Gallery of my other elderly companions

OREO
(aka Squidgey Bum)


Oreo was my first cat and my first love, he came to me after spending a year living with my brother, I grew so attached to him that I gave my brother no choice but to give him to me especially because at the time I was living with my brother but then moved into my own flat, a few weeks later Oreo went missing. I was absolutely beside myself and spent two weeks looking for him. After putting up a lot of leaflets asking people to look out for him he turned up and my posters went missing. He was very hungry, dirty and happy to be home. He has been with me ever since and i have no intention of letting him go without a fight.




Oreo is now an elderly man (age 16yrs) with his own problems, he has diabetes and kidney problems, he is also fighting a very nasty bladder/kidney infection but with much love and medication (not to mention trips to the vets) he is hopefully on the mend.




He has to have daily insulin injection for his diabetes and tablets for his kidneys, he should be on a special low protein diet but it upsets his tummy so has a special powder which goes in his food twice a day.

On 1st Aug 2008 my precious little boy passed away, his work here was done and his fight with one illness and another got the better of him.
He has left a huge gap in my life and I miss him terribly as I do all the furry little friends that have been in my life since 1991.
I thank him with all my heart for all his love and purrs, he was always there when I needed him as I was there for him.



THOMAS
Thomas (aka TJ) is another golden oldie.

Thomas is blind and has high blood pressure I was luckly adopted by TJ 18 months ago after it was discovered he had the start of kidney problems, his owner at the time started feeding him as a stray (so his age in unknown but he too is an elderly gentleman) and decided that the family would not be able to cope with his problem if he were to become ill.

Being blind does not stop him from doing anything trust me!! He is still able to jump onto the bed and sofa (though sometimes does bump into the others and can be a bit of a bully about it). My worst fear was when we all moved into our new home in Peterborough. I had no idea how he would react to my other cats and there was a fish pond in the garden so, me being the careful cat slave that I am put a little fence up around the pond (thinking that if he bumped into it he would turn around). TJ decided he was not going to let this fence stop him and he just climbed over it to drink from his new everlasting water bowl (it didn't matter that there is two filtered water fountains indoors).

He has to have two different medications every day, one for his blood pressure and one for his kidneys, he's not the easiest of cats to medicate but we get there in the end!!!

We had to bid our final farewell to Thomas on Monday 18th June 2007. Unfortunately his kidneys got the better of him and he decided enough was enough. Goodbye my darling Thomas, you will always been known as My Big Polar Bear and I will miss you very much. Thank you for a wonderful 19 months.

MOGWAI
(aka Chuncky Monkey)
This handsome boy has been in my life since he was 8 weeks old, he is now 15 and even though he will hate me for letting out his secret he really is what I would call a Mummy's boy, he is 100% devoted to me (most of the time).

Luckily for me he has no problems(touching lots of wood), except his eating disorder. He is a secret biscuit muncher (though not so secret most of the time). In case your wondering why I let him munch so much it is very hard to restrict his eating without taking it away from the other senile old folk who are all older then him and it is important for them to eat regularly.
On 14th October 2007 we said farewell to the Chunky Monkey, he'd been through a rough couple of months and decided he just couldn't fight it any longer. This sad time came 2 days before we were due to move to The Lake District.
Goodbye my darling boy, I miss your purring so much and the way you always put your paw or head in my hand every night until I was asleep. Our friendship was so special and one I will always remember.

MOUSEY (aka Mental Mousey)
The eldest of my pride is Mousey at a grand age of almost 21 she is also the only female I now have which is just as well because she can be very demanding for attention from both me and the boys!!

I have had Mousey for almost 2 years, she had an overactive thyroid gland and was having tablets to control it, which in itself was like running a marathon (hard work), so it was decided to have her thyroid gland removed and she has been fighting fit ever since.

You may look at this little old lady and think butter wouldn't melt but oh how you would be so wrong, she loves nothing more then to come and wake me up at some ungodly hour for her breakfast, most of the time I hide under the duvet until she gives up and goes back to sleep (it's not as though there isn't an endless supply of biscuits left overnight for them all).

On 15th Nov 2008 we had to bid a final farewell to Mousey at the ripe old age of 22yrs.
The past 3 yrs with her were wonderful and I loved every minute I was fortunate enough to have with her. She like all the others has left a huge hole in my life but would not have changed a thing as I loved each and everyone no matter what.

Why This Site?

In 1994 I adopted a 16 year old cat who I thought I would only have for 1-2 years but at the amazing age of 26 she finally had to be euthanased due to a bladder tumour. Never did I ever think that when I first met this beautiful, feisty old grey and white cat that she would teach me so much and give me many wonderful years.

