WELCOME to Winkie's Kitty Cat Blog

Welcome to Winkie's Kitty Cat Blog!



Winkie’s Kitty Cat Blog was created by David McIntire for the kitty cat lovers of the world, and, is meant to serve as an outlet for those of you who may have photos, or, a short story of your little furry friends that you would like to share, and have added to the Kitty Cat Blog.
Also, the Kitty Cat Blog will have articles posted that are related to the things that concern kitty cats such as “How To Tips” on caring for our little friends.

If any of the readers of this blog have unusual, interesting, beautiful, or, just good photos of your kitty cats, along with a good short story, that you would like to share, please contact David McIntire at: david@davidmcintire.com and we will contact you as soon as possible to make arrangements to add your content to the Kitty Cat Blog. Adding your photos, stories, and comments to the Kitty Cat Blog is “Free”.

We reserve the right to post, or not to post any content that is submitted to this blog. Also we reserve the right to delete any content that has been posted on this blog as we see fit. You will retrain any copyrights that you may have to your submitted materials.

Come, and “Join In". Feel free to submit your kitty cat photos, your comments, or, your short kitty cat stories, (fact or, fiction) and if we like them, we will post them.

Let’s have some fun.


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Thursday, February 10, 2011

Dec 8, Feline Asthma : Feline bronchial disease.

Feline Asthma is an inflammation of the bronchioles ( lung passageways,) a respiratory condition that makes breathing difficult for the cat.
An asthmatic attack can range from mild to severe.
In mild cases the cat may suffer bouts of coughing, wheezing and labored breathing that come and go,(can sometimes be mistaken for trying to fetch up a hairball.)
With a severe attack the cat will have extreme respiratory problems that can, in some cases, be life threatening.
If you have any cause to suspect that your cat has asthma, consult your veterinarian.
Any cat of any age can develop asthma, however it is more commonly found in cats of two to eight years. Some sources say that female cats are more at risk than males and that Siamese cats may be more susceptible than other breeds. Overall though, it is estimated that fewer than one percent of cats will develop asthma although this number could be increasing.
There are many things that can trigger a cat's asthma including airborne allergens such as the dust from cat litter, pollens, tobacco smoke, wood smoke, scented candles, incense, mold, aerosol sprays including deodorant, polish, cleaners, hairspray, perfume, flea spray.
Other allergens include, dust mites, moist air, detergents, perfumed soap, shampoo, moth balls, potpourri, paint, carpeting, feather pillows, and many other common household products and items can trigger an attack of feline asthma.
Some cats may suffer asthmatic attacks due to food allergies. Some foods are higher in natural histamines than others.
A bacterial infection, mycoplasma, and some viruses may also be a contributory factor.
Stress may be a trigger, or increase the severity of an attack of cat asthma.
Feline asthma is also referred to as cat asthma, allergic bronchitis, feline bronchial disease and allergic airway disease.
Trying to identify and eliminate the trigger of your cat's asthma can be quite a task, and is best left to your veterinarian. cat without asthma
It is estimated that fewer than one percent of cats will develop asthma although this number could be increasing.
For example, if you suspect that your cat reacts to the dust from the cat litter you are using you will need to find a replacement that not only does not cause a reaction but also is one that your cat is happy to use.
Likewise with food, your pet may acquire feline asthma from food she has enjoyed all her life, the allergy may have been quietly developing and show itself suddenly.
Also, the manufacturers of branded cat foods sometimes change ingredients, the brand stays the same but the food may now contain something to which your cat has an allergy.
Finding a replacement food that your cat will eat and does not have ingredients to which your cat is sensitive may not be easy.
As the cause of cat asthma can be more than one thing, and not all the possible triggers can be eliminated from your cat's environment, your veterinarian will want to conduct various test to see if the source can be identified.
Your veterinarian will want to be sure that it is feline asthma as there are several other conditions with similar symptoms. These include pneumonia, lower and upper respiratory infections, cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease,) Bordetella, lungworms and feline heartworm.
Your vet will want to - Perform blood tests, listen to your cat's chest and breathing, x ray your cat's chest to look for abnormalities such as bronchial inflammation, flattened diaphragm and fluid accumulation. She or he may also want to perform a Bronchoalveolar Lavage.
Feline asthma is not curable at the present time, however modern treatments allow many cats to lead normal lives.The treatment prescribed will be dependent on the severity of your cat's asthmatic condition. Bronchodilators may be used in moderate cases and combined with glucocorticosteroids where the condition is more severe.
The usual form of administering medication for a cat with asthma has been intravenously (injection) or orally (pills.) However the drugs used may induce side effects and to combat this a form of administration has been developed where the drug is inhaled through a mask and therefor goes directly to the lungs inducing less side effects.
PetAlive Respo-K Natural pet respiratory condition solution promotes respiratory health in pets (Please note: not a relief for feline asthma.) Get more information on Respo-K - Proven herbal pet respiratory condition solution Always follow the advice of your veterinarian.
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Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Dec 6, Deaf Cats : Cats and kittens with hearing loss.

