The Latest...

I'm starting to give up hope of Sterling ever being "normal". He's so freaking neurotic that I think he spends at least 75% of his time in fear for his life, and I have no idea why.

Even at the old house, he was never totally relaxed. But once we moved here, he went off the deep end. Sometimes in the morning, when I feed them, he'll be eating, but if I walk into the kitchen (which requires walking past the kitty food) he'll bolt away as if I was some huge monster coming at him.

His neurosis seems to increase if we're wearing shoes, but even if I'm barefoot, he still freaks out. It's as if he's certain that we're really here to kill him, and now is finally the time.

A few days ago they were both sitting in the bay window in our home office. I accidentally dropped a pen. Roxie calmly looked over, then looked back out the window. Sterling shot a foot in the air, then glared at the pen, like it was about to grow into a monster and eat him.

It's not consistent though. One minute he'll be totally relaxed, and you can walk right up to him. Then an hour later, just getting up from your chair will send him diving for the closest hiding place.

I think he probably needs kitty Xanax or something, if there is such a thing. I really hope he "grows out of this", but he doesn't seem to be getting any better.