feeding my old boy during changes

I have been feeling quite lost lately. The house has been very quiet since I started the renovations, and the noise has unsettled Whiskers. I know he is old and blind in one eye, so the changes in routine are hard for him.

I have been trying to keep him busy with food puzzles to take his mind off the anxiety. I documented the vet visit and his history in my previous update so you can see his current health status, but I am struggling with the feeding aspect now. He used to love his slow feeder, but he just sits by it now, looking confused. I worry that the cognitive decline is setting in.

How do you all keep your senior cats engaged when the environment changes so drastically? I want him to eat, but I want him to feel safe too. I am trying to remember what I read about scent, but my mind is foggy.

Oh Mary, I am so sorry about the renovations! That is such a hard time for any cat, let alone a sweet old boy like Whiskers. I know exactly how that feels. Cleo is 9 now and has some dental issues, so I can't use the hard plastic balls. You can read more about that in my thread on dental issues.

For Whiskers, maybe try something softer? I found that a snuffle mat works wonders for my Zeus, but Cleo just walks away from it. Have you tried putting a little bit of wet food on the kibble? I know you have a thread about using wet food in puzzle feeders coming up or something? I am not sure when you posted it, but mixing textures might help if his teeth are sensitive. He needs to smell the food to know where it is!

Mary, the issue might not be cognitive decline but rather that the puzzle is too difficult for his current stress level. When a cat is stressed, their problem-solving abilities drop. I have seen this with Miso, my 2-year-old orange tabby. He is hyper but completely ignores food puzzles if he is not in the mood. You can check my thread about cats who ignore food puzzles for some tips on lowering the barrier to entry.

Try a very simple setup. Just scatter the kibble on a clean towel. No mechanism, no hiding. This reinforces that food is available and safe. If he is eating from the bowl, move the bowl to a new location daily to simulate the 'search' without the frustration of a mechanical toy. Keep it low stakes.

I am so with you on this. The noise of the house changing can be terrifying for a cat who relies on routine. Sophie is 5 and very anxious, and we are in the middle of a move right now. I have been using puzzles to keep her mind off the boxes and the moving trucks. It is a way to give her a job to do.

I read that scent is a huge part of this for blind cats. I think you might want to look back at your thread on sniffing mats for blind cats. I remember you mentioned that the smell of the kibble needs to be strong enough to draw him in. If the puzzle is silent, maybe he does not hear it moving. A crinkly bag or a mat with strong scent might help more than a rigid ball. I hope this helps, Mary. It is a tough time.

Thank you all for your kind words. I did not realize how much I needed to hear this. Brenda, you are right about the scent. I have been using a rigid ball, but I think I will try the towel method sowens suggested. It is so much simpler and I feel less guilty when he just stands there.

Melissa, I did write about the mats, but I think I will try mixing a little wet food as brendar60 suggested. It is a small thing, but it might make the difference. I am going to try this tonight and see how he responds. I just want him to be comfortable. It is hard to watch him struggle with the changes, but I know he is resilient.

Glad to hear you are trying the towel method. It is often the most effective for seniors who are confused. Also, keep in mind that if the noise continues, he might need a quiet room with white noise. I used a fan for Gus during a remodel. It masks the drilling. Let us know how the wet food mix goes. Sometimes the extra moisture helps with hydration too, which is good for older cats.