Why is my 17 year old cat behaving strangely?

by Myrna


This is Minina, my beautiful cat. She is going to be 18 years old in August. Lately, she has been doing odd things, like lying on the litter. She screams when we touch her, and goes to lie on the bare floor under the bed.


Tonight she did what you see in the picture, lie on my husband's belly. She has not done that in a long time. I don't understand her odd behavior.

We took her to the vet, and he did not find anything wrong. He even took an X-ray and everything is ok. The vet told us she is going to be 100 years old in cat years, is that true?

Can you help us understand her behavior? Please, we will appreciate your help. Thank you.

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Jan 23, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Cat lying down in litter box
by: Anonymous

Our dear cat had CRF and IBD and was around 20 years old. He hadn't been doing well for quite some time despite our constant vet visits and efforts. One day he lay down in his litter box. I didn't know what it meant but knew it wasn't good. His hind legs had been failing and we'd put litter boxes in all the places he favored. He died a few months later. The posts from others that I saw here seem accurate; it could be that lying in the box gives him comfort or he is disoriented. All you can do is watch him closely and give him lots of love.
Jan 23, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Minina
by: Rosanne

Hi - If your cat is laying on her litter, she may feel she's losing control and this makes her more secure. I find when cats' change behavior, either their sick and can't tell you or perhaps at this age have arthritis of some type. I wish her many more years', but in reality, she has indeed lived a very long life because of your great care!!!!!
Jan 23, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		17 yr old cat
by: luna

Please take her to another vet; may be blockage or kidneys...HURRY
Jan 23, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Elderly cats
by: Emma

Not sure of this will help give you an idea but My cat is coming up for 16 and she has also started displaying odd behaviour. Anything from waking up and acting as though she doesn't know where she is, howling for no reason, sitting in odd places and sometimes acting like she's a kitten again. I had a magazine from the RSPCA and in it an article about elderly cats. It said that 66% of cats over 15 have a feline version of Alzheimer's. She ticked all the boxes that they listed. No real treatment other than making sure they feel secure and safe.

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