The other side of Ozymandias

[tamaranth]

Ozymandias, ever-so-stable and sociable rescue cat, reveals OTHER SIDE.

Something alarmed him last night -- possibly the alarming seagull feather I brought back from the beach for him -- and since then he's been neurotic and panicky. It's not playfulness: he's really scared of (for example) the cord of my dressing-gown, a hummock in the rug, a cup of coffee. One tentative paw then fast retreat. He spent most of the night in the bathroom, huddled in the corner. Poor kitty!

Seems a bit calmer this morning, though still very nervy. Perhaps the Blue Cross brainwash is wearing off ...

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Comments

[feorag.livejournal.com]

Feliway. It's turned Frigg from a nervous wreck to an almost sociable puss, and it's cheaper on eBay.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping this is a one-off -- he does seem much calmer now, though still alarmed about the bedspread. (Solution: change bedspread.)

[ladymoonray.livejournal.com]

Poor Ozy. I hope he feels better soon.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

really disconcerting given how well-adjusted he's been til now. I hate the thought that my going out yesterday distressed him.

[madcatwoman.livejournal.com]

I second the suggestion of Feliway. I used their plug-in diffuser when I moved here, and it stopped Teasle from being a complete wreck. Your lovely lad is still getting used to where he is and how to settle in, and will be still a bit skittish kittish. Good luck.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

hoping he's still mid-adjustment, and it's just an isolated incident. I'd hate him to get this upset on a regular basis -- he was so scared.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

He may have been worried by you going away for so long (All Day!) -- he's had a lot of change recently, after all. He'll get used to the idea that you come back, though (Horus was dreadful the first few times he was left, but now he's completely relaxed about it).

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

I do hope you're right re the trigger being my absence. B was here most of the day yesterday, but it is obviously not enough to have one minion.
Ozy has just come back upstairs, eyed the bedspread nervously and retreated to the third stair down for max. hazardity. Oh, kittycat.

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

Dr. Monkey diagnoses: post-move slump.

In other words, he feels safe enough with you not to be putting on an act. I'd give him a day or two to settle into being settled.

But feliway sounds like a cunning plan too. Is there a simian version?

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

I do hope you're right and it's a temporary settling-in phase.

Simian version of feliway probably valium, though not sure you can get it in a diffuser from eBay. Shame!

[pennski.livejournal.com]

Or camomile & valerian possibly?

Hope the scary bedspread is no longer so scary.

[frostfox.livejournal.com]

Hope he calms down. He's still very new to you.

And at least he didn't put you in hospital on the first day you got him...
Max is, at last calming down, somewhat (he's not bitten anyone in nearly a year!) but he still has his moments. He's too smart for his own good and thoroughly wicked at times, but he will sit on my lap, particularly when it's cold, when he wants to, of course.

FF