Cats are habitual meowers. Kitties by nature meow regularly to communicate their needs to the cat parents. It is their way of asking you to address their demands. There are several possibilities why a kitty may vocalise extensively. A young kitten may want your attention, or a grown-up kitty may need your companionship. A continuously yowling, purring, rolling young female kitty may be in heat. A kitty howling, crying, and straining to urinate may suffer from a potential urinary tract issue. An older cat meowing and purring incessantly may point to a possible medical condition.
Our focus here is on older cats who persistently purr and howl. You never know if your senior cat is nursing an unknown health problem that causes her to meow most of the time. So, don’t neglect if you have an old cat at home. Having the support of pet insurance NZ is vital to your senior feline, just as it was crucial for her through her growing-up years. Cat insurance saves some money in your wallet while providing your older cat with the best health care at the same time.
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What are the possible medical conditions causing different vocalisations in an older cat?
Hypertension
Your aging cat may have developed high blood pressure. Often an older cat diagnosed with this issue may suffer from hyperthyroidism too. Some people who have this health issue may experience headaches or ringing in the ears. Probably due to the same reason, you may find your senior fur baby yowling in the middle of the night. Attend to your pet with care, as she may be in much discomfort.
Hyperthyroidism
Some older cats may have an overactive thyroid gland which makes them feel more hungry, wakeful, and excited. If your senior feline exhibits any of these symptoms along with increased meowing, then your old cat could be suffering from this medical issue. A few other signs to watch out for are: vomiting, diarrhoea, increased thirst, and loss in weight.
Arthritis
Just like aging humans and dogs, older cats may also contract arthritis. Sometimes you can miss out on the symptoms and think that your aging cat is fine, but we advise you to recognise the subtle signs to provide her timely medical care. For instance, carefully observe if she walks around less or stays curled up in a corner or under the couch most of the time. Also, check if she has been limping while moving around the home or yowling at night; it may be due to achy joints.
Dental issues
Infected teeth or tooth abscesses may make having meals a painful task for your senior cat. Your senior cat’s craving for food and tooth pain together may make her tenacious and vocal. Check if your older cat drops food often, drools, has terrible breath or finds it tough to chew. Pay attention to these signs to know if dental disease is the cause.
Deafness
The declining senses may startle your senior cat when she can’t hear her voice while meowing. Likewise, she may become excessively vocal when she can’t listen to herself talk.
Dementia
If your senior cat suffers from dementia, you may notice her altered sleep cycles, loud vocalisations, disorientation, house soiling, etc. Please don’t wait for the signs to fade away; instead, call your vet and immediately take her for a check-up.
The reason your senior feline may be excessively vocalising can be because of any medical condition stated above or a range of other issues. Contacting your vet is the best thing to do, to know the actual cause. You should purchase cat insurance when your cat hasn’t developed any medical conditions yet. With pet insurance NZ, you may claim much of your older pet cat’s vet bills, medicines costs, and many more.
