Do elderly cats yowl and cry a lot?

[Tiam]

My cat is about 16. This last year she has been yowling a lot. Recently she is crying a lot. Almost screaming. Not a yowl she has ever made before. There doesn't always seem to be a reason for it. She gets food, water, (which seems to be challenging for her to drink for some reason) and goes outside when she wants a little air. Mostly she lives inside and has a box to go in and a warm place to sleep. Her activity level is the same and she seems to hear and see and "go" fine. I've heard old cats sometimes vocalize strangely? Anyone know anything about that?

[iris lilies]

Our 15 year old cat suddenly started vocalizing last year. I've heard this is common. She's always been rather nervous, anyway, but she's not been a talker. She cries for seemingly no reason, howls.

[Tiam]

A little googling reveals cats can have dementia.

[sweetana3]

Once you make sure they are not in pain, some cry louder because they are deaf or going deaf. We had a really old 19 year old cat that would yowl in the bathroom. When he noticed us, he would stop and look at us. We figured it was the only place he could hear it.

[Miss Cellane]

My older cat started yowling when she developed a hyperthyroid problem. Many older cats have this, and yowling can be one of the symptoms.

There are a couple of medical conditions that can cause the yowling, so I'd start with a trip to the vet's.

[pinkytoe]

Thyroid issues I believe.

[Tiam]

Thyroid, eh? One thing about animals is I've rarely been a vet person. I'm very old school about pets. The background I come from is that pets are a responsibility but not a necessity. That's why when this one passes, it will be my last pet. Should she go to the vet because it's a necessity, or is it ok not to?

[pinkytoe]

Well just like a human with thyroid issues, the symptoms might be uncomfortable. If it's just a matter of daily thyroid medication, that shouldn't be too much of a burden. If the vet does like ours did though, and starts recommending advanced treatments and surgery etc, that would be your call. We chose not to go that route - no regrets - the cat eventually died - after many good years and a few not so good ones.

[puglogic]

If she's suddenly screaming and having trouble drinking, there's a better than average chance she may be in pain. If a trip to the vet will help you determine how to alleviate her suffering -- either through some sort of treatment or simply by putting her out of her misery if something is found and treatment's not something you want to do -- I'd suggest it may be worth it. Even just taking her to the clinic at your local animal shelter, which is often less expensive.

Pets aren't a necessity. But while you have them, it's my personal view you have accepted that they rely on you as their caregiver, with your primary responsibility being to ensure they are not suffering. She can't drive herself. So, for whatever that's worth.

[Susan]

Untreated thyroid disease will kill your cat. It is usually hyperthyroid which will destroy the heart and kidneys if not addressed. Diagnosed with blood test and treated with daily medication. Not a comfortable way to die. A vet trip IS a necessity.

[Tiam]

I'm not sure she is in pain. She seems confused. But that's why I'm asking of course. To know what might be next. To me, 16 years is a very long life for a pet. So, what can people tell me about the thyroid meds? Expensive? Hard to administer?

[iris lily]

I'm not sure she is in pain. She seems confused. But that's why I'm asking of course. To know what might be next. To me, 16 years is a very long life for a pet. So, what can people tell me about the thyroid meds? Expensive? Hard to administer?

We just recently faced thyroid meds for our 14 year old dog, but her thyroid numbers turned out to be fine. I was prepared to give 2x daily pills to dogs, that is easy.

I won't pill a cat daily if it means that we have to fight with each other about it. And usually, it does mean that.

[Tiam]

We just recently faced thyroid meds for our 14 year old dog, but her thyroid numbers turned out to be fine. I was prepared to give 2x daily pills to dogs, that is easy.

I won't pill a cat daily if it means that we have to fight with each other about it. And usually, it does mean that.

I can't see myself giving this cat pills and having it be successful.

[Tussiemussies]

I can't see myself giving this cat pills and having it be successful.

Think you need to take your cat to the vet and see what they tell you about it...it may be successful...

[Susan]

If you have a compounding pharmacy in your area you can have a the meds compounded as a cream tht you put on the inner ear of the cat or dog and it is absorbed through the skin. You must wear gloves or finger cots because it will affect your thyroid if it gets on your skin. It isn't terribly expensive because you use a small amount.
There are some compounding pharmacies that do mail order.

[Tiam]

If you have a compounding pharmacy in your area you can have a the meds compounded as a cream tht you put on the inner ear of the cat or dog and it is absorbed through the skin. You must wear gloves or finger cots because it will affect your thyroid if it gets on your skin. It isn't terribly expensive because you use a small amount.
There are some compounding pharmacies that do mail order.

That's interesting, I never knew that. Thanks for that information.

[sweetana3]

Compounding pharmacies are wonderful. Ours does 50% of their business with veterinarians. We get an antibiotic made into a chicken flavor for our cat. Much better than the raspberry pink colored one the vet tried on us.

Another thing to know is that not all vets are aware of the compounding pharmacies.

[cdttmm]

We buy Pill Pockets to give our cat meds. That worked pretty well for a long time. Now we use a pill gun because he gets multiple meds per day -- no fight involved!

