Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 1/18/2011

Question
QUESTION: My cat has been crying (loudly) the past year or so especially during the night. She has not been using litterbox except to urinate. Finding feces all over. Eat/drinking is normal (likes hot water). Back paw pads are pink, not sure if she is chewing on them or not. Noticed last night that she is pulling hair out around her hind claws. No changes in her environment. Has always craved attention. **I do have a heating pad set on low in her bed wrapped with towel, I find this keeps her off furniture. No Vaccinations since 1997. Has had no health issues besides the usual vomiting (all my Siamese seemed to do this a lot) I do have an appointment for her at the Vet's tomorrow evening but was hoping to have your thoughts first.

ANSWER: Hi Karin,
Cats at this age do develop a type of dementia that is associated with the crying etc. When my cat Floyd (who lived to be 19) turned 16- he too started this caterwauling in the hallways, rooms and even standing on my lap. It's as if they don't know where they are for a few minutes, and the nighttime makes it worse.

The hair pulling makes me feel like she might have some pain associated with her back legs- sometimes arthritis can radiate down the legs and cause referred pain, but the cat will chew on their feet or lick them excessively.

The lack of using the litter box for defecation could be that she cannot stand still that long if her back legs hurt or in the position that they assume to defecate- so it's easier to just drop it.

Make sure you ask your vet about these things. Sometimes it's easy to forget them when you are listening to the vet. Write them down.

I hope she is okay- please let me know what the vet says...

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your speedy reply!! I tried to write her issues as short and sweet as possible. Would a nightlight help at all during the night? Any suggestions on how to handle her and the possible Dementia? What, if anything, would the treatment be for cats with arthritis? Would the heating pad be making her worse? How would I know when she has had enough :(  ? I love her to death but I am not selfish. Make sense?

Answer
A night light made no difference for my cat since it is in their head and not a vision issue.
There is not a lot that can be done for the dementia issue. What did your vet tell you last night or is that this evening?

A heating pad is good for them to have but she can always move if it's too hot. Better than that is a special pad you can get at a pet store that you heat in the microwave that stays hot for hours but won't burn them.

As far as knowing when she has had enough- she will let you know. She will stop eating and will give you the 'look.' Since I can tell that you are really tuned into your cat you will know the look and what it means.

She sounds like she is doing well otherwise so don't count her out yet.