Elderly cat behavior
June 28, 2017 8:46 AM Subscribe
Our 17-year-old calico (Kishiru) has always done something we call "Sock Patrol" where she brings one of Mr. altopower's socks into the living room while meowing very loudly. However, this behavior is increasing and we're not quite sure what to do.
I know this is impossible to answer with any confidence because cats, but I'm going to try anyway.
Sock Patrol for most of Kishi's life has been maybe a 4-5x/week occurrence. We've always interpreted it as a "summoning spell" because it has usually correlated with someone leaving the house, and we've enjoyed the hilarity. In the last couple of months, though, she has increased the frequency and intensity of Sock Patrol, to the point of last night bringing a total of 6 socks out. The meowing is louder, and it takes longer for her to give up on a particular sock.
Our concern is with whether this is an enjoyable activity for her and everything's fine, OR, is it now more of a compulsion that we should help her to break by closing the bedroom door. My current way of dealing with it is to take away the offending sock, which usually results in her getting another one. I don't want to get in the way of her grooving on the socks if she likes it and it's fun for her, but I also don't want her to do it if it's a compulsion that she's not enjoying.
She has been a solitary cat for over 10 years (discounting a 6-month-long cat sitting gig which was not a happy time for her), but she gets plenty of attention from all of us, and has toys as well.
I know this is impossible to answer with any confidence because cats, but I'm going to try anyway.
Sock Patrol for most of Kishi's life has been maybe a 4-5x/week occurrence. We've always interpreted it as a "summoning spell" because it has usually correlated with someone leaving the house, and we've enjoyed the hilarity. In the last couple of months, though, she has increased the frequency and intensity of Sock Patrol, to the point of last night bringing a total of 6 socks out. The meowing is louder, and it takes longer for her to give up on a particular sock.
Our concern is with whether this is an enjoyable activity for her and everything's fine, OR, is it now more of a compulsion that we should help her to break by closing the bedroom door. My current way of dealing with it is to take away the offending sock, which usually results in her getting another one. I don't want to get in the way of her grooving on the socks if she likes it and it's fun for her, but I also don't want her to do it if it's a compulsion that she's not enjoying.
She has been a solitary cat for over 10 years (discounting a 6-month-long cat sitting gig which was not a happy time for her), but she gets plenty of attention from all of us, and has toys as well.
How does she respond when you engage with her during the behavior?
posted by uberchet at 8:53 AM on June 28, 2017
posted by uberchet at 8:53 AM on June 28, 2017
She's getting up there in general - has she been to the vet recently to get checked out? make sure her sight and hearing are all good. She may be disoriented at this age, also. Just good in general to get her evaluated as a senior cat.
posted by Medieval Maven at 8:55 AM on June 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Medieval Maven at 8:55 AM on June 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
I had a cat who did this. He drug all sorts (dish, hand, full sized bath) of towels all over the house in the middle of the night, too. I always assumed it was hunting behavior. CUTE hunting behavior. I don't think it's anything to worry about.
posted by something something at 8:57 AM on June 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by something something at 8:57 AM on June 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
Have you tried throwing the sock across the room? My older cat has a specific ritual that involves his "olive" (a wadded up pipe cleaner). He'll go an get his olive and meow in a very specific (and mildly concerning) tone until someone plays fetch with him. If I ignore him or take away the pipe cleaner he will search the house until he finds another "olive." He will not stop until I play fetch with him for at least ten minutes. Perhaps your cat is signaling to you that they want to play in a very specific way?
posted by carnivoregiraffe at 9:00 AM on June 28, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by carnivoregiraffe at 9:00 AM on June 28, 2017 [8 favorites]
I had a calico cat who did this with her cat toys, and it definitely escalated into old age. We thought it was something about her "babies" (cat toys) but that was no doubt projection. In summary, cats are weird.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 9:08 AM on June 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 9:08 AM on June 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
I had a cat growing up who did this as well (socks from the laundry bin preferred but sweaters and other clothes were acceptable in a pinch). She was sometimes an only cat, we sometimes had other cats (she lived to be very old, so made it through several household cat eras), and wasn't a big hunter or player (one mouse killed when she was 15, I never saw her play). We always took it as her pretending to have kittens to take care of, since socks are approximately kitten-sized and smell like a living thing (more or less).
posted by snaw at 9:09 AM on June 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by snaw at 9:09 AM on June 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
Is it at all possible that she would take to a (n exceptionally calm) kitten? This is a semi-random idea; just because cats carry kittens doesn't mean that carrying things around = would like a kitten, but if she's bored or lonely or cold and wanting lots of warm cuddles, maybe that would be something to consider.
You've probably already tried just getting her a sock-like toy of her own to carry around forever, but that's my other idea.
posted by amtho at 9:10 AM on June 28, 2017
You've probably already tried just getting her a sock-like toy of her own to carry around forever, but that's my other idea.
posted by amtho at 9:10 AM on June 28, 2017
She's getting up there in general - has she been to the vet recently to get checked out? make sure her sight and hearing are all good. She may be disoriented at this age, also. Just good in general to get her evaluated as a senior cat.
