Having trouble with our old Bagpuss
Discussion
We've had our cat for around 10 years now, we used to have her daughter too but she sadly died just over a year ago. Recently our remaining cat has developed a phobia of anything reflective. She woke us up in the night having a full on fight with her reflection, so we covered up that mirror. Ever since then she keeps finding shiny or glass surfaces in the house and it starts with a stare, then the tail puffs up, then there's hissing too. It's not a huge issue to cover or remove these surfaces, but I'm worried there's a deeper issue causing it. Has anyone else been through this?
She has been at the vets a few times recently as she was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism at the end of last year. They did lots of tests and blood work then, nothing came back apart from the thyroid thing. Although I don't know whether they'd test blood pressure?
Taking her to the vets is hugely stressful for all concerned as she's a rescued stray, and not good with strange situations and people, she jumped off the table at our most recent vet visit and tried to get behind the bins.
I probably should have said that the cat we lost around a year ago was quite mean to her, she'd constantly jump out and surprise her when she walked past. Maybe this is a hangover from that as it's all stemmed from the encounter with a recently introduced mirror.
I should say she has no issue seeing birds flying past the window (through voile curtains) and can see bits of food etc.
Taking her to the vets is hugely stressful for all concerned as she's a rescued stray, and not good with strange situations and people, she jumped off the table at our most recent vet visit and tried to get behind the bins.
I probably should have said that the cat we lost around a year ago was quite mean to her, she'd constantly jump out and surprise her when she walked past. Maybe this is a hangover from that as it's all stemmed from the encounter with a recently introduced mirror.
I should say she has no issue seeing birds flying past the window (through voile curtains) and can see bits of food etc.
If she is hyperthyroid then she will almost certainly have had high blood pressure (they really should try and check this) high blood pressure can cause retinal damage but the hyperthyroidism can cause weird behaviours esp if not being controlled too well.
It is very hard when they are not 'vet compatible' but unfortunately I am limited on what else to suggest except to try aktivait but its effect may be minimal now.
It is very hard when they are not 'vet compatible' but unfortunately I am limited on what else to suggest except to try aktivait but its effect may be minimal now.
She went back after a month on the tablets, her weight had gone up and the thyroid reading had gone down, so they are working in that respect. She's also being sick a lot less than she was. Appetite is hard to judge as she's always been a greedy bugger, but at least it makes giving her the tablets easy.
If there is something wrong with her eyes, would it be treatable? We obviously don't know her exact age but I'd say minimum of 12.
If there is something wrong with her eyes, would it be treatable? We obviously don't know her exact age but I'd say minimum of 12.
VictoriaYorks said:
She went back after a month on the tablets, her weight had gone up and the thyroid reading had gone down, so they are working in that respect. She's also being sick a lot less than she was. Appetite is hard to judge as she's always been a greedy bugger, but at least it makes giving her the tablets easy.
If there is something wrong with her eyes, would it be treatable? We obviously don't know her exact age but I'd say minimum of 12.
All positives, how long ago was she checked? The eyes can be treated but can be complicated, we are very lucky to have a gp vet with a good knowledge of eye care, studied etc as well, so looks after our eye patients!If there is something wrong with her eyes, would it be treatable? We obviously don't know her exact age but I'd say minimum of 12.
Often the first thing is to reduce further damage (assuming there is some of course) by ensuring bp is controlled etc.
Senility is another real factor (which is where Aktivait may help) but there is not always a lot you can do except reduce confusing situations for her.
Probably around end of February time when she last went. She'll probably need to go back in around 2 months as the repeat prescription will be due again, and they didn't see her last time.
It wouldn't surprise me if it was something mental, she's had a very hard life. Two litters of kittens while still very young. The first litter the RSPCA took the kittens and left her as a stray. Thankfully she was saved by a rescue centre with some morals after she got pregnant again.
We also wondered how much she's aware of our other cat (her daughter) having passed away? She cried at night for a few days, and would suddenly wake up from being asleep and start crying, but I don't know how they grieve, if at all.
It wouldn't surprise me if it was something mental, she's had a very hard life. Two litters of kittens while still very young. The first litter the RSPCA took the kittens and left her as a stray. Thankfully she was saved by a rescue centre with some morals after she got pregnant again.
We also wondered how much she's aware of our other cat (her daughter) having passed away? She cried at night for a few days, and would suddenly wake up from being asleep and start crying, but I don't know how they grieve, if at all.
My old cat had a few health issues and senile behaviour but was coping however we lost our younger cat (she was 14/15) and they were very very close and I don't think he could cope with her not being around, he went downhill within 3 months, his senility became really bad and I had to let him go just that short time after 
.
All these factors can play a part, we just have to support them as much as we can, I hope you can find a way to settle her down again and not seem so agitated. Follow up bloods are needed just to ensure the levels aren't creeping back up again.
.All these factors can play a part, we just have to support them as much as we can, I hope you can find a way to settle her down again and not seem so agitated. Follow up bloods are needed just to ensure the levels aren't creeping back up again.
Sorry for your losses, the heartache is almost unbearable.
I will get her in again when we need more tablets and mention the "finding cats all over the house" issue with her.
We did consider getting a kitten when we lost the younger one, but we thought she was probably too old, and she's come out of herself a lot more now she's on her own.
I will get her in again when we need more tablets and mention the "finding cats all over the house" issue with her.
We did consider getting a kitten when we lost the younger one, but we thought she was probably too old, and she's come out of herself a lot more now she's on her own.
We bit the bullet and took her to the vet tonight. She bit the OHs hand while he was manhandling her into the box. Drew blood too. When she was in the box with the lid closed she was actually trying to fight her way out, never done that before! Disgraced herself in the box on the way to the vet even though the journey is less than 5 mins. Then escaped the vet's grasp and jumped off the table (again). They've taken blood to check thyroid levels but she has lost s bit of weight so we're going to up her food a bit. I mentioned her eyes and he checked them with a light and said everything looked fine.
This was 2.5 hours ago and she is still yelling at us
This was 2.5 hours ago and she is still yelling at us
VictoriaYorks said:
They said if it swells up he should go and get some antibiotics from the doctors. She was fine this morning, seems to have got over it thankfully, we did bribe her with an entire tin of tuna last night!
.Ok tell him to keep a really close check on it. They don't always swell much. I have known vets and nurses hospitalised for cat bites which is why I know they shouldn't be treated lightly.
I have always been OK but possibly lucky aswell that I haven't reacted more severely to a cat bite!!
It's just a tiny hole, I think she only caught him with one tooth. She doesn't have that many teeth left.
The vets have rung this morning and said that her thyroid levels are going up again so we have to up her tablets to two a day. Also we're going to have to go back again for more tests sooner than we'd like.
The vets have rung this morning and said that her thyroid levels are going up again so we have to up her tablets to two a day. Also we're going to have to go back again for more tests sooner than we'd like.
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