I think my cat has an anxiety disorder

[Misty1980]

Hi everyone,

     Maybe someone has experienced these things or knows a little more than I do about what I can do.

I am having a problem with both of my cats. They have extreamly oppposite personalities. My youngest cat Molly has been stuck in a tree twice in 6 months.
Because of this I am so afraid to let her out.  which brings me to my second problem my cat Sammy.  
     Sammy insists on going outside.  When we try to keep him in so that Molly doesnt end up in a tree he will cry bloody murder for hours and hours.  When I try to ignore this hoping he wil calm down he will start to make himself sick and throw up around the house or go to the bathroom right smack in the middle of the bed or on my clothes.
    I have tried only letting him out and although Molly is fine when we try to keep them in if we let Sammy out by himself she just has to be outside too.  
      Is there some way I can ease Sammy's anxieties about not going ouside.  Is there such thing as kitty xanax or ant-depressants???

Other quick question:

We think Sammy may be a buddhist or something because he will not go after anything alive, he has NEVER hunted anything. Infact the other day he was sitting and watching a grasshopper hop by.  But Molly loves to hunt.  But although she brings in the normal stuff, her favorite thing to bring in is leaves.   My house is filled with leaves by the end of the day and she sits by them so proudly and talks to you until you give her appreciation.
Its obvious they are gifts, but why leaves when she loves to catch the normal stuff...any ideas?

[Misty1980]

Thank you very much for your advice Savas!

I love my cats dearly as if they were my actual children and want them to be as happy as possible.

I will take all of your suggestions and see how it goes

Thanks again

Misty

[Savas]

Well, when you let cats go out, you have to be prepared for the risks they face.

This may sound very simple, but when you let sammy out, put molly in another room about ten minutes beforehand. I've used this trick and it tends to work. Cats are like children, and if you hide the cookie jar, so to speak, they won't know its there. :)

I've only had one instance with a cat that was so determined to go out (sounds similar to yours) that we ended up giving it to a farm due to its unhappiness. But this was a cat that was at serious health risk, refusing all food and attention. Generally, if you stick to your guns they will get over it after about a week or two.

Otherwise, cats generally don't hunt if they don't need to for food. Unless they're doing it for sport and fun, which apparently, Molly does. Domestication can make there instincts run a little strange, which is why you get the "presents" Molly provides.

I would try to avoid the kitty medications for anxiety. They rarely work out, especially in the long term, and can often leave you with an emotionally scarred cat.