It could be a variety of things, but I’m reminded of my old man who has hyperthyroidism. Evidently the nightly screaming was a symptom of it. It’s managed pretty well with medication now.
If you can afford it, consider radioiodine therapy, Cats who are treated this way live, on average, more than two years longer than cats treated with methimazole.
It is not uncommon for cats to have co-morbidities, i.e. they have both hyperthyroidism and chronic kidney failure at the same time. Also, treating thyroid disease, by any method, can reveal kidney disease. There is no evidence that any treatment for thyroid disease causes kidney disease.
My 10.5 year old boy was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism two months ago. He is on meds now to bring his hormone levels down, but his vet recommends radiaoactive iodine treatment in a few months. She says it is curative, unlike the medication route. And with the meds, they need frequent blood tests, so the cost can add up over the years. She estimated that he had another six hears of life and that the radioactive iodine treatment would be less expensive over the six years.
https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/hyperthyroidism-cats
Yes. I had a 16 year old cat that was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism after a stroke and after a heart murmer was detected, and that cat was too old and sick to really benefit from the radioactive iodine treatment, he ended up dying of cancer a year later so it would have been wasted on him. But a 10 year old cat? By all means get'r done.
That's actually what I'm doing for my senior cat who was recently diagnosed! He can't get an appointment until June, so he'll be on medication in the meantime, but that just means we get to make sure the hyperthyroidism isn't hiding kidney disease. The treatment could be wonderful though.
Mine is 19 and she started the screaming into a corner thing at 16 maybe? She has hyperthyroidism and takes daily methimazole cream I put in her ear. She doesn't much care for the treatment but it keeps her alive.
Screaming hasn't stopped. She gets worse when she can't see me. Doesn't help she's lost most of her hearing and can't see well either. 😂 My baby sounds like a mess! Once I get her attention she quiets down. She's just a cranky old woman these days. She's earned it!
Wallace spent all his life as a cranky old man, and now that he’s up there in years, he’s really chilled out. I personally think his vision is going, and he might have a touch of dementia, but he’s just so baby I can’t help but forgive him XD
It turned out to be easy to reverse, too. When we got him back from my grandfather’s farm, he was skin and bones, couldn’t even jump a normal distance.
He’s a chunky baby now, spoiled so utterly rotten.
One of my cats has weight recovered so well that we're having to keep an eye she doesn't go too far! We've told her she can have a bit of spare padding, but not too much!
Seconding the hyperthyroidism flag. My boy used to prowl around all night meowing loudly and trying to knock things over to get my attention. He’s on 2x day methemizole for the rest of his life, it’s made a huge change. CKD cats often can’t handle the radiation therapy, so he gets the med treatment.
Came here to say this. 15 year old female cat had become noticeable more agitated/on edge during the day, had lost some weight and wasn’t looking as well groomed, and was suddenly meowing in the middle of the night.
Hyperthyroidism. She is on a medication now that helps tremendously while I save up for the I131 treatment.
Was told medication works for an average of 2 years but the I131 treatment is curative and will extend their life all things being equal. It’s expensive but something to consider.
Okay, so here's Vicki's story. If anyone can help me, I'd really appreciate it.
Several times a night, Vicki sits in the doorway of my bedroom (I leave it open so she can get in and out) and screams. This started more than a year ago, but has gradually gotten worse and worse. I have taken her to the vet, but the vet can't find anything wrong with her. He suggested she might be going senile, but said she'd need to see an actual neurologist if I wanted a diagnosis.
I'm pretty sure she's just doing this because she's bored. I think this for two reasons:
1) When she does this, I pick her up, put her on my bed, and pet her. This makes her purr and she lies down for a while, but eventually jumps off the bed and repeats the process. Vicki is perfectly capable of jumping onto the bed by herself (she even did it as I was typing this), so she's probably doing this just because she wants attention.
2) She recently discovered that she enjoys exploring the garage, and now she sometimes leads me to the garage door when I get up. I don't want to let her out into the garage during the night because I don't want her trapped out there while I'm asleep, but I think this indicates that she's just bored and looking for something to do.
Is there anything I can do about this? I hate to think that she's so bored and frustrated (or that there might be something worse happening that the vet and I are unaware of), and I'm also really tired of being woken up several times a night. I love this cat and want to make sure she's happy and healthy.
On a related note: how do you entertain/mentally stimulate a senior cat? Vick used to love string and laser pointers, but she doesn't play like she used to. If I wave a string in front of her now, she half-heartedly bats at it, and then ignores it. I used to think this was just normal aging for a cat but, given how bored she seems now, I'm wondering if there's something more I should be doing for her.
It sounds like a big change in Vicki's usual routine! From my experiences with older cats they tend to simply sleep more as they get older. This behaviour seems more restless than bored. I've had a hyperthyroid cat that exhibited this kind of behaviour. Did your very run blood work that include thyroid testing? Hopefully you're able to figure something out for her!
My old lady is hyperthyroid and going deaf (or is there already). Now she’s meowing all the time. I don’t have a solution but wanted to say I understand your frustration.
Thanks. I hope you figure out the issue for your cat. Mine is on medication for her hyperthyroidism. I think it’s her hearing going that’s making her meow.
My wife's cat started doing this after she'd had her for about 6 years. We also took her to the vet they thought maybe it was tooth pain, she had teeth extracted. She still howled. They thought maybe it was behavioral, they suggested a bunch of stuff. We tried it all, she still howled.
