Old cat, fussy but hungry?

[ravenousbugblatterbeast]

We've had the same 3 cats for the last 14 years, and had fed them a general mix of tins, biscuits and the odd pouch if they were on offer. One cat died about 2 months ago, another died about 4 weeks ago (!?) and the surviving cat is now, hopefully understandably, lavished with care.. He is at least 15, probably nearer 16/17. He's now become exceptionally fussy with his food, crying and wailing for food, but when something's put down he sometimes eats it, sometime just looks at it, and starts crying again. So he is hungry, but he simply refuses to eat most things!

Is this typical cat behaviour, which we've not really noticed due to there being more of a scrum before? This car used to enjoy elbowing the others out of the way, and taking over the neighbouring dish, just to annoy them I felt, so maybe he's missing the company at meal times?

Incidentally he's also become insanely cuddly, he was a feral cat, living in the woods near our house for about a year, before deciding to come and live with us, and he's always been pretty standoffish, but suddenly, as an only cat, he is constantly kissing us, sleeping on our pillows, on our HEADS, he's just everywhere... Is this annoying but understandable, or a bit of an emotional problem showing itself?

Any ideas?

[ravenousbugblatterbeast]

Oh, and the food he's getting now involves only pouches, most of them premium, not "normal" - the "I can't believe this isn't Gordon Ramsay" type stuff, and those ridiculously tiny tins from Gourmet.. I try him on a tin every so often, and the look of disgust is amazing!

[girlywhirly]

I think cats do become more fussy with age, mine certainly did. He would rather have had tasty bits from our plates than cat food. The only thing we could think of was to alternate brands and flavours at each meal. I think their sense of taste can fade a bit with age, and they don't charge about so much, so don't have such an appetite.

I think you're right about the scoffing in company of other cats, where they need to get as much down their necks as poss before the rest polish it off. And cats do feel lonely after the loss of their other companions, mine did after the loss of his sister, and having never been one to sit on laps, would snuggle up to my neck and purr loudly. At least it helped us both cope! When they have lost their mates they turn to you as their family.

Have you tried yours on the 'senior' foods? They are formulated a bit differently, and may well be more highly flavoured to encourage fussy eaters.

[ThisIsJustASagaNow]

Poor boy He does sound quite unhappy at losing his two pals so quickly, and cats hate anything to change.

Would you consider cooking him a bit of fish? My two LOVE it (they have it as a treat or if they're ill). I just buy a cheapy bag of frozen white fish and microwave it for a few minutes or maybe a tin of pilchards or sardines. I think I'd just spoil him for a bit to get him back on track.

I don't suppose there's any possibilty of getting a new kitten to keep him company?

[ravenousbugblatterbeast]

I would love to get a kitten to keep him company, although DH has been adamantly opposed, as he was so traumatised by losing the other two. But DS is still heartbroken at losing the first cat, who was his best mate, a real dog-like cat in his devotion to DS so I've told DH in no uncertain terms that we are getting a kitten in September, so we can have the summer hols gadding about and then be home with new littlie in Sept.

It's funny, this cat never really showed much affection for the other two cats while they were alive, they were all loners, which is why I'm a bit surprised at his behaviour, and also a bit wary of rushing in another cat as he's old and set in his ways...

I will get some fish from the supermarket this afternoon, that's a good idea. I'm just bizarrely uncertain about giving anything other than "cat" food in case there's not enough nutrients or it harms him in some way, like salt in ham or something like that. But it's obviously more harmful to be starving hungry..

[ThePieSmuggler]

Poor you, it's heartbreaking to lose a loved pet, let alone two! It may well be the change in circumstances that is upsetting your cat but it might also be worth a quick trip to the vets to check him over, especially his teeth. Often cats that have a good appetite and are hungry but then fail to eat do so because of mouth pain/dental problems. Your vet might also suggest a blood test (checking thyroid function - can cause odd behaviour and appetite changes)

As far as 'other' foods go, like chicken or fish, then a little bit in moderation will be fine - you could try mixing it in with a pouch if it helps?

