Troubling Changes in Old Cat's Behavior

We had a cat who lived in the cellar until I moved in. I trained her
to be an "upstairs" cat. She never really socialized (big surprise),
but then she got to be so affectionate.

Anyway, when she was still confined to the downstairs, she'd go out in
the yard, sit in the sun, lay on the deck, etc. Sometimes in the
summmer and even the winter she'd disappear for days on end and come
back no worse for wear.

Now, she won't even go near the door. When I open it, she runs away.
She's spending her whole life in a dark closet sleeping, and she wakes
up at night only to eat, be petted, then go back to sleep again.

Now and again she'll zoom at 3 or 4 AM, pouncing on invisible things.
But that's only once in a great while.

I am SO sad. I created a monster! This formerly happy, if chilly and
underappreciated little cat, has gone to being a fat, lazy, weirdo.
It's so sad. I know 13+ isn't young, but it's not exactly one foot in
the cat grave either.

Is it possible this is a behavioral thing and she's not sick? Could
it be that she got spoiled being an upstairs regular housecat and
avoids the places and behaviors she used to have?

I would make a vet appt. for her just in case she's ill - some sort of
chronic illness, for example. At 13+ it wouldn't hurt to have a full blood
panel run.

Otoh, considering her about-face (literally) the sight of the open
door - & the fact that she does runaround & play indoors in the middle of
the night, I'd hazard a guess that something out there scared her, big-time,
the last time she went outside.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

"Cowa Bungie" wrote in message
om...
We had a cat who lived in the cellar until I moved in. I trained her
to be an "upstairs" cat. She never really socialized (big surprise),
but then she got to be so affectionate.

Anyway, when she was still confined to the downstairs, she'd go out in
the yard, sit in the sun, lay on the deck, etc. Sometimes in the
summmer and even the winter she'd disappear for days on end and come
back no worse for wear.

Now, she won't even go near the door. When I open it, she runs away.
She's spending her whole life in a dark closet sleeping, and she wakes
up at night only to eat, be petted, then go back to sleep again.

Now and again she'll zoom at 3 or 4 AM, pouncing on invisible things.
But that's only once in a great while.

I am SO sad. I created a monster! This formerly happy, if chilly and
underappreciated little cat, has gone to being a fat, lazy, weirdo.
It's so sad. I know 13+ isn't young, but it's not exactly one foot in
the cat grave either.

Is it possible this is a behavioral thing and she's not sick? Could
it be that she got spoiled being an upstairs regular housecat and
avoids the places and behaviors she used to have?

I would make a vet appt. for her just in case she's ill - some sort of
chronic illness, for example. At 13+ it wouldn't hurt to have a full blood
panel run.

Otoh, considering her about-face (literally) the sight of the open
door - & the fact that she does runaround & play indoors in the middle of
the night, I'd hazard a guess that something out there scared her, big-time,
the last time she went outside.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

"Cowa Bungie" wrote in message
om...
We had a cat who lived in the cellar until I moved in. I trained her
to be an "upstairs" cat. She never really socialized (big surprise),
but then she got to be so affectionate.

Anyway, when she was still confined to the downstairs, she'd go out in
the yard, sit in the sun, lay on the deck, etc. Sometimes in the
summmer and even the winter she'd disappear for days on end and come
back no worse for wear.

Now, she won't even go near the door. When I open it, she runs away.
She's spending her whole life in a dark closet sleeping, and she wakes
up at night only to eat, be petted, then go back to sleep again.

Now and again she'll zoom at 3 or 4 AM, pouncing on invisible things.
But that's only once in a great while.

I am SO sad. I created a monster! This formerly happy, if chilly and
underappreciated little cat, has gone to being a fat, lazy, weirdo.
It's so sad. I know 13+ isn't young, but it's not exactly one foot in
the cat grave either.

Is it possible this is a behavioral thing and she's not sick? Could
it be that she got spoiled being an upstairs regular housecat and
avoids the places and behaviors she used to have?

in article , Cathy Friedmann at
wrote on 4/25/04 10:14 AM:

I would make a vet appt. for her just in case she's ill - some sort of
chronic illness, for example. At 13+ it wouldn't hurt to have a full blood
panel run.

Otoh, considering her about-face (literally) the sight of the open
door - & the fact that she does runaround & play indoors in the middle of
the night, I'd hazard a guess that something out there scared her, big-time,
the last time she went outside.

Cathy

I'd sure get a panel run. 13+ is a geriatric age and things can change
quickly. Could be a scare too as Cathy suggests but I agree you should see a
vet.

Karen

in article , Cathy Friedmann at
wrote on 4/25/04 10:14 AM:

I would make a vet appt. for her just in case she's ill - some sort of
chronic illness, for example. At 13+ it wouldn't hurt to have a full blood
panel run.

Otoh, considering her about-face (literally) the sight of the open
door - & the fact that she does runaround & play indoors in the middle of
the night, I'd hazard a guess that something out there scared her, big-time,
the last time she went outside.

Cathy

I'd sure get a panel run. 13+ is a geriatric age and things can change
quickly. Could be a scare too as Cathy suggests but I agree you should see a
vet.

Karen

(Cowa Bungie) wrote in message . com...
We had a cat who lived in the cellar until I moved in. I trained her
to be an "upstairs" cat. She never really socialized (big surprise),
but then she got to be so affectionate.

Anyway, when she was still confined to the downstairs, she'd go out in
the yard, sit in the sun, lay on the deck, etc. Sometimes in the
summmer and even the winter she'd disappear for days on end and come
back no worse for wear.

Now, she won't even go near the door. When I open it, she runs away.
She's spending her whole life in a dark closet sleeping, and she wakes
up at night only to eat, be petted, then go back to sleep again.

