Why does my old cat howl constantly? Is it senility or dementia?

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.

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.

Miss Sassy may be suffering from Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome, or in other words, be a bit senile. This causes her to all of a sudden not knowing where she is , feeling all alone or left behind. You can leave on a radio over night or a light or both and this may help. If not , there are medications that can be given such as selegiline (Anipryl, off license for cats) which will help . Here is some good information: https://www2.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/cognitive-dysfunction You may want to discuss this with your vet.

It sounds as though Bella may have some signs of developing dementia. Just like humans, elderly pets can develop dementia. The treatment for this is a behavioral modifying drug, like trazadone. Selegiline is another option that is commonly used to treat age related behavioral changes in cats. You can also try using a Feliway diffuser if you do not want to medicate Bella. This works by releasing pheromones that help calm anxious cats.

That’s a tough one! I don’t think the vet would think you are wasting their time as it’s always beneficial to have a physical exam and I think in Stinky Pete’s case, it would be beneficial. Hyperthyroidism can cause increased activity and increased vocalizing and is common in older cats. Older cats can also get dementia which presents the same way. Lastly, older pets can be more prone to anxiety, just like older humans. The vet may test the thyroid and go from there based upon the results. Many of these cats will get sedatives at night if anxiety is suspected. You could also try a pheromone diffuser called Feliway. There is also a prescription diet called Calm which some cats respond well to. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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.

Some cats are simply quieter than others. I have a cat that very rarely meows, but that doesn't mean she can't do it. It could be that Sophie isn't highly vocal. It could be that she is lonely now that the other cats are no longer living with you, and that's why she's started yowling. It can also be a sign of a medical illness, such as hyperthyroidism and kidney disease which can be common in senior cats. I'd take her into the vet for a health check this week. I hope this helps!