Reptile & Amphibian Forums

mews, Pita here gonna let momma Andi meow....

Hey,
I just got done talking with a neighbor last night. She watches Pita when I go on vacation and I watch hers when she goes on vacation. She has 2 cats about 14 years old or so and just last year lost one of her 3 she had. She is rather concerned about one, and don't blame her. KB is a beautiful black cat that she took in after her mother rescued her from abuse and being pregnant (some a#% hat cut half her tail off). Still atleast the past 12 years or so she has been happy and loved. Now though she hides from the other cat and the humans who love her. She hides under the bed and acts like she does not even know where she is. From what we can figure out she is getting onset feline dementia. She is slightly overweight now but she does not come out to drink or eat, but suspect she does so when noone is home or everyone is asleep. They are taking her to the vet later this week but she is wondering if helping her to the bridge might not be the best. They do not want to see her suffer or be so scared. I am bringing this up hoping we can talk about it and find information. I know most of our kitty citizens are not the young kits they were (however in Pitas case still thinks he is). Moms, Dads, Kitizens...any ideas or thoughts?

thank you
Aunt Andi
and purrs
Pita

This sounds like a sad case but reminds me of some spells Medley had earlier this year. A few times it was like she didn't recognize us. She didn't hide all the time but seemed happy when in a dark corner a few hours a day. Much of the time she slept in the sun, though. One time she was kind of staggering so we took her in to the vet. He didn't find anything wrong but suggested giving her a low-dose aspirin which we did about every other Saturday. Then, we were gone on vacation for two weeks in July. The housesitter didn't have any problems with her and said she acted normal. When we got back, she acted just like her old self and had up until she went to the bridge. That day had been normal and playing (as much as a 14 year old plays) and slept with us that night. Am assuming now there was a heart problem that hadn't shown up and the spell was dementia. Not that this helps your neighbor but we did have three normal, good months with Med and that one spell was the only symptom. If Medley had had continued, ongoing spells like the one, we probably would have considered helping her. My heart goes out to your neighbor but I truly believe the kit will also let her know if she needs help. Hugs
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Medley blue-eyed calimeezer and Shade blacktortie manx with hidden white strip calicowannabe.....
remembering Catiya whose pale sea green eyes wink from the bridge 12-17-10, Octavia, calico manx heart-thief who joined her 2-25-11 and beautiful true-to-her-calico-'tude Jeopardy whose old soul kept mom's psyche soothed but who unexpectedly and quietly left for the bridge 1-20-12

This is a tough one. Hers humans will nose hers quality of life an haf to make da decision wif hers vet. My broffer Stanley who is no longer wif us had proplems hims last year (16). Mommy sed hims would wander around at night and meow like he was lost and confuzed. He would shake out of it when hers called him to a room or went to get him to sleep. If hers is eating (no weight loss), drinking, bafroom, and sleeping OK, then quality of life is da main issue. Iffn she is scared all da time and not enjoying things she normally did, dat may factor in.

If it has just started, dey may want to isolate her to a room alone to see if suddenly the other cat is bothering her or something causing her to hide out. Dey mite want to give it some time to see if she shakes out of it and see what the vet recommends.
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Sparkle (Princess Snow Queen)

(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)

All suggestions are good and I agree with all. I would add that the Vet visit is the best place to start. There is one other possibility. If something happened when your neighbor was not at home that startled or scared the cat or her feline sibling, there may have been a bout of transferred fear/hostility causing a problem between the two cats. Most cats get over this but with some it causes a complete break of trust between the cats. Especially if there is something else going on with kitty, like failing vision, illness or dementia. Only your friend can tell if the quality of life is such that the end of life decision needs to be made. I would ask how the other cat acts around the hiding kitty. Does he try to seek her out or does he avoid her too? If she is healthy per the Vet, she might try putting kitty in her own room with her own food, water and litter. That will tell her if kitty is eating, drinking and going to the bathroom. If all that is happening, try a slow re-introduction to the other cat and the rest of the house. Let us know how it goes, know it is a hard decision for your friend.
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Tessa, Lilly and Hank

In loving memory of all the past Purrs,who we will always love.