This website is designed to help those who find themselves in the same situation as I did and is based on my true experiences, but firstly I would like to tell you our story.

Clary's Story
I used to work in a Veterinary Practice in Surrey, on a Saturday morning whilst at work a client came in to ask if we would do some emergency boarding for one of our elderly client’s cat as she had to go into hospital and was refusing until she knew Clary would be safe. As we had just recently added a cattery to our practice we agreed so the following Monday this frail old cat was brought in making a hideous noise (objecting to being in her basket of course), I took her to her bed not knowing that this was the same cat I would make house calls to (in order to give her medication when she needed it) and immediately fell in love with her. Now some would ask why this tiny, thin angry old cat won a place in my heart and for those who were privileged enough to meet her would know why.

I took sole responsibility for her and spent many hours sitting with her, after 10 weeks of care the owners son reluctantly came in to ask if we would euthanase her as he was unable to find her a new home. This just made me want to cry and I convinced the vet to wait to see if I could find her a home. At the time I already had 2 other cats that were happy and content as they were so taking another cat home was not an option (or so I thought). After many sleepless nights and endless rejections to give Clary a home I finally decided that I owed it to her to make her golden years as comfortable and happy as possible even if it was for a short time, so one evening after work we started our new life together.

I’m not saying it was easy letting a new, elderly, female cat into my home especially when my other two boys were so young compared to her but however it was the start of a friendship I will never forget.

Each year I had Clary was like winning the lottery but with some years came sickness and lots more sleepless nights but is something I would do again without hesitation (well I have done it many times with many more elderly cats with an assortment of medical problems).

Well there you have it, Clary’s story; I hope it inspires you to always think about taking on an elderly cat even if you think it may only be for a short time. I always felt and still do that a short time is always better than no time.

So what did I do that was different, well apart from giving her the special place in my bed there are many things you can do to assist your elderly cat through those precious, golden years but firstly the most important one of all is regular Veterinary examinations depending on the age of your cat this could be anything from 3-6 months, your Veterinary Practice can advise you on the best healthcare program for your cat. For me it started as every 6 months and as Clary got older it was every 3 months.

Looking after your elderly cat

Why should my elderly cat have regular veterinary examinations?

Well it's simple, your cat CANNOT tell you when they are feeling unwell and although to you their primary carer they may look fit and healthy on the outside things are changing on the inside and by having regular examinations it may be possible to detect an illness in the early stages, therefore it may be possible for your vet to start treatment if required.


Blood/Urine testing

A simple blood or urine test is a great way of finding out how your cat's kidney's functions are and in most cases can be done at your own vet's in house laboratory. There are more extensive blood test available so it is better to get the advice of a qualified Veterinary Surgeon.


When should I get my cat blood tested?

It is always best to consult your own Veterinary surgeon as each practice has a different protocol for such things but blood testing can be done at any age as it gives your vet something to go on in the future. It is also recommend that they be done on a regular basis but each animal is assessed individually at the time.


Isn't all this going to be costly?

Yes, consultations, blood and urine testing can all be very costly but in my opinion is worth it if it means you getting peace of mind knowing you have done the best you can for your elderly cats.

Some Veterinary practices offer nurses clinics for their clients which means the consultation may be at a reduced rate or free although if you are wanting blood and urine tests you may need an appointment with the veterinary surgeon. Please ask your own vet on charges of such things as they will vary but most are covered by pet insurance, this again would need to be checked with your vet and or pet insurance company as policies may vary.


What changes should I be looking for in my elderly cat?

Weight loss – if the weight loss is sudden it could be an indication that there is a medical problem especially if the cat is eating well.


Drinking – always make a note of how much your cat is drinking prior to taking them for a consultation with your local vet as they will almost always ask if you have noticed a change in you pets drinking. This will also apply to the amount of food the cat is eating each day.

Coat condition – some elderly cats stop grooming themselves so may become matted especially around the tail area, this can be an indication that they are no longer able to turn around to reach the back end so regular grooming is always a good thing and is a good way of interacting with your cat. Some cats may not like to be groomed especially if they are in pain or a bit thin so please be gentle and if your cat is agitated by it (I'm sure you know when your cat is upset) stop for a while and try again later. I always find a grooming mitten is good for elderly cats and doesn't pull at their coat as much as a regular brush or comb might and they just absolutely love it.

