Senile cat

Hi, I'm new here. First of all, I want to apologize in advance for any grammar or spelling mistakes I might make, I'm not a native speaker of English. 

I'm seeking advice regarding one of our cats (we have 3 ladies). Lulu is around 14 years old and has showed signs of senility for the past year. She meows and yells like crazy, seems disoriented, and poops anywhere. It has been very difficult for us, specially the pooping situation. She once even pooped on one of the kids' bed and then cleaned her bottom against the wall, I had never seen a cat do anything like that. The vet says there's no medical condition and there's nothing we can do to help her. 

We're moving in two months and I'm very concerned about how she will react to that change. Is there anything we can do to help her? Also, how will I know when she is suffering or in pain? She doesn't seem happy at all, I'm afraid moving to a new house will only make things worse...

Thanks for your advice. 

Pepina said:

 
Hi, I'm new here. First of all, I want to apologize in advance for any grammar or spelling mistakes I might make, I'm not a native speaker of English. 

I'm seeking advice regarding one of our cats (we have 3 ladies). Lulu is around 14 years old and has showed signs of senility for the past year. She meows and yells like crazy, seems disoriented, and poops anywhere. It has been very difficult for us, specially the pooping situation. She once even pooped on one of the kids' bed and then cleaned her bottom against the wall, I had never seen a cat do anything like that. The vet says there's no medical condition and there's nothing we can do to help her. 

We're moving in two months and I'm very concerned about how she will react to that change. Is there anything we can do to help her? Also, how will I know when she is suffering or in pain? She doesn't seem happy at all, I'm afraid moving to a new house will only make things worse...

Thanks for your advice. 

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Hello Pepina

I have had two very elderly cats in the past, the little female cat I had was 18 and according to my vet was going senile.  I did not have a problem with her pooping anywhere,  she did sometimes run around and pee behind things, but this was not her usual behaviour, she had always been a very clean cat and used her litter tray.  She did once walk backwards and it was very strange to see and she looked a bit strange in her eyes sometimes.  If you are moving when you get to your new place perhaps try and confine her to somewhere in the house which is quiet.  I think you would know if she was not well or in pain, most of my cats when not well have maybe not wanted to eat or just gone somewhere and not wanted to move around much.  My cat also used to meow loudly every morning, this could be a sign that she is going deaf.  I'm sorry I cannot be more helpful and only hope your moving won't make things worse.

Hi @Pepina

Welcome to TCS but I'm sorry for the circumstances.  You're english is perfect by the way.   May I ask what country you're from?

Your cat is probably going to have a hard time with the move.  All the research I've seen on feline dementia says to keep their environment and routines as stable as possible.  I am going to include a couple of links on the illness, the first one has a treatment section and references some medicines that may help.

When you say that "She doesn't seem happy at all" bare in mind that not all suffering in life, even with animals, is physical.  The question to think about is, is her current state making her so unhappy that the humane thing to do is to let her go with the help of a vet.  Everything I read says the best you can hope for is to slow down the progression, not reverse it.  I'm not suggesting that the time has come for you to let her go, but I don't want you to feel guilty about it should this come to pass.  The decision should you have to make it, is solely for her benefit.

Some questions to ask:

Does she still engage in play?

Does she have reasonable periods of lucidity?

Dos she eat well?

Does she groom herself?

How much of a given day is she acting in distress?

Depending on how you answer these questions will lead you in one or another direction.  I agree that if she moves with you, isolating her in a small room for a time may help.  But again think about her quality of life right now.

http://pets.thenest.com/senile-dementia-cats-7375.html

http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/diseasesconditionscat/tp/feline-dementia.htm

Thank you both for your advice. I'll consider leaving Lulu in a quiet room when we move, with the company of one of the other cats that she gets along with. 

Answering your questions, Stephen, Lulu does eat well, but the rest is not good. She sleeps all day, wakes up only to eat and go to the litter box (if she finds it. I put more litter boxes but it doesn't help. Sometimes when she does go to the litter box, she still misses and poops outside, like she sits inside but leaves her bottom outside). The grooming situation is also bad: she is losing hair by patches. My husband combs her hair regularly and it's very sad to see her lose her fur like that. And she used to enjoy being groomed, now not so much. 

I am realistic and know we'll have to let her go sooner than later. And I understand it would be for her benefit, since she is not having a good life right now. We just don't want to do it just because she has become an inconvenience, you know?  I'm afraid moving to a new house will be her "coup de grace".  

Thanks again. Oh, and I'm from Argentina! Very far! 

@Pepina

The reason I wrote what i did was exactly because I didn't want you to worry that you would let her go for your convenience, you're obviously caring parents.  What makes this so awkward is that there is some inconvenience, and it must take a a very centered person to simultaneously discount the inconvenience and look at your cat's quality of life.  Very hard and you have my admiration. And yay Argentina!!