+1 to this. Sock Patrol is not a worrisome sign if Kishiru's done it all her life, but the increase in the behavior might mean something. Elderly cats can get dementia, just like people. Hyperthyroidism is also common in older cats.
Get Kishiru in for a complete senior cat checkup.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 9:16 AM on June 28, 2017 [9 favorites]
One of my cats does this with one of her toys, usually right after lights-out for the night. She seems to go through phases, sometimes doing it every night for a few weeks, then stopping for a while. I've always assumed it was a vestigial hunting behavior that her life of ease has not extinguished.
posted by adamrice at 9:17 AM on June 28, 2017
posted by adamrice at 9:17 AM on June 28, 2017
Since it usually corresponds with someone leaving: has anyone or anything recently left the house? (Guest, piece of furniture, beloved mess in a closet, something she saw every day?)
Also, pics if you got 'em!
posted by kapers at 9:20 AM on June 28, 2017
Also, pics if you got 'em!
posted by kapers at 9:20 AM on June 28, 2017
Response by poster: To answer some questions:
We've tried engaging with her in a variety of ways when she does it...mostly she yells (meows really loudly) when you interact with her or the sock. We did try tossing it across the room and the look of unadulterated contempt we got was enough to extinguish that behavior.
She hasn't been to the vet for 4 years...the last time was extremely traumatic for her and she didn't eat for days afterwards, so we decided not to take her back unless it was an emergency or definitively for the last time. She does have sight and hearing impairments, though neither are totally out of commission.
She has a separate-but-similar behavior for after lights-out...she wanders around meowing loudly and doing naughty things like jumping on the kitchen table. Seems like maybe "orienting" stuff in that case, but this is specifically lights-on.
I had a cat as a kid who had a similar behavior with my dad's work gloves, but it was much rarer in her and we could definitely point to "missing kittens" as the reasoning. This I'm less sure about. Nothing has left the house lately, and she's doing this while Mr. altopower and I are sitting right there, though perhaps the kids are in bed.
Pics to come...
posted by altopower at 9:25 AM on June 28, 2017
We've tried engaging with her in a variety of ways when she does it...mostly she yells (meows really loudly) when you interact with her or the sock. We did try tossing it across the room and the look of unadulterated contempt we got was enough to extinguish that behavior.
She hasn't been to the vet for 4 years...the last time was extremely traumatic for her and she didn't eat for days afterwards, so we decided not to take her back unless it was an emergency or definitively for the last time. She does have sight and hearing impairments, though neither are totally out of commission.
She has a separate-but-similar behavior for after lights-out...she wanders around meowing loudly and doing naughty things like jumping on the kitchen table. Seems like maybe "orienting" stuff in that case, but this is specifically lights-on.
I had a cat as a kid who had a similar behavior with my dad's work gloves, but it was much rarer in her and we could definitely point to "missing kittens" as the reasoning. This I'm less sure about. Nothing has left the house lately, and she's doing this while Mr. altopower and I are sitting right there, though perhaps the kids are in bed.
Pics to come...
posted by altopower at 9:25 AM on June 28, 2017
I was going to suggest fetch as well, as one of my kitties Bramble (obligatory picture) does this with various toys that she wants us to throw down the stairs so she can alternately chase them and return them, or just stare at them and wander off. She'll usually trot into the room with the toy in her mouth and trill while she's holding the toy, then drop it and wait expectantly.
On edit, i guess it isn't fetch. But I do get contempt about half the time too!
posted by ukdanae at 9:29 AM on June 28, 2017
On edit, i guess it isn't fetch. But I do get contempt about half the time too!
posted by ukdanae at 9:29 AM on June 28, 2017
At her advanced age it might be worth it to have a vet visit you. They can do any needed blood draws in your home, and determine if she should make the trip to the clinic based on what they see.
Four years without vet attention means that this really could be linked to just about anything.
First step is vet.
posted by bilabial at 9:36 AM on June 28, 2017 [9 favorites]
Four years without vet attention means that this really could be linked to just about anything.
First step is vet.
posted by bilabial at 9:36 AM on June 28, 2017 [9 favorites]
I agree with bilabial - home vets are really great for this situation, so that may be an avenue to try. We had an elderly pug who worked himself up so he couldn't breathe when we took him to the vet, and having a home vet come out was one of the best things ever. He also came out and took care of the end of life stuff, which was a relief, as we didn't have to upset him further by taking him somewhere.
posted by needlegrrl at 9:39 AM on June 28, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by needlegrrl at 9:39 AM on June 28, 2017 [2 favorites]
My Katie did this same thing with socks for her entire life. Her "sock killing" (as we called it) definitely ramped up in her last years (she lived to be 20). We, and our vet, chalked it up to a little bit of kitty dementia; she had forgotten that she already killed the socks and so she would do it again. And again and again and again. It got to the point where it really seemed to be disturbing her so we put an end to the availability of the socks. She didn't seem to notice and seemed much happier to while away her hours in the bay window.
posted by cooker girl at 10:01 AM on June 28, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by cooker girl at 10:01 AM on June 28, 2017 [11 favorites]
I've had five or six elderly cats in my life, and none had this particular behavior. But one thing that seems to be really common is that existing behaviors became exaggerated. It's likely a symptom of mild dementia. The vet was never concerned about it unless it was doing harm (e.g. overgrooming).
