I must have held some inkling when I named this pretty girl Patience, that she would become yet another life’s lesson for me in working with neglected cats. During the day, she is in the house full time, running with the other cats through the tunnels and up and down the ramps or trying to find a sunspot where she can catch a nap. However, at 2:00 a.m. she turns into the wailing tower of terror and her fear of the house in the darkness is as real as the lights I turn on to try and appease her.
This will be the third night of her wailing her distress to the stars and even after I open the door to see if she wants to go outside, she hesitates and bolts instead to under the counter still crying. Food does not stop her, pets are not welcome and I have to wonder what phantoms chase her dreams and cause her to react like this. One thing is for certain. God is using her to teach me Patience. Mike said I should probably have called her Comatose! LOL
She is asleep on my lap as I type this, and I cringe every time her claws find purchase in my legs. But I understand her terror even though I can do little to chase it away at this time.
Cats have nightmares. I’ve seen my Paul Edward have them. It will take time for her to become accustomed to being cared for and loved.
I hope it’s soon.
Do you think a thundershirt might help calm her down? Try it one evening at bed time before she gets the night terrors.
They’re kind of pricey to buy as a “might be helpful” item but – they look fairly easy to sew OR you could put her in a small T-shirt then gather up the back using a rubber band to hold it for firm gentle pressure OR a baby onesie.
Just a thought.
We’re half tempted to suggest getting Patience a night light. It is not impossible she is waking up in the middle of the night and flashes back to the bad old days because she doesn’t know where she is right away. How plausible that is, we cannot say.
If you haven’t tried Feliway, that might be worth a shot. Beyond that, about all we can suggest is try to wait her out. She should calm down, in time.
My RB kitty Lil Bit started wailing like that when she got older and I finally figured out she thought everyone had left her at night. I started leaving the radio or TV on with the volume low for her and it stopped. She just needed a little noise!
Have you had her hearing and eyesight checked. My mom had a kitty who would howl at night and he was pretty much deaf.
The poor girl. She may always have such fears, but I think that, with time, and the sort of life she’ll lead with you or a loving adopter, they will dissipate. Until then, though, it will be very hard for her.