Do you think cats can get depressed?
Answers:
I Think cats and all animals can get depressed my og gets depressed when it is left at home all day even though it can get out try giving the cat lots of attenion and treats and see if that helps i wouldn't put my cat on drugs x
Yes, I believe that cats and dogs certainly do get depressed. Try interacting with your cat more; pets really love getting cuddles and attention. I would also suggest you try buying him a little toy or something for him to do. Perhaps he is bored, animals often become depressed when they can't find anything to do.
Maybe your cat just has the winter blues. we all get them. :-)
i think that cats, animals even can get lonely, maybe if you could get Baz a friend to play with cats are like a pack animal, think of lions in the wild you never see one alone.
Is he by himself a lot? If so, leave a radio or TV on while you're out, also get some new toys (cardboard boxes with screwed up paper in, old towels etc. will do).
Hope he feels better soon! x
Dogs can get depressed so I would assume that it's likely that cats can too.
Your vet will know what he's talking about so take his advice and hopefully your cat will be back to his own self soon.
yes when they hiss or wag there tale
Definitely. Animals/pets have feelings too! When they are just fed up of the day and being bored, they get depressed and usually if you bother them, they will scratch you, so don't get near a depressed cat!
A week ago I would have laughed me socks off at the thought but since then I had to take my cat to the vet. She was always happy and bouncy, and she's the same age as your cat. She had a major appetite and was bit and glossy (but not overwieght). Recently she lost her appetite and lost 3lbs (a lot for a cat). I thought she might have a liver or kidney issue but the vet said she was low on vitamins so she now gets a monthly vitamin injection, as well as a steroid injection for any achey bones. BUT, the vet asked if the cat had had a trauma recently and the only thing I could think of was that my other cat died from old age about 2 months ago. The vet said the my cat was pining for her, and was basically depressed. Poor liddle puddy tat!
Since her vit injections, and having oodles more attention, she's regained her appetite and condition and seems to be ok!
They definitely can, yes. Whenever I need to go away on business or vacation and get a cat sitter, my cat mopes around for 2-3 days before returning to his normal, sprightly self and accepting the sitter. One cat that I was very close to, I was forced to leave behind as I was moving to another country and didn't want to subject him to 6 months in a quarantine cage. I gave him to a good friend that the cat had always really liked. On arriving at my friend's house, he ran straight for a closet - he then stayed in there for 6 months, refusing to come out, until my friend finally decided it was best to have him put to sleep, as he was obviously miserable. He did eat and drink, but just barely, and the vet diagnosed him with severe depression due to losing his "mommy", and sadly, he never did recuperate.
Cat valium does sound a bit extreme. Since the vet gave him a clean bill of physical health. Has anything changed in his/your home? A new baby, a new cat or other pet, a family member who's left, anything like that? Or have you changed his food or anything else that he's used to?
You could try to just give him some extra attention - play with him, activate him, pet him a lot, give him some extra treats, and see if that helps. Maybe some cat vitamins in addition to his regular food?
Good luck, I hope he perks up!
DONT give valium!!!
your cat is 11 years old as with everything as it gets older your cat might just be showing signs of slowing down in its old age
if you cat has been doing less and less over the last few weeks/months then dont worry about it
for example does your grandmother still run around all day and skip rope?
its the same with you cat
it is content to watch the world carry on while it relaxes
I am sure they can.
Yes cats and any animal gets depressed. they dont know why they are, who think "I am sad" they just feel down. Its funny you asked that because my dog seems very sad too. She is 14 years old. I think its to do with age. He's getting old and just might be a little down. Just give him lots of love and attention and treats! and he will feel happier! hope that helps! its what I do with my dog and yesterday she seemed really happy when I was playing with her! x
Cat have emotions just like you and I do. Depression can be one of those emotions, like happiness, love, anger, etc.
You are doing right by NOT giving him "kitty uppers", I would not drug my cats either. I have a 3 year old Siamese Himalayan, and when he is upset, he pouts. He will turn his back and go to a corner, and sit there and pout until I pick him up and cuddle him.
Give your Baz lots of attention, and possible a new friend may help. Male cats are very good at accepting little friends, especially when it's a kitten.
if you're vet is offering anti depressants, then I guess the cat is depressed. Poor Baz. I hope you can get him better. Might some catnip perk him up? I read that giving them flavoured water makes them happier - they have to drink why not make it nice for them by putting a little tuna in the water, maybe a little of the oil from a can of tuna? Have you tried a food-ball toy? It's basically a ball that you can fill with Baz's fav treats and as he bats it around the floor the treats are dispensed. He might like that.
