Expert: Jessica - 8/6/2010

Question
My Cat Nunu is a 17 yr old Calico. She meows at night like she is in heat. She is is spayed, in good health. No worms, fleas or health problems other than she is beginning to lose her eye sight due to old age. She is on a wet food diet and always has plenty of food and water. She eats normally and has maintained her weight over the years (7-8 lbs) I clean her litter box constantly. She also gets lots of attention. She will not let me sleep. The meowing is out of control and all night long. Even if I get up with her and hold her or pet her! It is so loud and constant that even the neighbors in my building hear it. What could be the problem?

Answer
Hi Stephanie,

Her loss of eyesight could be the cause of her behavior.  A lot of cats will become distressed during the night when their sight begins to go, because in the darkness, they can hardly see at all.  If possible, leave a light on for her during the night, especially where her litter box and food are located, and see if this helps.

You might want to also have her blood pressure checked.  This is a common reason why cats can have crying fits, as it causes headaches.  Cats can have primary high blood pressure, or it can be secondary to conditions such as overactive thyroid.

One other condition that is a good possibility is Feline Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS).  This is similar to human Alzheimer's.  One of the most common symptoms is an interruption in the sleep-wake cycle.  Cats will sleep most of the day and be awake all night, often crying the whole time.  This alone isn’t usually enough to suggest CDS, however.  Most cats will also be disoriented during the daytime hours, wandering aimlessly, or becoming “stuck” in corners, staring into the wall for long periods, or walking in circles.  They will become socially withdrawn or even aggressive without provocation at times.  They may seem unfamiliar with or afraid of people they know.  Many will show a lack of hygiene and begin to have litter box problems.  

It’s not known what causes the condition.  Some feel it’s caused be a decline in a natural chemical in the body called SAM-e (S-Adenosyl Methionine), which seems to be responsible for similar conditions in mice.  Others feel that protein plaques form on the brain and cause problems with cognition, as is the case with Alzheimer’s in humans.  In either case, there are treatments that could help.  A SAM-e supplement called Novifit can help slow the progression of the disease, and a medication called Anipryl can, anecdotally, help prevent beta-amyloid (a protein) build up in the brain.  I say anecdotally because the medication is labeled for dogs, not cats, so there is no clinical proof of its effects.  But many vets do prescribe it for cats safely, and if the medication is as effective for cats as it is for dogs, about a third of cats will have a turnaround, the same amount will have a slowing of the progression of the disease, and the others won’t see any benefit.  You should definitely talk to your vet about the possibility that Nunu might be suffering from CDS.  It’s thought today that this condition is under-diagnosed.  In a cat of her age, as many as 75% of cats could be suffering from the condition.

Best of luck!

Jessica