Question about senility in cats.

So as I've said before, Sami is about 18. After the scare of her not eating for a while, her appetite is back, full force and she seems well, physically.
I'm just wondering what some signs of going senile are often seen in cats.

Sami, after she eats ALL of her own food, will go back to sleep for about 10-15 minutes. She then wakes up and goes roaming around looking for more food and will finish off any left overs from Buddy and Parker. She will do this 2-4 times after each meal. Is she hungry? Or is it that she's forgotten that she ate?

She wanders around a lot, which I've heard is common. She goes through phases where she will come in the bedroom. Like just barge in, look around then leave. She goes in circles, around the kitchen, dining room and hallway a few times before going back to sleep.

She is also doing things that she really never does. Such as jumping on the deep freezer, walking in and out of the crystal display (yikes) thats up on a high chest and standing on the table and actually flinging stuff onto the foor. Really cute, but annoying to pick up.

Is stuff like that all common? Is there any dangerous things I should be watching for?
She used to howl while eating alone for months...but that randomly stopped. She just howls once in while now.

When Annie, who lived to 19, was older she did the wandering thing, too. She was also constantly hungry and meowy. In retrospect, I think she may have had thyroid issues. Could this be a possibility?

My Frisco got senile in her late years. She was about 18-19 when we had to put her down because of a stroke.

All of her life she was indoor/outdoor. The last few years she would go outside and just look confused. There were a few times when she went to the wrong house to come inside, thankfully my parents had nice neighbours that would let her in and then call us to come get her. Her last year she would step outside, look extremely confused, and then come back in immediately.

The two cats, Lois and Frisco, were free fed as well. Frisco would eat food, then wander around, come back and eat again. She surely wasn't hungry as she had just eaten. I ended up bringing her to live with me while I was in London so I could make sure that she wasn't eating too much and give her her insulin at the right time every day. She was diabetic and needed two insulin shots per day, but because of my parents schedule she would sometimes be late getting her morning or evening shot - with my college schedule I was able to give them to her exactly 12 hours apart.

She spent most of her time sleeping, but when she was awake, she always seemed to pace or wander.

Originally Posted by LuvMyParker

...her appetite is back, full force...
I'm just wondering what some signs of going senile are often seen in cats.

Sami, after she eats ALL of her own food...goes roaming around looking for more food and will finish off any left overs...

She wanders around a lot...goes in circles, around the kitchen, dining room and hallway a few times before going back to sleep...

She is also doing things that she really never does. Such as jumping on the deep freezer, walking in and out of the crystal display (yikes) thats up on a high chest and standing on the table and actually flinging stuff onto the foor. Really cute, but annoying to pick up...

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LuvMyParker, I don't think the signs you're seeing are a result of senility.

Increased hunger and hyperactivity are classical symptoms of hyperthyroidism - an "overactive" thyroid. (Ironically, despite increased appetite, weight loss - to the point of wasting - is also common.)

If left untreated, "Hyper-T" causes other serious problems - it may also hide/mask other existing problems.

If diagnosed, it can usually be treated with medication alone.

If I were in your position, I'd have her seen and tested for this as soon as I could.

Here's an article on Hyperthyroidism http://www.petplace.com/cats/hyperthyroidism/page1.aspx

Hmm, I looked down at her today and noticed her tummy near her hips is sunk in maybe a bit more than it used to be. She has a lot weight under her belly though. She checked out fine her last appointment which was about 3 months ago but I guess she will have to go back.

I thought she was more or less forgetting that she ate but she does eat quite a bit more.

Thanks for the advice, though. I am glad I learned of this before it might be too late.