My cat Reynaldo spent a month tormenting me. Ever since I came home from vacation on April 5, he has been even more rambunctious than usual ... knocking over even more knick-knacks, running around even more, howling even louder, waking me from a sound sleep even more aggressively and, most disturbing, peeing ON my dining room table. He's ruined important papers and photographs and souvenirs with cat urine. He made such serious eye contact with me, it was as if he was angry. But really, can an otherwise sweet cat with a brain the size of a plum pit hold a grudge for weeks? I don't think so.
So I took him to the vet. During the preliminary exam, the vet predicted Rey's problem would turn out to be behavioral. After all, I could tell there is no blood in his urine. His eyes are good, his heart is strong, his gums are the right color, and he's social. OH, BOY! Is he ever social! Not only had he began interacting with the other cats, he was not leaving me alone, and usually cats who aren't feeling well mask their symptoms and keep to themselves.
Just to be safe, the vet took a urine sample from Rey and my little feline friend and I waited in the examining room for it to be tested. All the while, Rey never calmed down -- flipping from side to side on the table like a salmon in the bottom of a boat, leaping off the table and checking out the room. I know it sounds counter intuitive, but I actually
wanted him to be sick, because behavioral issues in cats are notoriously hard to treat, but I was doubtful.
The vet came in and was as surprised to report that there were crystals in Reynaldo's urine, indicative of the early stages of
feline lower urinary tract disease. So he was sick after all! He now requires prescription food, and will for the rest of his life, but that's OK. We know what's wrong and we can fix it. He's already been on the food for more than a week and seems to be feeling better.
The vet shared that he was surprised because my manic little cat was so lively and interacted with my sooooo much. As though he was trying to get my attention, yelling, "FIX ME!" This is "unusual," he said, elaborating with, "Your cat is is unusually bonded to you."
He is! Some mornings, as I leave for work, I hear him on the other side of the door as I'm locking it and then walking down the hall. He calls out to me, not wanting me to go. It kinda breaks my heart. But he is 9 years old, which is too old for plain old, garden variety separation anxiety. He's not alone during the day -- he has my other two cats, Joey and Charlotte. On the other hand, he's not going to outgrow this. This is just who he is.
Early in April, when I was at the end of my tether with Rey, I had a consultation with a pet psychic recommended to me by
Snarky Pants. And everything she told me echoed the vet. She told me that Rey was uncomfortable and was trying to make me HEAR HIM. Even though it's not typical feline behavior, it's my Reynaldo.
