JJ the Bengal cat's journey from 4 to 3

Just wanted to hop on and update a few years on!! JJ is well adjusted to life on 3 legs and let’s nothing at all stop him! He is still very nervous around new people but we’ve gained his trust! He’s doing amazing!

Well it has been a while. So sorry for not keeping you all updated. There has been so much going on that I’ve just had no time to post.

JJ is doing brilliantly. Since my last post we had him checked and everything was confirmed to be ok. So it was just anxiety. We have worked very hard to help JJ gain confidence and it’s now starting to pay off. Every day he takes steps towards being as outgoing as he was before and surprises us by conquering something he used to do.

Milestones of note (I know these seem normal but a few weeks ago I feared he wouldn’t ever do any of this. He was a terrified mess):

– climbing to the top of his 3 tier barrel (which steps to help)

– sleeping on his barrel

– sleeping somewhere other than his safe place (his dog crate) out in the open

– following me downstairs every morning (when it’s quiet)

– following me downstairs on an evening (when it’s quiet)

– sharing his cat cave with Pixel

– climbing on and off the bed

– using his old litter tray in the bathroom

– waking me up in the morning with his hungry cry and sitting at the foot of my bed shouting until I get up to feed him

– catching a spider

– letting us tickle his belly

– giving me head bumps

– watching the birds out of the window

I cannot explain how happy and relieved we all are to see him coming along like this. I’d almost given up hope of ever seeing him happy and comfortable again. I am so proud of him. We still have a way to go, but we are finally heading in the right direction.

 

Well I’ve not posted for a while. For a few reasons: busy with work, busy with JJ, busy worrying. Was hoping to post with a high note but there have been very few.

So here goes….

since my last post there has been very little change. JJ is managing to go up and down stairs and is hopping about, he will play with toys and the crate came down two days ago. So I guess that’s all good news.

The bad news. JJ has been extremely anxious. To the point where if we move too quickly or he senses someone or something near him he will freak out and growl and hiss. He seems to be in a constant state of fear. The only time he seems to forget the fear is when playing. So I try to initiate play as much as I can. This fear is usually shown through a growl and a hiss. He’s done it to me, my partner and today my daughter….. today she tried to kiss him! We have warned her not to as JJ is very temptamental right now and we are always telling her not to stick her face too close to him but she ignored us (this has happened before he was a tripawd). Upon trying to kiss him and he flipped and scratched her nose. I don’t blame JJ in any way, she made him he scared and he defended himself (he didn’t know she just wanted to kiss him). She was upset but not because of what he did but because she realised it was a stupid thing to do.

We are learning how to approach him so he feels less anxious. Get low to his level and approach slowly. No sudden movements. Stay away from the stairs if he’s going up or down.

Then there’s Pixel. I’ve now witnessed two very big fights between them. We have had to pull them apart and it wasn’t pretty, fur flying and JJ terrified. Each time I’ve had to pull Pixel off him. Generally they are ok, but when Pixel decides it’s playtime JJ doesn’t think it’s play and it all escalates. We try to prevent as many of these as we can but it’s hard unless you sit with them both constantly. Pixel is missing his playmate and I feel bad for him too as he doesn’t understand. He’s getting lots of love and attention from us.

So for anxiety I’m trying Feliway already (no impact) now also  Zylekene. So far after 3 days of using, there has been no change in his axiety levels. I’m trying everything I can think of. I’m scared he will never be confident again and we will have a grumpy, terrified, sad boy forever. It breaks my heart to see him like this. I keep trying to tell myself it’s early days but I can’t help thinking he will never bounce back. I’m miserable seeing him so sad. Luckily for me he seems least anxious around me, so it’s nice to know I make him feel safe.

I feel like this is all doom and gloom. It’s not, every day the are good and bad moments. I just don’t feel like we are making much progress. Maybe I’m just expecting too much, too soon.

Does anyone know anything else anxiety product wise I can try? What adjustments could I make to help him feel safe? Has anyone else had this and got a better place? I need some light at the end of the tunnel.

JJ enjoying some sunshine.

Just a quick update. JJ has been doing really well. We reduced his dosage of medication and today have tried him without any. So far, so good! He has been up and about, playing and showing a keen interest in the door. I think he’s almost ready to venture out. We may try him for a short while tomorrow. I’m just worried about the stairs as we have no way to block them off.

JJ is still very anxious around Pixel but there has been less hissing and more just a shouting warning. We are just supervising there contact whilst trying to stand back and only jump in if fighting occurs ( so far this hasn’t happened). At the moment a growl from JJ results in Puxel backing away. He has even rolled onto his belly in submission to JJ.

 

 

Overall today has been a really good day.

JJ got his stitches out and behaved like an angel! He didn’t move an inch whilst the vet took out all his stitches! What a good boy. She said that his scar is healing perfectly and looks really good. See…

JJ has been out of his crate for most of the day and has engaged in quite a few play sessions. He’s given Pixel a lot of telling off. Poor Pixy doesn’t understand why he keeps getting shouted at.

He’s still on his pain medication but is managing well on a half dose which shows he is making good progress.