Cat help request

50Twuncle

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

What sort of help are you hoping for then?

Advice as to whether he has dementia more whether cats do get dementia !!

custardy

50Twuncle wrote: »

Advice as to whether he has dementia more whether cats do get dementia !!

A quick google would have covered that

https://www.google.co.uk/search?client=opera&q=cat+demtia&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

helcat26

Hi
Sorry you are having a cat crisis.
Our cat went from sleeping through at night to nocturnal and needy (following me around the house) after she was ill earlier this year.
I mentioned to the vet that despite the fact that she had a cat flap, she preferred to get me and ask for the door to be opened by stretching up to the handle with her paws.
He said that he thought she had got the virus that made her sick by being bitten by something, and wanted me to open the door as a guard or to scare things away.
Following this advice I put the outdoor lights on round the back of the house now so that she can see that all is clear and this has helped.
She is still needy and comes to check that we are there during the night (no point in shutting her out as she digs under the door) but I am training myself not to get up just stroking her head and telling her to shush. I think she is getting better.


Could your cat have had a similar fright?

50Twuncle

helcat26 wrote: »

Hi
Sorry you are having a cat crisis.
Our cat went from sleeping through at night to nocturnal and needy (following me around the house) after she was ill earlier this year.
I mentioned to the vet that despite the fact that she had a cat flap, she preferred to get me and ask for the door to be opened by stretching up to the handle with her paws.
He said that he thought she had got the virus that made her sick by being bitten by something, and wanted me to open the door as a guard or to scare things away.
Following this advice I put the outdoor lights on round the back of the house now so that she can see that all is clear and this has helped.
She is still needy and comes to check that we are there during the night (no point in shutting her out as she digs under the door) but I am training myself not to get up just stroking her head and telling her to shush. I think she is getting better.


Could your cat have had a similar fright?

He lost his sister, 7 years ago - she disappeared one day - we never found out how, never found a body - but he changed soon after this - is it possible that he saw her get pinched, die or whatever happened to take her away from us ?
if so - would it stay with him for so long ?

Pop_Up_Pirate

50Twuncle wrote: »

We have 2 cats - 13 and 14 years old - the (slightly) older one "lost" his sister, 7 years ago and changed, virtually overnight to an extemely needy feline -he started following my wife around the house like a lost puppy and never EVER stays in a room on his own !!

He wakes up at 3am (at the latest) EVERY morning and demands to be fed and let out (cat flap IS left open 24/7) - vocally and physically (he claws the bed) - he is fit and well - but had part of his THYROID removed, 3 years ago but still eats constantly - the vet has done every test going on him - but nothing is detected !!
He is a slightly overweight 13 lbs but is a big build cat !
We have tried feliway numerous times with no effect noticed
We have tried "special" food - but he is extremely picky with the food that he will eat
He also "finds" food at neighbours
What else can we try ?

Ignoring him?
The cat wants feeding at 3am, and you do so, thereby setting his internal feeding clock to 3am. The more you do it, the more he wants it.

Close the bedroom door and if he scratches it, ignore it. And feed him at a more appropriate time.

He is a cat. Cats adapt and he is unlikely to be suffering from dementia due to losing another cat 7 years ago.

aife

Sounds like he was initially grieving/missing his sister and looking for reassurance , then got used to the extra attention.
I think it would be cruel to start locking him out now but the 3 am feeds must be a pain. Have you tried giving him an extra feed last thing when you're going to bed ?