Claws – as your cat gets older their nails may get stuck in the carpet,so examine the paws regularly to make sure the nails are not over grown, they can grow so much that they start to go into the pads which is painful and may cause your cat to limp. Your vet will always be happy to trim the nails for you (unless your cat is like Clary and hated having her paws touched), if you are brave enough you could ask your vet/nurse to teach you how to clip the nails especially if they grow quickly as this would save your cats the sometimes stressful journey to the vets.

Toileting – if your cat has always gone outside to use the toilet then please be aware that as they get older it may be necessary to provide a litter tray indoors. Some cats as they get older prefer to go in a area that is safe (this is usual at home), as they are in a vulnerable position anyway. Just imagine how you would feel if you were an elderly cat expected to use the outdoor facilities knowing you were no longer able to run or defend your self as you once did in your younger years.

Cats can also get a little forgetful as they get older so please be patient with them if they have the odd accident around the house and always contact your veterinary surgeon if it becomes an ongoing problem. They will be able to give you advice or put you in contact with someone who may be able to help.

Night time howling – I was once told that cats do not go senile in the same way that dogs do, well I must disagree. I share my home with a number of elder cats and from my own experience senility applies.

You may hear your cat howling at some awful hour of the morning and if your anything like me you'll immediately without a second thought jump out of bed, put all the lights on to check the cats (who by the way will be sitting somewhere looking at you as you fall down the stairs),only to find out that all is well and no-one is hurt.

Cats may wake up from a deep sleep and get confused, its dark, quiet and the person they rely on to keep them warm and safe is no where to be found (or so they think). Just by giving them a bit of re-assurance will often calm them down, I have been know to leave a little light on just in case the little ones need to get up during the night.


Please be careful in these situations!!

Miss Clary may have been senile but she was also very clever and knew that if she started howling no matter what time of day somebody would always go running to her rescue when all she wanted was a cuddle on her terms.

I didn't mind as every minute I spent with her was a huge bonus and I'd decided that as long as I had cats in my life there would always be no or very little sleep most nights.


What other changes will I need to make?

One of the most important things for any elderly animal is to make sure they have a warm comfortable place to sleep (though I'm sure most of your cats have already taken over your favourite spots), but in some cases they still prefer to sleep on cold surfaces which although may be what they want it isn't entirely good for them especially if they suffer from arthritis.

Providing a hot water bottle (safely wrapped in a towel of course) or a heat pad (these are easily obtainable from many shops) will give your cat both a warm and comfortable place to sleep with the option of getting off if things get a little hot. There are also special beds called fleck-ta-beds which reflect the bodies own heat.


A few of my elderly cats now find it difficult jumping onto the bed or sofa so by providing steps makes life a whole lot easier for them, all I have done is placed a few boxes (the sturdy kind) or wicker baskets (upside down or they fall in) around my home so that they can always sleep in their favourite places without feeling like they need to climb a mountain to get there. Alternatively you could just go out and buy low leveled furniture but that might just get a little expensive!!!

It may also be necessary to place food and water bottles on slightly raised platforms as they may find it difficult bending down to eat and drink, one simple way of doing this is to use an upside down litter tray.

My cat doesn't seem to be as active

It's only fair to expect elderly cats to slow down as they get older, or is it?

Just because your cat is getting older does not mean they should stop playing (unless of course their Clary's age and only play when no one is watching), one of my cats at 16 years of age still loves to play and I have heard of cats older that still run around like kittens (maybe not for as long as a kitten would) but still it is important for your cat to get regular daily exercise even if it's just a few minutes, so take the time for a little play, it would be good for both of you and make your friendship even more special.

If however your cat is no longer able to move around as they once would then please instead of putting it down to old age as so many people do, ask the staff at your local veterinary surgery for help and advice on what to do. There are a number of possibilities available for your cat; it may be a case of medication or a short course of physiotherapy or even massage



I know it seems like you have to make a lot of changes in your life to accommodate your cat when they get older but just imagine how you would feel if it were you!!

I hope all the information I have provided helps you and your cats have a long, happy life together.

In 1997 I started work in a different veterinary practice and was there for just over 8 years; it is my belief that if I did not change my job Miss Clary would never had lived for an extra 10 years. The support I received from everyone involved in the care of my "Little Angel" over the years was amazing.

If you would like to contact me please email me at jenthewren@gmail.com

I will always be happy to talk to you even if it's for support but remember the staff at your local practice are always happy to help and it is always better to get a full medical examination even when your not able pin point where or what the problem is, don't feel as though your wasting the time of your Veterinary Surgeon or feel like your going mad, believe me I've done it many times myself.

You're the one that spends the most time with your cats so you know their behaviour better then anyone else.



Copyright 2005 Jenny James – jenny@gericatrix.com