Have you considered the fact that it might only be now he's an 'only cat' that he can relax and express the affectionate behaviour that you mention? Cats by nature are solitary animals and I think most would prefer to be on their own (the exception being sibling groups) and will adjust their behaviour when in multi cat households. Like your DH I'd be wary of introducing a new kitten - it could work out well, but it could also cause your old boy a lot of stress and upset, unfortunately there's no way of knowing which situation would occur so you'd have to be prepared to take that chance!

[sharbie]

poor thing - is he ill? maybe problem with teeth?or swallowing?

mine always have ham from the fridge when they feel a bit out of sorts

[ravenousbugblatterbeast]

Not ill, not that we know - in fact I rushed him off to the vet pronto once the second cat died...! The first had a massive tumour, he was PTS 24 hrs after we found it, it was so far gone, he was only going to go downhill, so it seemed the kindest, most heartbreaking thing to do. The second had heart failure I think, he skittered around, losing his back legs for a few seconds one morning, was fine after that, but a few weeks later he hadn't come downstairs in the evening and was under the bed, breathing with difficulty. It was too late for the vet, and by the time I realised just how serious it was, it was 2am, and I was scared he'd die on the way to the vet, in a cat basket on his own. So I sat with him and comforted him, and he went.

So the survivor was taken pronto for a check up, he has a heart murmur, but his breathing was excellent, even under the stress of going to the vet in the car, which he loathes with a passion, and his kidneys etc were fine, so we're just going to keep an eye on him. He's just wolfed down half a fillet of pollock from Tesco, so thanks for that suggestion, and is sitting just behind my chair, so I can't miss him when I get up and accidentally forget to feed him something else...

The kitten thing's a real gamble, I know, but we can't be left with no cats, we've always had 3, and it's so quiet without them! I've never had a kitten before, just stray cats who'd adopted us. How much handling/company do they need? I want to maximise the chances of getting a really sociable one, so DS has a friend again, and was thinking of getting a Siberian, but the cost is rather putting me off, and DH is sooooo paranoid about anything happening to another cat that he'd quite honestly rather not have one at all... So the worry from an expensive kitten is what I'm trying to do away with by getting a moggie kitten, from a rescue centre, but I've heard that there aren't many kittens around in the Autumn as nature doesn't work that way... Agh, the dilemma!

[girlywhirly]

There might be an 'older kitten' available in the autumn, a few months old? The biggest problem with having one young and one old, is that the young one may constantly want to play and the old one just wants a bit of peace!

[ThisIsJustASagaNow]

Glad he's eaten a little bit now. I'm so so sorry you've lost your cats, you must all be feeling very raw about it

Good idea to get a kitten in the Autumn so you can keep it in over the winter months. We did the same when we got ours and it paid off as they never go far now.

I would think a kitten would be best in this case as the kitten will be more of a blank page and will adapt around the older cat and repect him, rather than introducing a grown one who has his own ideas and possibly jostle for top postition.

It could perk him up and give him a new lease of life. Kittens are less likely to retaliate and can take a bop or two from an older cat who will teach it some manners if it gets annoying. If you do get one, I'd suggest getting one with lots of personality who will have the confidence to cope with an introduction to your older cat and won't run away from him.

From what you say your poor cat sounds quite bereft at the moment. He might improve over the next few weeks. It must still feel very strange to him having been one of three. Maybe he's wondering where they went or could sense how very ill they were.

[ravenousbugblatterbeast]

Thanks. It was a terrible shock, we'd never lost a cat before, when we've been the "responsible adults" if you know what I mean, having to make the decision was horrible, although it was better than letting nature take it course... The first cat did disappear rather suddenly, and we didn't bring his body back into the house (please don't get me started on the cost of cremation and a decorative wooden statue!!) but our remaining cat was in the room the whole time when the second one was dying, but he was trying to sit on my lap and elbow off the other one, which wasn't terribly sensitive...!

I think as people have said it's more the change which has affected him, rather than losing the other cats per se. They were all (neutered) boys, and argued pretty much constantly.

Anyway, hopefully he'll settle down a bit, it's been about a month now (just before Easter) that he's been an only cat..

[ShirleyKnot]

Oh Lord, I know how you feel about having to take the responsibility for a loved pet. My Old Boy was one of two brothers - we had to have Dill put to sleep 18 months ago and the Old Boy has never been the same since. He is about 16 too.

