Older Cat Change in Behavior

by Cindy
(Orange County, CA)

We have an 11 year old spayed orange tabby. She was a stand-offish cat for several years and then she became very affectionate; would follow me everywhere; sit in the chair with me to watch tv and sleep with me in bed after my husband went to work in the morning. For the last month or so, she has changed and no longer sits in the chair with me, keeps to herself and never jumps on the bed anymore. She is an indoor cat, but we let her out in our fenced back yard for about an hour in the evening for supervised play. We have a vacation condo that I go to for a month at a time and I can't take the kitty, but I have a very reliable pet sitter whom I have used for years and I have never had a behavior change like this. I took her to the vet for a check-up and blood work and everything was fine. Any ideas?

Answer by Kate
Hi
well as cats get older there behaviours can change, my own old cat went through many different stages in her life and this includes all sorts of changes to her behaviour.

As long as the vet has given her a clean bill of health then this is either caused by old age and normal changes in their likes and dislikes or it may be caused by the long separation from you. i don't know what arrangements are made while you are away but it may now be starting to upset her a little as she gets older and would prefer a more settled home life. but at the end of the day all cats are different and who's to say if this is the case or not. unfortunately you have to make a judgement yourself. At least you know they are not physically ill which is a relief.

Sorry i could not be of further help. you may find my web page about senior cats interesting

here is the page

https://www.our-happy-cat.com/senior-cat.html

best wishes Kate

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