Cats are equipped with good vision, a keen sense of smell and exceptional hearing.
A cat's daytime vision may not be as good as human vision, but their night vision is far superior. Their sense of smell is far stronger than that of a human. They can also hear a far higher range of sounds than can humans.
All these keen senses help to make the cat the effective hunter that she is.
A cat without one of these senses can still lead a fulfilling life, if kept indoors.
A cat allowed outside, or a stray or feral cat would not be able to cope too well without all three senses.
Deafness can be Neurologic, meaning a disorder of the nervous system. This could be due to a reaction to a toxic drug, neoplasia (a growth,) or the kitten has the condition at birth. (All kittens are born deaf but should develop full hearing by around four weeks.)
Conduction deafness. Hearing loss due to infections, tumors, or defects of the eardrum, ear canal, middle ear or the external ear itself. Can also be due to wax, or other debris blocking the ear canal. Conduction deafness may be treatable depending on the cause. odd eye cat
White cats with odd eyes, one blue one yellow, are sometimes deaf in both ears but more usually have hearing in one ear only, the ear away from the blue eye.
Ear mites if left untreated can do great damage to a cat's hearing and can even cause permanent loss. The tiny mites can be so irritating that the cat scratches at her ears so much that it causes damage to the outer ear.
Over time the ear canals can become blocked with ear mite waste debris and cause hearing loss. - Deaf Cats and Ear Mites.
Perhaps the most common reason that cats become deaf, or lose most of their hearing, is simply getting older. Usually the advancement of age related deafness is gradual and not evident until it has reached an advanced stage.
Deaf cats who have lost their hearing bit by bit through aging, usually cope very well. A cat that is suddenly plunged into a world of silence however, may suffer stress and display behavioral problems.
Cats learn to adapt to living without hearing so it can sometimes be difficult to determine that a cat is deaf. This is particularly so if the cat has had the condition from birth.
Calling for your cat is not a useful test as all cats are likely to ignore their human depending on their mood. Dropping an object, such as a metal tray, behind your cat should startle her if she has normal hearing. However be certain that your cat does not feel the rush of air from the object dropping, or sense any vibrations from it hitting the floor.
Cats usually have a startled response when a noisy home appliance is switched on. Cats with hearing usually run from a vacuum cleaner for example, deaf cats do not have the same reaction.
It is more tricky to establish if a cat is deaf in one ear. You can observe how your cat reacts to noise and how she turns her head. Try rolling a can filled with a few coins from behind her, first from one side then the other. If she seems uncertain of the direction the can is coming from it may indicate that she is deaf on that side.
Your veterinarian can test your cats hearing, (or refer you to a veterinary neurologist.) The cause and extent of your cats deafness can be established and any possible treatment carried out.
No, but white cats with blue eyes very often are born deaf.
White cats with yellow eyes are sometimes born deaf.
White cats with odd eyes, one blue one yellow, are sometimes deaf in both ears but more usually have hearing in one ear only, the ear away from the blue eye.
White cats with green or orange eyes are not commonly deaf.
A cat with any coat color or marking can be born deaf.
There are many white cats with perfect hearing.
Sometimes a few cat breeds get mentioned for producing more deaf cats than others. However this may well be because those breeds produce more white cats, and white cats with blue eyes, than other breeds.
Generally speaking, deafness is not connected to particular cat breeds.
Caring for a feline with hearing difficulty is no different than caring for any cat, with a few special considerations.The exception being when the deafness has been caused by an injury or illness, your cat may need special care related to the illness but not specifically to the deafness.A cat without hearing is likely to be startled if you approach, and touch her or him from outside her line of sight.
Try to always approach deaf cats so that they can see you, if you are going to pet them or pick them up.
It can be quite unnerving for a cat that cannot hear your approach to be suddenly touched, watch out for hissing or even biting.
Cats that have lost their hearing sometimes become very vocal and their meowing, yowling and other noises can be quite loud. Being deaf, or hearing impaired, they are unable to know how loud they are. Other deaf cats may only be as vocal as an average cat with hearing, or may even be quieter.
All in all deaf cats (or deaf kittens,) will be much like cats with full hearing ? playful, naughty, lazy,sleepy, lovable, infuriating, affectionate.
As mentioned, a cat that suddenly finds itself in a world of silence will likely act out of character. Give her time to adjust and plenty of understanding.
Deaf cats cannot hear the approach of traffic, other animals or humans. It is best that a cat with hearing difficulty is kept as an indoor cat. Walking on a leash and outside cat enclosures are options however.
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Monday, February 7, 2011

