by Nomi Berger
 
Like a prenuptial agreement, the aptly named “pet-nuptial” (pet custody) agreement can assist you in keeping your cherished feline companion should your current relationship end.
 
Whether you’re divorcing a spouse, breaking up with a partner or moving out on a roommate, if you’ve owned a cat together, gird yourself for a potential battle over the custody of that cat. The key to resolving this issue and being on the winning end of it is to have a “pet-nuptial” agreement already in place.
 
Since the law in most states regards pets not as family members but as personal property, protecting your rights requires foresight on your part. When you have a “pet-nuptial” agreement, a court – if it comes to that – will, in all likelihood, enforce it unless you live in one of a handful of states with pet custody laws. If so, the judge will, as in any child custody battle, make a decision based on the best interests of the disputed pet.
 
Without a pre-arranged agreement, you’ll have to prove why YOU’RE the one entitled to keep the cat rather than your spouse, partner or roommate. Are you able, then, to provide the answers to the following questions?
 
• Who actually adopted or purchased the cat in question? Have the necessary receipts, wherever possible.
• Did you or “the other party” have the cat before the start of your “arrangement?”
• Are there any children involved who are attached to this cat? If so, where will they be living?
• Who plays the greater role in feeding and playing with the cat?
• Who takes the cat to the veterinarian?
• Who pays the bills -- from food, toys, beds and other kitty essentials to veterinary expenses, medications, supplements and therapies if applicable?
• Does either party have a work schedule that prevents them from spending quality time with the cat?
• Which party has bonded with the cat, is the one she always follows around, always sleeps near, etc.?
• Has either party ever exhibited any cruelty towards your cat or any other animal?
 
To keep your pet dispute from ever going to court, consider using mediation or arbitration instead. This way you can hopefully work together and come to an amicable arrangement.
 
Another solution is an agreement that either provides for joint custody of your cat or for sole custody with the other party given “visitation rights.” Joint custody agreements are far from ideal since pets, like children, are often traumatized by the dissolution of a marriage or partnership. A custody agreement where your cat is shuttled back and forth between two homes seldom works satisfyingly for any party – particularly the cat.
 
If your spouse already had the cat before you got marred, it will be difficult for you to get custody of her because she’s not considered “marital property” but your spouse’s “separate property.”
 
And yet, in some cases, you may emerge victorious. Examples: if you spend the most time with your cat, you could get custody of her despite the fact that your spouse pays most of the vet bills. If children are involved, and you’re getting custody of them in one of the few states with pet custody laws, a judge will want the cat to remain with the children. In other states, custody could be split, with the children going to one parent and the cat going to the other.
 
Because pet custody is an evolving legal issue, consider hiring a family attorney to help you. Ensure that you have photos and videos of you and your cat sharing a series of bonding experiences. Ensure that you have witnesses eager to testify that YOU are her primary guardian and playmate. Ensure that you have records of or receipts for every purchase you’ve made towards her care and well being.
 
In short, if you have a cat and an intact marriage or partnership, put a “pet-nuptial” agreement in place NOW so that you’re protected should the relationship ever end.

by Nomi Berger
 
Rather then being a single disease, Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome (FHS) is a set of symptoms that indicates the presence of a dermal, neurological or behavioral problem. The opposite of anesthesia, instead of a LACK of sensation, an affected cat has TOO MUCH sensation in her skin or in the muscles under her skin. Much like tickling, it begins pleasantly enough before devolving into something both painful and distressing.
 
The classic symptoms of FHS – lasting a few seconds or several minutes – are episodes of a cat’s skin twitching or rolling. She may not only appear uncomfortable, her pupils may be dilated or she may be staring off into space. Normally calm cats may become aggressive during an episode while aggressive cats may grow calmer. And episodes occur most often in the morning or evening -- the dawn/dusk times when cats in the wild would be hunting.
 
Some cats with milder forms of FHS experience pain when they’re petted, particularly along their lower backs. Some may lick or bite themselves, often leading to shortened hair or baldness in those areas. Some will attack their tails or lower backs while others will lick or chew at their paws. Cats with more severe symptoms may cry or race screaming from room to room, mutilate their tails or suffer seizures if touched in a certain way.
 
Possible causes or triggers of FHS include allergies to food (this requires a special diet) or pollen, fleas, mites and ringworm. The symptoms of milder skin allergies can be relieved by antihistamines like doxepin, while more troublesome cases are usually treated with prednisolone, a steroid that eliminates any and all offending parasites. Skin scrapings detect the presence of mites and a fungal culture will test for ringworm. Bravecto ointment, applied to your cat’s skin, is designed to kill both fleas and mites.
 
If treating your cat for skin issues doesn’t help, a neurological problem -- affecting her spinal cord or the nerves to her back or tail -- may be the culprit. In this case, your vet may order spinal x-rays taken or, if need be, refer you to a neurologist for either a CT scan or MRI.

Cats suffering from a neurological condition can exhibit other symptoms besides FHS, including weakness or an unsteady gait, obvious pain in their neck, back or legs (pain medications may help), difficulty with jumping or problems with going up and down stairs. Some cats’ symptoms, on the other hand, seem more like seizures, for which Phenobarbital and/or Gabapentin (this decreases neurological pain) may be prescribed.
 
If both dermatological and neurological problems are ruled out, the third option is a compulsive disorder, thought to be caused by a lack of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Your vet can prescribe a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) to increase the amount of serotonin in your cat’s brain and reduce her symptoms. Used for years in people, Prozac often works well for cats, and is available as a chewable tablet (for dogs) that can be crushed into your cat’s canned food or broth. (To ensure she’s tolerating the drug, your vet should draw a blood sample to check her liver and kidney function).
 
If the cause is indeed behavioral, any stress or conflict between cats in a multi-cat household tends to worsen the afflicted cat’s symptoms. To reduce this stress:
• Ensure that both their food (keep to one brand) and feeding times are predictable.
• Engage them in regular play sessions, especially with toys that they can chase or bite.
• Provide them with tall hiding and perching places to make them feel safer.
• Ensure there are enough food bowls and litter boxes around so that a timid cat doesn’t fear being “picked on” by a more aggressive one when she’s eating or eliminating.
• Anticipate whenever possible, a stressful situation and avoid it or redirect any undesirable behavior on the part of an aggressive cat through either training or playing.