Animal senility?

DeltaRed · Mar 25, 2014

We have an OLD cat(was my mother-in-law's).She(the cat) has been taken up 'hunting'.She has been takeing the stuffed animals off the bed after it's made in the morning.Carries them around the house.Makes the strangest 'yewl' sound.The past few nights,she has been takeing them out of their basket at night.Anyone else have an older pet that is acting strange?

DeltaRed · Mar 25, 2014

'Catsky'

rrlund · Mar 25, 2014

Sounds like she's in heat.

Nancy Howell · Mar 25, 2014

Sounds like she thinks they're kittens and she's moving them.

DeltaRed · Mar 25, 2014

This cat is over 20.Been spayed for years.

David G · Mar 25, 2014

Probably so, there are worse things.

Old weldor · Mar 25, 2014

Kitty dementia?

Michael Soldan · Mar 25, 2014

Does the cat have any health issues besides? Sometimes when they aren't feeling well they will do strange things trying to tell you. Older cats like that often develop diabetes and will start to lose weight steadily. I had cats that lasted 23 years and diabetes finally took them,nothing can be done. Just my observation,I do miss having cats in the house.

Brokenwrench · Mar 25, 2014

I have my 14yr old Chesapeake/lab cross. He has went totally deaf over the last couple years. The best hunting, stick around the place, faithful companion I could have asked for.

We have had quite a few chuckles over some of his senior moments, he does some pretty random stuff sometimes. For a dog who always knew where to be and when to be there, its the least we can do to look out for him now. It is kinda funny watching the kids run around the yard waving their arms to flag him down.

He likes to go down to the barn and sleep. All winter I would get him before bed and bring him up to the heated garage for the night. I would flash the lights in the barn and see his head pop up from behind the feed bags. Same routine every night..

Over the last few weeks his backend is starting to give out, I have to help him up sometimes. He isn"t eating much and starting to get thinner. Im afraid the end is near for him. I dread that day. BW

paul · Mar 25, 2014

Here I thought Animal, the fella that posts here, was having problems.....

Paul

Brian Allen · Mar 25, 2014

Our black lab, Hoover is almost there too.
It is really hard to say good bye to a great pet.
Just like one of the family!
Brian

Eldon (WA) · Mar 25, 2014

(quoted from post at 06:09:03 03/25/14) We have an OLD cat(was my mother-in-law's).She(the cat) has been taken up 'hunting'.She has been takeing the stuffed animals off the bed after it's made in the morning.Carries them around the house.Makes the strangest 'yewl' sound.The past few nights,she has been takeing them out of their basket at night.Anyone else have an older pet that is acting strange?

We have a 5 year old male that does the same...especially when he is bored. He is real proud of his finds and lets us know. Toys go downstairs in the morning, by evening they are all back upstairs.

RLA · Mar 25, 2014

?? Well We have a Rock Hound?

She"s really a Yorkie that belongs to my
Daughter from Fla.. But she Moved to Boulder.
& Mom & Dad get to watch the dog typa deal.
Since She"s lived with us, she removes the
stone"s from the driveway & brings a new one
inside when she comes back in the house.
She been hiding them, well they were under the
couch. When my wife ran the vacuum she moved the
couch, just about 4" from the top of a 5 gallon
pail full.. I told my she ought to vacuum
more often? ( Didn"t go Well ) But since she
lost her hiding place she now it putting them
under the matching chair to the couch. If I take
one & put it somewhere else in the house, the
minute I turn my back it"s GONE!!.. back under
the chair??

TomR Ont · Mar 25, 2014

Brokenwrench,
We have a Lab/Mix? also about 14ys with hip dysplasia so bad some times she didn't know where her back legs were, she has responded really well with Glucosamine, Chondroitin, I didn't know about the "MSM" expensive but she's worth it, if you knew her you would think so to.

"(Kirkland Signature™ Glucosamine, Chondroitin and MSM
Completely natural and non-toxic, this is a remedy that helps protect against the deterioration of cartilage due to chronic joint disease. Glucosamine is a building block for healthy cartilage and chondroitin stimulates production of key components found in cartilage. Together they help protect and rebuild damaged cartilage. MSM fights inflammation by enhancing the body’s own anti-inflammatory control system and accelerates healing.)"

Nancy Howell · Mar 25, 2014

Had the same problem with one of my dogs. Its been several years ago, but got a supplement from the vet called "geriatric formula". Helped a lot. Gave him another2 yrs of being active.

retired farmer · Mar 25, 2014

If she has been losing any amount of weight lately, have her thyroid checked. I had an old cat that was getting thin and thought it was just old age. Had her checked and she had thyroid problems, had to give her medicine for it. Sad day when she left, still miss her.

Brokenwrench · Mar 25, 2014

Nancy and Tom

Thanks for the replies.

I noticed his hips and front shoulder started bothering him about 4 yrs ago. I brought him to the vet and he has been on the Glucosamine/chondroitin dog food since then. He really did well with it for about the next two years. He was already losing his hearing then. It was last summer I figure that he went totally deaf.

I bring him to the vet every spring, the last time there, she could really tell he was slipping. In fact, if it weren"t for the heated garage for him to lounge in this winter, I don"t think he would have made it. It was brutal cold and he wants absolutely nothing to do with being in the house. I can hardly keep him in the garage.

Im afraid its just getting to be that time for him. Ive been watching him closely for the last month. I think old age, hip dysplasia, and a lifetime of being a rugged outdoor MN dog are just all catching up with him. BW

GordoSD · Mar 25, 2014

That day is here. Show your love for him and ease his suffering. Chessies rarely get to 12.

Mark - IN. · Mar 25, 2014

It will probably clear up in near time. Years ago I had a female labrador that all of a sudden started treating one of her toys like a puppy. She'd carry it everywhere, tuck it in like she was nursing it when she'd lie down, and all kinds of stuff. If someone touched it, she was all over them like "...don't hurt my baby". It was kind of strange, but at the same time very obvious. It went on for a month or maybe two as I recall, and then it just stopped. Looking back on it, I feel kind of bad because one time I picked it up and started slapping it around and making it squeak. That really upset her. Looking back, I could have avoided that. But, it might have been what stopped her too. Maybe she thought I killed it.?.? I don't rememember.

Mark

Mark - IN. · Mar 25, 2014

Its a tough thing to have to deal with. I'm always the one that has to take them to the vet. Its a tough thing. But then again, I suppose that its a good thing that when it happens, that I'm the one. The reason that I say that, is because they have always been good companions to and for me, so the least that I can do is be there holding them, whispering into the ears reasuringly as they cross into their next lives as the vets do what has to be hard for them to do too. All of my dogs, I hug and hold them with one arm, pet and stroke them with the other, whisper non-stop in their ears the whole time until the vet puts down the stethescope, pats me on the arm and says that they're gone. Its never easy, but I will never send them off alone by themselves without being there with and for them. I couldn't do that to them after what they've done for my family and myself.

Mark

Chris Jones · Mar 25, 2014

Dogs can develop dementia so I'd assume cats can too. Not sure if that's what your dealing with though.

Animal senility?

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