We have three cats all of whom are fifteen or sixteen years old. They are all indoor-only cats and are quite healthy for their age. They’re also very social with each other, and with us, and until recently often spent a good part of the day sleeping entwined together in one big agglomeration of ears, faces, and paws.
My question concerns Shadow, the cat in the foreground of the above picture. Over the past couple of days, he has begun to go by himself in the bathroom, and just stay there for a couple of hours, lying on the floor. In general I’ve noticed him seeking out cooler surfaces to lie on, for example the laminate floor in the living room rather than the carpet in the bedroom.
What causes this type of behavioral change? Given his age, I suppose anything’s possible, and we need to face the possibility of a major illness, but I never heard of cats going off by themselves when they’re sick. Or, for that matter, off to die alone as some animals do in the wild.
Actually, I’m sorry to say, I have read that doing just that is typical of housecats. Also, my ex-boyfriend’s elderly, sickly Siamese started hiding in inaccessible places, and the veterinarian told my ex that that was exactly what he was doing. My Chelsea started hiding when she was very ill with liver and kidney failure, though she did recover and lived for more than a year, with treatment.
Please do have Shadow checked out by your vet. My best to you both.
My old cat started seeking out cooler places. Tile floors, window sills and the spot near the back door where there was always a cold draft in winter time. A few months later I noticed his breathing was labored. Took him to the vet and he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Apparently the colder air provides some comfort to those suffering from this disease.
First of all, im so sorry about your cat! I don’t know much about cats and their illnesses, but I did want to comment about your picture. The first cat in the picture, the one to the far left, looks EXACTLY like my cat Radar. Do you happen to know what breed they are? The vet tells me siamese point, but that doesn’t seem right
Here’s a picture of him when he was a bit younger:
I’m very sorry to hear about your cat. I, like others who posted before me, know that cats do, in fact, seek places to be alone when they’re nearing the end. I would take Shadow to the vet as soon as possible.
This. My experience also. The only difference is that your cat is seeking cooler places. I think that is a positive sign actually. Good luck with whatever ails him.
Allow me to join the chorus: do NOT waste time. Get Shadow to the vet ASAP. Cats absolutely do what you describe when they are sick. He may even be blocked.
I think “siamese point” is just a way of describing the cat’s coloring, regardless of whether it’s actually Siamese or not. “Points” are the term for the cat having a darker snout and paws; and “Siamese”, in this case, means this particular base color and darker shade. We’re not sure of the exact breed, but think he’s a Himalayan mix, and that the cat in the back of this picture (Rocco) may have been the father. We believe Rocco also sired the middle cat (Clover). Rocco and Clover, by the way, are Ragdolls which is what I think yours is, too. Rocco has the same “mitts” and “boots”.
My understanding is that hyperthyroidism (which is treatable in most cases) will cause cats to feel too warm. We had a cat who dealt with this by overgrooming before some other symptoms (in her case, restless behavior and chokingly strong urine) made us take her to the vet.
I’ve also had experiences with ill cats seeking to be alone. One of the cats we have now will hide under the bed when she is sick. Another doesn’t go off to be by himself, but he becomes very cranky with us and the other cats.
It is very scary and sad when you have to think of your cat’s mortality, but when you take Shadow to the vet, you may learn he has something very treatable. My cat with hyperthyroidism lived about another 4 years, and with a high quality of life. Best wishes.
Dogs too. When Mr. S was a kid, his elderly dog Rocky disappeared one day. Years later, when they were tearing down the old house, they found what was most probably Rocky’s remains underneath (ramshackle house, no basement or crawlspace, little if any insulation). Crawled off to die alone.
My lovely cat Murphy was doing weird things right before she died. She started hanging out in a room that I swear I hadn’t seen her go in for years. I’d come home and she’d be there, all alone. In the end, that’s where she died. Vet, now.