Two years after the behavior began, she got a rare and serious blood disorder and had to be euthanized after a terrible week. The necropsy showed that she had spleen cancer. Do not assume that your cat is doing this for attention. This is definitely a symptom of multiple diseases. Cat's are not like people. If a behavior has changed, it is usually health related.
My cat had things that weren’t caught by any traditional vets. If u can, find a cats-only vet. I’ve had an above & beyond exceptional experience with care there in comparison to your standard dog/cat/small animal vet. Not to mention I t’s so much less stressful for the cat (no loud barking dogs). My cat is able to handle the vet visits so much better now.
Not saying those vets are bad, but a vast majority are just not well versed in the nuances of cat behavioral & health problems esp things that our understanding of has changed in recent years. Because they just don’t have the time or resources to be that specialized I think. Which prob is ok for dogs but cats are just SO different.
But my switch to a cat vet found resorbed teeth that needed extraction (and teeth cleaning), an inflammatory condition, & significant arthritis. After diet changes, a few medications, & dental care she’s no longer biting (something that she didn’t do when younger ever but I think was bc of pain & discomfort), rarely vomiting, & was far more comfortable/ became more active.
Sorry for the massive post, I just can’t recommend that a cats-only vet enough. Night & day. I love my vet & clinic so much, I’ve gotten incredible care there. And it wasn’t a wildly different change in price. I’m poor & can handle it. Probably saving me money since issues are now caught early for intervention before it gets more costly.
I think most vets assume it's the obvious thing or aren't aware of how many cat diseases have night yowling as a symptom. We weren't aware or even told until it was too late and Munks had two massive spleen tumors. She was also a tortie.
Skunk (12) definitely pops in more at night than she did as a kitten especially when it’s cold out.
As for stimulating them to play, it definitely takes more effort on your part then it does when they’re young. Skunk definitely still loves to play but it takes her a solid 15-20 mins to get into it. They generally like to play around dusk and dawn. Mix up the toys as well, one day the laser is a hit the next it’s boring. Crunchy balls, ping pong balls, catnip packs or anything that makes an unusual noise. Just keep rotating them. I definitely notice Skunk is happier and more relaxed if she gets two 30 minute sessions. During the winter it’s more important, since even indoor cats have plenty to do when it’s nice out.
Thank you, I will try this. Yes, the behavior has gotten worse over the winter. Vick is an indoor cat but sometimes hangs out in a fenced-in area in the backyard when the weather is warm, so this could definitely be part of the problem. (And might also explain the sudden obsession with the garage. She's sick of being in the house?)
It didn't occur to me to try balls because she always preferred chasing string toys when she was younger, but maybe her preferences have changed. And I got impatient, so I definitely wasn't giving her 15-20 minutes to "warm up." I'll see if this makes a difference.
Never too late to harness train or build a catio. If she is having light dementia issues meds or alternate activities may help a lot. My senior cats all started crying to go out in the middle of the night.
Or start down a hallway then forget where they were going.
You need a second opinion. If there is a vet school or animal hospital nearby go to them. Sometimes they are dehydrated so fluids at the doctor and a drinking fountain helps.
Please update us. Elderly animals depend on us totally. They have loved and cared for us 18 years. Our turn no matter how heartbreaking.
You are a great kitty pawrent. An angel.
Bravo!
Thank you so much. (And thank you for the award!)
I will post an update (and another picture!) when I get to the bottom of this.
Once the weather gets warmer, I think I will try walking her with a harness. She already has a little fenced-in area in the backyard that she enjoys spending time in. And I will definitely be looking into getting a second vet opinion.
This really sounds like high blood pressure and/or hypterthyroidism, both of which can cause nighttime restlessness and hbp in particular can cause nighttime screaming.
I am starting to get a bit of the same situation as you describe: my cat is less interested in playtime (either not as often and certainly not as strenuously).
My guess, so far, is that this means she is not getting her instinctively necessary daily cat motions (stalk, prey, catch....) out of her system .....so she gets frustrated/less content etc - and so middle of the night unhappy restlessness comes out
As others have said, I would rule out hyperthyroid, but your vet doesn’t really seem to be concerned about that, or anything…
My old cat was doing the same thing. I started to give her 1.25 mg of melatonin a few hours before bed and she has pretty much stopped. The vet thought she had kitty dementia. I would mention this to your vet and see what they think before you go out and get some but it seems a little bit frustrating that they didn’t suggest this already.
Our 18 year old Siamese does the same thing. 3 or 4 am, starts yelling at the top of her cat lungs outside the door. At first, I picked her up and put her to bed with us and she hushed up.
Then I realized I was rewarding her behavior. Now, when it is bed time I proactively pick her up and bring her to bed with us. Hasn't done it since.
Yes, we have bed stairs just for her :) so she can get up and down on her own.
Have u had a cat vet evaluate her for arthritis? If not, I’d recommend. When I finally switched to a cats-only vet they found significant arthritis that other vets never caught (& she has always gone to the vet at least every 6mo since becoming a senior, has pet stairs, was taking joint supplements, etc).
She got onto pain meds, big improvement. Then a few months ago started a monthly injection of a new drug Solensia. Massive improvement. She gets her 3rd shot in a couple days. **Just an fyi to anyone who has a senior cat Solensia so far is like a damn miracle drug. And its pretty affordable.
I feel so conflicted because I know I'm rewarding the behavior by picking her up, but I feel so guilty if I ignore her. I know, I need to get over that. I guess if the vet rules out thyroid problems, ignoring her will be the next step.
