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Cats/Siamese old lady can't hold water

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Expert: - 8/14/2009


Question
My fiance has a 14-16 *(no one can remember how old exactly) Siamese female cat. I have been living with him for 3 years and at first she really liked me, then she started to act jealous, then finally became anti-social(running away to a corner when she saw me). In the past two years she has also become aggressive towards other people at times, and other times she is her sweet self. I brought a kitten into the house about a year and a half ago, and she ignored it at first, but now hisses at the newer cat whenever it gets close. She has also started to urinate in the corner that she hides in, and has even defecated on the living room floor twice! She has always had a problem with vomiting, but the recent addition of her refusing to use the litter box at times (even when myself or the other cat is not in the house), and just going wherever she is sitting. She also has limited eyesight, but can still get around very well and seems to have good energy. What can we do to make this better??? Every time I come into the house she still runs to hide in that corner and the urinating is starting to become a daily thing- and being an animal lover, I do not want him to have to put her down or for her to be in a cage or down the basement because she cannot or does not want to go in her litter box."

Answer
Katherine,

At age 14-16, this Siamese girl would be considered geriatric.  Also, sudden changes in behavior tend to indicate a medical problem of some sort (e.g. incorrect thyroid levels).  The history you provided would prompt me to get a vet visit and have her thoroughly checked out, especially urinary tract, bowel, thyroid, etc.

If she gets a clean bill of health, then there is some sort of behavioral problem.  However, I would almost bank on it being a veterinary problem.  If not, get back to me and I will make further suggestions.

Please let me know what you find.

Best regards... Norm.  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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