Nick is getting a little strange

P

posiepurrs

Forums Regular
Since before he hurt his neck he has started resisting going out. At first he would go out, but did not want to walk on the grass - just the pavement. Now he doesn't want to go out at all. When my grand daughter is over, whom he dearly loves, he has no problem walking and running on the grass.
We do have several steps into the house and I am wondering if it possibly hurt going up and down the steps when his neck was bothering him and now he associates that with going out? I know cats can develop litter box avoidance if it hurts. I have no clue as to why the grass issue. HELP!
 
If Nick is food oriented you can try making a trail of tiny pieces of food that goes down the steps and then travels around the grass part of the yard...ending with a jackpot of something ultra special so the "trip" is worth it.

But if the steps still seem hard for him there is always the possibility that something physical is wrong and a full check up might be in order to rule that out.

Trini
 
Don't think so - he will go up and down fine when my grand daughter is here. He also manages the stairs up to our bedroom okay. We have started putting his leash on him when we take him out - he goes down with no hesitation with the leash on.
 
These are outdoor stairs? He is okay going down?

Question: Are the stairs open at the back - meaning on the tread with opening between each tread. Perhaps if something like landscape fabric was tacked to the back for now, it might be easier for him.
 
Emmasmom said:
These are outdoor stairs? He is okay going down?

Question: Are the stairs open at the back - meaning on the tread with opening between each tread. Perhaps if something like landscape fabric was tacked to the back for now, it might be easier for him.
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Excellent thought. The neighbor's dog is scared because of the deck with
open steps.
 
He is coming up fine (that is when he can see through the steps - and they aren't very open). He shows hesitation going down. He is getting better about it though, but he still gives us trouble about going onto the grass. He wants to stay on the driveway.
 
posiepurrs said:
He is coming up fine (that is when he can see through the steps - and they aren't very open). He shows hesitation going down. He is getting better about it though, but he still gives us trouble about going onto the grass. He wants to stay on the driveway.
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Going down is the motion that puts the most pressure on the neck and spine...Nick may still have some discomfort in his neck area.

Is the grass damp at the times Nick doesn't want to walk on it? My Simba hates wet grass and in the early morning when the grass is wet with dew or after a rain I have to walk way out into the yard and call him to me...otherwise he refuses to get off the cement patio.

Trini
 
trini said:
Going down is the motion that puts the most pressure on the neck and spine...Nick may still have some discomfort in his neck area.

Is the grass damp at the times Nick doesn't want to walk on it? My Simba hates wet grass and in the early morning when the grass is wet with dew or after a rain I have to walk way out into the yard and call him to me...otherwise he refuses to get off the cement patio.

Trini
Click to expand...
No, it can can be wet or dry - he hates it. I know it is a behavior issue, because when my grand daughter comes over or he sees the neighbors grand kids he has no hesitation about going on the grass.
If it was discomfort because of his neck going down the stairs, wouldn't he show the same hesitation for the inside stairs (we live in a 2 story house)? He flies up and down the inside stairs with no problem.
 
Yes, if it is discomfort I would expect inside stairs (unless not as steep and padded with carpet) to solicit the same reaction as outside stairs.

Trini
 
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