Expert: Jessica - 9/1/2011

Question
Hi, my cat is a little over 16 years old and is generally in good health.  Recently she has started to make a very loud noise frequently throughout the day and night.  It's like she trying to call something/one.  Like a very loud mieow.  Any ideas please, before I start getting my neighbours round complaining about the noise (and yes, it is that loud!).  Many thanks

Answer
Hi Mel,

It would be best to have her checked by the vet. Loud meowing can actually be caused by medical conditions such as high blood pressure or sight loss. The suspicion is that high blood pressure causes head aches, and the cat cries out in pain. Most often, high blood pressure is secondary to an overactive thyroid or diabetes. Sight loss is unsettling and probably causes the cat to cry in distress.

Less commonly, cats can suffer a condition similar to human Alzheimer's. The condition is called Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome in cats. It causes excessive vocalization, mostly at night. But patients also have other unexplained behavior, like aimless wandering, disorientation, failure to recognize familiar people, unprovoked aggression, litter box problems or depression. If your cat displays any of these behaviors, you should discuss whether or not your vet thinks your cat might be suffering from this condition during your visit. There are some experimental treatments for this, including Novi-SAMe and Anipryl, which are showing a lot of promise.

Good luck!

Jessica