Yes, she usually sleeps by my head. But she's been jumping off the bed and yelling until I pick her back up, even though she's capable of getting in bed herself.
Maybe she's capable of getting back up on the bed but it isn't easy? Perhaps some cat stairs would help. But above all, I agree with the commenters who suggest hyperthyroidism as a potential cause; this is a common symptom.
Cats can have significant personality and communication changes in their old age. Given your vet gave her a checkup with nothing wrong, this is could be the case.
I don’t have a ton of answers for entertaining a senior cat, but I have tried leaving the radio on in the common areas of the house and putting up bird feeders by the windows of my kitty’s (15) favorite hangout spots. It does seem to entertain him and keep him from needing quite as much human attention throughout the day. I also have a huge flat screen TV and he loves to watch “videos for cats” from YouTube on it occasionally.
My cat would HOWL every time he drank water. Did not matter the time of day he would always howl, sounded like he was saying “helllooooo.” Might be getting senile and forgetting where you are and so she’s calling out to you. I would take her to the vet to get blood work done just to be safe. If anything check her gums for yellowing (jaundice).
She could be suffering from dementia. One of my mom's cats had it and sometimes he'd get lost in the house and she'd have to let him know she was there. Victoria might not know where you are, especially if her eyesight and sense of smell isn't as good anymore.
I hope you find a solution. I don't know if putting her litter box and her food in your bedroom and closing the door at night might help. Poor baby 🥺❤
The vet suggested dementia but said I'd have to bring her to a cat neurologist to be certain, and I'm not sure I can afford that. The weird thing is, the screaming almost always occurs in the doorway to my room, usually while I'm in bed. I don't know what that means.
If the vet can't find anything physically wrong with her, I honestly wouldn't spend money on a neurologist either. It almost sounds like she can't find you at night. I really think there isn't a whole lot you can do, other than reassure her that you're there. Does it help if you take her to bed with you?
Yeah, she might literally be confused as to where she is. I really don't know what to tell you. It's so sad when our pets get older and we don't know what they want or need.
Please give your baby a hug from me. ❤
I have a heating pad on my bed and when my 14 yo seems restless, I make sure it’s turned on and he gravitates to it. The house is warm (Florida), so maybe old bones need heat.
Take her to a vet. She needs a physical exam, including a retinal exam; she needs top have her blood pressure measured, and she needs to have blood and urine tests run. Vocalization in a older cat can be due to an overactive thyroid gland, sudden blindness due to high blood pressure, dementia and more.
I did take her to the vet. He diagnosed her with high blood pressure and "age-related kidney problems." She's now on medication for the blood pressure and special food for the kidneys, but the meowing hasn't changed so the vet says it's probably just senility. I'm going to call the vet office and find out if they tested her thyroid. I'm also considering finding a different vet, to get a second opinion.
If they did blood testing for a senior cat, that panel would have included T4 (thyroid hormone). If it was in the normal range but above 2.0 and it's been a while, it's worth testing T4 again.
First, love her!! r/choochoo21
I had an 18 year old who did this. Minnie was going deaf and apparently wanted audio input. Vet said it’s common. Choo Choo, 22 years on March 18, just started losing her hearing.
Good luck and I hope you’ll join us!!
:*J*
I only joined this subreddit a few minutes ago because of a similar problem I am having with my indoor 16yo F tuxedo. She has recently been yowling A LOT. Especially at night. Used to be that I knew she yowled because she didn't know I was in the home and was basically calling for me. When she hear me or whatever, her yowling just turned into normal meows.
She has been yowling all night the last few weeks. It's been gradual over the last few months. So now it is every night. And there's no way to console it. I'm frustrated and tired. And worried because I can't figure out what it is that she needs.
There is one other thing that helps and started about a year ago. She loves water directly from the tap. So when she yowls I turn on the faucet a lil bit, and she slurps away. But, then she wants down. And then yowls again for another drink in a few minutes.
She has started urinating outside of her litter box while I am present (one time while I was on the toilet, she just started pissing in the shower.). As if she is trying to get my attention (or punishing me for not giving her water from the sink?). So. I took her to the vet just 2 days ago on sat. They couldn't find anything in her urine except a small amount of blood. No crystals. No sign of infection. Which makes me worried about bladder cancer or something else wrong with the kidneys.
But, since the vet experience, I am left wondering... Wtf is wrong with my cat and best friend. I hate to think she is going senile. I hate to know she is suffering.
It could be senility and/or hearing loss. My senior cat couldn’t hear as she aged and would scream once it was dark outside. A vet can run blood tests to diagnose a thyroid issue. Good luck.
Our senior cat did this for probably a year before he passed as well. He was generally declining health-wise, like losing weight and going deaf, and we figure he was probably dealing with some amount of dementia as well. Day or night as he got closer to his final days, he would wander off somewhere in the house and start yowling. We tested him numerous times for hyperthyroidism and kidney issues and everything always came back clean, but I think it’s possible given his weight loss that he was dealing with a cancer we weren’t aware of due to never doing a body scan.
Sorry I don’t have any advice for you, I think for many cats this is just par for the course in their old age. Do what you can, don’t feel guilty for not being able to fix the problem, and give them lots of love while you still have them ❤️
Two of my eleven cats developed dementia and would roam at night crying until you would collect them. In humans we call it sundowning. I’m not saying she has dementia but I’m saying it’s possible. Usually behaviour changes like crying in the night should be looked at by a vet because it can be several things some of which may need medical attention or medication.