Dec 25, Bad Cat Is your cat behaving badly?

Sadly many cats get returned to the shelter because of the unrealistic expectations of the humans that adopt them.
Perhaps they expected the cat or kitten to be trouble free all the time.
Maybe they envisioned a cute ball of fur that keeps out of the way until the human wants to pick it up and stroke it. A pet that is never any problem, is never misbehaving, is never a bad cat.
Life with cats is not like that. There will be problems. Although most cats are relatively well behaved most of the time, there are certain to be occasions when they are not.
We can only judge behavior by our own standards. If a cat scratches the decor and the furnishings, we call it bad behavior. We call the cat naughty for behaving in that way because scratching spoils our stuff.
But how does the cat see it? The cat certainly does not think themselves bad for scratching on the furniture. To the cat scratching is natural, instinctive behavior.
We cannot convince the cat that it is unacceptable to scratch. We can provide a place for the cat to scratch that is acceptable to both the cat and us ? a scratching post.
It seems that the most often given reason for returning a cat to a shelter is inappropriate elimination. In other words the cat is going outside the litter box. bad cat
A bad cat? Or just a misunderstood cat that behaves badly now and then?Cats do not usually have a problem with using litter boxes, they are very clean animals.
To a cat the litter is very similar to the dirt (earth) outside where they would go if they were in the wild, or where an outside only cat would go. If a cat does have a problem using the litter box it does not make it a bad cat. The problem could be that the cat is ill. There could be something that makes using the box painful for the cat, a urinary tract infection for example.
If your cat has a clean bill of health from the veterinarian then there could be other problems, such as . . .
Location. The litter box in the wrong place may mean your cat won't use it. Wrong litter for your cat, too scented perhaps. Wrong litter box, too high sided for a kitten, an elderly cat or a cat with joint problems.
If you have many cats, do you have enough litter boxes?
Believe it or not, some people expect a cat to use a dirty litter box and call the poor animal a bad cat when it refuses to do so. Cats demand clean litter trays. If the restroom at your place of work was not clean wouldn't you complain? Of course you would and so will your cat.
More information here - Cat Urine Problems.
Is your cat's behavior aggressive? Does your cat have an aggressively dominant personality? Does your cat attack you or other humans? Does your cat attack or bully your other pets.
Domestic cats can be aggressive for many reasons. It can be difficult to live with a belligerent feline, but with a little patience that aggression can be turned around and you can have a calm, loving pet. See - Cat Aggression.
Remember when your cat was a kitten? Do you remember how amusing it was to watch her antics, how delightful you found her mischievous behavior?
Why is it then that now your cat is a little older you find her mischievousness to be bad behavior? Maybe you expect her to have learned which actions make her a good cat and which actions make her a bad cat. (Your cat can learn of course, with your help - cats learn mainly by praise and reward and not by punishment.)
But do you want a cat who is never playful, or even a bit impish? There is a difference of course in being playfully lively and swinging on the drapes, or peeing on the floor.
However, ask yourself if you would really like your cat to be oh-so-good, and lay in some out of the way place all the time without ever letting you know she was around. A little mischief can give your pet personality. Besides, many felines spend so much of the day sleeping there is little time for them to be a truly bad cat.
Does your cat beg for your food at meal times? Does your bad cat jump on the kitchen counter? Read this page - Cat Behavioral Problems ? for some helpful information.
If your cat is inside the home all the time then she is safe from the dangers of the outside world. However, she does not have the stimulation of the outside world either and that could be a problem.
Is she or he often home alone? Most likely she will spend time taking cat naps, perhaps sit at the window and watch the world for a spell. Eat her kibble, take a drink, groom herself . . .and then what? Scratch at the decor, knock something off a shelf maybe, just for stimulation to stop herself from being bored out of her mind. She doesn't want to be a bad cat, she is just fed up.
Does she have a condo she can climb to amuse herself?
