Why is Berkeley cat snubbing his owner after chemotherapy and steroid treatments?
DEAR JOAN: I have been undergoing chemotherapy and steroid treatment for lymphoma. When I began treatment, I imagined that my 10-year-old cat, Maurice, would be a comforting companion as I recuperated on the couch with a good book in hand. However, since I began the treatments the normally snuggly Maurice has become very standoffish.
He stares at me suspiciously from afar, turns his back and naps elsewhere. I am quite familiar with feline indifference, but this is outside of normal for Maurice.
Is he steering clear of me because he senses that I am ill?
I know it is important to keep letters short, but I must briefly opine on Maurice the Cat. He is one of those epic cats that occasionally come into our lives. He is a tall, lean and dashingly handsome American shorthair who is capable of amazing feats of athleticism. He is an indoor/outdoor kitty who skillfully dispatches with any mice unfortunate enough to come to his attention. Maurice is the prince of our household and has us at his beck and call. Besides me being ill and stuck at home, nothing else has changed in his normal routine.
— Sonja B., Berkeley
DEAR SONJA: Maurice sounds like a real gem and I can tell he is much loved.
I think the reason he’s being standoffish is that, to put it as nicely as I can, you don’t smell like you. Cats have extraordinary senses of smell, and I think it’s likely he detects an odor from the chemicals used to fight your lymphoma. It’s not that you smell bad, it’s that you smell different – a subtlety that only a cat would recognize.
In time, he may accept your new aroma, but he also might find it so off-putting that he won’t resume his cuddling until you are well.
In the meantime, it’s important for you to be careful around Maurice as the chemo might make you more susceptible to diseases and infections that could be carried in on Mo’s paws and claws. As he’s an indoor-outdoor cat, the risk is greater. Don’t let him lick your face and watch out for accidental scratches.
Good luck with your treatments and best wishes for your health.
DEAR JOAN: I read the letter about the ant mounds in your Jan. 13 column, and had to chime in with a bit of folk knowledge that I got from “The Beverly Hillbillies” when it was still in black-and-white.
You can tell when it’s going to rain by watching ants that make anthills; they sense the rain coming and build up their hills to protect the nest and colony. Granny said it, I observed it, and it is true.
I don’t see a lot of anthills here, but as a kid in Michigan I can tell you they’re much more accurate than any weather forecast.
— R.T., Castro Valley
DEAR R.T.: Granny was correct. Ants do fortify their mounds before rains; some even use twigs and dig moats.
We should never doubt the word of a woman who knows how to cook possum two ways – falling off the bone or with a little fight left in it.
Animal Life runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.