Could Larry, Moe, & Curley ever feel good enough to behave?

Third in a series

Problems with any organ system can impact the firing of the brain’s neurons. Oral pain is a frequent offender but arthritis, ear infections, itchy skin, and nausea are also common. Moe, the 2 year old feline interloper, passed his physical exam with flying colors. Curley’s was normal too. But Larry? His gums were suffering from nasty, long-standing infection. It even hurt when he laughed, poor guy.

I told Karen and Richard how insidious dental disease can be while assuring them that Larry would be OK. When he felt better we expected him to behave better too. We got his procedure scheduled quickly.

Keeping interior doors closed and rotating these little sneakers between rooms was difficult. I get it; my cats have never been rule followers either. But the longer Richard and Karen could keep Larry and Curley from having even visual contact with Moe, the more likely mutually assured destruction could be avoided later.

Larry said farewell to 5 of his choppers. His gums were sutured, he recovered quickly from anesthesia, and started at-home oral liquid pain medication and an antibiotic. A week later he was playing like a kitten. His snarky behavior toward his old friend Curley ended but they were still nervous wrecks when FedEx showed up at the door. If we could achieve emotional stability for jumpy Larry and shrinking Curley, they’d have a shot at détente with Moe or, at the very least, a lasting ceasefire.

I urged my clients to enrich their cats’ home environment with a plethora of simulations of wild predatory, hiding, climbing, and perching opportunities. (drjeffnichol.com/feline-environment-enrichment). Dr. Google doesn’t know this stuff. He/she/they aren’t residency trained in veterinary behavior medicine. In fact, he/she/they aren’t a doctor of any sort.

We still had a couple of kitties whose neurochemistry needed all the help I could provide. For anxious and reactive Larry I prescribed venlafaxine. To reduce Curley’s stress and to help build his confidence I started him on buspirone. The neighborhood agitator who haunted the windows? She was now persona non grata.

Next week: That fence jumper needed to be uninvited.

For help with behavior problems, you can sign-up for a Zoom Group Conference on my website, drjeffnichol.com.

Dr. Jeff Nichol is a residency-trained veterinary behaviorist. He provides consultations in-person and in groups by Zoom (drjeffnichol.com). Each week he shares a blog and a video to help bring out the best in pets and their people. Sign up at no charge at drjeffnichol.com. Post pet questions through my website, drjeffnichol.com/contact/ or by US Post to 4000 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Albuq, NM 87109.