When your cat is left by herself, does she have access to interactive cat toys, the kind that she can play with on her own, like the tracks that have a ball trapped inside that a cat can bat around. Soft balls that she can flick and chase, a peek and play toy, hanging toys that she can bat at.
Try not to leave the same toys out for your cat day after day. Switch them around. After a week of not having a particular toy it will be new to her when she plays with it again.
Just like children who don't have anything to interest them are likely to misbehave, so too is a cat that is bored likely to behave badly.
Home from work after a hard day, all you want to do is enjoy a meal, unwind and relax.
Can you find a little time to play with your cat? A play session benefits your cat in so many ways. If your cat is indoors all day it will help burn some of that pent up energy and give her some stimulation. She will have less inclination for that bad cat behavior. Playing also helps increase the bond between the two of you and helps keep your pet in trim.
How about a short playtime before you head off to work, is that possible? It could mean that while you are away kitty does more snoozing and less naughty cat stuff.
Most cats crave attention to some degree. Some want very little, as long as they have the necessities, food and water etc. they are content just to be around the place. Others like attention a lot. cat adoption
Sadly many cats get returned to the shelter because of the unrealistic expectations of the humans that adopt them.
Often the kind of attention they want is affection, petting or even a cuddle. They may desire a grooming session or perhaps a playtime.
Sometimes they just want your attention off of what you are doing and on to them. And when a cat wants your attention she can do some crazy things to get it. Maybe she will just rub against your leg until she gets it. If that doesn't work . . .
She may yowl, howl, cry or meow excessively.
If you are at your p.c. she may place herself in front of the screen. She may charge around the place like a mad thing. She may even use her claws on you.
It's easy to see this attention seeking as bad cat behavior.
What to do about it is the question. If your cat does something that you do not like to get you to acknowledge her, or to stroke her, and you give her what she wants, then you have rewarded her bad cat tactics. And the next time she wants attention guess what she will do.
The answer is to ignore her. If all she is doing to get you to notice her is rubbing against your legs, you may not mind that and you may be happy to give her attention. But if she is yowling or worse, you don't want to reward that. Ignore it if you can.
If her behavior can't be ignored, place her in another room, cut her off from you. Sounds cruel but it may be the only way to show her she can't get what she wants by behaving badly. It takes patience, it takes consistency.
Reward her with your attention and fuss when she is behaving in a way that you want her to behave, after all she deserves it.
. . .would two cats, or more, behave any better?
It is often said that if you are going to adopt a cat, then adopt two as they will be company for each other when you are out of the house.
Yes, cats can be company for each other and two cats can be twice the joy for you. But getting another cat, or kitten, may not be an answer to bad cat behavior.
If you had a particularly naughty child, then producing a baby brother or sister for them is not likely to have the desired effect on their behavior. It's pretty much the same with cats.
Most cats can live quite peaceably in a multi-cat home when the social order has been sorted out. However it is not as simple as bringing home a new cat or kitten, and expecting your old and new pets to get on with each other right from the get go. (See Introducing a new kitten. Before two, or more, cats can live together in relative harmony a hierarchy has to be established. To do that may involve much squabbling and even fighting between the cats.
This is not to say that more than one cat is not a good idea, but you may end up swapping the bad cat problems of a bored solitary feline, for the exasperating rowdiness of hierarchal disputes.
Perhaps there are situations where the best course of action is for the cat to be returned to the shelter. A cat that constantly bites and scratches, and can't be trained out of it, in a home with young children would not be suitable.
But most cats can, with love and patience, be trained. ( Cat Training.) A bad cat? No, a cat with behavioral problems that just needs a bit of training.
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Saturday, February 5, 2011

