Promise not to lick the stitches.
This is a cat that have never been affectionate and then only briefly. You are seeing unexplained changes in behavior. Between that and the fact that she's almost 20, I'd say you should be concerned about a health issue. IMHO, time to pay a visit to the vet.My lovely Siamese has now turned into the most annoying creature on earth.
2 a.m. and she sits in my bedroom doorway, "meow, meow, meow".... So loud it wakes me up. Doesn't need food or water, she just sits there to tick me off. She can jump up in bed with me, no problem. Once in a while she does sleep next to me, but it's rare.
I get out of bed to pick her up, she runs and hides, yet five minutes later, right back in the doorway.
She's like the "eternal" cat, coming up on 20 years but she's so annoying.
I have two comments: 1) With an adult you know (or will know sooner) what your are getting. If there's an adult the displays the characteristics of what you want, get that adult. and 2) I like to think of adopting a pet (dog, cat, or whatever) is like inviting an alien creature into your home to live with you. By that I mean, you must expect differences to occur in your life when sharing your home with another species.For a belated update on my situation as I didn't have the heart to comment earlier. . .I ended up returning the kitten to the organization. I had to keep her a week after I decided until I could return her, and that was a really tough week, getting more attached but knowing I was returning her. It broke my heart and it's easy to say in hindsight that I should have given it more time. But it's done, and I'm hoping she was immediately adopted as she is adorable. The organization was returning her to her foster mother until adoption. I did not have the heart to check their listings right afterward, but as she is now not appearing on their website or Craigslist announcements, I am hoping it means she found a home, hopefully with a family and/or companion cats.
Originally, I was so upset I donated the remaining food and litter to the organization. (I did disassemble but keep my cat tree.) I am feeling that I would like to try again later. I'm not sure if I will go for an adult or try another kitten. In the meantime, I am catproofing all the crannies she got herself into (except under the couch as that is fine as a safe haven). I am also figuring out a barrier for containment in her "cat area" when I first bring her home as well as instances when I can't have her underfoot (like when I am cooking.)
Thanks for your ear and advice. I do think I will be better prepared next time because of this experience.
This is a cat that have never been affectionate and then only briefly. You are seeing unexplained changes in behavior. Between that and the fact that she's almost 20, I'd say you should be concerned about a health issue. IMHO, time to pay a visit to the vet.
If I ever adopt a pet, I think I'd rather adopt an adult. Kittens/puppies just take too much energy to train and keep up with.
Word.
Puppies are for the young--who have LOTS of time to spend with the animals for training's sake.
Yes, weighing the stress of a vet visit against the benefits is difficult. At 20, she's always in delicate health. I don't know whether she'd allow it, but at her age she'd almost definitely benefit from daily subcutaneous hydration which you can do in your home.Took her to the vet a month or so ago due to a tumor on her neck, which thankfully is gone and was benign. They also did a basic check-up and she was fine. But the trip to the vet was awful, she was terrified and it did not go well. Major stress/panic attack.
At her age, I'm just going to let her live life like normal. If she's in obvious pain, I may reconsider.
A neighbor of mine had a small dog that stopped eating, personality changed, it was obvious something wasn't right. She took him to the vet, some kind of internal issue and surgery that cost her $1900. The vet said he might live another few months. He died the next day. If my cat has something bad happening, I'll take her in and have her put to sleep. 20 years is a long life for a cat, she's doing fine now, but I'm not going to prolong her misery if she starts to fade.
The best possible solution would be for her to pass away like my Italian Greyhound did about eight years ago. She just fell asleep and never woke up.
Yes, weighing the stress of a vet visit against the benefits is difficult. At 20, she's always in delicate health. I don't know whether she'd allow it, but at her age she'd almost definitely benefit from daily subcutaneous hydration which you can do in your home.