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CA_POPPY's avatar
CA_POPPY
Explorer
Jan 25, 2015

Old cats, revisited

Edna will be 19 in June and I think she just might make it. She came to us at five weeks old and that's a story in itself. She's what the Brits call a ginger tabby, orange shorthair, not at all uncommon, except to us. She has a bunny-soft coat and she's a bit eccentric, as is the right of old girls. At this age, she "talks" more than she ever did. Sometimes her voice is inquisitive, sometimes insistent and occasionally demanding. Her face now has more white than just the star she was born with. I am still, and always have been, her favorite person. Sometimes she will wake me in the middle of the night, just to make sure I am okay. We are both aging at warp speed.

At this stage, I sometimes look into her eyes and see the slight confusion and disorientation I noticed in my mother's eyes at the end of her life. I want to tell Edna that I understand.

Tell me about your old cat. Aren't they amazing?

10 Replies

  • magnusfide's avatar
    magnusfide
    Explorer II
    Feb 05, 2015
    CA POPPY wrote:
    Edna, at going on 19 years is so much more needy of attention. If I am petting her and walk away, she will grab my hand. She talks and asks me questions I don't know the answers to. She doesn't want to eat all of her renal diet food and begs for treats. We give them to her, just not as much as she would like. Vet says this is okay. The thyroid meds (applied as a cream to her ear, have livened her up a bit. She is thin behind the ribs, but otherwise does not appear in poor condition. Sometimes in the middle of the night she yells at me. They take a lot of understanding, don't they? Well, don't we all?

    Just like senior folks. :W
  • CA_POPPY's avatar
    CA_POPPY
    Explorer
    Feb 05, 2015
    Edna, at going on 19 years is so much more needy of attention. If I am petting her and walk away, she will grab my hand. She talks and asks me questions I don't know the answers to. She doesn't want to eat all of her renal diet food and begs for treats. We give them to her, just not as much as she would like. Vet says this is okay. The thyroid meds (applied as a cream to her ear, have livened her up a bit. She is thin behind the ribs, but otherwise does not appear in poor condition. Sometimes in the middle of the night she yells at me. They take a lot of understanding, don't they? Well, don't we all?
  • CA_POPPY's avatar
    CA_POPPY
    Explorer
    Jan 30, 2015
    LANShark42 wrote:
    I've always heard that Siamese are very vocal. Is he "talking" more than he used to?

    Our Siamese, Sam, who lived to age 16, did not get more talkative in his old age, but he sure became clingy. His last year, I couldn't sit down without Sam in my lap, even for a meal. It seemed odd, as he had never been "my" cat until then. He had been our son's special pet, but our son had moved out by then, and Sam latched onto me. I missed him a lot when he was gone. Siamese do seem a bit more like people than most other cats do, don't they?
  • LANShark42's avatar
    LANShark42
    Explorer
    Jan 26, 2015
    I've always heard that Siamese are very vocal. Is he "talking" more than he used to?
  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer II
    Jan 25, 2015
    I'm dealing with that with my 20+ year old cat. This is the first and only cat I have owned so my knowledge of cat issues is limited.

    All he does is talk and scream all day. He eats and his plumbing works. Just keeps meowing, well no it's not meowing, because he's s Siamese it's more like constantly complaining at a real irritating sound level.

    Is this considered normal when a cat gets that age or is it indicative of something else?
  • CA_POPPY's avatar
    CA_POPPY
    Explorer
    Jan 25, 2015
    rwj146 wrote:
    I adopted my neighbors old orange tomcat when he was at least 12 years old. I was told he was 19 but if he was I think he would be close to a record. I have had him about 8 years. He still makes the litter box, demands attention and is a good companion.

    I am not really a cat person but this old guy may convert me. He will not eat the 'good' food, I bought the Blue whatever that stuff is and he wanted no part of it. Tried to cover it up.

    His muzzle is turning grey, he has a bit of a hard time breathing sometimes but the vet says he is good for his age. I thought I was doing her a favor adopting him, I think she did me the favor by selecting me to take him.

    Aww, I love it when these little guys manage to convert a non-cat person! Your kitty might be that old. Our vet says she has one cat patient who is 27! Vet also shares your cat's opinion of Blue's pet food. After "9ld cat" blood work, Edna is now on thyroid meds and special renal diet kibble. We can tell the difference. We will not be getting another cat, so need to take the best care we can of this one.
  • rwj146's avatar
    rwj146
    Explorer
    Jan 25, 2015
    I adopted my neighbors old orange tomcat when he was at least 12 years old. I was told he was 19 but if he was I think he would be close to a record. I have had him about 8 years. He still makes the litter box, demands attention and is a good companion.

    I am not really a cat person but this old guy may convert me. He will not eat the 'good' food, I bought the Blue whatever that stuff is and he wanted no part of it. Tried to cover it up.

    His muzzle is turning grey, he has a bit of a hard time breathing sometimes but the vet says he is good for his age. I thought I was doing her a favor adopting him, I think she did me the favor by selecting me to take him.
  • magnusfide's avatar
    magnusfide
    Explorer II
    Jan 25, 2015
    We had an old black cat that lived to 21. She ate the same food in the same amount every day. Tender Vittles. This was back in 1975. We found her in a parking lot at Kmart, and she was not much bigger than my hand. Great cat, very affectionate to the end. She terrorized the dogs who learned to respect her.
  • LANShark42's avatar
    LANShark42
    Explorer
    Jan 25, 2015
    Great story and well told. I have a calico torti who will turn 13 this year. Not old, but beginning to show her age. She is a tiny girl and starting to look a little frazzled and frail. It doesn't help that we brought an Akita puppy into the house this past year. The pup just wants to play, and Cali wants none of that. Cali is 1/10 her weight, but gives the pup what-for whenever she romps too close.

    I hope your remaining time with your girl is happy and peaceful.
  • romore's avatar
    romore
    Explorer II
    Jan 25, 2015
    You are really going to miss that old girl when she goes to the happy hunting ground, she is obviously a special friend. When I met Karen I adopted her two fur kids, a neurotic dog and a cat with an attitude. Jo (the cat) was a miserable piece, sometimes I could pet her but most times I got a snarl and claws in the back of my hand.
    Seven years later, this cat has mellowed (to a point). I am usually the first one she comes to for attention especially in the morning before I am ready to wake up. However we have since acquired a second dog, an old toy poodle that Jo torments because she can get away with it. The first dog, also a toy, don't take no guff from no stinkin cat and Jo knows it. Right now she is sitting on the mouse pad wanting me to rub her forehead.

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