Dec 8, This is Little Missy(Grey-female) and PeeWee(Calico-male)

by Jesalene Newgard
(Spencer, IA, USA)

These litle angels are so precious and very playful.... They give us soooo much joy and lots of laughs. PeeWee is a rare kitten to have, anyway, that is what I have been reading and hearing. One he is the runt of the litter and two he is Calico and male. These little babies were born on 10/30/10.
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Thursday, February 3, 2011

Nov 26, Ragdoll Cats - The Easy Going Ragdoll Breed.

Pick up Ragdoll cats and they are reputed to become limp and supple, that is how they got their name.
There is a highly unlikely myth that the first Ragdoll kittens inherited this trait because their white semi-longhair mother was injured by being hit by an automobile. A far more likely explanation is that the nature of these cats stems from a coincidence of their character genes.
Another myth concerning this car accident is that Ragdoll cats are resistant to pain, this is complete nonsense of course - - -
Ragdolls are as sensitive to pain as any other living breathing creature.
The Ragdoll breed was created in 1963 in the state of California USA. The original breeder, Ann Baker, claimed non-pedigree parentage, but it is very likely that both Birman and Burmese genes were present along the line.
Ann Baker founded the IRCA organization in 1971, and made very strict rules for owners of her Ragdolls. The IRCA is still in existence today, however the Ragdolls that are produced by the IRCA are not accepted by other major cat associations.
Denny Dayton owned a pair of Ann Baker's original IRCA Ragdoll cats and recognized that this beautiful breed needed to be standardized, and fought to get Ragdolls accepted by the different associations in the cat fancy. The Ragdoll breed was first recognized in the United States in 1967.
An early alternative name was Cherubim, and some variations of the breed are known as Ragamuffins.
This cat is powerfully built, it has a wide chest, large round paws, and a broad head with wide cheeks. The eyes are round, slightly slanted, and are of a very pleasing deep blue. Adult males weigh an average of 12 to 22 pounds or more, females weigh about 10 to 15 pounds on average, the Guinness Book of world records lists the Ragdoll breed as the largest domestic cat.
Ragdoll cats have dense silky coats, longhaired but without an undercoat, so they do not have the grooming problems of Persians.
A colorpoint Ragdoll has darker points ears, tail, face, and feet, with a lighter body shade. The nose leather and paw pads match the color of its points.
Mitted Ragdolls have dark points and a lighter body shade, but also have white gloves (or mittens) on their forepaws, and white gauntlets (or laces) worn on their hind paws, a white chin, white ruff, and a white strip on the stomach.
A bi-color Ragdoll cat will have the dark points on the ears and tail, but the mask will be broken by an inverted V running between the eyes and widening into the muzzle.Bib, chest, underbody and front legs are white. Bi-colors will have pink nose leather and paw pads.
Ragdoll kittens are born white and develop color slowly, the color will continue to deepen as the cat gets older.
This breed is said to possess a non fighting instinct, in other words if they are attacked they do not fight back to defend themselves. These gentle gaints are also very trusting and view all humans as their friend, it is for this reason that it is often recommended that Ragdolls are kept as indoors only cats.
The breed is very people oriented and these cats love to be around humans, often following their owners from room to room. Ragdolls are extremely easy going, docile, non-aggressive cats, very good with children. They tend to relax when held, you can put Ragdolls on their backs and rub their tummies which, unlike most cats, they enjoy immensely.
Ragdolls are fairly active and love playing with a good range of toys, and insist on being involved in whatever is going on. They have a quiet, pleasant voice which they do not over exercise but they will cry out at mealtime.
There is a growing interest in Ragdoll cats and small wonder, for they are indeed a very beautiful cat with a sweet temperament.
To learn much more about Ragdolls visit this very informative site FloppyCats.com Cat Calendars . Cat Travel Tips. Kitten Calendars . Cat Excessive Grooming . Cats and Halloween . Self Cleaning Litter Box . Why Premium Cat Food? . Elderly Cat Health Cat Bite. Cat Myths : Untruths and myths about cats.
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Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Dec 22, Cat Hair Loss some of the causes for hair loss in cats.