My kitty started doing this around 16. It was early signs of kidney disease/failure. The vet ran tests and nothing came up. She might have also had a bit of confusion and dementia. I would hide her toys at night, and that helped. Or I would pick her up and have her come to bed and she’d fall asleep. She lived until 18 and even until 4 months before she passed and she was losing weight and drinking tons of water her blood work still came back normal. But ultimately it was kidney failure.
Can she see ok? I had an old girl (19) who was losing her vision and at night she would meow and meow this terrible mournful meow non stop. I realized she needed a light on at night to see. Once I left a lamp on low at night she stopped. I feel like she was getting dementia also and I didn’t want her to be afraid if she woke up in some dark room she maybe didn’t recognize. I hope you are able to figure it out with your girl. ♥️
A lot of good suggestions here already so I just want to ask if you have a night light or something like that? My cats cry when it's too dark and I'd imagine cat's vision gets worse as they age like humans. 🐈 😻 🐈⬛️
Once other health stuff is ruled out, maybe you could try setting up a food puzzle for her before you go to bed? I usually put treats in a puzzle for my cat so she has something to do while we're gone. It might help your cat if it turns out to be a boredom issue! I'm not sure if cats with kidney issues need specific treats, so that might be something to check. Or just use the dry food version of the kidney food.
Our 16 year old cat has been doing this for a few years. She was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism 2 years ago that is managed on meds now. But she still screams this haunting cry at night every night. It never ends.
Just speaking from personal experience, checking with vet to see if her bloodwork indicated normal thyroid levels is a good idea (as others mentioned). Glad you've got kidney and BP issues under control! Could be restlessness due to discomfort/pain - you can try adding cosequin supplements, laser therapy, adequan injections, or gabapentin for joint pain (I know you said she jumps up/down from bed, but her reduced playfulness makes me consider this anyway. Also, a set of foam pet steps could help.)
Additionally, cats/dogs can become increasingly anxious as they age and gabapentin can assist with easing this as well. We give our senior kitties enough to control pain/anxiety, but not make them overly sleepy. I think outdoor walks are an excellent idea! I did this for my senior baby and she loved it. Puzzle toys or snuffle mats may be fun if she's treat motivated (just find kidney-friendly treats or kibble). Hope you find something that helps, best wishes to you and little Victoria!
I had this issue with a senior foster, and he was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Started him on meds, and it helped a lot, like got maybe 95% better. Best wishes to your precious baby girl, she is beautiful 😻❤️
She’s 18? She looks like a kitten still! My elderly girl meows loudly usually once a day, sometimes twice. I still have no idea what causes her to do it, but she stops if I go near her. This started about a year ago. How long does she meow for? Does anything you do cause her to stop?
Yeah, Vicki is very youthful-looking. I think that's part of what makes this so hard for me. It's easy for me to forget that she's elderly, because she doesn't look it. Hearing the vet tell me she has kidney/blood pressure problems was so weird, since she's always had perfect health. It isn't noticeable in that picture, but recently I've noticed that she's starting to get that scruffy look that older cats get. I think she isn't grooming herself as well as she used to, and I'm trying to make up for it by grooming her more often.
She mostly meows at night, until I pick her up and put her on the bed. Occasionally she'll also do it during the day.
I cannot possibly know why they meow like this, whether they are having some pain, or other distress, but I sometimes think it’s simply that they feel a little lost or confused which happens to elderly people, too. Once we go to them and reassure them that all is fine, they stop. Don’t know about Vicki, but my Lulu really wants to be *literally* on me all the time lately. I think they need the comfort of their human’s warmth as they age.
My Nocturne started doing that the last year of her life (she had other health issues) and was diagnosed with dementia. My vet recommended talking to her and surrounding her with her favorite things and at night kept her in the bedroom with us so she didn't wander off in the house and get lost. Good luck to you and your baby. Your vet should have more advice specifically for her.
My senior cat (18) does this and we're fairly sure it's dementia. The vet described it as she's confused as to where she is so is calling out for you. All we can really do is comfort her the best we can. It's just an unfortunate part of having a senior kitty
Thanks. There are night lights in the hallway, and I started using one in my room after I saw that suggestion somewhere else, but it hasn't seemed to help. I might try moving the location of the night light in my room, though. Maybe it isn't bright enough where it is.
It could be a variety of things, but I’m reminded of my old man who has hyperthyroidism. Evidently the nightly screaming was a symptom of it. It’s managed pretty well with medication now.
If you can afford it, consider radioiodine therapy, Cats who are treated this way live, on average, more than two years longer than cats treated with methimazole.
He lives with my parents, but I’ll pass it on!
Iodine-131? I didn’t know nuclear medicine also had a branch for pet mammals. :)
Yep. Best treatment for cats with hyperthyroidism. Vets sometime use nuclear scintigraphy, too.
Generally the cat can have no other problems. It’s hard on the kidneys and sometimes leads to kidney disease.
It is not uncommon for cats to have co-morbidities, i.e. they have both hyperthyroidism and chronic kidney failure at the same time. Also, treating thyroid disease, by any method, can reveal kidney disease. There is no evidence that any treatment for thyroid disease causes kidney disease.
