DEAR JOAN: I’ve had my 18-year-old home lengthy hair cat for 17 years. She has a really candy disposition and may be very affectionate though fussy about attempting to do any work on her similar to nail clippings. I take her to the native vet commonly and have been for years. However prior to now yr, she has change into extraordinarily tough to fulfill concerning her moist meals and has begun caterwauling all through the day, anytime she appears to be up and about.
The vet hasn’t discovered something indicating she might have any soreness or discomfort bodily, and she or he manages to simply leap from the ground onto a mattress or sofa and again down with none problem.
I’ve two bowls of dry meals which can be out on a regular basis and are refreshed weekly, and I give her canned meals later within the day, however generally she received’t eat it, even when she cherished it the day earlier than.
The huge concern that bothers me is the caterwauling, which began in the previous few months. She by no means caterwauls in my presence, however when she finds herself alone, she begins in. As quickly as I say one thing, she sometimes quiets down however then inside a couple of minutes, if I’m not there, she’ll begin once more.
She’s change into very clingy and spends quite a lot of time parked proper subsequent to me on the sofa. At evening, she lays half on high of me.
I’m actually pissed off with the feeding points but additionally with the fixed caterwauling.
— Tom C., Redwood City
DEAR TOM: If your vet hasn’t discovered a bodily drawback and her dental well being is nice, I believe your cat is displaying indicators of her age.
She could be displaying indicators of senility or dementia. When she’s by herself, she may really feel alone and deserted, crying out to search out you. Your voice reassures her she’s not alone, however she is additional comforted by being near you.
As for the meals, cats are notoriously choosy eaters, and she or he seems to have change into extra so. I’d strive placing out recent dry meals day by day, moderately than leaving it out and including to it. For the canned meals, purchase the identical model however in numerous flavors and provides her a special one day by day. Variety is the spice of life.
DEAR JOAN: I adopted my cat, Chong, over a yr in the past, and we get alongside nice.
I’ve been feeding him Temptations from the start, however once I went to purchase extra, they had been out of it. I received some Purina One, a dry meals like Temptations, however he wouldn’t eat this.
Is it OK to simply feed him Temptations? He actually enjoys this. He has gotten to be an enormous cat.
