January 14, 2009: a home for Fatcat?

Healthy living Blog

Carer Diary

January 14, 2009: a new home for Fatcat?

Marianne Talbot's mother recently moved into a nursing home, leaving behind her beloved cat, Fatcat

Do cats get dementia?

I ask because Fatcat is definitely displaying some symptoms. She is driving me potty.

For one thing there is her piteous mewing. It starts the minute she sees me and never stops. ‘Meow!’, she says, ‘meoow! meoow! Meeooow! MEEEOOOW!’

Then there is the fact that, as with mum, I can't move without Fatcat following me. Not only does she follow me, she gets under my feet. Literally under my feet, I can't move without standing on her paws or her tail. And whenever it happens she lets out the most terrible wail. I'm sure the neighbours think I am ill-treating her.

Aaarrgh! This so reminds me of mum's constant repetitions.

The irritation of this is exacerbated by the length of Fatcat's claws. As she walks on the wooden floor they click clack like two pairs of high heels. It has the effect on me that the tick-tocking of the clock in the crocodile had on Captain Hook.

And whenever I sit down she sits at my knee pawing me constantly and butting me with her head. She is the most demanding cat I ever met. I can’t believe I once thought this of Oedipus.

As for poor old Oedipus... he can't put his head out of my bedroom without getting his ears boxed. Fatcat has always been a bit of a bully but now she's a true despot.

In fact the only time she leaves me alone is when she is stalking Oedipus.

Oedipus goes past minding his own business. Fatcat tenses, then silently creeps up on him. Then she leaps, her paws boxing at him viciously.

Oedipus responds in kind and the yowling has to be heard to be believed.

Given half a chance Fatcat would do away with Oedipus. This is probably because Oedipus sleeps in my bedroom. Fatcat has definitely got the message that she isn’t allowed in my bedroom. This doesn’t stop her nosing the door open, peering in forlornly, or staring malevolently at Oedipus.

I have been trying to get rid of her, really trying. I have scoured the web and rung or emailed every cat re-homing place within a reasonable distance. But either they say there’s no call for a cat as old as Fatcat (13), or that there’s a waiting list a mile long. That is, if they return my call at all.

I think I might have to put her in her basket, take her to one of these places and simply leave her there, insisting that I cannot keep her any longer. They all say they would never allow a healthy cat to be put down.

But maybe Fatcat isn’t healthy? Maybe she really has got cat-dementia?

Care homes

Saga and caring

Useful links for carers

More charities that help carers

Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.