HELP my 18+ cat is acting strangely

[Mzdeadlyspell]

Okay could anyone shed some light.

My cat is 18+ years old, and was in great conidtion. Recently she was up all night and meowing loudly and lost some weight. She was taken to the vet where she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and is taking medication.

Lately she has gained some weight back, but now, she paces in circles all the time. SHe never has done this. Also she meows and growls when I pick her up, pet her, or just anything. She has never been liek this, at all. Sure she is eating and now hangs out with my family more, sitting with us, but I sure can not pick her up or touch her.

I realize that an elderly cat is different then a youngster, after having a few cats. But her behavior has really changed.

[Msterbeau]

Things can change pretty fast once they get that old. If she's growling, she's not happy about where you're touching her. If you can afford it take her back to the vet and have her checked again. Maybe she's having a bad reaction to the meds?

[LadyWindstone]

Sounds like when you pick her up it hurts her. She may have an injury or Gods forbid a tumor or cancer growing where you put your hand to pick her up. Have your vet do a thorough check to make sure everything is in working order and there are no extras in there.

[Mzdeadlyspell]

Okay the advice is definately taken into consideration. It is strange because she does sit with the family more. She wants to be by everyone. Tonight she was sleeping on the couch, purring away....But I know she will be mad and growling the minute I try to give her medication.......

THANK YOU

[Homicidalheathen]

wow cats get all the people diseases...i cant help but to say i know a human with this and her PHYSICAL symptoms made her think she was goin coo coo

new meds maybe?

[Msterbeau]

Okay the advice is definately taken into consideration. It is strange because she does sit with the family more. She wants to be by everyone. Tonight she was sleeping on the couch, purring away....But I know she will be mad and growling the minute I try to give her medication.......

THANK YOU

Cats don't like meds... That may be part of it too.

[GothicRavenGoddess (3)]

authritis, anyone? that may also be the case... and the fact that she may associate you picking her up with the meds and thinks that EVERYTIME you are picking you up that its to give her meds..... Cats are silly like that...

[Msterbeau]

authritis, anyone? that may also be the case... and the fact that she may associate you picking her up with the meds and thinks that EVERYTIME you are picking you up that its to give her meds..... Cats are silly like that...

My cat who lived to 20 years had arthritis in her last couple years. She walked with a limp but never grumpy about picking her up. Arthritis is obvious in how they move. Depending what joints are most affected. I doubt that7s it.

[Mzdeadlyspell]

Well they gave her something also to put in her food for arthritis. Now the problem is her nose has gotten so dry, that it has a cut on it, and some skin missing. I di dnot know what to do, so I put vaseline on it tonight. I hope this is not the wrong thing to do.

She purrs a bit now, but nothing like before. She is my little baby.

[Msterbeau]

Well they gave her something also to put in her food for arthritis. Now the problem is her nose has gotten so dry, that it has a cut on it, and some skin missing. I di dnot know what to do, so I put vaseline on it tonight. I hope this is not the wrong thing to do.

She purrs a bit now, but nothing like before. She is my little baby.

It's sad to see them go into decline when they get really old. :-(

[jynxxxedangel]

We have a geriatric kitteh who is a member of our pride, as well. She came to us as a pregnant, semi-feral stray, but I recall seeing her as a kitten belonging to the neighbor's cat at least 8 years before that. Her markings are very distinctive.

She has now been with us for 9 years. She's developed terrible litterbox and paw-marking issues in her advanced age, which cause me much grief. Her eyes have grown cataracts, and the orange markings in her fur have become shot with grey. She has a bit of an odd gait, most likely due to arthritis, as well. She still remains both extremely loving and playful, and a sweet (although sometimes shy) cat.

Nevertheless, I cannot bear to betray the promise I made to her all those years ago-- that nothing bad would ever happen to her again-- when I first gained her hard-earned trust. I won't ever have her put down unless she shows signs of advanced suffering-- and even then, I would have the vet come to the house, and have her euthanized while sitting comfortably in my lap. It has been very difficult for me to witness her declining youth. It's been many years since I lost a treasured pet. I can only try to prepare myself for that day.

[bean]

My parents old cat had the same symptoms that you describe. When he was 17, he would start meowing in the middle of the night. The vet said he was likely confused at night because he couldn't see as well and suggested plugging in a night light. That helped.

Towards the end, he didn't like to be picked up and would growl. He had something wrong with his gallbladder, which is what killed him.

It was difficult when he died. We got him when I was 7 years old (he was a year old then), and he died when I was 23.

Take your cat to the vet and find out what is wrong. Good luck and best wishes.

[ashlei]

My cat used to meow in the middle of the night as well.

It worried me a lot... but then I realized that she was just in heat.

Hope your kitty gets better.

[pomba gira]

Well they gave her something also to put in her food for arthritis. Now the problem is her nose has gotten so dry, that it has a cut on it, and some skin missing. I di dnot know what to do, so I put vaseline on it tonight. I hope this is not the wrong thing to do.

She purrs a bit now, but nothing like before. She is my little baby.

Aloe might be better, or even an antibiotic ointment. With vaseline, or anything else oily, she's likely to just lick it off and irritate it more in the process.

Poor kitty! But she's lucky to have someone to love and care for her in her waning years.