Poorly or just ageing cat?

tesuhoha

My daughter shares a flat with a couple who also have a cat. The cat has access to outside whilst they are all at work during the day.

Just recently the cat has stopped going outside to toilet but has been going inside. My daughter has been helping to clean it up but it has gone on too long and she has said she is not going to do it anymore. The couple are now going to buy a litter tray.

However, the cat has also become very irritable (although irritability is in her personality) and has stopped grooming itself completely. As it is a rescue cat they don't know its precise age but probably between 11-13 years old.

I said to her that there is something wrong and they need to take the cat to the vet to see if the cat is ill. Also it sounds like senility to me. Or could it be something else. She is starting to resent the cat as it is dirty and smelly and won't let it into her room anymore. She liked the cat before this. She said it is not her cat but I said she should try to drop hints about taking the cat to the vet as it is the duty of the owner to provide care. If it is senility is there anything that can be done? It is getting urgent because the couple are going on holiday soon and she is not willing to clean up after it for two weeks although previously she has been happy enough to feed and care for it. She said she will move home and let it dirty the flat for 2 weeks and the person next door will feed it.

I don't know how to persuade her otherwise.

mellymoo74

It needs to go to a vet.

Ask her if she would want to be walking around in pain potentially.
It might also have been frightened so now want to go loo in a safe place there is really no way of knowing without a vet visit.

Does she love your cats? Ask her how she would feel if this was happening to them?

bugslet

Being kind that is neglect, not so kind, abuse.

There is obviously something wrong witht he animal, it needs to go to the vet. as they are going on holiday, money is obviously not an issue. I'd be not dropping hints as telling them.

i had a border collie that started to get irritable, turned out he had bladder stones, soon as that was sorted, his mood improved.

tesuhoha

mellymoo74 wrote: »

It needs to go to a vet.

Ask her if she would want to be walking around in pain potentially.
It might also have been frightened so now want to go loo in a safe place there is really no way of knowing without a vet visit.

Does she love your cats? Ask her how she would feel if this was happening to them?

Yes but its not her cat. The cat belongs to the flatmate. I don't think she can just take the cat to the vet herself. She needs to persuade her flatmate.

tesuhoha

I've just sent her a Facebook message saying to ask her flatmate to take the cat to the vet on Saturday. I hope she does. I also asked her if she could take her for the flatmate if the flatmate is busy.

sheramber

Since she is involved in the cleaning up I think she is entitled to insist the flatmate takes the cat to the vet.

It could be ill. Something outside could have frightened it so it doesn't want to go out.

A litter tray would be a good solution meantime.

tesuhoha

She got back to me. She has sent a message to her flatmate saying what I said. I suggested it could be a urine infection as pain can do those things to a cat and a urine infection can send an old person a bit gaga so maybe thats what is wrong with the cat. My daughter then told me that the cats urine smells extraordinarily bad.

tesuhoha

Another update. A vets appointment has been booked. I don't think they are cruel, they just didn't know. Not everyone is clued up and they didn't read anything into it apart from the cat has suddenly become dirty.

mellymoo74

That's great news.


No not everyone knows and I know you thought I was being mean just thought if she thought of the cat like your cats it may help her persaude

tesuhoha

mellymoo74 wrote: »

That's great news.


No not everyone knows and I know you thought I was being mean just thought if she thought of the cat like your cats it may help her persaude

I didn't think you were being mean. I thought what you said made sense. In fact what all of you said. She only told me about it this morning so I was seeking advice. I feel really happy that Spooky is going to receive medical care if she needs it. Sounds like she does.

Froglet

Poor cat.Anyone who suffers urine infections knows just how painful they can be,and if not treated can become life threatening.Likewise if kidney stones.Glad she is going to the vets now.