Now and again she'll zoom at 3 or 4 AM, pouncing on invisible things.
But that's only once in a great while.

I am SO sad. I created a monster! This formerly happy, if chilly and
underappreciated little cat, has gone to being a fat, lazy, weirdo.
It's so sad. I know 13+ isn't young, but it's not exactly one foot in
the cat grave either.

Is it possible this is a behavioral thing and she's not sick? Could
it be that she got spoiled being an upstairs regular housecat and
avoids the places and behaviors she used to have?


She sounds demented to me. Maybe even mentally ill. Untreated, she's
probably in misery day and nite. I feel sorry for you both.



IBen G.

(Cowa Bungie) wrote in message . com...
We had a cat who lived in the cellar until I moved in. I trained her
to be an "upstairs" cat. She never really socialized (big surprise),
but then she got to be so affectionate.

Anyway, when she was still confined to the downstairs, she'd go out in
the yard, sit in the sun, lay on the deck, etc. Sometimes in the
summmer and even the winter she'd disappear for days on end and come
back no worse for wear.

Now, she won't even go near the door. When I open it, she runs away.
She's spending her whole life in a dark closet sleeping, and she wakes
up at night only to eat, be petted, then go back to sleep again.

Now and again she'll zoom at 3 or 4 AM, pouncing on invisible things.
But that's only once in a great while.

I am SO sad. I created a monster! This formerly happy, if chilly and
underappreciated little cat, has gone to being a fat, lazy, weirdo.
It's so sad. I know 13+ isn't young, but it's not exactly one foot in
the cat grave either.

Is it possible this is a behavioral thing and she's not sick? Could
it be that she got spoiled being an upstairs regular housecat and
avoids the places and behaviors she used to have?


She sounds demented to me. Maybe even mentally ill. Untreated, she's
probably in misery day and nite. I feel sorry for you both.



IBen G.

I agree with everything Cathy said.
Gail
"Cathy Friedmann" wrote in message
...
I would make a vet appt. for her just in case she's ill - some sort of
chronic illness, for example. At 13+ it wouldn't hurt to have a full
blood
panel run.

Otoh, considering her about-face (literally) the sight of the open
door - & the fact that she does runaround & play indoors in the middle of
the night, I'd hazard a guess that something out there scared her,
big-time,
the last time she went outside.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

"Cowa Bungie" wrote in message
om...
We had a cat who lived in the cellar until I moved in. I trained her
to be an "upstairs" cat. She never really socialized (big surprise),
but then she got to be so affectionate.

Anyway, when she was still confined to the downstairs, she'd go out in
the yard, sit in the sun, lay on the deck, etc. Sometimes in the
summmer and even the winter she'd disappear for days on end and come
back no worse for wear.

Now, she won't even go near the door. When I open it, she runs away.
She's spending her whole life in a dark closet sleeping, and she wakes
up at night only to eat, be petted, then go back to sleep again.

Now and again she'll zoom at 3 or 4 AM, pouncing on invisible things.
But that's only once in a great while.

I am SO sad. I created a monster! This formerly happy, if chilly and
underappreciated little cat, has gone to being a fat, lazy, weirdo.
It's so sad. I know 13+ isn't young, but it's not exactly one foot in
the cat grave either.

Is it possible this is a behavioral thing and she's not sick? Could
it be that she got spoiled being an upstairs regular housecat and
avoids the places and behaviors she used to have?

I agree with everything Cathy said.
Gail
"Cathy Friedmann" wrote in message
...
I would make a vet appt. for her just in case she's ill - some sort of
chronic illness, for example. At 13+ it wouldn't hurt to have a full
blood
panel run.

Otoh, considering her about-face (literally) the sight of the open
door - & the fact that she does runaround & play indoors in the middle of
the night, I'd hazard a guess that something out there scared her,
big-time,
the last time she went outside.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

"Cowa Bungie" wrote in message
om...
We had a cat who lived in the cellar until I moved in. I trained her
to be an "upstairs" cat. She never really socialized (big surprise),
but then she got to be so affectionate.

Anyway, when she was still confined to the downstairs, she'd go out in
the yard, sit in the sun, lay on the deck, etc. Sometimes in the
summmer and even the winter she'd disappear for days on end and come
back no worse for wear.

Now, she won't even go near the door. When I open it, she runs away.
She's spending her whole life in a dark closet sleeping, and she wakes
up at night only to eat, be petted, then go back to sleep again.

Now and again she'll zoom at 3 or 4 AM, pouncing on invisible things.
But that's only once in a great while.

I am SO sad. I created a monster! This formerly happy, if chilly and
underappreciated little cat, has gone to being a fat, lazy, weirdo.
It's so sad. I know 13+ isn't young, but it's not exactly one foot in
the cat grave either.

Is it possible this is a behavioral thing and she's not sick? Could
it be that she got spoiled being an upstairs regular housecat and
avoids the places and behaviors she used to have?

"Gail" wrote in message news:eisjc.11425

I agree with everything Cathy said.

Man, talk about personality changes! I spoke yesterday with the
"sensitive" vet who took care of Dorrie when she was trapped a few
years ago. (I put "sensitive" in quotation marks because this guy
really has a reputation for being sensitive as opposed to other--and
probably equally sensitive--vets.)

He basically told me Hey, if you can't trap her, I can't treat her.
Let her live out whatever time she has left. I explained how his
warning about sedatives to a sister who also uses his services gave me
nightmares (my sister told me such horror stories about animals on
sedatives I'm actually thinking of foregoing an interview for a nice
overseas job that would require I transport Dorrie, 'cause I'd rather
die than risk what this vet says happens to pets on sedatives).

So thank you to everyone for your kind responses, but Hey, if I can't
trap her, he can't treat her.