Our elderly pets

[Gemini]

As Mimi and I both have elderly cats, I think this topic is worth a thread.
As I should be painting a wall now I have no time to contribute, but will be back later!

[Mimi]

Good idea Gem . Our cat was up to her usual antics last night/ early morning.

[Gemini]

We have three cats. Two girls who will be 19 in April, and our boy, who we think is about 15 (he adopted us)

They are all basically in good shape for their ages. They eat well, are still playful and interested in life.
Both girls are thin now. The long haired one always was, but her fluff hid it. The other was fairly portly in her youth
That cat has been completely deaf for 2 years or more now. I have a form of sign language for Come here, Don't do that etc!

The deaf cats miaoews very loudly. So much that if we have the GC overnight or any other guests, we have to take her into our room to prevent her waking everyone!
Both girls have been known to toilet indoors in recent years. We can go months with no problems at all and no litter tray needed, the cats using the garden via the cat door, as they always did. Then we start with the accidents. When we got back from Canada we realised they had been weeing in the dining room corners. That took us along time to eradicate. We keep them out of there as much as possible now.
We have a litter tray for nights atm, and on frosty or very bad weather days we have left it in all day. When the better weather and light nights arrive we hope to phase it out again for day and night.
The other day black fluffy cat, because we have not yet brought in the litter tray for the night (it was 4pm, light and good weather!) stood on one of the little cat beds in the living room and weed, most of it going on the radiator, some on the bed! Lots of rapid cleaning up needed.

All signs of aging I suppose and most frustrating. I hope cat3 doesn't join them!

I love my cats and our pets are part of the family, good or bad, but it's not easy. With being so involved with my mum too I feel as though I am totally surrounded by the elderly in one way or another!

[Avo]

I have a Miniature Poodle and she is 13 which is quite elderly! She is generally in good health, her eye sight is a bit dodgy but she copes well. She can enjoy a good walk and can cope with about 5 miles before she get tired. Our grandsons love her to bits and she is very gentle with them.

[Oma]

Its when they pass away its so heart breaking isn't it ,

[Glammanana]

When we rescued Poppy the Lhasa we where told she was about 2yrs old but I am sure she must have been older we have had her for 5yrs nearly so by the pevious owners estimation she would be 7yrs old,this past year she seems to have aged very quickly as 7 is not old for her breed at all, I am sure she must be at the youngest 9yrs old as she is showing signs of slowing down at everything she does,saying that she enjoys life and enjoys going out for walks and plays well with Dollie.

[Gemini]

Its when they pass away its so heart breaking isn't it ,

Oma, they have been with me through so many life changes. My DD3 was only 11 when we got the girls. I can't. imagine life without them.

[Mimi]

Gem our cat will happily go outside to do her business but then for a day or two she has other ideas. She isn’t even too bothered in finding a hiding place to do it, she will ‘go’ right in front of us the brazen little so in so !

[Daisy]

This thread has made me look back on Rusty and Clyde's final years. They were both still like puppies well into doggy old age, as small dogs like them often are. Clyde slowed down a bit when he developed diabetes, mainly because of his eyesight. Surgery partly restored it and he coped very well, but the last few months he aged quite rapidly and the vet was never sure whether it was dementia, poor eyesight or just 'old age'. Yes, we did have to treat him differently - a gentle 1-2 mile walk was more than enough for him, and sometimes he seemed quite vague - although he never forgot where his food bowl was!

He also needed to go out during the night and after losing too much sleep we trained him (even at that age) to use puppy pads.

There's something special about our pets as they age. I never grudged looking after Clyde and making sure he got his insulin injections on time etc. The love and affection we got from both of them made up for any inconvenience.


Eva is probably nearly 6 now and still has loads of energy but I've noticed she is getting a bit more sensible!

[Mimi]

My very dear friend ( DIL’s mum)who passed away 6 years ago had an elderly lovable white westie called Barney
A year later DIL’s dad asked me if I could pop around and feed him and let him out in the garden while he was away for the weekend. He said he is deaf and almost blind so he would refuse to go for a walk, he was far happier in his own garden.
So the next morning off I went to feed him . I let myself in and I knew he would be upstairs asleep where my friend used to sleep. He never left the side of her bed all the time she was unwell.
As he was deaf I didn’t want to stroke him to wake him fearing he might die of shock so I stamped up and down the bedroom ( honestly the things I do !) so that he would feel the vibrations and wake. He did, eventually, and he slowly made his way to the top of the stairs while I tried to encourage him to come down. He was having none of it so I assumed he was no longer able to get downstairs so back up I went and carried him down. Now a fully grown westie is arlarmly heavy but I managed it.
The next day OH came with me so that he would carry him downstairs. I went and did the stamping about malarkey and up he got but as soon as he heard OH’s voice he was down the stairs in a shot ! Ever been had !!
Sadly Barney died a few months later

[Daisy]

Mimi - Clever boy, Barney! Honestly, dogs (and cats!) know how to con us.