I hope someone may have a solution - I'm getting to my wit's end!

As I've mentioned before, Ruby has been having a few problems that all started when we moved. We kept her in a room on her own at first (with Rosie for the first day, but Rosie adjusted a lot better and wanted to come out straight away!) - the let her out after about a week as she was asking to come out.

When she DID get out she seemed to have turned into a complete scaredy feral cat - she couldn't get away fast enough if she heard even the slightest noise, it was like pure abject terror.

We got a bit of advice and she went BACK in a quiet room on her own - then we spent time in there with her, and let the other cats in every now and again so she didn't forget them. She seemed to be gaining more confidence - and we extended her territory gradually until she had a whole section of the house to herself, She seemed to be coming on in leaps and bounds. We took her to be spayed too - and when she got back her confidence just seemed to grow more.

Finally she seemed ready to come out into the rest of the house - and it seemed great at first, bits of the old Ruby were starting to show - she'd come out for laser games and headbutt Sparkle like she used too, and have a bit of a love session with me on the sofa in the evening. :kittyluv:

She doesn't get on with Nikki though - Nikki has always been a feisty one and likes to try to establish her dominance, but Ruby DOES defend herself and Nikki has ended up with the odd scratched nose. It seems to make Nikki go back for more though, and a couple of times I've seen her lying in wait for Ruby in Ruby's new "place" (the shelf down bythe side of the sofa).

Over the last week Ruby seems to have reverted completely - she doesn't come out for headbutts, in fact she doesn't come out at ALL - I'm worried she's not eating enough as she hardly seems to do that either. I've put a bowl for her on one of the shelves down by her "place" as I'm so worried about her. I know it's nothing medical stopping her eating - it's FEAR - although I don't know what of! Nikki has been mean to her, but she's good at fighting back!

She just isn't happy any more - she seems like a shell of the mad little headbutt-y thing she used to be. I really miss the times when she used to annoy the hell out of me when she wouldn't leave my mouse-hand alone when I was on the computer.

I've even been thinking maybe she'd be happier in another home somewhere quiet with no other pets, but that's the last resort, and it would absolutely break my heart if it came to that.

We've tried Feliway and it hasn't worked - we've tried introducing her gradually and it hasn't worked - can ANYONE think of anything else? I want to take her back to the vet - it won't be til next week now, but I'm in two minds about doing that too as it traumatises her, and I don't want her feeling any WORSE!

I would call your vet and see if you can get some advice over the phone, or if you could set up an appointment with just the humans.

If Nikki is causing this fear, is it possible to put her in a room and let Ruby see that she can be free to explore without her bothering her? We have the same issue with Tink and Jazmine, Tink will just not let up, I have no idea why. I wonder if that's the root of her fears, maybe taking her out of the equation at points may help her build up the confidence.

I tried to do an experiment this morning - I persuaded Ruby to go into the kitchen and put some food in there to see if she'd be happier on her own again.

As soon as I shut the door though she was scratching like anything to get out - despite the fact 5 other cats including Nikki were on the other side of the door wanting IN!

I let her out again to see what would happen - and she ran straight past all the others and jumped back onto her shelf!.... :wha:

I think we need a cat psychologist..............

Aw, sorry Sarah. I don't have much advice.

Speaking of cat psychologists... :rotfl: Sasha & Marley saw one!

I dont have much advice to offer but Im having cat troubles myself ever since the baby and Molly is a terror sometimes!

Aww Sonya what's up with your kitties?

Ruby seems to have gained a bit of confidence again! She has more than one "place" now - she has the front room window as well as the shelf (both at opposite ends of the room).

She's been eating ok - and she comes out for a drink of water too, although she normally runs back in again.

When I came downstairs this morning, she was curled up on the sofa all out in the open! :jump: (CC was on the sofa too at the other end - I think those two will be friends eventually!)

She's still very jumpy - and if she DOES come out of hiding she's likely to run back at the slightest noise - but she IS coming out more often now. We had a laser pointer session tonight and she joined in with Blackie and CC - I managed to launch her up the curtains! :)

Glad to hear Ruby is doing better, Sarah.

I have to say, this has happend to two of our cats and I completely failed at solving the problem BOTH times, so I can only offer support. I am not sure how or why it happens. And now I have two cats that have to have their 'own' rooms. And I don't see any way of reversing it.

My only thought is, the more you catch it in the very beginning, as you're doing, the better. Because once they get so afraid of the other cats, being out of the 'safe room' ect, forget it. We tried everything with Hammie (the second one it happend with)

I thought moving to a new house would solve it all. Nope. LOL. It worked for about a week. I do know that in both of our kitties, it started w/ 1-2 of the other cats chasing and stalking them. But never hurting or jumping on them.

I know what you mean about her turning completely feral all of a sudden when she isn't in her room. I just wish I knew the solution! Let us know how Ruby does. Lots of luck...you're doing everything you can. :)

:thumbsup: Glad to hear things are better, I hope they continue to improve.

Sarah, how's Ruby doing today? :)

Lucky and Jake still have issues, but Jake has learned to stick up for himself. For awhile there I was considering letting Lucky go live with my parents. But since Milo has been gone for a few months she is mellowing out. I hope she realized that life is too short to be a meany. lol
I do hope your situation improves, it takes awhile so be patient. :hug:

Ruby's doing a lot better now - we managed to launch her all the way up the curtains with the laser last night! :rotfl:
She comes out every now and again, and even settles on top of the TV sometimes although her main places are still the shelf and the window sill.

Nikki hasn't been lying in wait for her quite so much, and CC is just intrigued by her and I think she wants to be friends.

It's looking up I think!

:thumbsup:

:jump: Ruby's added the dining room and the kitchen to her territory - she doesn't stay in either for long, but it's a great sign. She just needs to keep on building her confidence, and realise that nothing bad will happen if she leaves her shelf!

Way to go Ruby!!! :jump: