My cat is getting really clingy,she wont stop meowing all the time whats wrong with her?

Question

My cat chelsea is 13yrs old she was my aunts cat who died 4months ago.I adpopted her as i love her to bits.I live in a block of flats right on the top floor.before she use to get out when my aunt had her but i cant let her out now.I dont know what to do i think she is unhappy cause she dosent get out.I give her alot of love and attention but i dont think its enough.I dont want to have to give her to somebody else what can i do?

Answer 1

The cat is unbelievably stressed!
I cannot believe that you have taken a cat that is used to the outdoors and put her in a flat where she has no access to the garden!
For 13 years she has had the run of the garden, now nothing!
How would you feel if you were 'incarcerated' for no apparent reason? That's what you're cat is feeling right now.

Answer 2

This happens a lot when a cat gets to that age. A lot of senior cats won't want to go outside anymore; they feel more secure indoors. So please don't worry you're not caring for Chelsea correctly.
In human years your cat would be in her '70's or '80's. People of that age group want more attention and love too.
My senior cats get more vocal with each extra year; it almost a proclamation of "Hey! I am still here! Congratulate me!"
Chelsea might also be grieving and mourning for your aunt. No reflection on you, but she needs a little bit of extra comforting. Was there a special game your Aunt played with her? Or a special treat she used to give her?
It might help Chelsea get over losing her carer if you provided some familiar comforts?
Don't forget Chelsea knows she is not so young anymore either, and the death of her carer might make her fret about her own circumstances.
Giving her away to someone else won't solve Chelsea's problems. She must be feeling very insecure and confused right now.
Just try to understand her the best you can. Maybe she is clingy because she feels afraid she will lose you too, and she is meowing all the time because she hasn't come to terms with losing your Aunt yet.
Was she allowed to see your Aunt after she had died? If so, she is in mourning. Cats can mourn for a long time. If not, she wants to know why she is here and where your Aunt is.
Just talk to her about it all, and comfort her in any way. Make sure she is fit and healthy and keep her snug, safe and warm.
Above all, give her your love. She knows you are related to her previous carer, and doesn't want any more disruptions to her life, just as you don't.
Give her some time and surround her with familiar items from her old home.
Cats are really devoted and loving, and losing a loved human, especially at that age, is hard for them.

Answer 3

One thing that might help is to get a kitten or young adult cat. Cats love the companionship of other cats and often a kitten or young cat are great influences on an old cat, stimulating the old one to play and get some exercise. Cats love to groom each other, sleep together (two cats together also keep each other nice and warm and cats love warmth). The oldtimer often helps teach the youngster the "rules of the house" too.

A cat who used to be an outdoor cat and becomes an indoor cat will want out for awhile but eventually most come to prefer being inside. At the age of your cat, she has no business going outside, there are enough dangers outside for young healthy cats with alert senses, the dangers are even greater for an oldtimer! Give her toys too, and a perch where she can look out the window and safely watch the world go by.

Answer 4

She is probably partly getting used to her new routine and not being able to go outside - at 13 years old she is probably pretty set in her ways.
If she is now going to be an indoor cat there are a few things you can do to make her happier. Believe it or not you can buy a product called 'cat grass' - it a small tray of grass basically! Cats like to eat grass (sometimes for upset tummies or to aid digestion), it may make her feel happier.
Try sprinkling some soil on the top of the litter tray so it feels more like outdoors.
Buy her some entertainment - you can buy cat bags, which are just carrier bags with a slightly crinkly inside. For some reason cats love being side things - my cat Mildred always sleeps in the plastic shopping bags from the supermarket! A scratching post may also be helpful - you can get some really good ones with toys hanging from them and inbuilt beds. The best place to source these things is from http://www.petplanet.co.uk/ - it's got tons of cool stuff for animals!
If it's too pricey try and improvise - a tray of grass and some plastic bags won't be that hard to rustle up!
You're doing the most important thing which is love her though! Hope that cheers her up!

Answer 5

Hi i just wanted to say you are a great person for taking you aunts cat in!! Many people would just have the cat destroyed.

I agree, get a cat leash and maybe drive to a small grass area or park? and let her walk around for a while, Maybe she is getting a bit tired of not being out if your Aunt let her out regularly.

I know this sounds odd aswell but if you have any clothing of your aunts or a blanket maybe you could buy your cat a little basket or bed and have the item in there with her, Possibly she could pick up on the scent :)

Answer 6

I have cat fence-in in my back yard which keeps my cats on my property. When I first moved here my then two-year old Sylvie could find ways to wiggle out and nearly drove me nuts try to seal up the places she would get through. Now that Sylvie is 13 she doesn't do that anymore thankfully. Your aunt's cat is now of that age and really can accept being an indoor cat for the rest of her life. I would not worry myself about her being "unhappy" as she should adjust.

You are so good to take on her care and your aunt would be so grateful that you are doing this for her cat. Cats are like children, we have to make decisions about their lifestyle for their protection and if they don't like it that's just the way it has to be. Don't put yourself through worries about it.

It sounds as if you are truly giving her everything she needs - a secure home and much loving. She can't have it any better than that.

Answer 7

here's what you do...get a long piece of rope and a good collar for the cat. either take her for a walk or take her out to the court area each day for about 15 mins. it sounds like she wants some fresh air. if she is on a collar and rope, she will have room to wander and not get away, and you can sit and enjoy the fresh air too.

i would venture to say she is probably missing your aunt also. cats get used to the ppl they are with. maybe put a sheet or rug that was your aunts near where she sleeps so she can smell something familiar and that should comfort her. also since she is older, have you had her eyes checked? i know with older dogs when their eyesight goes, you cant make major changes in the arrangement of the furniture cuz they cant see where you moved it to. so the vet suggests with older animals not to move the furniture from what they have been used to, it helps them stay secure in their surroundings. if that makes sense.

i so would not suggest giving her to someone else, she is just trying to adjust to her new situation and lifestyle.

wishing you the best with your kitty,
lily

Answer 8

Most of the time, my cats are just saying hello when they meow constantly. She is still adjusting to you and the loss of her previous owner. Cats really don't understand death, to her, your aunt just left. Right now, she is probably wondering if you are going to go away as well and is trying to let you know she needs you. Or she might just be a vocal cat. Keep doing what you're doing. She needs lots of love and to feel secure that you're not going to leave her like her previous owner did.

Answer 9

my kitten crys at the front door all the time i dont know why, but i think its because she is calling (i belive is the right word if it) for a male cat to come to her,
if your cat is old and used to being outside, you could try and take her out on a cat leader maybe once a day, to get her used to it, hopefully that will stop her meowing as much.

Answer 10

My elderly cat began meowing a lot for no reason. I took her to the vet and he did a blood test as she was so old, it turned out she had a hyper tyroid. This makes them very vocal and a bit nervous so it might be worth doing a blood test at your vets.