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Issues with cat and baby HELP
My Mama is 15 years old and I she is my first baby. I have had her since she was a kitten. I am certain that she has dementia. She forgets that she just ate and will spend hours following me around "yelling" for food. She wakes DD up at least once a day with her howling for no apparent reason. She attacks our other cat (who is her son) all the time. Most people are afraid of her and she knows it & likes to stalk them when they visit. Even dogs are afraid of her! In turn I have to lock her in our little half bathroom in the basement once a day on average just to get some peace. Which makes me feel horribe but I don't know what else to do.
The big problem is that I am afraid she will attack DD one day. She doesn't have claws or I'd of thrown her outside by now but she does have teeth and she uses them. One time mama was in the carseat sleeping and we were leaving so I kicked her out of it, put DD in and went to use the bathroom before leaving. Mama jumped on to the table and bit H in the arm. On 2 other occasions H was crying and Mama went at her like she was going to bite her. Right in front of DH too!
As H is needing more and more floor time and getting to being mobile I worry about what will happen. We can't find her a new home because she doesn't like most people and certainly can't get along with another animal. We have even talked about putting her down but shes really healthy other than being a little goofy so i just know that I couldn't follow through.
Anyone been through anything like this? What would you do?
Re: Issues with cat and baby HELP
Have you taken her to the vet to rule out medical conditions?
In the future, it would be a good idea not to declaw your cats, because it can lead to a whole host of behavioral issues. Think of them walking around with arthritic knuckles on gravel 24/7. You'd probably be a little cranky, too. It also means that declawed cats tend to bite more, because they don't have their claws.
Does she have a cat tree or vertical space where she can get away from your daughter?
Seriously, take her to the vet. Rule out anything medical first, then I'm sure people on here will have suggestions re: where to go from there.
Is she fixed? You said your other cat is her son, so I'm just wondering if you ever spayed her.
In the future, please do not declaw.
Snow!
<a href="http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Home DI have an elderly cat and a toddler (plus two other cats), so I can relate to how hectic it can be. Get her to a vet ASAP as there are a lot of issues that can crop up for senior cats. When's the last time she was seen?
If all checks out OK, you could also try Feliway. It may calm the meowing. I've read that elderly cats sometimes meow more frequently.
It makes me sad that you even mentioned rehoming :-( You've had her for so long... hopefully the vet can help you restore some harmony to your home.
My old lady (she's 11) is having pee issues lately and I'm resorting to confining her to one room when I'm not home or awake. I feel so guilty, but it's way better than ditching her. If you need to separate her from your child sometimes, by all means, do so. Make sure she has food, water and a litter box.
Also, I highly recommend reading Cat vs. Cat. As she has aged, the dynamic between the two may have changed and there are some great tips on there for how to manage their relationship. I've also started reading Think Like a Cat from the same author and that might be where I read about old cats meowing.
I agree that you need to get her to the vet as priority number one. Aggression among cats is a very common sign that one of them is sick. Cats are excellent at hiding pain as a survival mechanism. Plus, at the age of 15, she should be going every 6 months and should have blood work performed once per year just to keep track of her overall health.
The declawing is a disaster and is very commonly associated with increased aggression, especially biting. It removes a cat's natural defense mechanism, makes them uneasy, and often leads to chronic pain which can make them really moody. In many cases, mine included, the side effects of declawing don't show up until the cat is older because it can exacerbate natural signs of aging like arthritis and make them more painful.
Read through the cat FAQs at the top of the board. For all cats, but especially cats in a house with a baby, they should have their own safe spot where they can retreat when they're stressed and should have their own set time for playtime and attention every day. Cat trees can be great as a safe spot; personally we have a spare bedroom where they can go relax or put themselves to bed if they're overwhelmed. With a mobile child, I would put a babygate up to keep the kid out. If the vet check comes up clear I'd look into a Feliway diffuser and rescue remedy for her water. They can help with anxiety.
She was actually declawed when I got her so nothing I could do about that. They are both fixed. I guess Ialso wonder what kind of treatment might be out there for dementia in cats .
I totally agree, its no way to live and I hate doing it but its gotten to the point that I have no idea what to do and where I want her to be happy my kid needs to sleep. When she jumps in the carseat I always pick her up and show her where she can go I don't chuck her anywhere but that doesn't always work.
I would definitely say with her behavioral issues and age you need a vet visit.
I'm not personally familiar with dementia in cats, I know some regulars have treated their dogs for dementia. We do have a cat with some frontal lobe issues and we just manage her environment really well and stick to a regular schedule. Nights when DH isn't home at 6 working in his office she is hysterical, when we moved she could not figure out where her food was for weeks despite being shown every day, etc. She has her own clearly defined spaces and we have a schedule so she knows what is going on at all times and it really helps. For example, we gave her a cardboard box int he dining room and she spends about eight hours a day there. Sometimes you just have to get creative and think outside the box.