Static electricity may fuel water-bowl angst
Dr. Michael Fox
Question: I have two rescue cats, Emmy and Oscar, both about 6 years old. Every now and then, Oscar stands over his water bowl and hisses at it. He’ll hiss for a bit, sometimes hold up his paw and eventually walk up to it and begin drinking.
The cats have water in a large bowl in the kitchen and also in a small glass upstairs in the bedroom, and they drink from both. I’ve seen Oscar hiss at the bowl and the glass on difffffffffffferent days. It happens only occasionally, and with long spans in between, but I can never determine why he’s doing it. I’m hoping it isn’t a medical issue. Do you know what the reason could be? — E.S., Herndon, Virginia
Answer: Cats hiss when they are afraid. I doubt that Oscar is seeing his reflflection in the water and reacting as though there is another cat!
The most likely explanation is that your cat has received static electricity shocks when his whiskers connect with the edge of the bowl or with the water. This is very likely with a metal bowl on a synthetic fifiber carpet or mat. Try a rubber mat and ceramic water bowl if you aren’t using those.
Q: Our sibling cats, now about 9 years old, have been with us since they were a few months old. They have been healthy since the beginning. Recently, our only son (who gave them lots of affffffffffffection) left for college, and the cats’ behavior has changed.
The female, Milkie, who normally was pretty quiet and reserved, has started to meow and cry loudly and often, for no apparent reason other than wanting attention. The male, Wafflffle, comes to our bedroom door fifirst thing in the morning, and meows until we open the door. The thing is, Wafflffle’s meow is very high pitched at times, sounding like a squeaky mouse instead of a cat. It’s so weird-sounding! What’s the reason for this new squeak? — R.B., Hopewell Junction, New York
A: Your cats are grieving the loss of your son in their lives. This sometimes happens when one member of the family goes offff to college. The most dramatic instance reported to me was of a cat who began excessive self-licking to the point of self-mutilation when the girl in the home went offff to college; the cat recovered when the daughter came home during a mid-semester break.
If your son were to come home soon, this might help the cats understand that he was simply gone away but not gone forever.
This kind of separation can be stressful for human-attached felines. So give them lots of attention, and if your son can’t come home soon, have him mail a couple of T-shirts he’s worn for a few days so they have the comfort of his familiar scent.