Your veterinarian is the best person from whom to obtain advice, diagnosis and treatment. Here are some of the more common reasons for a cat to lose hair. The list is by no means exhaustive.
Cat hair loss on the stomach and inner thighs may be caused by the animal obsessively licking, biting or scratching due to irritation from mites, fleas or other parasites.
Many cats are allergic to parasites, one bite can result in a severe reaction, resulting in the cat worrying the area so much that it not only loses hair but also, eventually, becomes ulcerated.
With advice from your vet you will need to eradicate the parasites from both your pet and from its environment.
Food Allergy causing cat hair loss. Due to the fact that several other causes for hair loss in cats can show similar symptoms, and that often the cat has more problems than a food allergy alone, your vet will want to rule out other causes before diagnosis for food allergies.
Cats with an allergy to a food, or food ingredient, itch all over and may scratch excessively. It is the eating of certain proteins that causes the problem and your pet could be placed on a 90-day trial diet limited to a prescription brand food consisting of protein and carbohydrates that your cat has never eaten before.
Despite its name Ringworm has nothing to do with worms. Ringworm is a fungal infection that grows in the cat's hair, the exterior layers of the cat's skin or in its claws.
Some cats with ringworm will have a very noticeable skin condition, including loss of hair, while others will look normal. Often there are circular patches of hair loss on the head, body and ears.
Cats can become infected with ringworm by coming in contact with an infected cat, or other animal, from a human or by being in contact with an infected object such as bedding, carpet, furniture or grooming tools. Ringworm is contagious and can be passed from animal to human and vice versa. Children are particularly at risk of infection.  cat hair loss
A cat with a healthy coat. Any hair loss or bald patches on a cat may be a sign that all is not well.
Ringworm can clear itself without treatment (although the cat remains a carrier of the fungus.) It is best to take your cat to your veterinarian in all cases where you suspect infection. Treatment will usually be by tablets and ointment, or lotion, for the skin.
The Endocrine System regulates the hormones that are discharged into the cat's body. Specific hormones are responsible for the growth of hair and when there is a surplus, or a deficiency in these hair growth hormones cat hair loss can occur.
Under normal conditions hair grows in cycles. A period of growth, then rest and then the old hair will shed. When the growth cycle is defective, such as an imbalance of hormones, new hairs will not grow to replace the shed hairs.
The hormonal control varies with different parts of the cat's coat, therefor loss of hair can result in bald patches in one part, whilst the coat is normal elsewhere. Most usually the body and tail are affected but normal hair growth remains on the head, face and legs. Your veterinarian may treat cat hair loss due to Endocrine Alopecia with a course of hormone therapy.
If your veterinarian rules out any possible medical causes for your cat's hair loss, he or she may determine that the problem is caused by Psychogenic Alopecia. This put simply, means your cat is over-grooming or hair chewing because of psychological reasons such as stress, nervousness, fear or anxiety.
Cats are intensely susceptible to changes in their routine or to their environment. Practically any change can upset and stress out a cat. An addition to the household, new baby, new partner, or a new pet can cause kitty anxiety. Even the arrival of short stay guests can be a source of stress, as well as changes to the food that you feed your cat or even changes to the time you leave the house to go to work. FREE Shipping On Orders Over $35 At PetCareRx
Cats not only groom themselves to keep their coats clean but also to give themselves a feeling of comfort and as a way to relax. It is usual for a cat to groom as displacement behavior when temporary stressed, but with some cats there is a danger of excessive prolonged grooming to the point where hair loss occurs.
Extreme licking and chewing can produce patches where the cat's hair has become nothing more than stubble. Some cats may bite and pull out substantial chunks of hair.
Sometimes even though a medical condition triggered the cat hair loss, a nervous cat may continue its excessive grooming long after the condition has been successfully treated.
If it is established that it is Psychogenic Alopecia alone that is causing your cat to lose hair, you can try and find the cause of the anxiety and if possible eliminate it.
Often though the exact cause cannot be pin pointed or the cat, being of the nervous type, reacts in the same way to every possible cause of stress in its environment. In this case your vet may prescribe anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication to keep the psychogenic behavior in check.
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