Animal Psychology

I am still in nightly contact with my stray feline friend. She is still as sweet as ever! After spending time with her each night for the past week, I wonder if she has the animal version of PTSD? She is normally loving, purrs loudly, loves to cuddle and sometimes play wrestle. She wants to be in my car with me--that is clear--but she suddenly reacts in it by biting, "hitting", her friendly meow changes, her facial expression even changes. When I look at her when this happens, it's like she isn't even there mentally--like she could be having a flashback? When this happens, she is very reactive to my hand movements and flinches as if she thinks I am going to hit her. I noticed early on that she understands the word "no" and does obey it. I try to calm her during these episodes. Sometimes she lasts longer in the car than others, but sooner or later she will freak. I let her out on demand. I don't want her to become afraid. If I can get her into a new home or shelter, I don't want her to feel more traumatized, if that is the problem, by being "locked up" in a cage or something. I Googled the subject of pet psychology and cats with PTSD, and it seems that animals do get variations of it.

She was probably abused. Maybe you inadvertently "cross her boundaries." If you ask me, she's better off with you than anything else you can think of. You understand!

{{{{{{{{{Inky}}}}}}}}}}}}

Dear Inkblot,

I don't know about the psychology of cats in general, but this cat seems to be behaving pretty much like 90% of the cats I've known... they want to be petted & played with and then suddenly, it's psychotic mood swing time. And I've seen it (and been the victim of it) in cats that were raised by me or my family from kittenhood & in various strays picked up along the way.

The cats who act loving & playful all the time are the weird ones to me - those kinds of cats definitely have some issues.

Of course I told my T about the cat--and her behaviors. He said that it sounded like she was abused. With asking his usual questions of me, he also said the cat is eating better than me. Okay, so I'm eating a little too much junk food lately. At least I am eating something--right? Oops. I just hijacked my own thread.

it sounds to me like all your new kitty needs is some TLC....

GIve him/her some time to adjust to you and your behaivor and she will fall madly in love with you and stop all this behivor... If is has been abused in the past it will take some time.. sometimes weeks ok.

just love it and cuddle it and do what you have been doing. ok.

and eat something besides junk food.. ( I should nto talk that is all i have had to eat today too.. )

I know, and she does still enjoy my company. In addition to feeding her again tonight, I picked some wild catnip that grows by my T's office. I *know* my kitty friend will like that!

cool kitties love catnip.. i know mine loved catnip..

Kitties also love ground valerian root. It smells like dirty feet, but it is very calming for them. It may help with your kitty. It's calming for people too.

It's lovely that you are taking care of her.

i know cats can have mental disorders just like humans. my cat shaddow i love her to death but she is scared of me. She has a nervous disorder which makes her afraid of everything. She spent basically 5 years underthe bed only comming out at nite to feast and pee. My kitten paige i swear she has adhd. she is like a flying squirrel. My cat buddy has a issue with dogs. I adopted him at age 5 and will growl and his and carry on when our dog biggs is around. so probly ur cat has an issue with closed spaces or practically the car its self.

I don't think my cat is ever going to speak errr... purr at me again. we had to give her a flea bath tonight. :P

it took a while for my pet ( a ferret ) to get used to traveling in a car uncaged, i put it down to vibration, after putting a big blanket on the back seat for her to sit on she is fine with it now