My oldest cat is ALWAYS hungry!! (picture added!)

[SplshMtn99]

She's driving us nuts! She's about 20 years old and quite thin but she eats like a horse (poops like one too!) but is constantly begging for food. She's on thyroid meds which the doctor thought would stablize her metabolism but the meds didn't seem to do that. Maybe even make it worse. It's not like there isn't food always available, it's that she eats some of what's down and then 5 minutes later, begs for something different. We've tried ignoring her but she sits by your feet and lets out a meow about every 3 minutes until one of us caves and opens up yet another can of cat food! For all she eats, she should have gained some weight (which she could use). Anyone else run across this?


I'm gonna make an appointment at the vet.

Sounds like our 18 yr old Splash. She has kidney disease. Loosing weight. Gets IV fluids daily from DH. And is under almost monthly vet check-ups. She's been screaming for food for about a year or so now. I just figure her taste buds have changed due to her illness...and she's not satisfied with what is there. Ok maybe I've spoiled her too. But, in the never ending quest to keep her from loosing more weight...I feed her a couple thousand times a day. I now thinks she just wants fresh food & not anything thats been out for 5 minutes. lol

BTW, she's deaf too. I think it makes her scream louder. She sounds just like a siamese too. She's still pretty active. Jumps up on things. Follows you from room to room. Wants CONSTANT attention. Wakes me up at 3:30am by screaming at me...I get up..and she walks in the next room making sure I'm following & goes to her toys. She wakes me up to PLAY!!! UGH. Up & down the stairs all day to litter box & food. And has this new thing of STANDING in her water dish, while licking her feet one at a time. Nut!

Off to the vet tomorrow for more blood tests to see how she's doing.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

my mom is going through this with her 17 yr old diabetic cat. She is taking him to the vet - they have had trouble getting his insulin levels right - but I am not sure it is as easy as that.....

oh - and he will only drink his water if it is cold..as in has ice in it....

 

["Got Disney"]

I can tell you that I have a 14 y.o dog that does the same thing...it drives us crazy..its like she has worms or something...we have tryed different things with no luck.

She hunts around the house looking for food,in all the rooms all day long, vet told us that it is part of her sinillity...she is also over wt and cant figure that out either cause she gets what is reguired for her wt/size...and is also the amount rec. by our vet...

Maybe it is just her brain being out of wack...like my dogs wacky brain...

There is a food that our vet has just started our dog on...it is a food that swells in there stomachs making them feel full longer...maybe they have the same for cats....

Good luck on your kitty!!!

 

[poohandwendy]

This thread is useless without pics!

I have no advice, but 20 years...that is awesome.

 

[Charade]

This thread is useless without pics!

I have no advice, but 20 years...that is awesome.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Pretty kitty!!!!! Doesn't look 20 at all. Good job!

 

[Valentine]

Yes...our "college cat" (RIP) Honey was like that. She was 17ish, I think before I had to have her put down.

She was "starving" SO MUCH she would jump in your lap and steal food from your plate.
Of course we thought it was pretty funny at the time. Now in hindsight I realized she was suffering and I didn't realize it.

This is exactly my quandry at the moment. My friends think I am crazy for thinking this way... but my Licorice, who is also heading onto 20... is all of a sudden "Starving" She NEVER would go for "people" food. None of my cats beg.. they eat their dry food and that is it. I don't give them table food at all. I can sit there and eat a full course meal and they all lounge in their respective areas paying no attention to me or my food at all. But lately Licorice literally attacks my plate... she climbs on my lap and into my dinner.... and will inhale anything she is given b(by my company.. NOT ME!) And she has taken to heading straight to her food bowl whenever I head towards the kitchen. She is barely 4 pounds and used to define Fat Cat!!! She also has little to no bowel control.... But for some reason can make it to the litter box to tinkle!! I don't understand.... I am afraid she is suffering... and don't know what to do.... Anyone have similar issues?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Kathy

 

[dreamcometrue]

I have no advice, sorry, but I love your kitty Great pic! She doesn't look 20 at all! That's pretty impressive!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I'd say, back to the vet, get the T4 and TSH labs checked, as well as kidney and liver function, then do what is necessary to keep that lovely cat comfortable and happy. My Rosie is 13 or 14 and has hyperthyroidism, has been on meds for a couple of years, and needs to get the dosage boosted once in a while (maybe twice). If I had the money, I could go for the iodine isotope treatment, but that goes for about $1200. Surgery would cost less, but there's dangers there I don't really want to risk. So we medicate, we adjust occasionally, and we have fun.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

My first thought was diabetes. You have a beautiful kitty.

 

[RSoxFan]

What a beautiful kitty! She doesn't look her age at all.

