Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Can Cats Get Depressed????

Stefanie's cat Simba came to visit again. She and Jay got a new fluff ball kitten named Libby and Simba now sleeps all the time and won't play. Libby tries to get him to play but she is a baby and he's not interested.

Jack loves Simba and can't understand why Simba won't play with him. She left him at our house last night and all evening poor Jack kept licking Simba and biting him and trying to start their grizzly bear fighting routine and Simba's just not having it. Dan thinks that Simba is depressed. I was afraid he was sick. I checked him out this morning, petting him all over and checking his little paws. He looks fine.

When I came home from work today, I fed both cats, watched Simba use the litter box, and then watched him as he ate from the dish that Jack had just eaten off. Then I brushed him all over. He layed on the rug in the foyer and seemed to enjoy my grooming efforts. Then I got both cats interested in their favorite toy, the long stick with the tinsel and feathers on it. Jack was doing circus leaps in the air and Simba cautiously put a paw on the toy and daintily chewed on the feathers. Jack would race around in a circle after the whirling toy and Simba cocked his little head and looked at the shiny tinsel and I let him chew on it again. Finally, I hid it away so no one can pull all the feathers out and eat the tinsel.

Simba settled down for a nap and poor Jack walked around planning his next attack on his quiet friend. I left to run an errand and will see what I find when I get home. Maybe he is depressed like Dan says. I told Stef she should come over tomorrow to visit Simba. He probably misses her. How does one cheer up a cat anyway???

One of our doctor's asked me today, "How many cats do you have"? I answered "I'm not sure......"

8 comments:

Andrea said...

Elora is a bit standoffish...not really rambunctious or playful...that's just her. Maybe Simba is the same? Glad to hear you don't think it's an illness. Maybe Simba is just waiting for the right toy?! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi, I just came over to say hello and to thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment.

I will be back to proper blogging and reading in a week when I return to the UK. I will then read through your blog properly.

I must get a cat when I return to the UK. Mine died over a year ago and I still miss her.

Anonymous said...

That's so sad.

Poor kitty.

T said...

Awwwww. Cats can get depressed, and sometimes just a little unsettled in their surroundings. So many different things can upset their world.

I hope Simba perks up soon.

Reasons said...

Oh this made me laugh. I remember as a kid my mum took our cat to the vet once. He charged her a fee and sent her home saying the cat was depressed. My Dad was livid - "£50 to tell me the cat's depressed! She's passed it and can't catch birds anymore, that's why she's depressed!" He wasn't impressed.

Jane! said...

With cats it's hard to know when they're messing with you and when there's real trouble.
Our old cat gets more stodgy and judgemental every time something younger moves in.

Far Side of Fifty said...

With cats anything is possible, some are just moody like people..after they are out of the little kitty stage. Cats hold grudges for a really long time too, it could be the new little kitty has really saddened him:(

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