Ask Your Pet
by Jennifer Dickman
My cat Asher has been crying loudly early in the morning and also cries/screams to go out, sometimes for hours. He often cries in the litter box, too. I am fed up with his behavior. Why is he acting like this? How can I help him?
Nancy R.
Dear Nancy,
Poor Asher is feeling very frustrated and misunderstood. He conveyed to me that he is having severe burning pain when he urinates. He is also feeling constant but less severe urinary tract discomfort. Asher finds this very frightening and much of his crying is a plea for your attention and help.
Asher says that this has been going on for a long time. The constant physical distress, along with his awareness that you don’t understand his behavior and are becoming angry with him, has led him to become depressed. He feels like you’re rejecting him and is worried that you no longer love him. Asher cries to go outside because his mood is better when you take him out. This is partially because you’re paying attention to him and partially because he associates the house with his depression and pain.
I explained to Asher that you love him very much and simply don’t understand that he is having a physical problem. I assured him that I would tell you about his pain and that you would help him. He was very relieved!
I hope that you will take Asher to a veterinarian immediately. You can also help him by telling him that you love him and that he’ll feel much better soon. Radiate feelings of love and well-being to him while you’re doing this. Reassure him in this way as often as possible, particularly if he seems distressed.
As Asher was under a great deal of physical and emotional stress for a prolonged period of time, I would be surprised if his odd behavior clears up immediately. If the problem persists after he has had medical treatment, I recommend taking him to a holistic veterinarian who can prescribe remedies to address his emotional needs. It would also be helpful to practice positive reinforcement training. In a nutshell, this consists of ignoring his negative behaviors and rewarding his positive behaviors. (You can read more about it at www.hsus.org.) It may take some time, but with love, patience, and proper medical care, I believe Asher will once again be happy and content.
One further note: please don’t feel guilty about your misunderstanding of Asher’s situation. There are times when physical problems aren’t obvious, and behavioral changes are the only clue that something is wrong. That’s why I always urge clients to consult a veterinarian when their animals are behaving strangely.
Many Blessings,
Jennifer Dickman
Note to readers: I contacted Nancy immediately after communicating with Asher and told her about his pain. She took him to a veterinarian who confirmed that he had a urinary tract infection and placed him on antibiotics and pain medication. He and Nancy are much happier now! Send your question along with your pet’s name, age, and a photo or brief description to Info@BoundlessSpiritReiki.com or Jennifer Dickman, PO Box 782, Montgomeryville, PA 18936.
Jennifer Dickman is an Animal Communicator, Pet Reiki Specialist, and Reiki Master-Teacher. She is available for phone sessions and house calls. Jennifer can be reached at 215.817.0833 or Info@BoundlessSpiritReiki.com. To receive a free copy of Jennifer’s "Five Things Your Dog or Cat Wants You to Know" please subscribe to her newsletter by emailing Newsletter@BoundlessSpiritReiki.com More information is available on Jennifer’s website: www.JenniferDickman.com.
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