[Isolated_Guy]

This is something a little dfferent and I was going to put it in the "plants and pets" section but I thought it could be relevant here. As it is, my cat is the most affectionate and vocal pet I've ever had. For the past two days, there's been this little stray cat wandering outside my apartment. It's usually at my front door meowing up a storm. Yesterday, it was on the back patio and Taffy spotted it, ran into the glass and did the whole growling puffy tail in the air routine. Now, my cat is following me around as if I had her on a leash, so much more so than normal. Her weak meows almost sound like a cry, as if to say "I"m the only cat, right?" I have shorts on and she keeps licking the bottom of my legs. She just ate in a hurry and couldn't keep her food down. Is she feeling the same kind of jealousy as humans? It's funny in a way and I don't know what to do to put her mind at rest.

[vacantangel]

I don't think your title matched what you're talking about but I'm going to address both.

1. Can cats have a broken heart? Answer: Yes. Many moons ago, I was working 6 days a week, 18 hours a day. My cat was depressed. I took her to the vet and that's what he told me. He gave her a shot of Vitamin B12 and told me that I had 2 choices. 1. work less hours cuz my cat was missing me. or 2. get a 2nd cat. Well I did both within a couple of weeks. The Vitamin B12 shot worked almost immediately btw. It took quite a long time for my cat to accept the 2nd one but eventually did. No more depression.

2. Can a cat get jealous? Answer: Yes. I have 2 different cats now. The 2nd one I got is sooooo jealous of the 1st cat and any attention that I pay to him. If the first cat is lying down with me, the 2nd one will come and bite the first so that he leaves and the 2nd cat will take the position that the 1st cat was in.

Summary: A cat can get jealous and/or a broken heart.

[LMo]

I have no doubt that a cat can experience a broken heart. That was my biggest fear two weeks ago when we had to take Penguis to the ER. If anything happened to him, WE would be devastated but his sister Julie... I don't know if she'd recover. As it was, she was crying and looking everywhere for him while he was in the hospital. Broke OUR hearts to see her

[SweetCrusader]

I don't profess to know a lot about cats, but my guess is that she probably does feel her territory is being threatened.

I like to watch Animal Planet and they have this show (the name of it escapes me) broadcast in Britian, where they bring on these animal behaviorists to help solve problems with pets. There was a cat on there who would urinate all over everything. The animal behaviorist said that it was because this cat wasn't feeling secure in her 'territory'. They solved it by taking a cloth and rubbing it all over the cat to get her smell on it, then rubbing it in all the areas where this cat would normally spray. They did this daily for a couple weeks and the problem was solved.

I can't say I know it would work for your cat, and I do realize her problem is a bit different. I'm also no animal behaviorist. But I thought this was interesting, and it might be worth a try. It's not hard to do after all! Maybe you could rub a cloth on her fur, and then rub it, with her smell on it, all around the area where she saw the other cat, all around any windows or doors, and even on your legs where she can smell it. That way, maybe it will help her feel secure in knowing you and your home belong to her.

?

Just some thoughts,
Angela

[SweetCrusader]

P.S. They also put little treats for her from time to time in the areas where they rubbed her smell, just to help solidify the feeling of security and the positive feelings associated with those areas.

[TgrsPurr]

I have absolutely no doubt that cats experience emotion every bit as much as we humans do, with the exception of one difference....they never feel sorry for themselves. TgrsPurr.

[LMo]

[TgrsPurr]

ty LMo, ain't it the truth!