Cat behaviour question

[Night Train]

My eldest cat is at least 19 years old now and this summer she, and another of my cats, has taken to staying outside in the garden. Firstly it was just day times, then it was all day and night and only coming in during rain.
Recently this cat has started staying out during the rain as well so we sorted out a shelter for her.

During these last few days of rain she has been sitting in the open in the rain getting drenched and refusing to be brought in or put under cover. When we brought her indoors she would run back out and sit in the rain again.
This evening we have locked her in and she is yowling to be let back out to sit in the wet.

I'm worried about her state of mind.
Do you think she is OK or should I do something?

 

[colly]

We used to have a cat who would make a fuss to be out at night even in the bitterest winter weather.
Some nights I would see her sitting in the middle of the lawn with frost all over the grass and her.
She lived to be 17 I think so it obviously did her no harm.

 

[marinyork]

I don't know, I've come across two cats that exhibited this behaviour at old age , sitting out in rain and snow in the winter deliberately. If the cat wasn't 19 I wouldn't be quite so worried if you get my drift.

 

[fossyant]

Ours stay out............ until the kids are in bed ! The 2 year old is nuts - she'll sit there in the rain. The two old cats find somewhere dry - like the green house.

Bit worrying with an old cat though, especially in bad weather.

 

[Perfect Virgo]

Ours stay out............ until the kids are in bed ! The 2 year old is nuts - she'll sit there in the rain. The two old cats find somewhere dry - like the green house.

Bit worrying with an old cat though, especially in bad weather.

You really should let the kids indoors in inclement weather!

 

[Night Train]

I don't know, I've come across two cats that exhibited this behaviour at old age , sitting out in rain and snow in the winter deliberately. If the cat wasn't 19 I wouldn't be quite so worried if you get my drift.

This is what is worrying me, perhaps it is some sort of cat alzheimer's. She also drinks water by turning her head to the side and licking from the very edge of the water line.

 

[xpc316e]

If there's anybody clever enough to analyse cat behaviour, when we've done can we please move on to women?

 

[longers]

I'll ask my pet specialist what she knows tomorrow and get back to you but I'm dreading the worst I'm afraid

I did get given some "brain tablets" for my old one but he doesn't have them, they may be suitable for Cat.

 

[Wolf04]

This is what is worrying me, perhaps it is some sort of cat alzheimer's. She also drinks water by turning her head to the side and licking from the very edge of the water line.

Doesn't sound good, a trip to the vets sounds the best course of action if only for your peace of mind.

 

[Night Train]

I guess I should prepare myself for the worse at some point.

Other then this she seems really healthy and active, she is more like a cat half her age.

 

[Night Train]

I'll ask my pet specialist what she knows tomorrow and get back to you but I'm dreading the worst I'm afraid

Thanks Longers.

 

[Globalti]

Don't suppose it has occured to you that there may be something about you or the house that the cat dislikes? It may be an odour (are you getting visits from strange cats especially a male?) or an appliance noise or even the noise you make or your smell or your behaviour, that makes the cat feel more comfortable outside the protection of the house.

Don't forget that cats view you as just another cat and the house as the family den. If there's something there that threatens them they won't feel happy indoors.

 

[Mr Pig]

I few years ago I read a book on keeping pet rabbits. I was laughing as I read "A wet rabbit is a chilled rabbit." It insisted that if your bunny gets wet it's imperative that you bring him in and dry him with a towel. I wondered if the writer had ever actually kept rabbits!

They will happily sit out in the teaming rain. It is very wet here right now and Poppy has been sitting out for ages, soaking wet and Sara is eating grass. I think Snowy is inside, I can't see him. They will also sit out all night and lie on the ground when it's minus six!

People tend to project human tastes, abilities and tolerances onto animals, which is pretty stupid if you think about it. Do they need to be as warm as you? No, their bodies are completely different. Can they understand what you're saying? No, they have brains the size of a walnut! They are animals, just let them be animals.

 

[rusky]

We had a sudden behavior change in our cat a few months ago. She rarely uses the catflap & insists on us letting her out the front door.

She also started crapping & pissing in the house. Under our bed, on the kids beanbags, under the baby's cot, in the bath!!!!! Managed to kill one of the wife's orchids!

Not sure what triggered it, ma be another cat - I know that if we leave the catflap unlocked at night, one eats her food or the birth of number 2 child.

 

[Mr Pig]

She also started crapping & pissing in the house. Under our bed, on the kids beanbags, under the baby's cot, in the bath!!!!!

If a cat did that in my house it would be an ex-cat by now.