly, telling him it was alright and he was safe. For a while, he wouldn't go into the kitchen for his food because of the fan.

Later he would enter the room and always glance at the ceiling to be sure that THING wasn't on. I would pick him up and do the same soft talking with a reassuring voice.

Cats who love you are so sensitive to your every mood and I would bet that Casey is picking up on your stress and also dealing with being in a new home. It sounds as though he is already making progress.

I am so happy that you "found" your extra money.......that will help for a while. And since you are being so active in looking for a position, it can only be a matter of time, until a job opens up for you.

Keep us posted though, please.........all of us care and you are never alone!

[Pam]

Moosmom I am really sorry to read about the turmoil you and Casey are going through right now. Isn't it amazing how sensitive, smart and "in tune" our kitties are with their surroundings! So many people have offered really good advice here and prayers. Praying is about all I can do because I can't improve on the advice.

I share your concern because I had a similar experience. When we brought Bella, (standard poodle) into our home both of my cats at first reacted really strangely. They had grown up with dogs but there hadn't been a dog in the house in over two years before she came. Andy went down to the basement and "lived" there for a couple of weeks. Fortunately that's where the litter box and food are kept so I wasn't too worried about him. Trevor, on the other hand, "lived" under the bed upstairs. This behavior really upset me because it was so unlike Trev. I can remember laying alongside of the bed and pleading with him to come out and eat (I brought food and a litter box up to the bedroom) and on a couple of occasions actually cried while talking to him, telling him I was sorry that I had upset him so. You can't imagine the joy I felt when I started seeing missing food in the bowl and "things" in the litterbox. Eventually both of them got over their initial fright and now all is well. It may take a little time for Casey to feel safe, (it was about 2 weeks for my boys) but with our prayers I do think he will get over this. Of course it goes without saying you are also in our prayers for the perfect job. {{{HUGS}}}