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	New Cat who Hates Everyone Q: Hello, I know this page is for the chat but I thought it might be for the whole webpage and I have a question I was hoping you could answer. I babysat a cat and dog for a neighbor and the cat hated me but the dog absolutely loved me! The cat would run and hide and hiss everytime I came near and the dog would follow me all over. Well that neighbor died and we loved her so much. We found a home for the dog and not the cat. Because the cat was 9 yrs old, hated people and other animals, no one wanted her. The insurance company said that if we didnt find a home for her they would put her to sleep. So we took her. The problem is that she hates EVERYONE but me. She meows if she isnt in my room and if I am not with her. In my room we have a pregnant guinea pig, and one non pregnant guinea pig, and a goldfish. She hates her crate and hates you if you put her in it and I am afraid that if I let her out of it while I am not there because she can get to the pregnant guinea pig because it's cage has bars wide enough that she can fit her paws through, though there really isnt a way to get to the cage. She hissed at our dog and cat too. And my family. I am not sure what she likes about me but how can I get her to cooperate? She is trained so that she cannot sit on my bed in my room unless she is in her cat bed, and to use a litter box. But she just hates it when it isnt just her and me. I am very happy we have such a close bond but since she lived with my neighbor all alone I think this is what she is used too and she doesnt like to like more than one person. PLEASE HELP! Email me! Thank you,

A: Hello Josse, A very difficult problem this one. It would certainly seem that this cat has very little self confidence and has the need for a very intense bonding with her single 'mother' substitute. At nine years old this will be a difficult behaviour pattern to modify, but worth trying so that she need not live out her years confined to one room. It's not easy, but perhaps a little less closeness from yourself, while at the same time getting other family members to come and feed her and talk quietly to her will decrease her dependence on you. They should not try to handle her to begin with, unless she comes to them. See if she has a real favourite food, then only let other people bring that food. I wouldn't try the dog just yet though. I'm going to suggest some homoeopathic and Bach Flower remedies as well, which you can use to calm her and give her confidence. You don't need to give them all, just choose what seems to fit her character best. Bach remedies, Beech for intolerance and bad temper. Holly for malice and intense dislike. Vine for dominance and territoriality. Walnut for difficulty adapting to new circumstances. Willow for spitefulness. Mimulus for fearfulness. Homoeopathy, Chamomilla, takes offence easily, cross and quarrelsome. Nux vomica, active, angry and impatient by nature. Territorial. Staphysagria, easily offended. trembles with anger. Lachesis, can be open and friendly with friends but also unpredictable and suspicious of strangers. Bites without warning. Ignatia for after effects of grief Dosage for Bach remedies and homoeopathy is not a fixed thing. For the homoeopathic remedies, just follow the human instructions. The tablets do not need to be swallowed and can be crushed between clean spoons or in a fold of paper and the powder sprinkled in the mouth or mixed with a little spring water and tipped into the mouth. The bach remedies can be blended in a separate bottle with some spring water, about 2 drops to 30ml water in a bottle or other clean container, then give one drop, four times daily for five days. The rules are not 'writ in stone' and you can use them straight from the stock bottle. Most of these should be available from either health food stores or even Boots chemists. You can also obtain them by e-mailing Helios pharmacy at pharmacy@helios.co.uk There's nothing I can do about the Guinea pigs and goldfish except suggest you reinforce their cages in some way that she can't get through. Cats will be cats, in that respect and small beasties will always be a temptation. June Third-Carter B.V.M.S., M.R.C.V.S., Vet.M.F.Hom. for PetPlanet.co.uk

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