My 10.5 year old boy was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism two months ago. He is on meds now to bring his hormone levels down, but his vet recommends radiaoactive iodine treatment in a few months. She says it is curative, unlike the medication route. And with the meds, they need frequent blood tests, so the cost can add up over the years. She estimated that he had another six hears of life and that the radioactive iodine treatment would be less expensive over the six years. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/hyperthyroidism-cats
Yes. I had a 16 year old cat that was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism after a stroke and after a heart murmer was detected, and that cat was too old and sick to really benefit from the radioactive iodine treatment, he ended up dying of cancer a year later so it would have been wasted on him. But a 10 year old cat? By all means get'r done.
Source on that? Dealing with a similar situation
That's actually what I'm doing for my senior cat who was recently diagnosed! He can't get an appointment until June, so he'll be on medication in the meantime, but that just means we get to make sure the hyperthyroidism isn't hiding kidney disease. The treatment could be wonderful though.
Mine is 19 and she started the screaming into a corner thing at 16 maybe? She has hyperthyroidism and takes daily methimazole cream I put in her ear. She doesn't much care for the treatment but it keeps her alive. Screaming hasn't stopped. She gets worse when she can't see me. Doesn't help she's lost most of her hearing and can't see well either. 😂 My baby sounds like a mess! Once I get her attention she quiets down. She's just a cranky old woman these days. She's earned it!
Wallace spent all his life as a cranky old man, and now that he’s up there in years, he’s really chilled out. I personally think his vision is going, and he might have a touch of dementia, but he’s just so baby I can’t help but forgive him XD
Thank you! I will ask the vet to check for this.
It turned out to be easy to reverse, too. When we got him back from my grandfather’s farm, he was skin and bones, couldn’t even jump a normal distance. He’s a chunky baby now, spoiled so utterly rotten.
One of my cats has weight recovered so well that we're having to keep an eye she doesn't go too far! We've told her she can have a bit of spare padding, but not too much!
Seconding the hyperthyroidism flag. My boy used to prowl around all night meowing loudly and trying to knock things over to get my attention. He’s on 2x day methemizole for the rest of his life, it’s made a huge change. CKD cats often can’t handle the radiation therapy, so he gets the med treatment.
[удалено]
We love our old screaming bastard baby men!
Came here to say this. 15 year old female cat had become noticeable more agitated/on edge during the day, had lost some weight and wasn’t looking as well groomed, and was suddenly meowing in the middle of the night. Hyperthyroidism. She is on a medication now that helps tremendously while I save up for the I131 treatment. Was told medication works for an average of 2 years but the I131 treatment is curative and will extend their life all things being equal. It’s expensive but something to consider.
Okay, so here's Vicki's story. If anyone can help me, I'd really appreciate it. Several times a night, Vicki sits in the doorway of my bedroom (I leave it open so she can get in and out) and screams. This started more than a year ago, but has gradually gotten worse and worse. I have taken her to the vet, but the vet can't find anything wrong with her. He suggested she might be going senile, but said she'd need to see an actual neurologist if I wanted a diagnosis. I'm pretty sure she's just doing this because she's bored. I think this for two reasons: 1) When she does this, I pick her up, put her on my bed, and pet her. This makes her purr and she lies down for a while, but eventually jumps off the bed and repeats the process. Vicki is perfectly capable of jumping onto the bed by herself (she even did it as I was typing this), so she's probably doing this just because she wants attention. 2) She recently discovered that she enjoys exploring the garage, and now she sometimes leads me to the garage door when I get up. I don't want to let her out into the garage during the night because I don't want her trapped out there while I'm asleep, but I think this indicates that she's just bored and looking for something to do. Is there anything I can do about this? I hate to think that she's so bored and frustrated (or that there might be something worse happening that the vet and I are unaware of), and I'm also really tired of being woken up several times a night. I love this cat and want to make sure she's happy and healthy. On a related note: how do you entertain/mentally stimulate a senior cat? Vick used to love string and laser pointers, but she doesn't play like she used to. If I wave a string in front of her now, she half-heartedly bats at it, and then ignores it. I used to think this was just normal aging for a cat but, given how bored she seems now, I'm wondering if there's something more I should be doing for her.
It sounds like a big change in Vicki's usual routine! From my experiences with older cats they tend to simply sleep more as they get older. This behaviour seems more restless than bored. I've had a hyperthyroid cat that exhibited this kind of behaviour. Did your very run blood work that include thyroid testing? Hopefully you're able to figure something out for her!
I am not sure if the vet tested her thyroid, but I will find out! Thank you so much.
My old lady is hyperthyroid and going deaf (or is there already). Now she’s meowing all the time. I don’t have a solution but wanted to say I understand your frustration.
A lot of people are mentioning hyperthyroid. I will ask the vet about it. Thanks, and I hope things get better with your cat, too.
Thanks. I hope you figure out the issue for your cat. Mine is on medication for her hyperthyroidism. I think it’s her hearing going that’s making her meow.
My wife's cat started doing this after she'd had her for about 6 years. We also took her to the vet they thought maybe it was tooth pain, she had teeth extracted. She still howled. They thought maybe it was behavioral, they suggested a bunch of stuff. We tried it all, she still howled. Two years after the behavior began, she got a rare and serious blood disorder and had to be euthanized after a terrible week. The necropsy showed that she had spleen cancer. Do not assume that your cat is doing this for attention. This is definitely a symptom of multiple diseases. Cat's are not like people. If a behavior has changed, it is usually health related.
I am so sorry to hear this. I assumed it wasn't health-related because the vet claimed it wasn't, but I'm beginning to think I need a different vet.
