Very old cat...

[Auntiemoll]

My 21 year old cat has arthritis in his back legs and can only walk a few steps before sitting down for a rest. I am really worried that he is in pain, but he makes no noise at all and can still jump on to our bed where he sleeps for most of the day... will a cat tell you by noise if they are in pain.?
Ben eats well and still goes outside via his cat flap to do his toilet.

[carmalee]

that's a great age for a cat Auntiemoll - as you know he has arthritis why not ring the vet who has been treating him and express your concerns especially if his condition has deteriorated. The vet may alter any medication your cat is on.

[nannybooby]

If he can do all that he's doing really well .Ask at your vets if they do homiopathy( sorry Spelling not my best suit ) as my previous vet used to prescribe B vitamin jabs and arnica for my ol Abbys ( abassynian cats )when they had arthritis and it perked them up a treat. I could do with some myself now .

[karenmac60]

Supposedly extract of green lipped mussel works a treat. My mum used to give it to her old cat and it really seemed to perk him up.

[SpikeyBush]

That is indeed a fantastic age for a cat. My poor James was hit by a car and had a fractured pelvis when he was 4, the vet did a good job of fixing him up then and he had a nice life until the arthritus set in, in his pelvis, when he was 14. His kidneys had started to go, as they often do in cats at this age, and he was going a bit senile too. So it was kind to say goodbye when he was put to sleep. I wouldn't want him to suffer, and suffer is what he would have done if I didn't grasp the nettle and do one of the hardest things I have ever done and ask the vet for the lethal injection. Fellow ABers helped a great deal, you know who you are and I thank you all.

[wolf63]

Auntiemoll - it sounds like your cat is still okay but you ask if they will advise you if he is in pain. Cats generally don't show weakness so will endure pain until they are in quite a bit of pain before they show it.

You know him and you will know in your heart when it is time to let go.

They are interesting/fascinating/curious/intelligent/v
ery
annoying animals. I had better go and feed mine before he eats the keyboard. ;-)

[SpikeyBush]

LOL Wolf63. After a spinal injury I was working from home for a while until I was repaired. Several times my cat hopped up on the dining table and walked over my keyboard, pressing allsorts of buttons. Imagine me having to explain to Mr. Shyamsundar of IBM India, who was setting up all these call centers that pinched UK jobs, that I couldn't reply to his e-mail because my cat deleted it.

[Jemisa]

Ours was 21 when she went and was quite unwell for a few months,but cats don't make any sound if in pain.It was only the medication the vet was giving her that kept her going. Then she lost her appetite & we knew it would be soon. One bright sunny morning in June last year I found her dead on the settee. Don't let that happen to you Moli. . Please.
(I can't get rid of that picture from my head).

jem

[wolf63]

Frankie's sister stomped over my keyboard one day and turned all the writing upside down. It took me ages to find out how to undo the damage.

I usually remind mine that somewhere in the world people eat little boys and girls like them. They ignore me.

Auntiemoll - your furry friend is a good age and if he is still jumping on the bed then he has been well cared for in his life. My last cat used to sit by the side of the bed and scream to be lifted onto the bed.

[welshlibranr]

Oh 21 years old, and still able to jump onto the bed!.......And use the cat flap too!........he's an old man, but still able to enjoy life it seems!......when he's not, you'll know!......until then, long may he enjoy his life!.....

[SpikeyBush]

Jemisa my cat's loss of appetite was the final straw. I thought he may have had toothache, so I switched from dry to wet food. No good. His body was shutting down. His time had come. And I'm glad I made it a bit more comfortable for him.

[Buenchico]

Strangely, cats often purr when in pain or distress but, as long as your feline friend is only purring in response to the usual stimuli (such as stroking and feeding), I would suggest that he's perfectly content with his life.