I am worried about my sweeties

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-2004
I am worried about my sweeties
5
Mon, 06-28-2004 - 6:20pm
Jasmine and Kira are still hiding from the ceiling fans I had installed a week ago, even tho I haven't turned them on since last Monday. Jasmine was a semi-feral kitten we got almost 5 years ago, who "lived" under the couch for the first month. Back then she did come out at night to eat and use the litter box. She has made lots of progress, but has always been very skittish and I see her hiding under the bed as a regression. Now she will not come out at all, and I finally resorted to putting food and water under there.

Kira Sage has been hanging out in the cellar for the past week, only coming to the top of the stairs to eat and look fearfully around the corner at the fan in the living room

Oliver and Selena came around after the first day or so and are fine. I checked out the suggested links, which explained that cats may see ceiling fans as hawks waiting to descend upon them, but still don't know what to do. Will it just take time? Should I force the issue by leaving the food in its usual place, or will they really starve themselves for fear that these "predators" are going to kill them?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2003
Mon, 06-28-2004 - 7:02pm
I guess I would leve the food where it should be and hope they come around. I would think they would!!!??

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2002
Mon, 06-28-2004 - 7:09pm
I am so sorry to hear about your kitties being afraid of the fans. Have you tried posting on the Think Like a Cat board? I would make sure they eat & drink and maybe consult with your vet....would some of that Feliway spray help to calm them?

I am wishing you & your babies all the best. Keep us posted. :-)


Suzy


iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-2004
Mon, 06-28-2004 - 8:21pm
Thank-you! I am using the Feliway spray, Rescue Remedy in their water, and sprinkling catnip around. I will keep you posted.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Tue, 06-29-2004 - 4:58pm
Have you held them up to the ceiling fan when it was off so they could smell it? I wouldn't make them go without their food. We put a heat lamp in our other dogs doghouse this past winter. Had it in the top corner. One of my dogs would not go in the doghouse. She usually slept in it every night and was in it when it rained, even though she had 2 other dog houses to use. She stayed out in the cold and rain for a whole week. I finally told my husband to take the heater out of her dog house. She couldn't adjust to it. She is about 5 years old. Some animals just can't adjust to certain things. What room(s) are the ceiling fans in? You may have to move them. donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-2004
Wed, 06-30-2004 - 5:40pm
Thanks for sharing your story. Good news: Kira has come out of the basement and is almost back to her old self. Jasmine is still under the bed, but has crept out a foot or 2 in order to eat, and came out briefly to be petted this a.m. Fans are still off. Time will tell how Jasmine copes, I guess. I can relate to your taking the heater out as I've actually considered doing away with the fans. I will give it more time, tho.