 

[ilovejack02]

I watched a show recently about a cpl adopting a much older cat and it started wanting to eat all the time and waking them up at 2 am every morn yowling at them. Turned out the cat was not sick, but getting senile.
Ive got to run now, but ill try and remember what they recommended to make the cat more comfortable.

Hey OP that is a great looking cat!

 

[Virgo10]

Question though... my cat takes Tapazole. Every article I read on cats with Hyperthyroidism mentions Tapazole and adds, "It's inexpensive and should improve your cats symptoms." Well, I do not see an improvement in his symptoms, but inexpensive? Wow, we pay $53 for 30 pills. His meds cost more than mine! lol. Anyone paying a lot less for Tapazole?
tink

This cat

is on the generic form of Tapazole. It's called Methimazole and the strength is 10 mcg. I pay $24 for 30 pills. She only takes two quarters a day so it lasts about 2 months.

$53 is outrageous. I get the script filled at CVS but shop around. Not all drug stores charge the same.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

This cat
is on the generic form of Tapazole. It's called Methimazole and the strength is 10 mcg. I pay $24 for 30 pills. She only takes two quarters a day so it lasts about 2 months.

$53 is outrageous. I get the script filled at CVS but shop around. Not all drug stores charge the same.

You guys should be grateful that you have cats that can be pilled. My ol' Rosie is much too feisty for that (and I've years of experience as a vet tech, know how to pill a cat, even the difficult ones!), so I have to buy the suspension of methimazole that you rub inside the ear. Talk about expensive! Has to be shipped in from a compounding pharmacy in Wisconsin, to the tune of $70/month.

 

[PhotobearSam]

20 yrs...She looks sooooo good.

I have 2 cats that are 14 1/2 siblings. The male is 18lbs (he is not just fat but very large, tall, long) and his sister is a petite 10-11lbs. I leave dry food out all the time. They have not limit. They do not get wet food at all. I also give them Temptations treats which my DH insists is laced with "Kitty Cocaine" because all 3 (including the kitten) will do anything for.

Am I the only one who feeds them like I do?

I hope Kitty is feeling better soon. I hope all of mine live to be that pretty and long.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

20 yrs...She looks sooooo good.

I have 2 cats that are 14 1/2 siblings. The male is 18lbs (he is not just fat but very large, tall, long) and his sister is a petite 10-11lbs. I leave dry food out all the time. They have not limit. They do not get wet food at all. I also give them Temptations treats which my DH insists is laced with "Kitty Cocaine" because all 3 (including the kitten) will do anything for.

Am I the only one who feeds them like I do?

I hope Kitty is feeling better soon. I hope all of mine live to be that pretty and long.

I used to feed my kitties only dry, until new studies showed that canned food is healthier, more balanced, fewer carbs, and fewer health problems (according to several vets in the area...haven't actually read the studies myself). Since my big boy cat is a real candidate for diabetes (20 lbs) I put them on a canned-only diet for a while...but dry is so much more convenient, and our household schedule is less than regular, so feeding times tend to vary greatly. I've compromised...canned once a day, with ad lib dry food for nighttime. Weight loss has stopped, but what can you do? My thyroid kitty needs food, and my fat kitty doesn't, and there's no way to feed them separately...so we do what we can.

 

[transparant]

She looks amazing for 20 yrs old!!!! What a beautiful cat!

 

[ilovejack02]

Got this from an article about keeping your older cat healthy.

Senile cats often display certain behavior patterns. Meowing for no reason is quite common, and can be nerve wracking (It's 3:00 am, and you've got a cat yowling in the hallway because she thinks she's lost). Wandering and restlessness are also common. Cat aggression may increase as your cat experiences some loss of mental sharpness associated with aging.

Look for these behaviors in your elderly cat if you suspect she's senile:

* constant meowing
* wandering
* staring into space
* forgetting to use the litter box
* yowling
* restlessness
* aggression
* skittishness.

Many of the symptoms of feline senility can also indicate physical problems. Is the cat yowling because she's senile, or does the meowing indicate that she's in pain? Wandering and restlessness might indicate that she can't settle down comfortably because of physical discomfort. The same can be said for cat aggression: A sudden change may indicate a health problem. Have your vet decide what's causing the behavioral change.

If the cat's strange behavior doesn't have a physical cause, you might try some behavior modification. Cats who forget how to use the litter can be retrained: Shutting them in a small room with the litter often reminds them what it's for! Cat yowling, restlessness and wandering may indicate nervous problems. Some of these problems can be alleviated with medication.

In all cases, your veterinarian has extensive knowledge about aging cats and can help you decide on the best course of action.

 

[goofygirl]

She's beautiful!!