Feline depression. ;_;

[ravennr]

We rescued our cat, Rockefeller, back in May this year. He is showing every sign of depression (we haven't taken him to a vet for this because we are trying to work through it on our own). He seems to comfort eat, he gets bored with things very easily (and he has no shortage of toys or things for stimulation).

His life started out as a disney story; he was left on the side of the road in a carrier with his littermates. He was the last to be adopted, but the one before him had been with him up until just a couple of weeks beforehand. They mentioned at the shelter his demeanor had changed. He was also a very sick kitten as well.

We have tried everything EXCEPT for any sort of medication/supplements. I'd like to stay away from any sort of pills.
We are willing to get another animal, if possible, to help as that is really our last option that I feel completely comfortable with. We were looking into ferrets, or possibly a larger house rabbit. Rock is a pretty large cat, but he isn't aggressive. He's actually a bit ridiculously passive for such a young kitten, I think. He rarely sticks up for himself, but he is very playful, which is why I would prefer a ferret.


Has anyone ever dealt with feline depression before? It is breaking my heart to think that he isn't completely happy here. After what he'd been through before, especially with his health, and his horrible separation anxiety (we're also working on this), I just hate thinking he is putting up with some sort of depression as well.
Is this something we really should see a vet about?

 

[Barb04]

When I rescued a cat, I was told that it could take awhile for the cat to feel at home and adjust. It took over a year for my cat to feel comfortable and start loving life. Some days he is full of life and playful & other days just wants to rest. At the beginning, he wasn't one to play much. I think they do all have different personalities. Maybe he is missing a playmate. Has he been to the vet for a health check lately?

 

[ravennr]

He hasn't been since we got him, since the shelter had just brought him back a couple of days before. He is due for a check-up soon I think because we adopted him with some gastro issues (he had coccidia as a kitten).

 

[Maxy24]

Neko became somewhat depressed after we got Willie. He stopped playing, stopping seeking attention, he just seemed very tense. I remember he used to follow me into my room, fling himself on the floor and roll around in front of me for belly rubs. He becamse far too uncomfortable to do anything like that. He loved Willie, they sleep together, play together, they are fine. He just changed. It took like two years for him to get back to normal. Basically I spoiled him. If he so much as looked me in the face I'd get up and pet him. I wanted him to know I was paying attnetion to him, I was listening to him. His playing methods changed, he stopped using toys like normal, he played fetch and tag, that's still what he does, so I made sure to do those things often. I did some clicker training, just something fun to do with him.

Has he been like this since you got him? It could just be his personality. Do you think it could be a diet problem, cats on an inapropriate diet can be drained of energy, especially if they get over weight. Make sure he's getting a good amount of wet food in his diet, the more the better. Even though Neko was getting half wet half dry, the change he had when switching to all wet was huge energy wise, he became SO much more playful and spunky and he finally fell to his perfect weight, it was really amazing and dramatic.

 

[ravennr]

It hasn't been since we got him, though at first he was skittish for about an hour before he started bouncing, literally, off of the walls. He seemed to warm up nicely, but I noticed a big change in him about a month ago. I am still new to the area, so I'm trying to find a place that is close that sells cat food that I feel okay feeding. He was originally on a vet food, but we were told it was time for him to come off of it.

Can you recommend a good cat food brand by chance? I suppose we may just have to end up ordering it online.