Joanne E.

Pets sometimes have mental health issues--just like people! My own cat, Luke, was a skittish little kitten, jumping at every new sight and sound. He wouldn't walk over a scatter rug, but he would always leap over it or go around it. When entering a room h… Read More

Pets sometimes have mental health issues--just like people! My own cat, Luke, was a skittish little kitten, jumping at every new sight and sound. He wouldn't walk over a scatter rug, but he would always leap over it or go around it. When entering a room he tiptoed through the doorway, looking nervously both ways as though he thought something was going to get him. At the last moment, he would leap through and run to safety. As he got older, he began nipping at the ankles of anyone who tried to walk down a hallway in which he was lying. He began attacking the other cats in the household, and finally, he began marking the walls and furniture with urine. As a temporary measure, my vet prescribed valium. Luke seems too loopy on the regular dose, so I cut it down to half. After a couple of weeks, I cut it down to 1/4. Everytime I tried to take him off the valium, his freaky behavior resurfaced, but as long as he took even the 1/4 dose, he was fine. He finally became the loving, contented, gentle cat that I think is his true personality. Though the valium was inteneded to be used short-term, the vet and I have decided to keep Luke on it, so that he can live a happy, stressfree life. (My other cats can live happy stressfree lives too, without Luke attacking them for no reason!). Luke has yearly checkups with blood tests, and he does fine. He has been on valium now for 5 yrs., and I thank God for it! Jebecat Read Less