Why is my cat with kidney disease meowing constantly? Is he in pain?

HI and thank you for reaching out at Pet Coach. Howling like this can be related to senility in older cats (which, unfortunately there is nothing you can do about that). It sometimes can also be related to high blood pressure. Kidney disease is one of the diseases in older cats that can cause hypertension. I would recommend to have your cat's blood pressure evaluated. Thank you.

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry to hear Mojo has been having some health issues recently. Kidney disease can often cause nausea and vomiting. Breathing trouble could be caused by a virus, bacterial infection or something more serous such as pneumonia, fluid in the chest, or lung cancers. Yowling at night or in the early morning could be a sign of dementia which typically happens in older pets. A veterinary check up would be recommended just to check his blood work and do a chest x-ray to see what is going on with his lungs. Anti-nausea medications can be prescribed to help control his vomiting. Sometimes certain medications can be prescribed for dementia as well, however, calming chews or Feliway plug ins/spray you can find over the counter at your pet store may help with night time disturbances as well.

Cats with kidney disease are prone to constipation so if this behavior continues or he seems to be straining in the litter box I’d recommend seeing your veterinarian. Most appetite stimulants would be safe to give with these medications but it would depend on the actual drug - check with your vet to make sure it’s okay before you give any other medication.

Hi and thanks for your request. Cat's on chronic kidney disease are rarely experiencing pain. Controlling hypertension, decreasing urinary protein loss, and addressing anemia are important therapeutic goals in cats that develop this condition. Only hypertension might be vaguely related to discomfort, but this has not been proven in cats.

With that kind of vocalization and restless behavior, I suspect he may have a urinary tract infection. I recommend getting him to see your vet as soon as possible, Male cats are especially prone to becoming blocked and unable to urinate. If it isn't urinary, he still may have some underlying medical condition that is making him uncomfortable and restless. Your vet will do an exam and labwork to determine what is causing this behavioral change and how best to treat it.

First off, I'm so very sorry you recently lost your dog! That is a very sad loss for you. As for as Tilah, I would be concerned that this excessive meowing and urinating on the carpet is likely related to her health condition. While it could be stress, given she has a preexisting medical condition, it's best that she is seen by a vet for these symptoms. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Congratulations on taking such good care of Katrina that she has lived such a long life! I would recommend starting with having your vet examine her to what might be going on. If Katrina isn't showing any other signs, then I would recommend having your vet recheck her blood work and check her blood pressure. Cats that have kidney disease can develop high blood pressure which can cause howling. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.