Sudden anxiety in new rescue cat - food related?

[HollyWoozle]

Apologies for the length but any thoughts from you lovely cat people would be appreciated.

After losing our beautiful Eddie cat in December, the pet of a lifetime, we have finally succumbed and rehomed another senior rescue after my mum sent me the advert. She is a 13 yr old black cat (shorthair) named Luna, very stiff and with some very sparse hair which we put down to food intolerances. Her owner decided he didn’t want her anymore and booked her in to be PTS (!) but the vets rang a charity and a fosterer picked her up. She was there 6 weeks and fed hypoallergenic food (but they weren’t overly strict and did give her other bits and bobs) but needed a steroid injection to sort her coat, as she had bald patches and scabs, which did the trick.

Fast forward to Monday last week (ie. 9 days ago) and I went to meet her and collect her. She was totally unfazed - fosterer literally plonked her on my lap! She came home and seemed totally relaxed, didn’t hide at all, totally fine when my giant husband came home and met her etc. By first evening she was eating, drinking, using her tray like a pro. Over the next days she progressed to sleeping on our bed a bit, starting to play, meowing for fuss and food, you get the picture. We did introduce a few grain-free treats in limited amounts, based on ingredients she already consumed in her food, and that seems fine for her. Tummy has stayed good and she doesn’t seem itchy or anything.

This past Monday, a week after arrival, I started her on a joint supplement which the charity’s vets recommended for her (synoquin). That morning she lay conked out on my lap, all good, and I gave her the supplement around lunchtime. A few hours later she was playing with my husband when he got in from work and then I was stroking her a bit when suddenly she jumped up like something had spooked her and she seemed very nervous of me. She then went into hiding. I don’t think I was touching her at the exact moment of the spook, no loud noises or anything obvious. I left her and didn’t bother her and went out to netball training - when I got home she came out for me but suddenly seemed nervous of me again and, albeit, not very fast, was evidently trying to move away from me. Of course I did not pursue her and left her quietly for the night - by yesterday morning she was back in hiding and we’ve not really been able to touch her since.

She is still eating, drinking and using her tray, normal poos. I plugged a Feliway in yesterday morning. Last night she did stay out when I went in the room and went to sleep on floor with me in there but I didn’t try to touch her. This morning I put out my hand to her and she seemed initially receptive but then skulked back into hiding.

Now of course it is very early days for her and we will give her all the patience she needs BUT after a week of being so relaxed, it seems to me something has either scared or hurt her. I am wondering if the joint supplement is perhaps making her feel bloated and giving her tummy ache but other people seem to think I’m mad? It doesn’t have many ingredients but one of them is rice flour (wasn’t mentioned on website I bought it from, doh!) and her food is otherwise grain-free. She has had a few doses now and I didn’t want to just stop it until it is clear nothing else has caused it if you see what I mean. Am I bonkers for thinking a supplement could cause such an extreme reaction? This morning she looked at me wide-eyed and I could see she was afraid of me.

I think I will continue with supplement today but if no change in her behaviour by tomorrow morning then I’ll stop it and review. She could really do with some help for her joints but I guess I can find another supplement without the rice flour to try (not sure we can easily afford the solensia injections but will review).

I’m just babbling really but feel sad if we have somehow hurt or upset her without realising!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would take her off the supplement. The change in behaviour started after that was introduced so it looks like the best place to start your investigations.

 

[Esmae]

I would take her off the supplement. The change in behaviour started after that was introduced so it looks like the best place to start your investigations.

This.

 

[HollyWoozle]

It sounds so obvious now, doesn't it. As long as I'm not mad for thinking this behaviour could come from the supplement.

 

[fiwen30]

If you could swing for the Solensia, I’d really recommend it. It has made such a world of difference to my senior girl, they’re so good at hiding pain and discomfort, but you can see how much happier and more relaxed they are on it.

 

[Fjord]

If this was a horse, you'd definitely consider the supplement causing behavioural differences. Take her off it, see how she is in another week, then reassess. Thank you for taking in an oldie, she sounds lovely. Do you have a photo of her?

