I wish we could just talk about it

[cellio]

Baldur has become more vocal of late. It's not just since Erik died; it's been building for a while longer. But it has gotten worse, maybe because of that or maybe coincidentally. The vet can find nothing wrong with him (other than that he's almost 19 years old); she suspects senility. Near as I can tell his vision and hearing are still ok -- at least, he chases the laser dot and hears a can of food being opened from a floor away. But he'll stand in the middle of the hall, yowling piteously and failing to respond to being called. If I go get him he stops for a while, usually. It's weird.

Alas, he has been doing a fair bit of this in the middle of the night of late, which is wearing. Tonight I shut him in the basement -- with plenty of warm soft stuff to sleep on, food, water, litter, and a light, of course, but still... He cried for a while but seems to have settled down. We'll see if it lasts.

I don't want to have to do this every night. I want my cat to be able to curl up on my feet (or, of late, my arm) while I sleep. This feels like I'm failing both of us.

Sigh.

Comments

[ginamariewade.livejournal.com]

My cats did this towards the end of their days. Spider, especially, would call in the bathroom where Opie used to hang out before he died. I think it was his way of grieving for his lifelong buddy.

[miz-hatbox.livejournal.com]

Poor Baldur.

(and poor you! that's not nice to hear at 3am...)

[eub.livejournal.com]

Jasper does similar calling (and did it before we lost Narshie), though not so much as to keep us awake. We've heard the same possible theories as you have... Dunno.

One thing is that he doesn't *start* the calling if he's already in the room with us. So if he can be convinced to be there, that helps matters.

[cellio]

I put Baldur on the foot of the bed when I'm ready to retire, but at some point during the night he jumps down and then the crying starts. Even if I put him back on the bed he doesn't necessarily settle down. :-(

[sue-n-julia.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

It's tough. We never went through this with Vandal, except when we were travelling. We figured out that it happened when he couldn't get back up on the bed or when there were other odors in the room that he found disturbing. This led to one trip in which he cried all night long except for two 45-minute stints in which he slept (quite literally) on my face. Of course, when I moved my face to breathe, the crying started again. Trying to decide whether I needed sleep or breath more was a no-win solution. We didn't stay at that hotel a second night.

You might see how he responds to a tea of hops, chamomile, and catnip. 2 ml about 2 hours before you go to bed should help. You might talk to your vet about possible anxiety meds.

S

[indigodove.livejournal.com]

Poor Baldur...and poor you! It's frustrating to want to help your cat and be unable to. I have no idea what to do though, as our trio are the oldest cats I've ever had.

*hugs* and good luck!

[grouchyoldcoot.livejournal.com]

Can he physically get back up on the bed by himself? If he jumps down and then can't get back, I could see how that might get him started. I have a friend who actually has a ramp set up so her (rather hefty) cats can get up on her bed; they don't seem to have any trouble using it.

[cellio]

Thanks for the tea suggestion; I'll give that a try.

[cellio]

He can (and routinely does) jump onto the bed, so it's not a physical problem.

[starmalachite.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this sounds like plain old senility. Satin (in pic) acted much the same way for the last year or so of her 19. No real advice except earplugs and/or getting good at going back to sleep after comforting him.