[Glo]

Take the cat to the vet. Either do what the vet says, or put her down.

[thinkgreen]

We have a 17 year old cat who had a stroke. The vet prescribed high blood pressure medication. In this area that is only available in human strength dose as a pill. The compounding pharmacy ground it and mixed it with a chicken flavour liquid. This was given to the cat with a syringe and squirted into her mouth. She didn't object as it tasted pretty good. The price was quite high at $40 a month.

So I bought a year supply of pills from an on-line pet supply company for about $50. Then I crush them and mix them with a little chicken stock and squirt it in her mouth with the syringe. The cost is about $4 a month but involves two or three minutes a day to get out my kit, microwave a small vial of chicken stock, crush a pill, use the syringe to measure the chicken stock then mix it with the crushed pill, syringe it up again and give it to the cat. Make sure the stock isn't too hot. Kitty doesn't seem to mind and I give her a little piece of chicken when she gets her meds so usually she comes asking for it.

[pony mom]

My cat had hyperthyroidism at about the age of 14 or so. Usually they drink excessively, lose weight, and their coat looks unhealthy. I gave her the pills by crushing them, mixing it in a tiny bit of canned food, and letting her lick it off a spoon; then she was allowed to eat the rest of her meal.

This cat lived to 19 and became very vocal and seemed to get confused around the house. We'd find her meowing at a wall or in a corner. We'd turn her around and she'd be fine. This happed several years after her thyroid was controlled. It seems your cat has a common form of dementia that older animals sometimes have.

[iris lilies]

My cat is the same weight, is eating fine, her coat is fine. I don't think it's time for a blood test yet. But something is definitely different for her, she has not done this yowling before.

I have to say that having cats all my life, and even having them exclusively during periods of no dog, I've not ever had a cat live beyond 15 years old. That is weird, I know, for a cat person.

[nswef]

Our cat has spells of crying out. It often happens at night when she wakes up in the chair in the living room. It's as if she cannot find us in the bedroom. So we pat the bed and call her. Generally she is then fine. She's only 13. She did that the other night, but it would not stop and she had a bladder infection again. She just had one in March so i am concerned it is the beginning of the end. There is a difference in the lost cry cand the pain cry. We had another cat who at 15 we had his thyroid 1/2 removed and I had to give him pills. He ran away from me. So when he developed even more problems we had him put down. I just couldn't bear him cowering and running from me.

[Tiam]

My cat is the same weight, is eating fine, her coat is fine. I don't think it's time for a blood test yet. But something is definitely different for her, she has not done this yowling before.

I have to say that having cats all my life, and even having them exclusively during periods of no dog, I've not ever had a cat live beyond 15 years old. That is weird, I know, for a cat person.

Actually, this is the first cat I've ever had that has lived this long. I've had many who died from Feline Leukemia and many that just got hit by cars or climbed telephone poles and were electrocuted, or eaten by coyotes or any number of things. I've never had a pet this long. She was my daughters. Needless to say, I reverse inherited her.

[Tiam]

My cat had hyperthyroidism at about the age of 14 or so. Usually they drink excessively, lose weight, and their coat looks unhealthy. I gave her the pills by crushing them, mixing it in a tiny bit of canned food, and letting her lick it off a spoon; then she was allowed to eat the rest of her meal.

This cat lived to 19 and became very vocal and seemed to get confused around the house. We'd find her meowing at a wall or in a corner. We'd turn her around and she'd be fine. This happed several years after her thyroid was controlled. It seems your cat has a common form of dementia that older animals sometimes have.


She seems to be inconsistently "out of it". Sometimes, a little confused. But not often. Last night she had a moment and actually pounced at something! The other night she was yowling, so I went and opened the bedroom door to let her in. Normally she comes in and sits on us. In normal places, like your legs, shoulder, hip. This time I woke up to her sleeping right on top of my head. She's never done that before. She's lost weight over the years, but nothing to be concerned about. She sleeps, eats, drinks, and sleeps. We often shave her in the summer for comfort, but I don't think I will again as she seems to be having a hard time growing her full fluffiness back again.

[Cypress]

I would recommend a general check up at the vet. My cat is about the same age and has episodes of yowling pretty much every day after breakfast. When I touch her during one of these yowls, she jumps as if surprised and not knowing she was doing this. She is also a little deaf now. Her appetite is still strong and she will knock me over to get a piece of cooked chicken or fish. Just getting older. Keep her warm and inside. Not sure about your vaccination schedule but at this point, I am not having any more shots except for once per year rabies. Those meds are hard for their bodies to process.

[gail_d]

My 16 year old cat has to take pills for her thyroid. I think they are about $45 for 100 tablets--she gets one in the morning and in the evening. I started out with the ear cream, but the compounding pharmacy was so expensive. I just hold her on my lap, on her back, and stroke her stomach and face for a little bit. Then, I quickly open her mouth with one finger/hand, then pop the pill down her gullet with the other. It goes very fast once you've got the routine down. Of course, your mileage (and cat) may vary.