Cat Chat Feline Forum

Just a quick question, more of a poll I suppose....
I was chatting to one of the temporary staff at work today and she told me that her 14 year old cat has taken to yowling early in the morning and that her friends cat did something similar. For the last few months Twitch (also 14) has been yowling at the top of her voice (how can such a tiny cat make such a loud noise?) at about 5am in the morning. Admittedly, this has proved useful as I have to get up at 6am most days! Obviously this is still a concern.
I was really pleased to hear what my colleague had to say as it is starting to look more like an age thing than a health thing (every time we've taken her to the vet we've been told she's very healthy for her age).
So, in conclusion, the question for owners of older cats - do you have a howling in the night problem?

I've just noticed Hollysmum's post about howling. It sounds like I have the same problem. I'd still be interested in how many people have the same problem though.

Ohh yes!

I first noticed this 20-odd years ago in a little black moggy who was very elderly and going deaf and blind. I'd also read a magazine article about a cat, going deaf, who'd developed an 'early howling system.'

These days I have a 13 year old cat called Mouse (I know - silly name but it started as a nickname and stuck) who, occasionally in the day but more often at night, gallops loudly up and down on the landing and WAULS. As she's a black tuxedo I call her the 'Jellicle Cat' -

'Jellicle cats are black and white; Jellicle cats are rather small,
Jellicle cats are merry and bright,and pleasant to hear when they caterwaul.

...if it happens to be a stormy night they will practise a caper or two in the hall.'

Jellicle cats like to dance at night and generally carry on, according to TS Eliot.

She often carries on when she's used her tray; it's a useful early warning (howling) system for the terrible smell that filters round the corner from the bathroom; this is a tiny house

I understand there's something called feline dementia, and she's been a kind of odd cat all her life, but I'm odd too and she's very timid; unless it was urgent I wouldn't inflict a vet visit on her. She seems happy enough in her Mousey world - and she has the loudest purr EVER

I once had an orange tabby cat named Ray who wailed every day at sunset, whie he prowled the house and halls. We called him the Boy Soprano, the melodious, plaintive and intricate tonal wailing went on for such a long, long aria every evening. He didn't disturb our sleep, but he regularly reduced dinner parties to total silence!

He did this almost all his life, from the time he reached puberty, and after being neutered, so it was not old- age related thing. I only mention it because it was so obviously in concert with the setting sun. That cued the opera. We never figured out whether the singing was a deep longing or confusion or ancient memory or what -- maybe just his idea of an appropriate way to greet every nightfall or mourn the end of each day. He was generally an other-worldly cat, with many atypical behaviors, who seemed attuned to a different dimension of the cosmos. Some might say he was a bit demented all his life. But I've never had another cat quite like him, and I miss his evensong!

Vocalisation can be a sign of hyperthyroidism, which is common I older cats and is treatable. It shouldn't be ignored as it puts a strain the other organs. This can be determined by a blood test, and well worth doing. Lily had it for the last four years or so of her life, and was fine on pills (administered in her favourite treats).

lilynmitz wrote:Vocalisation can be a sign of hyperthyroidism, which is common I older cats and is treatable. It shouldn't be ignored as it puts a strain the other organs. This can be determined by a blood test, and well worth doing. Lily had it for the last four years or so of her life, and was fine on pills (administered in her favourite treats).

That made me think, Lilynmitz, and do a bit of googling, but I'm happy to say that Mouse is a great heavy lump (no weight loss) and doesn't show any other symptoms such as restlessness. However I'll keep an eye; they can develop all sorts of untoward stuff in their old age I know

lilynmitz wrote:Vocalisation can be a sign of hyperthyroidism, which is common I older cats and is treatable. It shouldn't be ignored as it puts a strain the other organs. This can be determined by a blood test, and well worth doing. Lily had it for the last four years or so of her life, and was fine on pills (administered in her favourite treats).

I've had a quick Google about that and put it past my other half as well. I don't think she has the symptoms mentioned. However, you make a good point, so we're going to keep an eye on her to see if she starts to develop any symptoms, if we're suspicious and take her to the vet.
Amusingly, as I read out the symptoms to my partner and said "hyperactivity" we both looked at Twitch who was utterly flaked out on her pillow. As far from hyperactive as you can get!