Question: “How can I enrich my cat's environment?”
Randy volunteers in a shelter, and writes about one of the rescue kitties. “Sabrina, a spayed one to three-year-old cat, lives in the food preparation room of our shelter by herself, because living with other cats seemed to stress her. The room is about 10x20 with a counter on one side of the room and counter and cabinets on the other side. She has two beds, one on the floor near her bowls and the other on the counter. Her covered litter box is on the floor separated by a panel from her food. Our volunteer staff numbers six to eight. Some interact with her more than others, but she is generally greeted when food is prepared. She came to us as an outside stray with a week-old litter of five kittens.”
“Sabrina had calicivirus when we first got her. That was cured but her tongue was left malformed. Four to five weeks ago she went to the vet for an impacted anal gland. She was given an antibiotic and she started the hair pulling about two weeks ago. Sabrina has pulled a clump of fur from her flank roughly three inches long and ½ to ¼ inch wide. We (the staff and the vet) thought she might be reacting to the antibiotic and she was given a cortisone shot. The hair pulling continued so we put her on a regimen of diazepam and amitriptyline. We hated how she reacted (kind of a stoned lethargy) so we took her off the diazepam and cut her dose of amitriptyline in half. She’s less stoned, but she’s still pulling her fur out. Not quite as bad, but still pulling.
“We believe she’s bored and really needs more stimulation, but the shelter environment coupled with her dislike of other cats leaves us with few ideas. We’ve thought of a buddy, but that has its drawbacks for the buddy even if it works well. Help!”
Amy’s Answer
Sabrina’s hair-pulling can be caused by the stress of living with other cats, as your veterinarian suggested. It might also indicate a painful spot, parasites, or an OCD, among other things. I like to use the H.I.S.S. Test, which stands for health, instinct, stress, and symptom solvers, to help narrow down possible causes. Your veterinarian likely has already considered many of these issues, but it’s helpful to review them for other readers’ benefit.
S=Symptom, Signs & Solutions
I covered this same topic in another Ask Amy, and rather than repeat myself, suggest you read this article on how to stop cats from pulling out their hair. The behavior medication certainly can help but generally takes time to take effect and works best when partnered with other tools.
I agree with you that Sabrina may be bored and could be helped with more stimulation. Here are some ideas for enriching the environment.
Enrich the Environment
- Since you have a staff of six to eight people, perhaps one or more of you could make a point of visiting with Sabrina on a daily basis. Cats sleep up to sixteen hours a day, so even two or three visits in a work day that Sabrina learns to expect could prove helpful.
- Offer Sabrina toys. If she enjoys catnip, offer a catnip binge once a week or so.
- Puzzle toys provide foraging stimulation. Fill with a favorite food that she must shake out to eat. That can keep her occupied shaking out the kibble so she’s “hunting” instead of licking and pulling fur.
- Provide a radio with music. Soothing harp sounds can actually put animals to sleep and is a safe, noninvasive sedative effect. I like the products from Pet Pause.
- Give her more hiding spots, if possible. It’s fantastic she has a bed on a countertop. Why not also offer her some empty boxes filled with wadded up newspaper to hide inside, or even drop some fresh grass or leaves inside the box. That keeps the mess contained, but gives Sabrina fresh smells, tastes and (maybe if she’s lucky!) a moth to chase, what fun!