Expert: Jessica - 10/14/2009

Question
Thank you for your nice site.

I have a 15 ½ year old female cat that if I am home when awake is meowing for attention/getting petted practically non stop. She now has started doing it in the middle of the night. For example this morning following the same routine we have had her entire life I am dressed for work and leave but today when I walked by her as she was meowing she got all excited and bolted in a happy way to where I normally sit and pet her. I have never petted her in the morning before going to work outside of a few seconds here and there.

She just had her annual checkup at the vets and they saw nothing and everything else about her health and mind is totally normal. She does not lack for anything and nothing has changed in her life except one big thing and that a little over two months ago we lost her sister to cancer. I know this can be stressful to her but she did not get this way until about two weeks ago and outside of being a little more vocal in a regular way her behavior did not seem to be greatly change because of her sister passing. They were not really close especially the last third of their life and outside of time with me for getting petted pretty much did not hang out or play together.

Is her non stop meowing for attention and now during non routine times due to stress and will she get over it? Is it a sign of dementia as it seems almost like she sometimes does not know what time it is? What else might it be? I am at a lost as I can live with the meowing during the day but I have not been able to get a good night’s sleep in over a week.

Thanks,

Dave


Answer
Hi Dave.  Dementia is a definite possibility.  In cats, a condition similar to human Alzheimer's is being called Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS).  In other animals, this has been linked to a decrease of an amino acid called SAMe, and it is suspected that this is part of the reason cats suffer this condition, as well.  Most cats suffering from CDS will have excessive vocalization, especially at night, but will also have other behavioral changes.  Some of these include failure to use the litter box, disorientation (wandering aimlessly, walking in circles, getting "stuck" in corners, facing walls for long periods), mood swings, failure to recognize familiar people, unprovoked aggression and depression (lack of grooming, excessive sleeping, loss of appetite).  One treatment for the condition is a SAMe supplement called Novifit.  Another treatment is a prescription that was used to treat human Alzheimer's and has been labeled to treat canine CDS for years, called Anipryl.  It has been used to treat cats recently with success in slowing the progression of the disease, and reversing signs in some cases.

It is also possible she has developed an anxiety disorder.  The loss of her sister may have been a trigger, and the anxiety could be worsening.  Over-vocalization, again, is a common sign of serious anxiety.  Some other signs include urinating around the house, eating too much or too little, and destructive scratching, but not all must be present.  Some cats need an antidepressant medication to help them get past stressful events.  Others may need treatment for a little longer.  In my own cats, no one has needed treatment for longer than 6 months, although there are patients who require long-term treatment.  Choices include Prozac, Elavil, Clomicalm and Buspar.  You should discuss these with your vet if the behavior continues, but you may first want to try using a product called Feliway.  This product simulates facial pheromones, a biological chemical that helps promote a feeling of calm in cats.  I use the plug-in diffusers in my own home at all times.  You can learn more about how it works at www.feliway.com.  It's available at pet stores and online (the initial diffuser set up seems to be least expensive at amazon.com).

Sometimes crying at night is caused by insecurity due to diminishing eyesight.  Cats lose night vision, first, and once the lights go out, they suddenly feel lost and afraid.  In this case, try to limit her to one or two rooms at night, with an easily accessible litter box.  Cats feel safer in smaller spaces.  Preferably, she should have access to you, as your presence may be all she needs to calm down.  However, if she continues to meow while you sleep, try placing her in a room far from your bedroom, and leave the light or a nightlight on for her.

If the vet didn’t run any actual blood tests during her last visit, this might be a good idea.  High thyroid, which is very common in older cats, can lead to high blood pressure – another cause of excessive vocalization.

Finally, since she is an only kitty and seems starved for attention, you might consider adopting another cat.  Although she never appeared close to her sister, having another cat around may have prevented loneliness.  If you do decide to adopt another kitty, the key to happiness is a very slow introduction.  With older cats, do not expect to introduce them face-to-face for about three weeks.  Instead, keep them in separate rooms, and switch their rooms a few times a day so they can sniff each other out indirectly.  Feed them tasty meals on opposite sides of the door so they can come to associate this positive experience with one another, and then start with short visits after 2-3 weeks’ time.

Best of luck!

Jessica