My cat is 10 years old, is that old for a cat?
It depends on the cat, the cat breed, and the health of the cat. The oldest cat I knew personally lived to 24 - and she died when she slipped out an open door and ran into the street in front of a car. I have had Maine Coon cats for years. A registered Maine Coon who makes it to 15 is eligible for the Methuselah listing as a long-lived cat. Most of mine have lived to 12–14. The only one who died younger had an inherited disorder - polycystic kidney disease. My oldest Maine Coon at present will be 15 this fall and still thinks he’s a kitten - no health problems. He has lost some muscle mass and we don’t find him on top of the refrigerator any more; he has to use his claws a bit to get in tall bar stools now; but other than that he is the same playful clown as always.Generally, females live longer than males - with exceptions, of course - and often mongrels are more healthy than purebreds -again, with exceptions.As another answer said, keep an eye on the individual cat. The most common cause of death in cats is kidney failure. Make sure the cat has plenty of fresh water available at all times. I keep out 3 water dishes, some running fountains and some still bowls to satisfy everyone. A cat with kidney failure will begin to have a dull, dry coat and not groom itself as well. It will be less energetic and tend to lay in the “meatloaf” pose, rather than its usual posture. Even with regular vet visits, by the time the kidney failure shows up in blood tests, the cat has already lost significant kidney function and is on its way out. Having lost a cat to kidney failure, it did not seem really painful - just slowly debilitating - until the end. We tried to prolong the cat’s life with subcutaneous fluid nightly and drugs, but,, in the end, decided it was kinder to let our much-loved pet die without more suffering.I personally do not favor frequent vet visits for older cats - it just stresses them out. My vet is in agreement. The cats had all their shots as kittens. They never leave our house or get exposed to other cats by boarding (if either of those apply, you need more frequent visits). I keep a VERY close eye on the cats for things such as tooth problems (plaque build-up or changes in breath smell), any lumps or bumps, any changes in eating, drinking, or bathroom habits, etc., and take them to the vet immediately if I spot any change.
My cat of 5 years old has the meow of a 6 week old kitten. What is wrong with her?
All cats have their own, unique meow. My 15 year old (in February :o) has the teeniest meow ever and always has. Very high pitched and soft. I have another cat that, dang, I think I'd be able to hear him across the street, he's got a loud meow. I have an "octave" cat that meows in octaves; it's really cool. I have a cat that meows with a fake mouse in it's mouth when he wants to play, very odd sound. Yup, each have their own unique meow. :o) ADD: After reading the rest of what you wrote, it sounds as if your cat has never been to the vet. Sounds like your cat needs a Dental if having a hard time chewing food. ANY stinky stool is generally indicative of some type of illness. If throwing up often, your cat is in need of fluids subcutaneously (Sub-Q's) as just drinking or even force-feeding water is not enough. You need to get your cat to the vet, STAT so she can live out the rest of her life in comfort and love as she deserves. Please take her to the Vet for a full blood work-up, urinalysis, fecal testing, x-ray (might have blockage, throwing up a lot is symptom), to get fluids - give your cat the care she is entitled to.
I Cant Get My Cat To Quit Laying On Me?
He loves you and accepts you as his owner, plus he's probably feeling pretty lonely and rejected because he's been a stray cat before with little to no human contact. Now he has you, he wants to make you feel loved - also they love body warmth which is probably something he's not used to from when he was alone. Cats are really interesting creatures, I've had pet cats all my life and I'll say if there's one thing you should know: it is really really hard to gain a cat's love and trust. They are completely different from trustworthy, loyal dogs who are man's best friend. Cats love those who have gained their trust and respect - and clearly he has chosen you. It may seem annoying at the start or a bit surprising but trust me, this is a rare gift to have - the acceptance of a cat. If you're really annoyed by him sleeping on you, set aside and by a cat pet bed for him inside your room, a nice warm one maybe by a radiator? They love that because it's warm. And if not, worst comes to the worst, put the cat bed just outside your room door or in some place appealing for him. At the end of the day though, a cat will do what he wants to do and lives on his own terms so there are no guarantees that he will take to his newly bought bed.
We have a 9-year-old cat that we rescued off the street nearly frozen when he was just a few weeks old. He has never let us touch him. How can we get him to trust us?
Try playing, while talking in a quiet, even voice, and only glancing occasionally. Silence and staring are a predator’s way, and all wild things know it.If you can cook some chicken breasts with no seasoning, let them “ripen” a bit to get that strong odor cats like, then cut off pieces and drag them around at the end of a string (on a hard-surface floor, of course!). That could open a dialog after awhile.My sense is that ex-ferals might have bigger needs for stability than well-socialised cats. My nominally-10yo formerly-abandoned-and-mostly-feral tom gets very upset if I don’t now keep to the personal schedule he’s got used to!Apropos having patience and gradually overcoming their fears: it took me 3 years before he stopped running and hiding when I even touched the broom, and it took 5 years to get him to voluntarily snuggle under the covers when it’s 60F in the flat (for the first 4 years he’d just curl tighter and tighter with a hand and his tail over his nose, toughing it out). But he still refuses to sit on my lap or chest, or be held for more than 30 seconds or so. But that’s an advance—at first he wouldn’t be held even for 5 seconds.
Why did my cat suddenly start sleeping next to me?
