My old cat is suddenly vocal and drinking too much. Is she sick?

Older cats can experience an over active thyroid that can make then walk around vocalizing and change their water intake. They can also experience high blood pressure and a form of dementia that can cause wandering with vocalization. With these symptoms and her age, I would take her for blood work and exam. They can evaluate her health and check her kidneys, thyroid and blood pressure and prescribe what medicine is needed.

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!

Rocky's increased vocalizations could be related to a medical condition or it could be pyschological. Some cats will become more vocal following the loss of a household companion. However, his increased thirst is most likely a symptom of an underlying medical condition such as hyperthyrodism, diabetes, Cushing's disease, kidney or liver failure. Therefore, I recommend that you take Rocky to his local veterinarian for an examination and senior blood work. With treatment, many of the above medical conditions can be managed with dietary and lifestyle changes, at least for a while.

These sudden changes in temperament and the weight loss are commonly due to an endocrine problem called hyperthyroidism. The thyroid starts working more than normal increasing the metabolism (that is the cause of the weight loss) and causing behavioural changes similar to what you described. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. A blood test and urine analysis are needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Callie. She will need to see her veterinarian for an evaluation and likely some laboratory work. There is a common condition in cats known as hyperthyroidism. It frequently causes increased vocalizations. It can also cause vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss as well as an increased thirst and urination. This is my first suspicion based on your description of her. Of course, there are other possibilities and this is why she will need to see her veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

It is fairly rare, but ask your veterinarian if your kitty may be suffering from Cushing's disease or liver disease. Also sometimes cats can still be hyperthyroid, even though the thyroid parameters are within normal limits (this is called euthyroid sick). He could also have a tumor. In any case, this needs to be investigated further.

Given Beyonce's age, I would be concerned there is a medical cause behind this behavior. Increased drinking and urination can be caused by diseases such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or kidney disease, all of which are common in senior cats. Hyperthyroidism can also causes changes in a cat's coat. I would take her into the vet in the next day or two for a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis, which are tests which will help diagnose if she has one of the diseases I mentioned above. Should she have one, the vet can discuss treatment options with you. Good luck, I hope this helps!