Stress plug-in?

[Nugget]

Hello,
I keep seeing this plug-in thing being brought up for cats. Now of course as I write this I couldn't find it again.

The 2 younger cats I have are extremely anxious. Spook is scared of everything. Punkin is even worse. She was a stray kitten. I assume that is why she is worse. The vet suggested putting her on Valium but I couldn't imagine keeping her doped up all the time.

My question is are these plug-in things subtle. Not in the people won't notice kind of way, will it be noticeable to them? I mean if we move one book on the bookshelf to another place she will get so stressed she scratches gaping wounds on herself. We've finally got the bathing herself hairless thing calmed down but ugh, it's the sores that break my heart. If the plug-in could prevent it I'd be indebted to you all. Right now we are bathing and cutting her nails once a week and I've been through more neosporin than I'd care to tally. Plus I'd hate for Spook to be to scared of it being in room that it didn't help.

For those wondering, yes we tend to take in animals that are a little special. Punkin, being the stray kitten has a bobtail and the vets believe she has and will have many problems once she's older. Mostly mental now but more physical as she ages. Something about the breed. She doesn't meow properly, more like a bird. They think thats just how she learned. Spook is mentally challenged. (What the vet thinks.) And Chilly tends to be too. He was a still-born and didn't take his first breath for 5 minutes after he was born.

I apologize for going on I just don't want people to think I'm mistreating them. But someone has to take them and they don't deserve to be put down just because they are different and require extra work.

[Nugget]

Also I apologize that in my haste I think I've posted this in the wrong area. I'm sorry again, I need to pay more attention.

[special]

Feliway plug in diffusers are great for stress in cats, but I don't know about that scratching herself to soreness, it sounds like there may be other issues going on.

Bathing can be counterproductive as it will strip the oils from her skin and dry Punkin's skin and make her more itchy. I'd stop with the weekly baths.

Has food allergy been considered?

Are the fleas under control? One flea bite to a cat with a flea allergy can cause that kind of trouble.

You might want to consider seeing a veterinary dermatologist if food and fleas have been ruled out.

Anyway, while the feliway plug in diffusers may not solve the very serious issue of her dermatitis problems, it will almost certainly help with stress in general.

The best price for them I have seen is on amazon.com. I get mine at entirelypets.com because, while a dollar or so more in price, they will deliver feliway through the mail to my PO box. :)

[Nugget]

Thank you so much!

Yes we did rule out the flea allergy and also food allergies. Although switching to Goodlife I believe it's called helped with the bathing incessantly. We spent hundreds on the poor baby and all they can tell me is stress. No fleas, changed her food, changed the cleaning products we use. Even took a daily journal for 3 months to write everything she came in contact with. Nothing seemed to be the specific problem. Oh well, hopefully this works at least a little.

[special]

The feliway plug in diffusers can help with stress (make sure you have enough for them to be effective, one diffuser covers about 400 square feet)

You might also get some Bach's Rescue Remedy, that may help too. Get the kind specifically for pets, it does not contain alcohol.

I hope you don't have to resort to medication. Though in this sort of situation amitriptyline would be my first choice of medicine, not Valium. I am not a vet, but I have my preferences anyway :).

Another medication to think about is Atopica (the generic is cyclosporine) this has been effective in treating skin disorders. Especially Feline Eosinophilic Granuloma. (http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk/Starnes/index.php)

I wonder....have you taken any video of her behavior when she scratches or licks? Is it possible you may be dealing with FHS? I may be way off the mark, but though I would mention it, just in case

Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome (http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1998)

[Nugget]

Thank you for the advice.

I looked at both links and did a little research on them. The first, FEG, doesn't seem to fit what she is going through. However, the second, FHS almost sounds just like her. They say environmental things can cause it and she wasn't like this until after we got our 3rd cat, Spook. I'd hate to get rid of him but her checkup is in a few weeks and I'll definitely ask the vet about this. I know the bobtail is a genetic defect in her breed and many problems arise as she gets older as a result. Maybe this is just a symptom of a deeper problem concerning that. Hopefully the vet figures it out. Thanks again! At least I have a starting point of questions when we do go now.