Problem with elderly cat
Discussion
We currently have two cats and a dog the elderly cat is Pepper and she is around 20/21 and we've had her for around 17/18 years, she was a rescue form the RSPCA, we also have Jazzy who is around 13 whom we have had from a kitten and a new addition of a 15 month old dog, Daisy, who we re-homed a couple of months ago.
Before the re-homed dog we also had an 11 year old dog, Humphrey whom we had from a puppy; he was was sadly PTS just after the summer due to health problems.
The above is to build up a picture of the pet situation so hopefully someone may be able to tell if it has a bearing on the problem we have.
For a good year or two Pepper has noticably been getting old and frail; she stopped going out, stared into space, falls of the work surface, can't jump as far etc and she had the odd toilet accident but, for obvious reasons we put this down to old age.
Just before Humphrey was PTS she started to not clean herself as well as she used to and she would sit in her water bowl and started to have more accidents and had the occasional fit.
Now since Daisy has come along she has become even worse, she wees on the draining board, the printer, the lounge, the stairs, under the bed etc which we think is all becuase of having her nose out of joint with Daisy however we had Humphrey before Daisy so she is used to a dog, the other issue is she smells as she doesn't clean herself and her fur is all oily and she is usually wet as she sits in her water bowl so when she wants attention, I'm afraid she doesn't really get it as she is dirty and smelly, this started way before Daisy came along.
She used to sleep in the bedroom however that stopped about a year ago when she started weeing and pooing under the bed, we tried a litter tray in there however she didn't use it.
Is it old age, is it her feeling she is losing her "top dog" status in the house due to her frailty?
The younger cat is fine by the way, we aren't seeing any problems with her
Before the re-homed dog we also had an 11 year old dog, Humphrey whom we had from a puppy; he was was sadly PTS just after the summer due to health problems.
The above is to build up a picture of the pet situation so hopefully someone may be able to tell if it has a bearing on the problem we have.
For a good year or two Pepper has noticably been getting old and frail; she stopped going out, stared into space, falls of the work surface, can't jump as far etc and she had the odd toilet accident but, for obvious reasons we put this down to old age.
Just before Humphrey was PTS she started to not clean herself as well as she used to and she would sit in her water bowl and started to have more accidents and had the occasional fit.
Now since Daisy has come along she has become even worse, she wees on the draining board, the printer, the lounge, the stairs, under the bed etc which we think is all becuase of having her nose out of joint with Daisy however we had Humphrey before Daisy so she is used to a dog, the other issue is she smells as she doesn't clean herself and her fur is all oily and she is usually wet as she sits in her water bowl so when she wants attention, I'm afraid she doesn't really get it as she is dirty and smelly, this started way before Daisy came along.
She used to sleep in the bedroom however that stopped about a year ago when she started weeing and pooing under the bed, we tried a litter tray in there however she didn't use it.
Is it old age, is it her feeling she is losing her "top dog" status in the house due to her frailty?
The younger cat is fine by the way, we aren't seeing any problems with her
Sorry to say but at 20/21 it sounds like she is just close to the end of her life.
One of ours is 17/18 ish and is really slowing down. We moved house at the start of December and while there is a big fully enclosed garen (he cant jump up anything higher than a bed now) he has shown no inclination to go out at all.
He still eats well and uses the litter tray but just sleps for 23 hours a day. Seems like he has a bit of dementia as well so we keep a close eye on him.
I'm dreading the day we might have to make the call but theres no way I would let him suffer. Better a day too early than a day too late IMO.
One of ours is 17/18 ish and is really slowing down. We moved house at the start of December and while there is a big fully enclosed garen (he cant jump up anything higher than a bed now) he has shown no inclination to go out at all.
He still eats well and uses the litter tray but just sleps for 23 hours a day. Seems like he has a bit of dementia as well so we keep a close eye on him.
I'm dreading the day we might have to make the call but theres no way I would let him suffer. Better a day too early than a day too late IMO.
For her I'm afraid everything you have described points to her age being the factor more than anything else.
When did she last see a vet, what did they say about her, they can help assess her for you. She is doing incredibly well age wise but I do think you may need to consider what she is truly getting from life and not let her go too far downhill.
Her urinating inappropriately may be sl behavioural but it's a very small part of her sadly growing list of problems so even if this could be dealt with it may not be enough, however this is where your vetcan help you know whether you try or not.