I’m not sure what the details are here, but they matter. If your cat has been with you for years and suddenly has moved to sleep by your side, then yes, it wants to be warm, but I’d be looking for other things. This happened to me. My beloved cat of 11 years suddenly started snuggling with me every night, close, spooning, couldn’t get enough. I was ecstatic. He really does love me!! Couple months after his 12th birthday, he died of cancer. So while all these answers are true, a cat does want your warmth and he won’t take it unless he trusts you, if this is truly a “sudden” thing out of thin air, I’d be taking stock of everything that was going on. Does the cat seem depressed, does the cat seem lethargic, eating less, etc. I’m not trying to scare you, just to make you aware. You also have to take in factors like age, time spent with you, have there been other things introduced in the house, could it be a sudden insecurity over heaven knows what? I have one now that is fine being on his own until I put his shirt on (he has skin issues and we do this to keep him from licking) and then suddenly he can’t be out of my lap. However, I have known people who’ve taken in feral cats and years down the line, 6, 8 years, the cat suddenly decided their human was the best thing on earth. Now you know the “why”, you’ll have to be the judge of the cause. I’m hoping you’ve a cat that’s just finally figured out that he trusts his human.Photo is of my beloved Teazer.
I found a kitten on the street and now it's really attached to me and likes to sleep under my chin. Why?
Rules of being chosen by a cat.Rule #1 - Never be embarrassed of your pet. They can smell that on you and will do the embarrassing act almost tenfold. Just learn to love it!Rule #2 - When you are chosen by a cat, your life as you knew it will be gonefor good.Rule #3 - It will most likely take care of you, wash you, share its food with you.Rule #4 - Be prepared for a lot of social interaction. Your cat will most likely expect you to talk back when it meows.Rule #5 - Never. Ever. Bring a new partner into the house without preparing your cat. It will most likely try to compete with or try to get rid of your new lover.EDIT: A BIG thanks for all the upvotes :) And a big thanks to Quora for placing my answer in the Digest :D
How do I stop my dog from laying down mid-walk all the time?
First, make sure there's nothing medically wrong with the dog. She could be experiencing pain during walks, and this is how she's expressing her discomfort.After making sure she is healthy, do the following: This might sound ridiculous, but there's only one quick solution: when she lies down, continue on your walk as if nothing has happened.I'm guessing that your usual reaction is to stop and look back at the dog: beg, plead and offer enticements in order to get the dog to cooperate. But none of that works (does it?).So, instead, get yourself a long leash (like, 20 feet or longer). At the start of the walk, attach the long leash to her collar, next to your normal leash. Carry both leashes as if nothing has changed. (It's important that she doesn't notice any difference).When your dog performs her little lying-down maneuver, mid-walk, casually drop the short leash (which is still attached to the dog) and keep walking, while keeping ahold of the longer leash. At the next possible opportunity, disappear from your dog's sight (go around a corner, and then stop).When you disappear, your dog will likely freak out, since you've gone out of view, and she has no idea that you still have control, via the long leash. She'll probably chase you down, and stay by your side for the remainder of the walk. Pick up the short leash, gather up the long leash, and finish your walk without reacting.Do this every day until she stops lying down during walks.Obviously: do this in an area where she can't get hurt. The long leash allows her some leeway, so she could run out into traffic if you're not careful. But if you do this, it will only take once or twice before she stops lying down during walks.Don't make a big deal out of dropping the short leash, or picking it up later. It's important that your dog does NOT connect this exercise with the leash, so you can eliminate the long leash later.
I have a sand box in the backyard that all the cats in the area use as a liter box. How can I stop that?
I have a playground in the backyard that is covered with sand where my 2 year old plays. All the cats in the neighborhood use my backyard as a liter box. I need some humane suggestions how to make them stop. If that does not work I am willing to try anything.
Why do some cats like to sleep with their owners? Is there any scientific explanation?
There can be a warmth element, especially if it's an older cat, but there is also security and love. Those go together because a cat won't feel secure if they don't love you. I've studied cats for decades, but I still think the best example is my own household.Cats love my daughter. They have loved her since she was little. She likes to go for walks, and I would peek outside when she was walking in the church parking lot across the street when she was 12, and there would be this line of animals following her. At the time, we had a Samoyed-Chow Chow mix, so the dog would be first, then our cat, then at least 2, sometimes up to 4 stray/neighbors' cats trailing behind her. Every time. She's 21 now, and they still do it, even though we're across the country. (I'm still terrified a puma is going to follow her home.)We have 4 cats, 2 females (ages 18 and 11) and 2 males (ages 6 and 14 months). The oldest stays in my daughter's room. She's too old to deal with the others (not that she can't handle herself, she's still able to whip out a lightning-fast paw when the others encroach on her personal space).When I wake up, the boys will come in my room and lay on my bed. From there, they have a great view of the hall. They can appear to be totally zonked, but the moment my daughter's door opens, they jump up and run to her. During the day, my daughter lets all the cats in her room. That's where they stay unless they're eating because they love to be with her. Only the 11-year-old will sleep in my room. She likes to cuddle. But she won't always do it. Any of our cats will sleep with my daughter if given the chance, and there is no real difference in our rooms (and this has happened in different houses). Even though I'm less likely to forget to feed them, I make sure their water is clean, I'm more likely to give them a treat, to play with them, all kinds of things. They still love her more. I can't really blame them. I love her more too.