Brooklyn Fit Chick Blog
The Problem with T (& My Need for Self-Care)
Plus: Next “Book Vs Movie” Podcast “High Fidelity”
Hey there! Hi there! Ho there!
How are you all doing? Normally I reply back “Great!” and keep the conversation but I am going to be honest with all of you. I have had serious health & behavioral issues with my cat that has caused a tremendous amount of anxiety in my life. I know how silly that sounds. “Oh, you have a sick cat? Who cares? Get over it and show her who is boss!”
But it is not that easy. My home life has been taken over by an animal that I completely adore but I am not sure I can take care of much longer.
Tennessee (T) came into my life a little over 3 years ago. She was a lost kitten found by the side of the road by a friend and I fell in love with her after seeing her in just one photo. (Yes, that adorable one above.)
She is a handful as cats go—very excitable, energetic, pushy and domineering. It’s what people either love or hate about her.
I love that she is a brat and doesn’t apologize for it. The apartment was ten times more fun the instant she showed up (though I am sure my other cat differs on this!)
A few weeks ago T had a traumatic experience in my apartment. I had left a pile of recyclables pile up in my hallway and she was playing around in them. I barely noticed when she climbed into a paper bag that was much too small for her. All of a sudden I heard a banging sound as she raced down the hallways and started shrieking for hours. T burst out of the bag thinking she was being smothered and I could not get her to calm down for the life of me.
Days later she seemed okay when all of a sudden she took to sudden bursts of anger aimed towards me. She would stalk me and hiss and snarl loudly at me—her eyes would go black. This would continue for hours with threats to swipe at my feet and attack my legs.
There is no pattern to these outbursts. She will be sweet & snugly one minute and then she her mean temper would return. She has cornered me in my office several times and will stalk back and forth between the kitchen and living room for hours.
After several days of this I finally had the Vet look her over and it was decided she will take Prozac and Xanax to help with her anxiety and trust issues. It’s only been a week but I am starting to get her medicine schedule together into a routine she seems to enjoy. I really hope this works out.
Living with her is like living with an alcoholic. I never know what I am going to expect hour to hour and can never really feel safe or happy when I am home. My whole life I have sought to have my own space where I feel safe and accepted. This problem with T has made me ignore my workouts schedule, cancel plans with friends and in general, interfered with my sanity.
My plan is to take care of T the best I can and hopefully the Prozac will help her moodiness and anxiety. If it doesn’t—it means I am going to have to re-home her. Let me say this again—I love this cat to pieces. However, I need to practice serious “self-care” as I take on her health and mind issues. My “go to” is to take on someone else’s problems and internalize them to the point it makes me ill. This is no ways to live a full life.
I will let you all know how it goes. (Think all of your good thoughts for my T and Sweet Sarah who puts up with way too much in this apartment!)
T this past holiday
Thank you for letting me vent! I just have one news item left today (below). The Vlog will return next week come hell or high water!
- Book Vs Movie Podcast: We have started a new platform for the Margo & Margo podcast “Book Vs Movie” podcast and you can subscribe at this iTunes link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bookvsmovies-podcast/id954110320?mt=2. Our next episode will be High Fidelity by Nick Hornby (and the John Cusack film)—whoo hoo! We are also on Sticher radio (for all of your Android peeps) and the web site will be ready soon—promise!
(If you are reading this on a different site or a different feed than Brooklyn Fit Chick, it has been taken without permission.)
Until next time…
Ox Ox,
BFC
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Wow that sounds intense like something from a horror movie. Hope you are both doing better this week!
It was out of a horror flick Deborah! She is responding well to the medication so hopefully we have this licked.
Awe :(. I hope T gets better soon and starts to trust you again! Feel better, kitty!
Thank you Nicole!
Oh I am so sorry for your troubles with T. This must be very sad for both of you and I hope the meds help. It is just heart-breaking when our furry loved ones have problems.
Thank you Elle! She is responding to the medication so far so my hopes are high.
So sorry to hear about the traumatic experience for both of you. Here’s to a speedy recovery for T!
I hope she gets better and than the medication helps her. Sounds like she has been traumatized.
Poor kitty and poor you! Hope the medicine helps her recover quickly!
Speedy recovery to you both!
Hope things start to turn around for both of you!
Hugs. Praying for healing and recovery!
Thank you Rachel!
I am so sorry you have to deal with this. I really hope the medications work and your sweet T can go back to being bratty and fun, for her sake and your sanity sake *hugs*!
Thank you Stephanie!!!! I hope so too.
Oh no! Good luck with your cat. I hope the medications help things.
Thank you Erica!
Oh no ;( good luck
Thank you! I will need it the next few weeks. 🙁
I am so sorry Margo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Jody. I am taking it day by day at this point. Hoping we see improvement soon.
poor kitty and poor you! Pet anxiety problems can be hard. Our dog is anxious and makes herself sick sometimes. Hope the Prozac helps!
Thank you Sandra. It’s been a week so far and there is improvement. I am thankful for any progress. 🙂
Aw poor kitty! I hope she gets better!
Thank you AJ!