my elderly cat

[mightymouse]

My female puss is 17 now, still really affectionate and adorable. Lately she has become really deaf, and the vet says she has arthritis in her back legs. After blood tests, a liver problem has been diagnosed, so she starts a new prescription diet tomorrow. She has recently developed a habit of coming indoors and wailing or howling about 6 times. When she sees me she stops, and just emits a noisy, friendly miaow! I seem to recall my last cat doing this when she was very old...20 yrs.
Anyone else had this experience?

My cat is called Krystle, she is black, and gorgeous.

Thanks for any comments!

[lankeela]

Aw bless!.

[ganesh]

Yes. She's calling out for you.My cat used to do it when he got older,and earlier on if he had been in a cattery or I had been away from the house for a long time.
Hope she gets better soon,my cat lasted until 19,butt 17 is a pretty good age!

[wolf63]

they suffer from senility as well, the age of onset varies. My dog used to get really confused and start crying, (granted he wasn't too bright to start with).

As long as Krystle is eating/drinking and going to the bathroom regularly she will be a happy cat.

I think we always know, in our hearts, when the time has come to let go. But your angel seems fine.

[mightymouse]

Thanks for your suggestions. Krystle has been eating the prescription diet today, if erratically. She is still very vocal, and follows me everywhere, but she cannot hear a thing. The deafness has been so sudden, but her eyesight is fine. It is the wailing which I find distressing. She is also losing weight. She got scraggy and aggressive 2 or 3 years ago, this was diagnosed as thyroid problems. She had an op. and made a wonderful recovery, and put on lots of weight. Now she has lost it all, and the vet said that thyroid and kidney problems are linked. I so want her to be happy, however long she has, but I do realise that ......!

She was on my lap for a while this evening, purring away, and receptive to any stroking....so she must be ok???


R.

[wolf63]

my vet told me that vocal changes in cats, mainly that they are speaking more and in a different voice, is usually caused by thyroid problems.

My cat was like that for the last couple of years of his life, he wasn't at all distressed - but him coming into my bed at two in the morning for a chat was driving me nuts