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About Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too.
Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again.
Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
Education/Credentials
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Awards and Honors
* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Cats > Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral) > excessive meowing
Expert: Dear Tabbi - 10/31/2009
Question
Hello Tabbi,
I have a 21 year old female named Pookia. I have been her owner for 21 years. But lately she meowing all the time at night. it does seem what I do to comfort her. she meows
thanks
Michielle
Answer
Michielle,
Congratulations, your cat is 100 years old in human years!
More than likely she has gone deaf and possibly blind. When that happens they rely on vibrations to tell them where their people are. When no one is awake at night there aren't any vibrations and the cat gets scared and confused. Pain also makes them behave like that. At her age, you can expect age-related problems to arise and you need to be reassuring to her and love her while you can.
Cats also can get a form of 'kitty Alzheimer's' and can behave in a bizarre manner.
I would suggest taking her to a vet that specializes in geriatric cat care and conditions....not all vets do. And it's especially important at her age that she goes to a vet that knows what he is doing. She should have an "older cat checkup" to check the function of her thyroid, kidneys, and liver, and be checked for arthritis and/or pain. If she has any pain she can be given medication to make her comfortable thereby improving her quality of life.
If it were me, I would keep her locked in the bedroom with you at night. Her behavior and how she feels is probably as confusing to her as it is to you. Now she needs your patience and understanding more than ever.
Being prepared and knowledgeable about elderly cats will make things easier for the cat and for you. I am including some very good links about elderly cats.
(Copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar:
http://www.sniksnak.com/resources/geriatric.html
http://www.messybeast.com/towards-end.htm
http://www.2ndchance.info/oldcat.htm
Now, about the only thing you can do for her at her age is make her as comfortable as you can.
Tabbi
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