Senior cat behavior

Well Ox is a spry 15 yr old that just started (I think) some new habits.
I do not know if I should be worried or not.
Ox NEVER comes into the bedroom but in the past week has jumped on the bed just before the alarm goes off. The cats get there spoonful of moist cat food 1st thing when I get up.
I've caught him jumping on the kitchen counter trying to open packages of buns, bread. I have to keep my overflow bakery that doesn't find in bread box in the microwave oven.
Begging still continues when I have a snack on the sofa.
Food dishes are never let empty at my house. He eats well.

He seems happy to go outside and wander around the house (not too far though), roll around in the dirt stuff like that.

He is a very very long haired cat and I usually don't pick him up and carry him around but I happened to do that just a couple of days ago and I bet in the past 6 months or so he not only has got more gray but thinner-esp in the back haunches- but that fur really disguses his body so well-by looking at him you can't tell. My sis is coming today and hasn't seen him since December I'll see if she thinks he looks thinner.

So what I trying to ask is this normal aging?? No litterbox issues thank goodness. I have to make an appointment for Grizzly-maybe I'll ask about Ox-he really doesn't like going to the vets office..

Thanks for any advice.

Ox should go the vet's office and have some blood drawn, sounds like hyperthyroidsm to me. It is easily treated with daily medication.

My mom took her 19 year old cat to the vet a little while ago and the vet said he was in perfect condition fo rhis age. He is skinny though he eats like 5 times a day (all wet food because he is missing teeth) he cant hear all that well but his eyes are fine. When they get older they just change a bit.. just because teh bowl is always full doesnt mean your cat is getting a lot to eat. Maybe try to give him some senior formula wet food if you can. Senior cats in general dont eat as much an dthough their activity levels go down they still might lose weight O_O So yeah just try to feed your cat some more fatter/filling food..

try leaving water bowls all over the house too.
Many older cats do not drink enough, but might if it is always at the ready.

Talk more with your vet. I didnt get enough details in your OP, but if he wants to eat all the time but is getting skinny, I second the hyperthyroidism too (my cat had it and so do I!)

I too think that a test for hyperthyroidism is in order. Actually, it's usually most economical to get a senior panel done (it checks kidney and blood values as well as T4). Even if nothing is wrong, it makes for a good baseline if you have to do a test at a later date.

My hyperT cat loves bread products. I never thought about it being associated with the hyperT before, but it is certainly possible. I found my baby last September, so I don't know his history at all.

Hyperthyroidism is very treatable. There are medications that can be given orally or can be compounded into a transdermal gel. These will treat the condition well for most cats. There is also a more expensive treatment, at least initially, where they inject an isotope of iodine, I-131, into the area near the thyroid. This is a cure for the hyperthyroidism for most cats. HyperT kitties can live normal lives and can be very happy.