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thanks all. You are right, if she was a horse I would blame the supplement. I have not given it to her today and will see if that makes a difference. It just seems odd that she seems frightened more than anything, but I guess if she is in pain then that still ties in.

She is very sweet and good-natured and I feel really sad for her that her owner was ready to have her PTS as an inconvenience. Her fosterer did say she was very tatty when collected but with proper food she looks so much better, but her coat is still quite sparse in places and she has a line around her neck where her collar rubbed her hair off too. Her little toe beans are very dry as well - the one by a dew claw is split (but it's an old split).

Few pics attached, poor little mite. The photos are oddly flattering - up close her coat is very poor (scurfy, thin, flecked with grey) and she has a old lady sort of stance with muscle wastage. We will do our best to get her in better shape.

 

[fiwen30]

Oh bless her, she’s landed on her paws with you! Well done on taking her in.

 

[Xmasha]

Shes a very lucky cat for finding a home with you. Im sure you will get to the bottom of it , best of luck x

 

[HollyWoozle]

Around 40 hours now since Luna's last dose of the supplement (she only had 4 doses over 2 days, the loading amount) and she is still very much in hiding. Once or twice she has come out and even snoozed a little bit on the floor, but you can see she is very anxious and doesn't want to be touched really - if you look like you will go too close then she gets up and goes back to hide under the bed. The poo in her tray this morning was a bit loose but nothing dramatic and she is still eating really well and drinking plenty. Supplement is synoquin and the ingredients are: glucosamine HCI, brown rice flour, pork gelatine, sodium chondroitin sulphate, hydrolysed krill protein concentrate and magnesium stearate.

When she has come out I can't see anything visibly wrong with her, aside from the fact she looks afraid of me! Can't study her all over of course but a few hours before she started hiding she was on my lap and rolling around etc. and no sign of any issues or injuries. Breathing seems normal too.

If she had just arrived then I wouldn't think anything of it, I'd think she is just a new, nervous rescue cat in a new place and it will take time... but having had a week of her being SO chilled and relaxed, it seems utterly bizarre. She was in her foster home for 6 weeks and didn't hide there either. I have to assume she isn't feeling well but if no improvement in the next day or so then I don't think I can really blame the supplement anymore realistically?

I am very patient, I am just worried in case we have somehow done something wrong to frighten her or make her unwell and just can't make sense of it.

 

[Shady]

Strange. It does sound like she's been triggered by ' something, ' and now holds you responsible. Logically it should pass, unless she's not feeling well
Is the Feliway still plugged in? if so try removing it
Some cats react very badly to them.
I'd give it a bit longer , and then discuss with your vet if nothing improves.
She's lovely by the way and very lucky to have found such a wonderful home with you

 

[HollyWoozle]

Good thinking, thanks @Shady. I will unplug the Feliway.

She is the same with my partner too (and was also fine with him before). I am not hassling her but when I do go in there I have the feeling that she sort of wants to be friends but is just too afraid. I did manage to stroke her cheek a little gently last night but she just didn't seem to want to interact too much so I have left her to it. She will munch a little treat if I put it under there for her but she is just sort of switched off.

 

[PurBee]

Just musing if you had handled the feliway prior to her reacting scared of you?
You suddenly smelling of cat pheromones, which might remind her of being at the cattery, triggered her?
Maybe the pheromones in feliway signal to her that other cats are about, and she may be a cat thats wary of other cats, so has gone into hiding?

 

[PurBee]

Or another thought, the steroid injection wearing off may have her resuming to her previous personality. They can stay in the system for a while.

My little female cat all her life ‘tolerated’ every other living thing, but when she had steroids after injury age 15, she was really friendly. We both remarked how sweet and placid she was - then after recovery and the drugs stopped, her previous matriarch catty personality returned.

Its usual for many adult cats to be shy in new places until they learn there’s no threat and settle in - if drugs were masking that normal reaction, its possible she’s now resumed to normal and being wary?

Because youve given the supplement and theres the feliway to consider, it could be any of these, or the steroids wearing off.