As for, ''get him a friend, cats are pack animals" duh! This answerer even gives an example - lions - yeah, sure, there are prides of lions but pretty much all other big cats go solo:
Tiger
Leopard
Ocelot
Jaguar
Puma etc etc.
Woof ! Woof ! Woof !
Yes ,if neglected.Play with him .Talk to him.
Woof ! Woof ! Woof !
Most definitely yes. of the many cats we have had two at least have become depressed - on both occasions due to the loss of a long standing companion. Getting a replacement cat has not helped in the current case, as the original one is still feeling down.
Lots of cuddles, attention, distractions is about the best. I would avoid drugs. Some catnip or those treats that Whiskas do seem to be popular.
Yes, Vets can actually prescribe Prozac for cats and dogs.
Have you change something in your lifestyle? Have you change anything around his surroundings, moved, brought new people into you home, etc. Cats can become very moody. In alot of ways they are like us. I worked with cats everyday. 170 kittens to adult everyday. I also have 3 of my own. Backtrack and see if you have changed something around him. Cats DON'T like change!!
Of course he can get depressed.
Its probably due to some aspect of his complex social life that you, mere human, could not possibly hope to comprehend.
You need to be there for him when he wants you. spend time with him. give him attention when he wants attention and leave him be when he doesn't want it (watch out for tail twitching). Chances are with time he'll get over it and be back to his old self. and your job will be done again.
Remember. he only keeps you around for his amusement. so you'd better make sure you fulfill that role.
Yes, we had a cat once who went into a major funk after one of our other cats died. It lasted for about six months; the poor thing stopped washing himself - that part was really gross, we had to take over. Then, he became himself again!
my cat had that to. the vet was going to put no prozac but luckly she got better within a week. maybe she'll feel better after the vet visit
the cat might miss someone or something if he is bring what ever he's missing back
be careful about assigning human emotions to animals. yes animals with an intact neocortex and limbic system (parts of the brain dealing with emotion and its processing) have emotions but we can't call it the same as ours because our emotions can be different, for different reasons and are so much more complex and nuanced. When you say your cat is "low in spirits" what exactly do you mean? ask yourself what is his behavior and put it in terms of overt, observable behavior. get a second opinion as far as his general health goes and make sure there is no medical reason for his behavior and when you describe your cat's "depression" to the vet, put it in terms of his behavior rather than what his emotional state appears to be. he may just be getting old and want to lie around more rather than jump around all over the place. remember cats are highly territorial carnivores. did your cat lose a fight for territory? the position of dominance in the cat world when more than one animal is involved is the physically lower areas as only the weaker cat runs up the tree or fence to escape; so is your cat climbing a fence or tree a lot? if so, he may just have to readjust to new territory. giving him valium can lower his inhibition, such that he may not back down from the next fight he gets into and he may get seriously injured. cats know who is stronger when they face off against each other and rarely fight until serious injury occurs. most cats are solitary animals but a few are highly sociable so you may ask yourself is there someone in your cat's life that has not been there, if he's one of those social cats. also, because cats are hunters and killers by nature, nurture that and get toys for them to play with and play ambush and hunting games with him. for example, put a fluffy toy on the end of a string and maybe a stick. then pull it along the floor in a jerky manner, simulating the movements of a small mouse or rodent and let your cat "stalk", chase, then "kill" the toy. by doing that you stimulate his natural mental and physical abilities. one thing i like to do with my cat which also gives me a little exercise is take the toy on the string and run as I drag the toy on the ground while my cat chases it. first you have jerk it around, kind of like a fishing lure to let your cat "stalk" the toy, that is give eye to it then follow it. then you run and let your cat chase you. it's quite a fun game and my cat plays it with a little bounce in her step quite readily. most importantly, don't coddle or baby your cat even though you feel bad that he's not quite himself, as a "low emotional state" is a sign of weakness in the animal world and nurturing that mindset is harmful for your cat in the long run. in nature, either animals hide these signs of weakness very well from other members of thier species and other animals or go off alone so that others don't see them in a weakened state. since that's not acceptable to us humans, the only choice left for your cat, provided you don't nurture the "weakened" state, is for him to return to a more natural state. good luck and i hope the little guy gets better!
Yes I hink they can , allanmails have feelings , like they can gety sad if a love one died or someone wont treat them right.
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