Old Boy is VERY noisy as he has aged. He drives me insane TBH. He wants to eat ALL the time (he is wormed and checked by the vet regularly) but his stomach isn't big enough to handle too much food at once so if we fed him as much as he yells he'd be sick.

I do give fish and chicken as well as pouches and biscuits. I think...Old Boy is going a bit senile - I think he forgets that he's eaten.

It's hard, and I totally sympathise with you.

[tigtink6]

Our old cat now 17 is the same. Howls all the time for food, when fed still howls. We can hear him in the garden at 5am in the morning howling like an alley cat! He lost a lot of weight 12 months ago , vet said over active thyroid but the tablets have not made much difference. He still eats too much , then is sick and eats again. But manages to be fussy about what he eats, keep changing brands and types to find the one he likes each week , then bingo he suddenly loves something, buy a load of it then he goes off it! Mind you, our two younger cats ages 5 go off the same ones he does. The younger tom is now howling more , think he is copying the older cat, still top cat, he runs around the garden like a kitten. All the nervous energy he has, he likes sleeping on our heads, purrs all the time, drools terribly, have to pick him up to stop the howling. I do wonder if he is going a bit senile, the vet says along as he is having a good quality of life he is fine despite being so thin.My DH is fed up with him, i hope our old cat is not suffering mentally. But how can you tell? He also stares a lot in the distance.

[Selks]

I've got an elderly 'only' cat. Had three originally, and a dog, now only the one cat left . He is rapidly becoming quite spoilt, but not too fussy about food thankfully - he is just on regular tinned stuff with occasional treats like a bit of tuna or leftover chicken. He'd eat tuna all the time if he could though.
I'm a bit worried about him becuase I'm going on holiday for two weeks, and we only lost the other cat three weeks ago, so he will be totally on his own for two weeks (with next door's lovely teenager coming in 2x daily to feed and stroke him).
I know what you mean about cost of cremation. I chose to get my cat Flossie who passed away recently cremated. That and the cost of euthanasia (VERY traumatic and upsetting for me to take her for that) has come in at £150.
My surviving cat's behaviour has changed a little, he has become a bit more demading of attention after being an independent cat all his life, but that's quite understandable. Just hope my going away doesn't upset him too much.

[ravenousbugblatterbeast]

I thought I'd add onto this thread. Only cat is now 6 months down the line, and although he perked up (although still fussy) and seemed to be loving only-cathood, he is now very thin, and barely eating, certainly no cat food since the weekend I think. Yesterday he had a better day, ate a tin of tuna in total, and a few bits of cooked chicken breast hand fed to him, and then he wolfed down some raw chicken. But today he's barely touched tuna. He's now eating some more chicken I've defrosted to raw, but he seems so disinterested, he won't even walk to the bowl to see what's there, I have to move him to the bowl from where he's been sitting, opposite the bowls, apparently waiting to be fed. The last two days he hasn't come down for breakfast, just kept sleeping on the rocking chair upstairs until I fetched him.

Is he telling us it's his time to go? He doesn't appear to be in any pain, just seems so weary, and he'll sleep on your lap for hours, so not hiding himself away as such. Or is he just having a low period, and might he perk up? Can any vets advise?? DH has put everything on hold, we can't go to London for a long day trip to see the Xmas lights, just leave the house for a couple of hours at a time, and, although I love this cat, the situation is driving me slightly demented, and I'm bracing myself for DH needing therapy if we lose a third cat in a year, seriously.. Help me, please!

[peggotty]

I'm not a vet but have you had him checked over lately? It could be just normal ancient cat behaviour tbh, if he's basically sleeping all day, he won't need a huge amount of food anyway but still has the habit of constantly looking for food (I have a 15 y old boy who's a bit like this, constant hovering about food bowl type behaviour). It may not necessarily mean he's 'near the end' but the only way you can be sure is to get him checked out. I do sympathise, old animals are a real worry!

[ravenousbugblatterbeast]

I did take him to the vet about a month ago, who pronounced him fit as a flea, and in fact weighing 1kg more than he had done in May (no way, if he'd been a kilo lighter than he is now, his head would have fallen off..). I posted about it - I felt completely brushed off by the vet, and didn't even come out with a vitamin shot (if such things exist!) or any tests, which obviously I wasn't gagging to pay for, but I've NEVER left the vet without paying extra for something!