Question:

I read with interest the letter from G.Z. of St. Louis Park, Minn. I, too, had a cat affected with seasonal affective disorder. Each winter he would lose about 4 to 5 pounds and act very lethargic; plus, most of his fur would fall out. He looked terrible, like a walking zombie, but come spring, his energy would come back, he'd gain weight, and his fur would come back beautiful. By fall he was sleek and sassy. (He would never lose his appetite during the winter, however.)I'm an artist, and I bought a full-spectrum lamp that helped me with my painting. My cat started to lie under the light where I worked. After that, he didn't lose any weight or fur. I bought a second light just for him, and he spends a lot of time under it.Also, my grandson was blessed with an understanding cat. When my grandson came into adolescence he started to suffer from SAD. He needed to sit in front of the full-spectrum light every day during the winter. As he would sit and read in front of the light, his cat would join him in front of

B.B., Horace, ND Dec 25, 2005

Answer:

Thank you for your letter. I am sure it will wake up many readers to the fact that SAD does seem to affect some cats (and dogs, too). Animals could even develop patches of baldness, the condition being called seasonal alopecia.A full-spectrum light and a humidifier if rooms get too dry are wise winter provisions. Ceramic or glass water and food bowls may be advisable (never use plastic, which can leach toxins), since metal bowls can sometimes shock animals with static electricity, especially during the winter.

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