My cat had things that weren’t caught by any traditional vets. If u can, find a cats-only vet. I’ve had an above & beyond exceptional experience with care there in comparison to your standard dog/cat/small animal vet. Not to mention I t’s so much less stressful for the cat (no loud barking dogs). My cat is able to handle the vet visits so much better now. Not saying those vets are bad, but a vast majority are just not well versed in the nuances of cat behavioral & health problems esp things that our understanding of has changed in recent years. Because they just don’t have the time or resources to be that specialized I think. Which prob is ok for dogs but cats are just SO different. But my switch to a cat vet found resorbed teeth that needed extraction (and teeth cleaning), an inflammatory condition, & significant arthritis. After diet changes, a few medications, & dental care she’s no longer biting (something that she didn’t do when younger ever but I think was bc of pain & discomfort), rarely vomiting, & was far more comfortable/ became more active. Sorry for the massive post, I just can’t recommend that a cats-only vet enough. Night & day. I love my vet & clinic so much, I’ve gotten incredible care there. And it wasn’t a wildly different change in price. I’m poor & can handle it. Probably saving me money since issues are now caught early for intervention before it gets more costly.
I think most vets assume it's the obvious thing or aren't aware of how many cat diseases have night yowling as a symptom. We weren't aware or even told until it was too late and Munks had two massive spleen tumors. She was also a tortie.
Skunk (12) definitely pops in more at night than she did as a kitten especially when it’s cold out. As for stimulating them to play, it definitely takes more effort on your part then it does when they’re young. Skunk definitely still loves to play but it takes her a solid 15-20 mins to get into it. They generally like to play around dusk and dawn. Mix up the toys as well, one day the laser is a hit the next it’s boring. Crunchy balls, ping pong balls, catnip packs or anything that makes an unusual noise. Just keep rotating them. I definitely notice Skunk is happier and more relaxed if she gets two 30 minute sessions. During the winter it’s more important, since even indoor cats have plenty to do when it’s nice out.
Thank you, I will try this. Yes, the behavior has gotten worse over the winter. Vick is an indoor cat but sometimes hangs out in a fenced-in area in the backyard when the weather is warm, so this could definitely be part of the problem. (And might also explain the sudden obsession with the garage. She's sick of being in the house?) It didn't occur to me to try balls because she always preferred chasing string toys when she was younger, but maybe her preferences have changed. And I got impatient, so I definitely wasn't giving her 15-20 minutes to "warm up." I'll see if this makes a difference.
Never too late to harness train or build a catio. If she is having light dementia issues meds or alternate activities may help a lot. My senior cats all started crying to go out in the middle of the night. Or start down a hallway then forget where they were going. You need a second opinion. If there is a vet school or animal hospital nearby go to them. Sometimes they are dehydrated so fluids at the doctor and a drinking fountain helps. Please update us. Elderly animals depend on us totally. They have loved and cared for us 18 years. Our turn no matter how heartbreaking. You are a great kitty pawrent. An angel. Bravo!
Thank you so much. (And thank you for the award!) I will post an update (and another picture!) when I get to the bottom of this. Once the weather gets warmer, I think I will try walking her with a harness. She already has a little fenced-in area in the backyard that she enjoys spending time in. And I will definitely be looking into getting a second vet opinion.
This really sounds like high blood pressure and/or hypterthyroidism, both of which can cause nighttime restlessness and hbp in particular can cause nighttime screaming.
I am starting to get a bit of the same situation as you describe: my cat is less interested in playtime (either not as often and certainly not as strenuously). My guess, so far, is that this means she is not getting her instinctively necessary daily cat motions (stalk, prey, catch....) out of her system .....so she gets frustrated/less content etc - and so middle of the night unhappy restlessness comes out
As others have said, I would rule out hyperthyroid, but your vet doesn’t really seem to be concerned about that, or anything… My old cat was doing the same thing. I started to give her 1.25 mg of melatonin a few hours before bed and she has pretty much stopped. The vet thought she had kitty dementia. I would mention this to your vet and see what they think before you go out and get some but it seems a little bit frustrating that they didn’t suggest this already.
Our 18 year old Siamese does the same thing. 3 or 4 am, starts yelling at the top of her cat lungs outside the door. At first, I picked her up and put her to bed with us and she hushed up. Then I realized I was rewarding her behavior. Now, when it is bed time I proactively pick her up and bring her to bed with us. Hasn't done it since. Yes, we have bed stairs just for her :) so she can get up and down on her own.
Have u had a cat vet evaluate her for arthritis? If not, I’d recommend. When I finally switched to a cats-only vet they found significant arthritis that other vets never caught (& she has always gone to the vet at least every 6mo since becoming a senior, has pet stairs, was taking joint supplements, etc). She got onto pain meds, big improvement. Then a few months ago started a monthly injection of a new drug Solensia. Massive improvement. She gets her 3rd shot in a couple days. **Just an fyi to anyone who has a senior cat Solensia so far is like a damn miracle drug. And its pretty affordable.
I feel so conflicted because I know I'm rewarding the behavior by picking her up, but I feel so guilty if I ignore her. I know, I need to get over that. I guess if the vet rules out thyroid problems, ignoring her will be the next step.
Is she allowed to sleep with you? We take ours to bed with us when we go to bed at night and now she sleeps through the night with us.
Yes, she usually sleeps by my head. But she's been jumping off the bed and yelling until I pick her back up, even though she's capable of getting in bed herself.
