This is Cleo. She is 2.5 years of age. I have posted about her before actually. I worry about her because she gets so anxious that it harms her. She has had an outbreak of hives on her skin, especially her ears, for the last week or so, and she has been picky about when and what she wants to eat, if at all. We got a kitten in June and she gets along with him, so I don’t think that’s the issue. Most of the time we find Cleo hiding and terrified of human contact, and we have to be very gentle with her. She does not like eating with her siblings. They were all born here in a stable, non-abusive environment by the way. Lately she has been bonding with me, but on her terms. Is this something that requires veterinary intervention?

  • @Moonguide@lemmy.ml
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    1310 months ago

    This. The kitty could be experiencing pain, and cats aren’t like dogs who loudly announce their discomfort. They’re like grumpy old men with stiff upper lips.

    I had a cat whom I let be an outdoor cat, and hadn’t taken him to get his last couple shots. He caught feline aids one day and became sort of aggressive to everyone but me. Not like he was very affectionate but still, he isolated himself more and more until the end.

      • @Moonguide@lemmy.ml
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        210 months ago

        Really? Damn, all dogs I’ve ever had were very vocal about everything. Might’ve been the breed ig.

        • @assassinatedbyCIA@lemmy.world
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          510 months ago

          Isn’t the theory that animals that show pain are more likely to be attacked by predators because they show signs of weakness. Therefore, they tend to hide it.

          • @lechatron
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            210 months ago

            Dogs are predators though, I think what you’re talking about applies to herd animals that are prey, predators will pick off the weakest.

            I always thought that pack animals abandoned their sick or injured to not slow down the rest of the pack which is why dogs hide injuries. But apparently wolves protect their injured.

            • @bingbong@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              210 months ago

              African wild dogs take care of their injured too and let them stay behind with the young while the healthy adults hunt ❤️