Older Cat Yowling

[genie123]

Our cat is 17 and is now very vocal in fact he yowls a lot. It almost seems like he's in pain but then the next minute his running around and playing with his toys. Sometimes its for attention I think but certainly not always. In the end we have to put him on a bed and close the door for a while and he settles down seemingly quite happy. He's eating fine and regularly uses his cat tray. We havn't taken him to the vet yet because of the situation. Any one come across this before?

[genie123]

Sorry seems like I've asked this question before. Please ignore.

[iluvmargie]

So didn't you take the advice offered?

[Buenchico]

This question has occurred often here over the years, with the most commonly suggested cause being the onset of dementia, leading to the cat feeling confused.

That would certainly make sense to me, as one my cats used to suffer from epileptic fits and he'd yowl afterwards until he'd 'got his brain back into gear' again.

[wolf63]

Yowling older cats is common but the cause varies.

An overactive thyroid, attention speaking and dementia are the causes that spring to mind.

My lad will be 15 next week and started yelling and howling a couple of years back. If there is no obvious cause I usually try to ignore him and he wanders off.

Frankie still gets the Zoomies - he races around the house at silly o'clock in the morning. He usually ends up stomping all over me and I try to sleep.

[pastafreak]

Or the onset of deafness as I mentioned. The poor cat feels disoriented and has lost one of the usual cues to the world around him.
But if your old moggie still comes when called, and reacts to other signals, then you can cross deafness off the list.

[woofgang]

if it is cat dementia then there are meds that can help....is your vet doing phone or text consultations? Many are and are allowed to presribe on the basis of the consultation.

[genie123]

Thanks people.