the mahler cat

[Simone]

Something my cat would probably do...

http://www.reuters.com/news/video?vi...videoChannel=1

[Florestan]

hahaha - brilliant.

Ours would too. I think she has got senile dementia - can cats get that?

She seems increasingly 'bewildered'.

If you're making coffee she will pester you for milk, going meowmeowmeow and waving her paws at you. So you give her some milk and go back to making the coffee. Two seconds later, there she is again, meowmeowmeow, wave wave wave.

So you pick her up and plonk her in front of her (full) milk bowl. She looks a bit sheepish and starts drinking.

Two seconds later, meowmeowmeow, wave wave wave.

This can go on for hours....

[Philidor]

Originally Posted by Florestan

I think she has got senile dementia - can cats get that?

You bet. The internet's stuffed with old biddies worrying about their cats going ga-ga and, to their relatives' rage, funding expensive research projects to find a cure for feline dementia:

SYMPTOMS OF CAT SENILE DEMENTIA (CSD)

The most common symptom attributed to senility in cats is the night wandering and vocalising. The cat wanders around the house, in particular at night, wailing in a pitiful way and in a dazed manner, and can often not be comforted and is unwilling to settle. This is associated with a disoriented sleep-wake cycle that is a recognised part of CDS.

Other cats show disorientation at other times of the day- the " I walked into this room but I can't remember why so I will just stand here and look at the wall" cats. Some cats may be forgetful and need reminding to eat. There may be other personality changes and and apparent loss of interest in owners.

Loss of previous toilet training can also occur, although again associated kidney disease (which causes excessive drinking so increased urination), arthritis (pain and so reluctance to get outside) and other illnesses must be thoroughly considered with toilet training problems in older cats.

Source

Our cat looks at the wall for hours on end, but that's because she thinks there's a mouse. She's usually right.

@ Simone - brilliant vid.

[The Sparrow]

Originally Posted by Philidor

...She's usually right.

Mine is always wrong!

[Simone]

LOL! Aw, mine is definitely already a bit goofy, so maybe I won't notice if dementia sets in. She does already run into the room, meowing frantically, and then not seem to know what it was she wanted.

But any request is usually appeased by sitting on my laptop for some reason.

[Florestan]

Originally Posted by Simone

But any request is usually appeased by sitting on my laptop for some reason.

While you are trying to use it, presumably.

[Simone]

YES. (And if I don't close it, she'll sit on the keys and freeze the whole thing.)