why do older cats yowl?

[ginnyinWI]

Our calico (approx 14-16 yrs old) has been doing this more and more in the last six months or so: several times a day, usually after she eats, she'll go into the next room (always does this when alone) and let out several loud yowls or yodels--as if she is calling for somebody to come. We go to her to find out what is wrong, and she's like, "what--I didn't do anything!" She used to do this only occasionally while in the basement (great acoustics) but now she'll do it anywhere in the house--although never when any people are in view.

It might be related to being shut up indoors for the winter. Maybe she's bored? Her usually routine in the summer is to go outside after eating to sniff the air and maybe chew on some grass. (She never goes more than a few feet from the house and doesn't hunt).

Otherwise she seems happy and in good health. There are now two younger cats in the house, so maybe she's wishing to exert dominance for the first time? She doesn't yowl at them or near them, though. Up until a year ago she was the "under-cat" to an older male who has since died. Then she was an only cat for a few months, then these two interlopers arrived (we're long-term cat-sitting for our son who is overseas). But she isn't really the dominant one--one of the others always insists on getting to the food first. Also, last summer we had a fourth one here for two months (daughter's cat here while she was here temporarily) and that one became a playmate to the calico. But I'd have a hard time believing she was calling for him after all this time. They only knew each other a short time.

It might be as simple as cabin-fever and boredom. I try to give her a cat toy or brush her or something when I have time. It might be age related or maybe not.

Has anyone had this happen with their cat?

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I have a 12 year old cat who has started doing that as well.

I have no idea why. It almost sounds like she is moaning.."Oyyyyyyyyyyyy, Oyyyyyyyyyyyy, Oyyyyyyyyyyy"
Sometimes I have to laugh cause she sounds like a little old lady.

[ginnyinWI]

3. this kitty sounds more like

"aaaowwwww, aaaowwww, aaaowwww".

And then if we say, "kitty!" she shuts up.

[Kookaburra]

2. I've heard a couple of theories on that

1. Could just be age related -- their eyesight and hearing isn't as acute as it once was and they get confused and scared, so they yowl for you.

2. Could be caused by over-active thyroid. I've heard of a lot of older cats who get this walking around the house yowling.


About 2 years ago this big black cat just showed up in our garden and decided to stay there. He had some pretty significant war wounds and it was evident that he had a few years on him, so we took him to the vet to get checked out and brought him on in the house to live with the rest of us (3 people, 3 cats).

He immediately starting doing the strangest thing: he would pick up this stuffed squirrell and walk around the house with that thing in his mouth yowling in the most loud and urgent way. It's very weird, and when I call him, he'll bring me the squirrell and drop it at my feet. I'm not sure what that's about. When I asked our vet about it she just shrugged and said "why do they do anything? they're cats." or words to that effect. He's healthy and happy, so we don't sweat it. It's just weird.

[ginnyinWI]

4. could be one or both.

She's getting that cloudy look to the backs of her eyes that older cats get. We thought she was only about 14, but since I've noticed her eyes I think she might be a little older, because our other cat got those eyes at about 16. We got her from a shelter when the vet estimated she was 2-3 yrs old. That was 12 years ago.

Over active thyroid is also a possibility. That comes in response to kidney failure in older cats.

[Kookaburra]

5. Overactive thyroid is easy to treat

My cat took thyroid medicine for years (at least 4 years, maybe longer) -- and when he passed he was 22 years old. Never did have kidney failure, but his poor little body finally just said "enough".
Our vet told us there is a surgery they can do now that will fix it for good. Might be worth looking into. I'm sure it's expensive though.

[Beaverhausen]

6. my cat was just diagnosed with hyper-active thyroid. She does that howl thing too

she lost a bunch of weight, that was why I had her checked. I was glad it was the thyroid and not diabetes or kidneys.

Now she get a tiny pill twice a day for the rest of her life. She is 15.

[ginnyinWI]

7. was the test hard to do?

Was it just a blood test that led to the diagnosis? If so, that doesn't sound to expensive or hard to do.

[Kookaburra]

8. It was just a simple blood test

Also, if you can't pill your cat (which I couldn't), you can get the meds mixed up in a tuna or chicken flavored liquid that you either squirt into their mouths or on their food.