Sorry I couldn't be more positive.
When did she last see a vet, what did they say about her, they can help assess her for you. She is doing incredibly well age wise but I do think you may need to consider what she is truly getting from life and not let her go too far downhill.
Her urinating inappropriately may be sl behavioural but it's a very small part of her sadly growing list of problems so even if this could be dealt with it may not be enough, however this is where your vetcan help you know whether you try or not.
Sorry I couldn't be more positive.
Edited by bexVN on Tuesday 14th January 14:46
Popped into the vets earlier today and had a chat, amongst a couple of other things, about Pepper; told the vet what I've told you guys and she said that is classic Alzheimer's and arthritis (unable to clean herself) and as she isn't using the litter trays or cleaning herself then really we need to be doing what's best for her.
I'll have a chat to the wife tonight.
I'll have a chat to the wife tonight.
I had to have my boy Dufrey out to sleep on 2oth December, broke my heart but the right thing to do, he was 18 and his arthritis had gotten very bad, couldn't get up on the bed and kept falling over a lot.
He was still eating and loved his cuddles but was very vocal mainly through frustration and senility.
I had the vet do a home visit and she agreed it was his time as his quality of life was diminished.
Always a difficult decision and my heart goes out to you.
He was still eating and loved his cuddles but was very vocal mainly through frustration and senility.
I had the vet do a home visit and she agreed it was his time as his quality of life was diminished.
Always a difficult decision and my heart goes out to you.
The wife popped in for lunch and I told her what the vet had said; I'm taking her to the vets this afternoon.
I'm off work today as having taken holiday as both myself and the wife are going away for the weekend for her birthday, the last time I was off work on holiday, which was half term last year in October, we had the dog PTS!
I'm off work today as having taken holiday as both myself and the wife are going away for the weekend for her birthday, the last time I was off work on holiday, which was half term last year in October, we had the dog PTS!
I wish I could have spared my cat some suffering when the time came to look at her quality of life. She passed away on her own while I was at work. Ironically I was going to call the vet when I got home but found her on the living room floor cold.
You know how much pain and grief doing the right thing will cause you OP, but it sounds like you have to be strong and selfless as you were before.
Good luck. It wont be easy after 18 years together.
You know how much pain and grief doing the right thing will cause you OP, but it sounds like you have to be strong and selfless as you were before.
Good luck. It wont be easy after 18 years together.
Well, Pepper passed around 5:10pm, it was sad however it was for the best; didn't help that she was purring loads and being really loving whilst we were waiting to be seen.
It was most definately for the best though.
Interestingly the wife was scrolling through pictures on her FB earlier and found one from 2011 of Pepper with a comment under it about her acting a bit weird lately and sitting staring into space; I hadn't realised that it started that long ago.
We are away this weekend so we have something to take our mind of it all.
One thing that will be interesting; we've always felt that the younger cat was always stifled a bit by Pepper as she was such a strong character and was most definately the boss, it'll be interesting to see if her personality and behaviour changes.
Thanks for your kind words.
It was most definately for the best though.
Interestingly the wife was scrolling through pictures on her FB earlier and found one from 2011 of Pepper with a comment under it about her acting a bit weird lately and sitting staring into space; I hadn't realised that it started that long ago.
We are away this weekend so we have something to take our mind of it all.
One thing that will be interesting; we've always felt that the younger cat was always stifled a bit by Pepper as she was such a strong character and was most definately the boss, it'll be interesting to see if her personality and behaviour changes.
Thanks for your kind words.
You did the best thing for Pepper, even though I'm sure you feel crap about it.
20/21 is an incredible age for a cat, especially if outdoors. She obviously had a lovely life with you and that's what counts, also that you were there for her at the end.
I had to get one of mine put to sleep at 18 and it was heart-wrenching because she'd been with me for so long. The other decided her time had come by herself at 19.
Enjoy your time away in the knowledge you gave a cat a happy home which she might not have had otherwise.
20/21 is an incredible age for a cat, especially if outdoors. She obviously had a lovely life with you and that's what counts, also that you were there for her at the end.
I had to get one of mine put to sleep at 18 and it was heart-wrenching because she'd been with me for so long. The other decided her time had come by herself at 19.
Enjoy your time away in the knowledge you gave a cat a happy home which she might not have had otherwise.
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