Why does my spayed cat howl at night when we turn off lights?

Hello, sorry to hear about Ninja. This kind of signs may be seen with multiple abnormalities. It could be ideal to rule out the possibility of an ovarian remnant, as this can continue to produce estrogen and cause signs of heat such as the ones you are experiencing. Other hormone imbalances which can cause these sings include an excess production of thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Cats can also vocalize when feeling ill such as with kidney disease, diabetes, liver disease or pancreatitis. If her meowing continues then I would recommend having her evaluated for an ovarian remnant. If this proves negative then measuring her thyroid hormone and screening her for other metabolic diseases would be ideal. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Thank you for asking the question about Rosie. A common cause of increased vocalizing in older cats is Hyperthyroidism. A benign tumor on the thyroid gland tends to cause weight loss, increased appetite, increased Vocalization, and sometimes vomiting and or diarrhea. I would highly encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian soon. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

This is a common behavior in intact females (not spayed). The fact that it has become more frequent makes me wonder if anything has changed with her hormonally like an ovarian tumor. I would have your vet take a look at her when you can to ensure everything looks ok. You can also have her spayed to stop these episodes. I hope this helps!

An adult feral cat may have a difficult transition to being an indoor cat. If she is intact, the vocalizations and nighttime behaviors could indeed be heat related. Having her spayed may decrease those behaviors but may not completely eliminate them. Try a pheromone collar, spray or plug in diffuser to decrease any anxiety she may be experiencing. If that doesn't help, an exam with your veterinarian to diagnose any underlying cause would be recommended. If you think she would be happier back at the barn, have her spayed (if she isn't already) to prevent accidental or unwanted litters. Some cats prefer living outdoors and that's may be the case here.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your cat. I would recommend a trip to the veterinarian to ensure she is not suffering a medical problem causing this behavior change. A disease known as hyperthyroidism can cause increased vocalizations in a cat. It is usually accompanied an increase in thirst and urination, hyperactivity, possibly vomiting/ diarrhea and weight loss. She will likely have blood work performed to rule out this as well as other internal diseases. If she is found to be healthy, then you can discuss behavioral modifications at home. I hope this information helps!

I imagine that Misty will probably keep up with this behavior when you're gone since it doesn't sound like an attention seeking behavior. If there are other cats outside she may be bothered by them. If she is an older kitty this can also be sign of some diseases like hyperthyroidism. If the TV/radio is to help mask her loud nosies I think you should leave it on, but if you're planning to leave it on to help keep her company I don't know that it would make much of a difference. It certainly wouldn't hurt. On another note, if your veterinarian is unsure whether or not Misty is spayed and you have not seen obvious signs of heat you could ask your veterinarian about a blood test that can be sent out to determine if Misty has functional ovaries and needs to be spayed. The anti-Mullerian hormone test is usually most accurate.

It is difficult to determine if Khloe's vocalizing is behavior or medically related. Sometimes cat will vocalize like this as a form of communication and behavior. Other times it can mean they are trying to tell you that they are sick or in pain. I would recommend that you look at her closely for the next several hours. Does she seem in pain, does she have normal energy, is she interacting with you? If all of these are yes - that is great and of less concern. Does she have any vomiting or diarrhea, is her appetite OK and is she drinking normal amounts of water. If the answers to this are that she is having a normal appetite and water consumption without any vomiting or diarrhea this is also a very good sign. If that is the case, i would recommend to monitor her at home and continue to watch all of these things very closely. It may be that she is trying to tell you something but it is not at all medically urgent. Please let us know if we can be of any further help. Best of luck to Khloe.