SpottyMare
Well-Known Member
Brief(ish!) precis...
18 months ago my (at least) 15yr old cat was diagnosed with high blood pressure and a couple of months later with chronic kidney disease. He'd been shouting loudly (really piercing loud miaows) overnight (only) for a couple of months. He was put on 2 BP tablets a day plus semintra for his kidneys. Looking at some of the symptoms, the vet thought that he was also possibly going a bit senile, plus the shouting is also a symptom of the kidney disease and/or senility according to some research I've done. I spent up until Feb this year surviving on approx 2 to 4 hours sleep, as the noise kept waking me intermittently all night. I wasn't keen, but due to sleep deprivation I agreed to putting him on liquid fluoxetine - I couldn't get him to take it (and I can get tablets down him!). Then we tried clomicalm, but that gave him really bad diarrhoea and he seemed really distressed for the couple of days he was on it, so that was binned. Then a couple of months later, he suddenly stopped - so he's been quiet all night since May. Then a couple of weeks ago, the night shouting started up again - not as bad initially, and not every night, but starting to get worse.
I really don't want to sedate him in case it masks anything else, and in addition to what I've said above I have night lights through the upstairs so he doesn't get confused in the dark, and I have 2 felliway diffusers chugging away. Routine is consistent, as is his environment. I can't shut my bedroom door as he digs up the carpet and scratches, and as he's always slept by me that seems a bit unfair - I'd imagine I'd still hear him anyway. He can't go downstairs as I don't trust the dogs with him unsupervised.
He's well in himself - he's lost a little weight over the last year, but nothing significant. He still likes a fuss, and purrs away quite happily. He'll play if he's in the mood, but spends most of his time sleeping these days. There's nothing about him that says he's in pain or in any way distressed. He can still jump up onto my bed (slower and more carefully now), and he's looking a bit scruffier as he's not grooming as much, but he is still grooming himself. Still uses the litter tray fine. He's just getting on a bit.
Does anyone have any ideas for ANYTHING else I can try to settle him at night? He can nap during the day - I can't
Anyone who's got this far gets a G&T and some cake..
18 months ago my (at least) 15yr old cat was diagnosed with high blood pressure and a couple of months later with chronic kidney disease. He'd been shouting loudly (really piercing loud miaows) overnight (only) for a couple of months. He was put on 2 BP tablets a day plus semintra for his kidneys. Looking at some of the symptoms, the vet thought that he was also possibly going a bit senile, plus the shouting is also a symptom of the kidney disease and/or senility according to some research I've done. I spent up until Feb this year surviving on approx 2 to 4 hours sleep, as the noise kept waking me intermittently all night. I wasn't keen, but due to sleep deprivation I agreed to putting him on liquid fluoxetine - I couldn't get him to take it (and I can get tablets down him!). Then we tried clomicalm, but that gave him really bad diarrhoea and he seemed really distressed for the couple of days he was on it, so that was binned. Then a couple of months later, he suddenly stopped - so he's been quiet all night since May. Then a couple of weeks ago, the night shouting started up again - not as bad initially, and not every night, but starting to get worse.
I really don't want to sedate him in case it masks anything else, and in addition to what I've said above I have night lights through the upstairs so he doesn't get confused in the dark, and I have 2 felliway diffusers chugging away. Routine is consistent, as is his environment. I can't shut my bedroom door as he digs up the carpet and scratches, and as he's always slept by me that seems a bit unfair - I'd imagine I'd still hear him anyway. He can't go downstairs as I don't trust the dogs with him unsupervised.
He's well in himself - he's lost a little weight over the last year, but nothing significant. He still likes a fuss, and purrs away quite happily. He'll play if he's in the mood, but spends most of his time sleeping these days. There's nothing about him that says he's in pain or in any way distressed. He can still jump up onto my bed (slower and more carefully now), and he's looking a bit scruffier as he's not grooming as much, but he is still grooming himself. Still uses the litter tray fine. He's just getting on a bit.
Does anyone have any ideas for ANYTHING else I can try to settle him at night? He can nap during the day - I can't
Anyone who's got this far gets a G&T and some cake..