Recently, my husband came home from work to tell me of a friend he works with. Seems they had recently added a new bundle of joy to their lives. They happily brought the baby home, looking forward to introducing the cat to the new baby. Not only was the cat uninterested, he began to act strangely, spending more time alone and not playing with his usual favorite toys. The behavior continued for weeks, with no improvement in the cat. Our friend thought something physically was wrong with his cat so took him for a kitty check up. The doctor ran all the usual blood tests and examined the cat from nose to tail. The verdict was a clean bill of health with one exception. The kitty was diagnosed as suffering from feline depression. The veterinarian then proceeded to place the cat on a daily dose of Prozac, the same exact drug used more than any other for human depression.
I began to wonder if this was a real condition among animals or just something some wacky veterinarian had thought up to make some extra bucks and sell some medicine to a concerned pet lover. Sure enough, feline depression and animal depression in general is on the rise. Not only are veterinarians diagnosing the disease at an ever increasing rate, but specialists are studying the field of animal behavior and mental health at colleges around the country. These specialists are aptly called Animal Behavioral Specialists.
According to www.purina.com, felines frequently begin exhibiting unusual behaviors when there has been a sudden change to their lives. Like us humans, animals do not always adapt well to change. Any sudden change in a cat’s life can disrupt their routine and lead to possible depression. A new addition to the family , such as our friend had, can upset an animal. When a child leaves for college, animals often times act strangely. Animals can even pick up on their owners depression and a cat that is especially close to their owner will begin to exhibit depressive behaviors also.
What should a cat owner look for to determine if their feline is suffering from depression? Basically a lot of the symptoms are the same as they would be for humans. Any change in the cats eating behaviors could signal problems. If cats begin to sleep more, this could be a sign. This might be a tricky one, as cats do tend to sleep a lot. If Boots shows no interest in her favorite toys or doesn’t want to spend time with her owners, this could be a clue. If your animal is exhibiting any of these behaviors on a long term basis, it might be wise to make a trip to the veterinarian.
Besides changes in the cats life, other things can contribute to feline depression. The loss of an animal partner can trigger depression. Sometimes poor health in an animal can upset their hormonal balances and lead to depression. Also, age can sometimes trigger depression in animals. Some even suggest that a poor diet can contribute to the cat’s poor mental health.
Our friend was told to give the cat some time to improve. Animals, just like children, require one on one time with their owners. The veterinarian suggested setting aside thirty minutes a day of just one on one cat time. Play with the cat, walk them outside, or just let them cuddle up on your lap. Companionship and enjoyment can improve their mental health.
Most of the medicines used to treat feline depression are the same ones that treat human depression. The major one of course being distributed is Prozac. According to our friend, the cat has been on the Prozac for two weeks and he is already seeing an improvement in his cat’s behavior. We plan to follow this closely, as I am very fond of felines and hope the kitty is soon back to his normal, healthy self.
Reference:
- Experience