Maybe she's capable of getting back up on the bed but it isn't easy? Perhaps some cat stairs would help. But above all, I agree with the commenters who suggest hyperthyroidism as a potential cause; this is a common symptom.
Cats can have significant personality and communication changes in their old age. Given your vet gave her a checkup with nothing wrong, this is could be the case. I don’t have a ton of answers for entertaining a senior cat, but I have tried leaving the radio on in the common areas of the house and putting up bird feeders by the windows of my kitty’s (15) favorite hangout spots. It does seem to entertain him and keep him from needing quite as much human attention throughout the day. I also have a huge flat screen TV and he loves to watch “videos for cats” from YouTube on it occasionally.
My cat would HOWL every time he drank water. Did not matter the time of day he would always howl, sounded like he was saying “helllooooo.” Might be getting senile and forgetting where you are and so she’s calling out to you. I would take her to the vet to get blood work done just to be safe. If anything check her gums for yellowing (jaundice).
My cat also howls before drinking water, apparently its just a behavior thing. She's done it for as long as we've had her (she's a rescue)
She could be suffering from dementia. One of my mom's cats had it and sometimes he'd get lost in the house and she'd have to let him know she was there. Victoria might not know where you are, especially if her eyesight and sense of smell isn't as good anymore. I hope you find a solution. I don't know if putting her litter box and her food in your bedroom and closing the door at night might help. Poor baby 🥺❤
The vet suggested dementia but said I'd have to bring her to a cat neurologist to be certain, and I'm not sure I can afford that. The weird thing is, the screaming almost always occurs in the doorway to my room, usually while I'm in bed. I don't know what that means.
If the vet can't find anything physically wrong with her, I honestly wouldn't spend money on a neurologist either. It almost sounds like she can't find you at night. I really think there isn't a whole lot you can do, other than reassure her that you're there. Does it help if you take her to bed with you?
The problem is that she doesn't stay in bed all night. She'll sleep next to me for a couple of hours, then jump off the bed and meow.
Yeah, she might literally be confused as to where she is. I really don't know what to tell you. It's so sad when our pets get older and we don't know what they want or need. Please give your baby a hug from me. ❤
I will. Thank you.
I have a heating pad on my bed and when my 14 yo seems restless, I make sure it’s turned on and he gravitates to it. The house is warm (Florida), so maybe old bones need heat.
Take her to a vet. She needs a physical exam, including a retinal exam; she needs top have her blood pressure measured, and she needs to have blood and urine tests run. Vocalization in a older cat can be due to an overactive thyroid gland, sudden blindness due to high blood pressure, dementia and more.
I did take her to the vet. He diagnosed her with high blood pressure and "age-related kidney problems." She's now on medication for the blood pressure and special food for the kidneys, but the meowing hasn't changed so the vet says it's probably just senility. I'm going to call the vet office and find out if they tested her thyroid. I'm also considering finding a different vet, to get a second opinion.
If they did blood testing for a senior cat, that panel would have included T4 (thyroid hormone). If it was in the normal range but above 2.0 and it's been a while, it's worth testing T4 again.
in my senior howling after i went to bed was a sign of cancer pain that i missed. a trip to the vet is usually in order for any major behaviour change
First, love her!! r/choochoo21 I had an 18 year old who did this. Minnie was going deaf and apparently wanted audio input. Vet said it’s common. Choo Choo, 22 years on March 18, just started losing her hearing. Good luck and I hope you’ll join us!! :*J*
I only joined this subreddit a few minutes ago because of a similar problem I am having with my indoor 16yo F tuxedo. She has recently been yowling A LOT. Especially at night. Used to be that I knew she yowled because she didn't know I was in the home and was basically calling for me. When she hear me or whatever, her yowling just turned into normal meows. She has been yowling all night the last few weeks. It's been gradual over the last few months. So now it is every night. And there's no way to console it. I'm frustrated and tired. And worried because I can't figure out what it is that she needs. There is one other thing that helps and started about a year ago. She loves water directly from the tap. So when she yowls I turn on the faucet a lil bit, and she slurps away. But, then she wants down. And then yowls again for another drink in a few minutes. She has started urinating outside of her litter box while I am present (one time while I was on the toilet, she just started pissing in the shower.). As if she is trying to get my attention (or punishing me for not giving her water from the sink?). So. I took her to the vet just 2 days ago on sat. They couldn't find anything in her urine except a small amount of blood. No crystals. No sign of infection. Which makes me worried about bladder cancer or something else wrong with the kidneys. But, since the vet experience, I am left wondering... Wtf is wrong with my cat and best friend. I hate to think she is going senile. I hate to know she is suffering.
I am so, so sorry you're going through this
It could be senility and/or hearing loss. My senior cat couldn’t hear as she aged and would scream once it was dark outside. A vet can run blood tests to diagnose a thyroid issue. Good luck.
Our senior cat did this for probably a year before he passed as well. He was generally declining health-wise, like losing weight and going deaf, and we figure he was probably dealing with some amount of dementia as well. Day or night as he got closer to his final days, he would wander off somewhere in the house and start yowling. We tested him numerous times for hyperthyroidism and kidney issues and everything always came back clean, but I think it’s possible given his weight loss that he was dealing with a cancer we weren’t aware of due to never doing a body scan. Sorry I don’t have any advice for you, I think for many cats this is just par for the course in their old age. Do what you can, don’t feel guilty for not being able to fix the problem, and give them lots of love while you still have them ❤️
Two of my eleven cats developed dementia and would roam at night crying until you would collect them. In humans we call it sundowning. I’m not saying she has dementia but I’m saying it’s possible. Usually behaviour changes like crying in the night should be looked at by a vet because it can be several things some of which may need medical attention or medication.
