13 yr old cat with strange behaviors

by Litza
(Weston, FL USA)

Hi Dr. Neely. I've had my cat for 13 years, he's 13 yrs old. He's always been in fantastic health. Recently (approximately 6-8 months), he has acquired some strange behaviors/habits:

1. He wakes me up in the middle of the night by scratching bed, so that I can go fill up his food bowl (happens almost every night).

2. He poops next to the bed and then vomits under the bed as he walks away. This happens one to three times per month. TODAY, this happened again, but this time, he also urinated inside the closet (looks like that's the first thing that happened because he was sleeping in there). Urinating other than in his litter box has NEVER happened.

Should I be concerned? Do you have any ideas of what may be causing this? Should I take him to the vet?

Thank you for your time,
Litza Delgado
Weston. FL


Dear Litza,

Especially considering your cat's age, you should be concerned about the recent changes in his cat behavior. Your cat is getting older, and is more prone to elderly cat conditions such as feline hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, and diabetes. These diseases, in particular, can cause changes in feline bowel habits and activity. Early detection of these cat health problems and beginning the proper treatment can add years to your cat's life, so I would strongly recommend you bring your kitty to the vet for an exam and bloodwork.

All the best,
Dr. Neely