Behavior Modification

The flash faded out Abby's tuxedo stripe, but her fur was shaved so she could get blood work done last week. Luckily everything came back normal. I heaved a great sigh of relief knowing that overall she is doing OK. But she does have a broken canine tooth, which needs to be removed and also has to have a kitty tooth cleaning done at the same time. I feel so bad that I didn't realize that her broken tooth was probably causing her discomfort. How dumb can I be? I knew she had trouble chewing on that side, why I didn't connect the dots, I don't know. So we will work to get that quickly fixed. Today, I have an appointment to discuss some behavior modification with her vet. She wants me to isolate Abby in a room 24/7. She would eat in there and have no contact at all with the other cats. *sigh I have worked so hard to get her to be with the other cats. I feel torn because, #1 Abby doesn't take kindly to doors which are closed (she will sit and paw at the door and cry) and #2 when I go in to be with her I then have 4 other cats sitting on the other side of the door pawing and crying to get in! I just don't see this working all that well, at least for me. Even though it does cause Abby stress to be around the other cats, I really hate to keep her locked up. I have been experimenting with "taking her" to the litterbox when I think she needs to use it. I have had good success with that, but I am not home all the time, so I know there will be clean ups. I wish I knew what it was that triggered Abby to draw away from the litterbox...

I wish I could erase all the anxiety she feels. I wish I could ease all the baggage she carries from the homes she was in. I fear she was punished for many of the things I am trying to correct with love. For all her bravado, she really is fearful. I realize that it will be a work in progress with her. Because when I think she has made good progress she will suddenly lash out at me with a quick snap, and I won't understand what triggered her response. I refuse to punish her any more than she already has been. She is such a sweet girl but she has such strong defenses. I will keep working on making her feel safe.