Omega 3 is nutritional anti-inflammatory, great for skin and fur health, as you mentioned her toe beans are dry, maybe she’d benefit from omega 3. You can get a little bottle designed for cats and dogs and add a small dose daily to food.

She’s a lucky wee thing to have landed with you!

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thanks for your thoughts, @PurBee! I had no Feliway in the house prior to Luna becoming scared, I just picked it up on Tuesday after she started hiding on Monday, in case it would help her.

In terms of her personality, her fosterer collected her directly from her previous owner (this is a small charity without a cattery unit) and told me that when she went to pick Luna up, the owner literally just plonked Luna in her lap which she seemed fine with. That was before she had ever had the steroid injection too. I really appreciate your ideas though! My parents do have cats who I had been stroking on Monday as well, but I had been home with Luna all day (having touched the other cats in the morning), and I just cannot figure out what it could be.

The Feliway is now unplugged and I will continue to wait it out and give her space for the time being. Other ideas or experiences always appreciated though!

 

[Fjord]

She's lovely. I hope she settles down soon, it's very strange isn't it?

 

[HollyWoozle]

Interestingly I just went upstairs and Luna is now sleeping ON the spare bed for the first time since she started acting strangely (she was there most of the time before). I unplugged the Feliway after @Shady's suggestion, roughly 2.5 hours ago, but not sure if it would fade that quickly? It's a small room though.

I didn't try to touch her and just left her in peace. The Feliway wouldn't explain the initial hiding but perhaps something just spooked her and then I started the plugin Tuesday morning and that upset her too. Will see how things progress but I'm happy to see her back on the bed!

 

[skinnydipper]

If the steroid injection is wearing off and it had helped with her joint pain, might she be worried about being picked up if she is feeling sore?

Supplements aren't a substitute for pain relief. Metacam would be easier on the pocket than Solensia.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thanks @skinnydipper. I will be taking her to my vet (she is already registered but wanted to let her settle in first) and of course I will provide pain relief if they think it's necessary to ensure her comfort. The supplement, synoquin, was recommended for her by a vet who saw her when in the charity care. The steroid injection they gave her was given in response to a skin issue which they think was caused by food allergies - the info says she was scabby and bald at that time but one injection and hypoallergenic food seems to have solved the issue for the most part.

Of course the steroids may also have helped her joints but I just can't see that in the space of almost no time she went from being totally comfortable playing and being stroked, rolling around on floor, to hiding if you see what I mean? And she showed no pain to being handled prior to the injection either, assuming fosterer told the truth (which I think she did, I sat and chatted with her for an hour and a half or so). Having said that I do acknowledge that she is stiff and will do my best to make her comfortable.

 

[skinnydipper]

Having said that I do acknowledge that she is stiff and will do my best to make her comfortable.

I know you will. She is a lucky cat to find a home with you.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Good news: https://streamable.com/pok2se

I went out to dinner with friends and when I came home she emerged from hiding and now is the video above! As she was before this whole strange episode. My husband reports she also showed her face downstairs very briefly when I was out too.

Now I don’t know whether to blame the supplement or the Feliway or something else entirely Thanks @Shady for the suggestion of unplugging the Feliway.

The main thing is that she is feeling better but I will try to figure it out for the future!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

It can take several days for the adverse effects of a foodstuff to wear off so it could gave been the supplement. But equally it might not have been. Either way, I'm glad that she seems more settled again.

 

[PurBee]

Oh luna is a sweetie reminds me of my late little black female cat, same cheeky cheeks and big eyes!
So glad she’s become more confident and playful this evening

 

[Shady]

Wonderful update Holly
Either thing could have caused a reaction to be honest, and I would leave off the supplement for a bit , and then try again,or give something like Yumove a go. If stronger pain relief is definitely needed, then discuss with vet , but as with human pain meds, they are hard on the kidneys and Luna is at that age where you have to keep more of an eye on them.
Her diet change will make a big difference to her overall health as well, and I like Purbees suggestion of adding a little extra omega 3 , something like salmon oil perhaps. But for now just enjoy your gorgeous new girl. xxxx