I knew the Siamese, as a breed could be vocal and distinct. I was totally prepared. When things are normal I get a lot of joy from little Versace. However, last night things weren’t normal. She clearly was not herself.

She started acting a bit off in the afternoon, a bit moody, a bit nervous and distracted even. As we neared bedtime she seemed a bit clingy, and still distracted. Not even interested in her “bedtime toy”. (Yes, “bedtime toy”. It’s totally not weird if you have had a kitten. 20 minutes before bed she gets to play with a toy that only comes out at that time to burn off that last bit of energy so she’ll sleep through the night.) Anyhoo, so no-go with playtime. So I shut out the light and we attempt to sleep. Versace placed her self on my chest, which is totally not where she normally sleeps. She purred and was still for about 20 minutes. I know this because she purrs really loudly. Then she was up and about the room crying, then down the hall, then down stairs. Crying. All night. Of course on the night before Richard and I were due back to work.

Now I know you have all heard about a Siamese cat’s cry. It is often compared to a crying infant. Only louder. And, as Randy Jackson would say, “pitchy”. So I got no sleep, and I am sure Richard only got about an hour or 2 during those brief times I was able to get her calm. When morning came I got on the net. (Sounds exciting when you say it like that! I also leapt into action!) I researched her symptoms and came up with a lot of sources regarding “cats in heat”. Erm. I thought she was a bit young for that, but apparently Siamese will go into “heat” as early as 5 months. Sometimes as early as 4! I freaked out a bit. I mean, talk about an abrupt end to Kittendom! Also, she didn’t quite have all the symptoms… but her constant cleaning of her kitty-zone had me really worried. So I called in sick so I could watch her, just in case. I also put a call in to the vet. Since I had no appointment I had to wait for a doctor to call me back between appointments. Hours later I spoke to a doctor who felt she had an infection in her urinary tract, not an early “heat”. He advised I bring her right in. I did.

200 bucks later and we have a diagnosis, a prescription, and hopefully a cat that will sleep tonight. (Thank gawd for pet insurance!!)

UPDATE: Things have escalated! Gotten louder! And it’s odd how my cat can walk in reverse with her ass poking out like that… I think we have been miss-diagnosed.  This heat thing, if that’s what it is, can go on for 2 weeks, only to start up again a week later… Ugh. I hope I am wrong.

tagged: cat loud versace kitten siamese