Bean interrupted.

Well, I've figured it out. Bean is suffering from Feline Compulsive Disorder (FCD). She exhibits so many of the characteristics mentioned in many articles on the subject. For instance, when I looked it up I found:

"Feline psychogenic alopecia: This is a stress-linked self-grooming behavior that appears to closely resemble trichotillomania (tearing out hair) in humans. The cat’s excessive licking and plucking pulls out hair in handfuls and leads to large areas of depilation particularly over the limbs, flanks and abdomen. It is more likely to occur in cats that are subordinate and friendly, and like most OCDs seems more common in the oriental breeds."

And

"Excessive vocalization: Frequent yowling noises. Siamese cats are much more likely to do this (genetically predisposed). The behavior is often enhanced by owners who find this yowling endearing and tend to "answer" the cat when it "speaks." For some cats, this attention is very rewarding, which makes their yowling more frequent. A problem then arises when the human wants to turn the yowling off, and the cat is still trying to seek attention and reward. In extreme cases, yowling may even become a form of obsessive compulsive behavior requiring behavioral therapy and medication."

(From www.pethealthcare.com and www.healthypet.com, respectively)

Additional and personal observations include:
- Freaking out at invisible things
- Dashing madly to the back of my apartment and meowing hysterically
- DEMANDING my personal attention by sitting in front of me and yowling like someone is killing her.

Many of these websites tell my vet would prescribe fluoxetine. HUMAN PROZAC. Jeez, Bean and I would have to share that. It's so expensive. We're both depressed. Dr. Webb prescribes lots of naps with Bean, where she purrs and I nap.

(Picture courtesy of Mackenzie Firer-Sherwood and used without both her AND Bean's consent.)