Lilly is at least 13 years old - she's been with me for 12 years and was already neutered when I collected her from the shelter as an indoor cat. Even then she was a very thirsty cat and 5 years later was diagnosed with kidney disease. She seemed perfectly happy indoors and when she did occasionally get out into the back yard she just sniffed around before coming back indoors. We have had changes in our cat population which varied from 2 to 4. The last change was 36 months ago when I decided that the cat I was fostering (in a separate part of the house) could not be kept in solitary confinement any longer and she was slowly introduced to my 3 other females. No real problems at the time - Lilly is not friendly towards other cats but tends to ignore them.
Recently Lilly has been breaking out - literally through the insect screens. At first she reappeared back on the window ledge quite quickly so I wasn't too concerned. I took her to the vet to get her chipped - a necessity here for cats which go outside. The vet was rather surprised that Lilly in her old age should suddenly decide to go off on her own. But I am now beginning to get worried. At the weekend she stayed out for 25 hours and I spent a morning searching for her and an afternoon writing posters "Has anyone seen my cat?". And there she was sitting on the garden wall. We'd imagined her dead or dying in a cornfield - too weak to get home. She didn't seem too keen but she did come indoors for something to eat before breaking out again. Since then she's only been indoors for food. If she can't get out she screams. At the moment she is on the window ledge complaining. I am hoping to keep her indoors tonight - a routine of daylight hours spent outside and nights at home would suit me fine but Lilly seems to think otherwise.
When I come across her outside she seems to know me but can't be bothered to have much to do with me. She used to sit on laps for hours complaining bitterly when she was gently lifted onto a chair. Now, she lets me stroke her for a few minutes when she comes indoors but then she's off back onto the window ledge and complaining.
I don't think it is a reaction to stress None of my other cats bother her - they are used to her bad temper and keep their distance. And now my better half has let her out - she was yowling and scratching at the back of our old TV. So much for a night indoors!
Since spending so much time outdoors, she suffers from grass mites.When she comes inside she is forever scratching herself and licking her paws. But outside, they don't seem to bother her. This is a problem but not THE PROBLEM. As soon as it gets colder, the mites will disappear.
Is she becoming senile? The vet advised me to let her be - maybe her life will be shortened but at least she seems to be doing what she wants to do.
Recently Lilly has been breaking out - literally through the insect screens. At first she reappeared back on the window ledge quite quickly so I wasn't too concerned. I took her to the vet to get her chipped - a necessity here for cats which go outside. The vet was rather surprised that Lilly in her old age should suddenly decide to go off on her own. But I am now beginning to get worried. At the weekend she stayed out for 25 hours and I spent a morning searching for her and an afternoon writing posters "Has anyone seen my cat?". And there she was sitting on the garden wall. We'd imagined her dead or dying in a cornfield - too weak to get home. She didn't seem too keen but she did come indoors for something to eat before breaking out again. Since then she's only been indoors for food. If she can't get out she screams. At the moment she is on the window ledge complaining. I am hoping to keep her indoors tonight - a routine of daylight hours spent outside and nights at home would suit me fine but Lilly seems to think otherwise.
When I come across her outside she seems to know me but can't be bothered to have much to do with me. She used to sit on laps for hours complaining bitterly when she was gently lifted onto a chair. Now, she lets me stroke her for a few minutes when she comes indoors but then she's off back onto the window ledge and complaining.
I don't think it is a reaction to stress None of my other cats bother her - they are used to her bad temper and keep their distance. And now my better half has let her out - she was yowling and scratching at the back of our old TV. So much for a night indoors!
Since spending so much time outdoors, she suffers from grass mites.When she comes inside she is forever scratching herself and licking her paws. But outside, they don't seem to bother her. This is a problem but not THE PROBLEM. As soon as it gets colder, the mites will disappear.
Is she becoming senile? The vet advised me to let her be - maybe her life will be shortened but at least she seems to be doing what she wants to do.