I think you're in a better position to judge whether she seems distressed than we are. What happens if you don't give her access to socks, or only leave out one or two socks?
I agree that four years without a vet visit means it's a good time to get her checked out.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 10:11 AM on June 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
I think you're in a better position to judge whether she seems distressed than we are. What happens if you don't give her access to socks, or only leave out one or two socks?
I agree that four years without a vet visit means it's a good time to get her checked out.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 10:11 AM on June 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
My 16 year old cat does this. She is Trumpeting a Kill and would like more food, please. Your cat may be doing it more because she's hungrier and wants food more frequently. That could be a sign of hypothyroidism. It's worth checking out if that's it, it is super easy to treat with Methimazole gel applied to their ear twice a day.
Also, I agree with everyone above who suggested a house call -- my cat is MUCH happier with this set-up. She knows when Something Is Up so when the vet rings the doorbell she makes a Cat Lump under the blankets on our bed and we do everything -- weight, exam, even drawing blood -- under the blankets in the little nest she makes. It's so much nicer than going in a cat carrier and going in the car and all that.
posted by kate blank at 10:45 AM on June 28, 2017 [4 favorites]
Also, I agree with everyone above who suggested a house call -- my cat is MUCH happier with this set-up. She knows when Something Is Up so when the vet rings the doorbell she makes a Cat Lump under the blankets on our bed and we do everything -- weight, exam, even drawing blood -- under the blankets in the little nest she makes. It's so much nicer than going in a cat carrier and going in the car and all that.
posted by kate blank at 10:45 AM on June 28, 2017 [4 favorites]
Just chiming in that you should consider getting her thyroid checked. Mine had mild symptoms that I mostly ignored and sure enough, elevated thyroid levels when I finally had it checked out. Increased appetite and increased vocalization are the only two symptoms I know to check and both were worth noticing in my kitty's case.
posted by maryr at 11:02 AM on June 28, 2017
posted by maryr at 11:02 AM on June 28, 2017
Most of the people above seem to be talking about female cats... but I've never seen a female cat do this. My male cat developed a behavior where he drags all manner of small soft toys and small pillows, even a full-out doll one time, all over the house at night. He also has a favorite leather strap that came off a purse, that he finds no matter where we put it, drags out, and then sits by it meow-yelling for someone to come from the other room and swish it around for him. I chalk all this up to hunting instinct/wanting attention, as he is very attention-oriented, to the point that he chases the other cat out of the room to ensure he is the one getting it. I also noticed that these behaviors progressed over time as he grew more confident around us. He is just seven, so I cannot comment as to whether these behaviors worsen as age advances.
posted by Crystal Fox at 12:13 PM on June 28, 2017
posted by Crystal Fox at 12:13 PM on June 28, 2017
Our cat does this but in winter will line 2-3 socks or toys up in front of the heater. We can't decide if she's taking care of kittens or having a BBQ!
Yes, cats do get dementia and I'd chalk the increase up to that but book a home-visit vet soon.
posted by jrobin276 at 8:13 PM on June 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yes, cats do get dementia and I'd chalk the increase up to that but book a home-visit vet soon.
posted by jrobin276 at 8:13 PM on June 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
Nthing vet visit but also that this is quite common in older cats. My oldest lived to be 18 and would do weird stuff like this all the time, usually escalations of her normal behaviours. She also did a LOT of yelling in her old age. The vet checked her out and chalked it up to mild dementia, but she was otherwise happy and healthy. I mean, she was the cat equivalent of 100 years old, you know? I figured she was doing pretty well. Sounds like yours is too!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 1:34 AM on June 29, 2017
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 1:34 AM on June 29, 2017
My two female cats do this. I have always assumed it was the indoor cat equivalent of bringing home prey as a gift. So I thank them for it and give them a lot of pets and praise and that seems to make them happy. So perhaps she's looking for attention and as she's getting older she needs a little more comfort and more attention.
posted by Melsky at 6:38 AM on June 29, 2017
posted by Melsky at 6:38 AM on June 29, 2017
Response by poster: Thanks for the recommendation on home vets! I hadn't thought of that as an option for anything but euthanasia (which I am working very hard at not thinking about). I will definitely check out options in our area and get something set up.
She's definitely more vocal in general as well, so putting that together with Sock Patrol and some of her other behaviors, I'm thinking more kitty dementia. She eats well and is generally a happy purry kitty, so we plan on continuing to give lots of pets and snuggles and love until the end, and she can drag all the socks and yell all she wants.
posted by altopower at 7:56 AM on June 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
She's definitely more vocal in general as well, so putting that together with Sock Patrol and some of her other behaviors, I'm thinking more kitty dementia. She eats well and is generally a happy purry kitty, so we plan on continuing to give lots of pets and snuggles and love until the end, and she can drag all the socks and yell all she wants.
posted by altopower at 7:56 AM on June 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by H. Roark at 8:51 AM on June 28, 2017 [20 favorites]