Middle aged (ish) cat advice

[Iamnotcreativeenoughforthis]

My cat is 10 years old and has arthritis in her lower back.

Recently she’s become very vocal and started meowing at me when I leave the room or come in to the room, even when I’m in the room she’ll be sat behind me and meow.

I’ve just been watching her and she meowed then started to rub her back along the bed, she didn’t want to be touched.

Could it be possible that her becoming more vocal is because she’s in pain? The way she rubs her back along the bed or when I stroke her wants me rubbing her back is because she’s in pain?

Does anyone know? I have painkillers for her, I’m just worried she’s constantly in pain, especially as she’s so vocal now as opposed to even a year ago.

Hopeful bump

Probably in pain. She needs a vet visit really if it’s bad enough to cause vocalising.

I also think it's best to take her to the vets. If it is the arthritis (especially if it's flaring up in the cold), they should have some advice about how to make it more comfortable for her or if she needs low level medication etc. Or they could check her over and find out she's just being a cat!

Have you tried a heated cat pad/mat for her? We had one for an elderly cat who loved being on it. My current cat (not elderly!) steals my hot water bottle every night, so she might find some comfort from a bit of warmth.

I’ve heard of heat pads before, I’ll have a look in to it, I’ll also call the vet first thing, poor thing just wants to be able to sleep and eat all day

Poor thing (although I feel the same at the moment to be honest!)
Good luck at the vets, I hope they can help and/or reassure you and she feels better and back to her normal self very soon.

If it helps, once my cat stopped eating for two days - wouldn't even eat dreamies!! - and just slept all day in odd hidden away places. I took him to the vet thinking there was something horribly wrong with him, and I was pretty stressed. The vet checked him over, then fetched a sample packet of posh cat food and opened it up. I've never seen my cat move so fast, he gobbled it down in seconds Her diagnosis - it was emotional blackmail until we got him better food. That was an expensive embarrassment!

Good luck tomorrow

I spat out my tea at your cat @BewareTheLibrarians where would we be without their antics?

You probably ought to take her to the vet. If she's avoiding being touched, she could well be in pain. Cats can get dementia too. One of mine (she was 18 when she was pts) had that. She'd come into a room, meow at us, walk back out again and meow to herself. Bless her.