Is my senior cat sick? He wakes up crying and grabbing objects.

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.

Is he a young cat? If so he may be looking for something to do such as hunting. If he is an older cat then I would be worried about possible hyperthyroidism or diabetes. You may want to consider different toys or tall cat trees that allow him to watch birds out of the window. If you have any concerns that something isn’t quite right then I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian to rule out any medical concerns. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

No, I wouldn't be concerned if April is just moaning in her sleep but it otherwise acting normal. She could be dreaming, and the moaning could be related to any dreams she is currently having. It's always good to have a senior cat checked out by a vet just to make sure she is healthy, but I wouldn't worry otherwise :-)

hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Charlie! There are a lot of things that can change metabolically as cats age. One thing that can cause increased night time vocalization in cats is an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). I think due to Charlie sleeping more and his other changes in behavior having him checked by your Vet and getting senior blood work done would be a good idea. Sometimes cats vocalize more if they lose their hearing. I would also suggest getting him dewormed due to his hunting. I hope this helps and good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! A few main concerns are coming to mind for Bubbles. 1) Hyperthyroid disease- the vocalizing fits with this but usually an increase in appetite is noted. We also usually see weight loss. This can be diagnosed with a blood test that may or may not be a part of the "regular" bloodwork done. 2) Pain - a severe arthritis flare up can cause vocalizing and reluctance to move. If bloodwork comes back normal, x-rays and or a pain medication trial would be my next steps. 3) Cognitive dysfunction (senility) or other neurological problem - Though it is not as well documented in cats as in dogs, we do definitely see cats that have dementia. This usually manifests as: wakefulness/vocalizing at night, loss of litterbox training, seeming to be lost, sudden anxiety, and other signs. I have seen cats act like this with sudden blindness (a few underlying causes) because they are anxious to leave the places they know best (bed, food, litter box). Finally, brain tumors, clots in the brain (underlying heart disease) and other neurological problems may manifest similarly to this. Long story short, get a good eye exam and some bloodwork done. Then consider x-rays and/or a pain medication trial. If none of these help, discuss possible next steps with your vet. Best wishes to you and Bubbles!

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.

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.