old cat meowling

[CiderMonkey]

My cat is 18 years old. I have just bought my own house and my cat has recently moved in with us from having lived at my mums. Most of the time she is fine..sleeping and eating mainly.. She has settled in and made herslef at home no trouble.

But she has a habit of sometimes making this awful meowling sound. It sounds like the kind of noise cats make when they are about to fight, but more sad, rather than angry. She only ever makes it when she is in a room by herself and will stop if you go to see her. She did not always used to do this.

She is eating and drinking fine, going to the loo fine, is moving about ok (can still go up and down stairs and jump up on things). She is very alert and does not appear to be physically suffering from old age (although I am aware you can't always tell)

I have no idea why she does this. She has enough food and drink and the house is warm enough. When she does it she often looks like she is staring at something we can't see!

Is this indicative of something wrong in her health or could she be doing it because she is going a bit senile? It's becoming a pain as she often wakes us up in the night with the meowling!

Has anyone experienced this or know what could be causing it?

thanks

[gessoo]

It is a sign of senility which is quite common in very elderly cats and this happens especially at night. There was a recent thread on here about it.

I believe it can be helped and if I were you I would have a word with your vet.

(Dogs can suffer as well, and will pace and whine at night)

[WendyS]

Yes, we had an elderly cat who started to yowl in terror sometimes when he found himself alone in a room and I do believe it's a sign of feline dementia. I I have also heard of other cat owners whose elderly cats have behaved in a similar way, so it's not uncommon. In all other ways they can seem perfectly healthy. I'm not sure that anything can be done about it but your vet might be able to suggest something.

[Litchick]

CiderMonkey! I'm so happy to see your post! I was asking about you a few weeks ago! Thank you so much for taking that sweet kitty in. Agree with the other posts -- all I might add is just that you give her some extra attention whenever you can. Didn't you say that she was ignored in her previous home? Just continue to give her a lot of love and affection...at least she will know she is loved.

xx

[CiderMonkey]

thanks for your replies. It's made me feel better that this is quite common! I will call the vet and see if there is anything they can suggest.

Litchick - yes, we have been making a fuss of her and i think that has helped her settle in. We are always stroking her, talking to her and trying to include her. It's got to the point where she thinks the spare room is 'hers' and protests if she can't go in there (we try not to let her upstairs as I am actually allergic to cats and we try to keep the spread of the hair to minimum to control it!_ Thanks for asking after her. :-)

[gessoo]

I read your previous post about the puss, but didn't realise it was you. Well done for taking her in. You will have made her so happy in her latter days. x

[Litchick]

Cidermonkey, I love you even more now for taking in a kitty that you are ALLERGIC to!!!! You are the pet parent of the year! :)

[bluejonjo]

My cat does this. She is 16 odd. Deaf as a post and a bit mental. She started yowling all hours but usually she just wants the fire lit in the living room because she is cold.

[myravelu]

My cat is 15+ and has been in my new house since September. Her son died in February and she cries at night. I think she is crying for him because she is on her own. It is usually a distressed cry but when you call her she is OK. Just make a fuss of her thats all she wants.