Why does my rescue cat meow constantly, scratch, and shed so much?

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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend taking Princess to a vet for an exam and blood work. It is very common for older cats to have an overactive thyroid. One of the signs of hyperthyroidism is increased meowing. Another is matted hair coat. The blood work will test for this and determine if she needs treatment. If so, the vet can discuss your options. If she is hyperthyroid and she gets medications to control this, the increased meowing will stop. Kisses to Princess!

Increased vocalization can be seen in cats with hyperthyroidism. Other causes may include anxiety or pain. I didn’t see any wounds in the pictures you attached. So just guessing here, wound could be from self-trauma from itching, hot spots, ringworm, endocrine disease, cancer, etc. I would recommend starting with a vet examination to see what could be the cause. Hyperthyroidism can be diagnosed on bloodwork.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Excessive thirst is always a cause for concern, and there are numerous causes of it. I would highly recommend having Missy seen as soon as possible for some blood labs and a urinalysis as well as assessment of her wounds. It is possible she has nothing serious, but she could have something like an abscess forming which would need drained and flushed under sedation in addition to antibiotic therapy. As for the behavior, environmental enrichment is a must in a house with a cat, especially if more than one cat is in the household. Always have one litter box per cat plus one, and use Feliway to aid in calming which is available at PetCo. Discuss further enrichment with your primary care veterinarian. I hope this helps!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. I would recommend having Scott's urine tested to make sure this is not a UTI. Whike I doubt that it is, as this sounds more behavioral, it would be best to at least rule out a UTI. This may just be behavioral so I would recommend adding an additional litter box, use Feliway products (which can be found easily online) and NaturVet calming chews. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm so sorry to hear about Bayleigh! My very first thought is that she needs to go in for an exam and to have bloodwork done. Hyperthyroidism can cause everything you're describing and is treatable. Another medical explanation could be pain. A hurt back, etc. can make even the nicest cat an absolute nightmare. Finally, though I hate to say it, brain tumors, adrenal gland tumors, and dementia are also possible (though usually they do not come on so quickly). Long story short, take her in to your vet for a good exam and work up. Best wishes to you and Bayleigh. I hope she is back to her happy self soon!