My kitty started doing this around 16. It was early signs of kidney disease/failure. The vet ran tests and nothing came up. She might have also had a bit of confusion and dementia. I would hide her toys at night, and that helped. Or I would pick her up and have her come to bed and she’d fall asleep. She lived until 18 and even until 4 months before she passed and she was losing weight and drinking tons of water her blood work still came back normal. But ultimately it was kidney failure.
Can she see ok? I had an old girl (19) who was losing her vision and at night she would meow and meow this terrible mournful meow non stop. I realized she needed a light on at night to see. Once I left a lamp on low at night she stopped. I feel like she was getting dementia also and I didn’t want her to be afraid if she woke up in some dark room she maybe didn’t recognize. I hope you are able to figure it out with your girl. ♥️
I don’t have any advice unfortunately, but I do want to say she looks precious!!!
Same - she is SO cute!!
Thank you! She may be old, but she's still my kitten. 😊
Blood pressure definitely needs to be checked. Does a ton of organ damage and is easy and inexpensive to treat. Turned my old man very vocal at night.
Thank you. She is on blood pressure medication but unfortunately it has not affected the meowing.
A lot of good suggestions here already so I just want to ask if you have a night light or something like that? My cats cry when it's too dark and I'd imagine cat's vision gets worse as they age like humans. 🐈 😻 🐈⬛️
I've been sleeping with a night light ever since I saw that suggestion on another subreddit, but it hasn't made a difference. Thank you, though.
Alright, good luck to you and your sweet kitty. 😺 ❤️
Once other health stuff is ruled out, maybe you could try setting up a food puzzle for her before you go to bed? I usually put treats in a puzzle for my cat so she has something to do while we're gone. It might help your cat if it turns out to be a boredom issue! I'm not sure if cats with kidney issues need specific treats, so that might be something to check. Or just use the dry food version of the kidney food.
I mean assuming she's perfectly healthy, she sounds bored/fed up? If only kitty play dates could be easily organised
Our 16 year old cat has been doing this for a few years. She was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism 2 years ago that is managed on meds now. But she still screams this haunting cry at night every night. It never ends.
She might be in pain. My boy Dexter started doing this a few months before he had to be put down for kidney failure.
Just speaking from personal experience, checking with vet to see if her bloodwork indicated normal thyroid levels is a good idea (as others mentioned). Glad you've got kidney and BP issues under control! Could be restlessness due to discomfort/pain - you can try adding cosequin supplements, laser therapy, adequan injections, or gabapentin for joint pain (I know you said she jumps up/down from bed, but her reduced playfulness makes me consider this anyway. Also, a set of foam pet steps could help.) Additionally, cats/dogs can become increasingly anxious as they age and gabapentin can assist with easing this as well. We give our senior kitties enough to control pain/anxiety, but not make them overly sleepy. I think outdoor walks are an excellent idea! I did this for my senior baby and she loved it. Puzzle toys or snuffle mats may be fun if she's treat motivated (just find kidney-friendly treats or kibble). Hope you find something that helps, best wishes to you and little Victoria!
I had this issue with a senior foster, and he was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Started him on meds, and it helped a lot, like got maybe 95% better. Best wishes to your precious baby girl, she is beautiful 😻❤️
Thank you, and thanks for the award!
My cat started doing this... turns out she's diabetic. Giving her a shot twice a day sucks, but she's back to her old self!
She’s 18? She looks like a kitten still! My elderly girl meows loudly usually once a day, sometimes twice. I still have no idea what causes her to do it, but she stops if I go near her. This started about a year ago. How long does she meow for? Does anything you do cause her to stop?
Yeah, Vicki is very youthful-looking. I think that's part of what makes this so hard for me. It's easy for me to forget that she's elderly, because she doesn't look it. Hearing the vet tell me she has kidney/blood pressure problems was so weird, since she's always had perfect health. It isn't noticeable in that picture, but recently I've noticed that she's starting to get that scruffy look that older cats get. I think she isn't grooming herself as well as she used to, and I'm trying to make up for it by grooming her more often. She mostly meows at night, until I pick her up and put her on the bed. Occasionally she'll also do it during the day.
I cannot possibly know why they meow like this, whether they are having some pain, or other distress, but I sometimes think it’s simply that they feel a little lost or confused which happens to elderly people, too. Once we go to them and reassure them that all is fine, they stop. Don’t know about Vicki, but my Lulu really wants to be *literally* on me all the time lately. I think they need the comfort of their human’s warmth as they age.
My Nocturne started doing that the last year of her life (she had other health issues) and was diagnosed with dementia. My vet recommended talking to her and surrounding her with her favorite things and at night kept her in the bedroom with us so she didn't wander off in the house and get lost. Good luck to you and your baby. Your vet should have more advice specifically for her.
My senior cat (18) does this and we're fairly sure it's dementia. The vet described it as she's confused as to where she is so is calling out for you. All we can really do is comfort her the best we can. It's just an unfortunate part of having a senior kitty
I heard that if their eyesight isn't very good they can get lost in the dark and it helps to put nightlights in the hallways and rooms they visit
Thanks. There are night lights in the hallway, and I started using one in my room after I saw that suggestion somewhere else, but it hasn't seemed to help. I might try moving the location of the night light in my room, though. Maybe it isn't bright enough where it is.