Is she just getting old?

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

Portia...my feisty little torty has slowed down a lot recently. She used to prefer being out most of the day but over the winter and even now, she is curled up on our bed 20/24 hours. (and looks most affronted if we dare move the covers to get in!)

She is still eating fine..always a small light cat but eats chicken and tuna and a few crunchies... hates cat food! Toiletting fine..tends to constipation in old age so has a weekly cat lax . Pukes hairballs fairly regularly but always has done..and always on the bed!

She's never been a lap cat but is purry if you stroke her on the bed and still slaps me awake at 6.25 am exactly.. she has taken to sleeping on my shoulderblades as I sleep face down!

But she seems tired.. purry and sleepy much more than she used to be. Should I be worried? She's 15 and has never had any health worries whatsoever. She just seems sleepier and NICER than she has ever been (she's a slap you kinda girl...I love her!)

I'd feel daft taking her to the vet and saying 'she is calmer and nicer is this old age?' But I don't want to miss a health problem!

15 is nowt but a teenager!

I'd have her in to the vet - maybe with a view to checking her arthritis status among other things. Here's some guidance on that - do any of the symptoms ring any bells?

It's just that her behaviour sounds as if she might be sore - the not moving much thing - and drawing in on herself.

I wouldn't worry overmuch about telling the vet about behavioural changes. Cats are such masters at covering up a problem that changes noticed by an alert owner might be the first sign that there's an issue. I'm sure the vet would be used to it.

(And if you want embarrassment, you should have heard me explaining a car fault to my mechanic in the days when I had a car. ' It makes this sort of whuffling noise on cold mornings and seems a bit sluggish when....... No. I think I'll draw a veil over the rest!)

Cheers for the replies.. I'll book her in for a check up..I think her jabs are due next month anyway so she can get an MOT at the same time. She doesn't look stiff.. still jumps on the work surfaces, but as you say..they hide discomfort well and I'd hate her to be feeling sore.

Mind you if she needs medication... ugh. She generally takes several vet nurses and a handful of bandaids for whoever tries to get a pill down her neck !

The meds for arthritis are liquid and go in food - or in Seniorboy's case in food plus orally on his soft mouth tissues as needed. (He's been on meloxicam for 3/4 years now but since last year he's also been on supplemental pain meds as required because he's genuinely old and his arthritis is now pretty advanced. (He can actually crack when you pick him up.))

It may not be arthritis at all of course - although the stats on incidence in older cats are quite startling - but I wouldn't worry about the practicality of medication if the vet decides that might be appropriate. You may fine Lone's post in this old thread interesting.

Good luck at the vets - timely that she's to have her shots soon in any case.

The recent dynamics of your cat hierarchy have changed too. I seem to remember you saying she wasn't keen on your beloved Morphy.
Mcat's behaviour changed when we lost our beloved Creature. He began humping stuff, which according to cat behaviourists, is dominant behaviour. Creature was very much top of the hierarchy.

Big yes to the vet check up that you've planned. Owners notice any changes in cats behaviour better than anyone. If they're a decent vets', they'll take your concerns on board.

She may be missing out on the nutrients that are in cat food, have you considered a supplement? Most cat foods are balanced for this and if she only eats chicken and tuna she may not be getting enough of what she needs from dry food.