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Thread: Characteristics of your Senior Cats

  1. #16
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    Northern Colorado
    Posts
    2,558
    Originally posted by Edwina's Secretary
    When she became old she became a snuggly lap cat...only with my parents but particularly with my father. She would stand by his chair and yell until he sat down in it. She would then jump on his lap and sit there happily for hours.
    This sounds a lot like my Nipo! My father and Nipo have become inseparable these past 2 years and in that time Nipo has also become a little less "paranoid" and a little friendlier. Now, she isn't a lap cat and probably never will be - BUT she will demand petting whenever she fancies a scritchie. Usually she makes these demands while waiting for my father by his La-Z-Boy and will assume the role of "guard cat" after he settles into his chair. Nipo is about 11 years old now (based on the shelter's approximation of 6 months at the time we adopted her) and has been with our family since I was just 11 years old.

    She is definitely not the "jumper" she used to be. In her younger days she would launch herself into the air to try to reach the bird cages (RB Sunny budgie & RB Hans zebra finch) even though they were hung from the high ceiling so as to be far out of her reach. She also used to have a very tall scratching post (“her tower”) with 4 different perching levels. It stood about 4-4.5 feet tall. She could land right on the top of that thing in just one leap (especially if RB Jack (border collie) was chasing her)! However, by the time she was about 9.5 we noticed she had less desire to climb to her favorite high perch. The tower was looking a bit ragged by then so we traded it in for a shorter version, which she enjoys to this day. Nipo has also been much better about her “scratching habits” in her old age and only ever uses her own posts. However, in her “nawtee” youth she scratched the heck out of the back of a couch and scratched THROUGH a wood door! Her natwteeness is easily overlooked though, she’s just so sweet.

    In my opinion, she doesn’t look a day over two years! The only thing hinting at her age would be her growing “hangy pouch of cuteness” which she’s had since her spay. I’m referring to that bit of loose skin that hangs adorably from some female (and male?) feline’s bellies. Do we have a name for that on PT? Anyway, she has gotten *slightly* wider over the years and so I have *tried* to keep her active and exercising. But she is usually NOT INTERESTED! There is no toy or string or laser light that will get her to move it! But I still try on occasion. She’s not overly sedentary though – she is well known for hysterical Random Cat Outbursts (RCOs) and my parents claim she has recently done full 360 degree FLIPS in the AIR during a few of these episodes. I’ve never seen it, so I’m not a believer - yet.

    I hope she is with me for many, many years to come!!! I love my Nipo-potamus!

    I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Mimi, Tucker, Max, Speckles, Ginger, Louis, Krissy, Tubby, Peanut, Twicket, Annie, Sash, Storm and Jessica! Thanks for sharing these stories about your wonderful and *special* senior kitties!


    Many thanks to Roxyluvsme13 & k9krazee for my great new siggy!!
    *click* Kirk's Recovery Thread *click*

  2. #17
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Munich
    Posts
    15,285
    Filou and Tigris are 8 years old so I don't think of them as seniors but some of the developments you described I started to notice as well.

    Both were not the most people friendly of cats and Filou shows his precious self even less than he used too. He will be a grumpy old man I suppose but being an Aby he still is very good in jumping and running.

    Tigris however came closer to us humans. He loves to be in the middle of parties. Last year when Randi and John were here we were all surprised Tigris came over and accepted being petted by John- but this year we think it is normal that he asks visitors for attention

    Both look gorgeous- Filou on the thinner side and Tigris being a handsome hunk! I hope to share my life with them for many years to come

  3. #18
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    I'm not sure, what day is it? ;-)
    Posts
    13,740
    Originally posted by Barbara
    Tigris however came closer to us humans. He loves to be in the middle of parties. Last year when Randi and John were here we were all surprised Tigris came over and accepted being petted by John- but this year we think it is normal that he asks visitors for attention
    Now that you mention this, Barbara, Peanut has done the same thing! She was always one to run and hide whenever a stranger was around. Now, as she gets older, she is coming out more and more for people. She doesn't run and hide immediately, although depending on how the people enter the house, she may be ready to bolt at any second! Every February we have a spaghetti party for our friends. Last year she had to come out and make the rounds and beg from everybody, which totally surprised us. With Peanut, it might have to do with the fact that she is becoming more self confident as Tubby grows older and his alpha-cat status is being challenged. But to me, I don't care why it's happening, I'm just glad it's happening and my little scaredy cat is becoming a little social butterfly.
    Tubby
    Spring 1986 - Dec. 11, 2004
    RIP Big Boy
    -----------
    Peanut
    Fall 1988 - Jan. 24, 2007
    RIP Snotty Girl
    -----------
    Robin
    Fall 1997 - Oct. 6, 2012
    RIP Sweet Monkeyhead Girl

  4. #19
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Vermont
    Posts
    5,017
    I've been meaning to post in this thread for a while now, sorry it has taken me so long.
    Samantha is 16 now, like Logan's Mimi she is my first baby and she has been very healthy over the years, only needing to go to the vet's when she got spayed and then for her regular checkups.
    The only problem she has had is being a little bit too fluffy, but we put her on a special new diet in September which she is doing well on.(less hairballs too!)
    She still goes crazy over catnip, and demands our attention when she thinks we aren't giving her enough.
    She also still has a lot of attitude at the vet's office which means she has a lot of fight in her still and she doesn't plan on going anywhere soon.
    She doesn't jump up on furniture any more but she still does fine with going up and down stairs.
    She has picked out a couple of new favorite places to sleep, the bathroom where we put a cat bed for her and now in the laundry room right in front of the dryer where we put a new catnip pad on top of a purr pad to make it extra comfy for her.
    She does like to sleep a lot now but has her playful moments too.
    I hope I didn't go on for too long, she is just so special to me and I'm so happy that we have had so many years together and that we still have more to come.
    RIP sweet Samantha
    6/26/88-8/28/08
    ----------------------------

    Milly & Izzy

  5. #20
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Texas, USA
    Posts
    599
    [QUOTE]Originally posted by Tubby & Peanut's Mom
    [B]Now that you mention this, Barbara, Peanut has done the same thing! She was always one to run and hide whenever a stranger was around. Now, as she gets older, she is coming out more and more for people.

    Our Briggs is still a youngster at 5 but I had to add a comment. Briggs is not terribly sociable, runs and hides whenever anyone comes over. She plays favorites and will come out for one or two specially annointed friends. Now, having said this, I had a gathering of female friends two years ago and guess who decided to be the party girl??!!! None of us could believe it when Miss Briggs sauntered in midst all the revelers, took her seat and stayed with us for most of the celebration. We all felt quite honored by the princess's presence. Hasn't happened since that one time - she's back to hiding under the bed every time someone rings the doorbell.

    Bobbi

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