Senior cat Nonstop Meowling after partial blindness

sillywoody

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Nov 23, 2016
Messages
95
Purraise
64
Location
Toronto, Ontario
My senior cat, and beloved baby, Silly is 17. He has ckd but hasn’t really had many ill side effects from it other than very recently, high blood pressure. He is on the highest dose of amlodipine and has gone blind in one eye and I suspect partially blind in the other.

he has always had meowling episodes where he will walk around the house almost looking for someone. But they were short,3 mins or so.

I work from home and he will meowl all day and ALL night now, so he takes 2 gabapentin at 6AM, 2 gabapentin at 6PM and half a trazadone at night as directed by his vet.

And this is still not enough :(. The AM dose only lasts until 10ish, then he’s meowling on and off nonstop until 6 pm dose. He hardly settles. He will only settle if I put him on my lap and pet him and then he will sleep soundly until I move away and he’s up again.

He has a great appetite and will occasionally settle and loves pets and purrs. I know his quality of life is decreasing with this new behavior but I don’t want this to be the end of my sweet baby. Any medications or ideas?

thank you kindly
 

FeebysOwner

TCS Member
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Jun 13, 2018
Messages
22,442
Purraise
33,215
Location
Central FL (Born in OH)
If Silly's partial blindness is more recent, this could affect his howling more as he is still getting used to having impaired vision. I know they say cats adapt to loss of sight, but the older they get the longer I am sure it takes to get used to it. In addition to his eyesight, given his age in general, he is likely feeling a bit insecure so seeks out reassurance from you.

As far as the gabapentin, maybe you can ask the vet about giving him a smaller dose more frequently, to see if that might be just enough to keep a constant/steady amount in his system. If that doesn't at least help some over time, then ask the vet about trying another medication instead.
 

susanm9006

Willow
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
13,153
Purraise
30,221
Location
Minnesota
Poor guy, probably disoriented by his poor vision. You might want to try leaving a light or two on for him at night and also getting him a heated bed. cats, especially older ones love these beds and it may help him from wandering and meowing as much.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

sillywoody

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Nov 23, 2016
Messages
95
Purraise
64
Location
Toronto, Ontario
If Silly's partial blindness is more recent, this could affect his howling more as he is still getting used to having impaired vision. I know they say cats adapt to loss of sight, but the older they get the longer I am sure it takes to get used to it. In addition to his eyesight, given his age in general, he is likely feeling a bit insecure so seeks out reassurance from you.

As far as the gabapentin, maybe you can ask the vet about giving him a smaller dose more frequently, to see if that might be just enough to keep a constant/steady amount in his system. If that doesn't at least help some over time, then ask the vet about trying another medication instead.
thank you for your advice! He is getting a slightly better regimen but he’s still meowling a lot :(
 

FeebysOwner

TCS Member
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Jun 13, 2018
Messages
22,442
Purraise
33,215
Location
Central FL (Born in OH)
thank you for your advice! He is getting a slightly better regimen but he’s still meowling a lot
He may howl regardless - at least to some degree. Feeby does this, and while she does have hyperthyroidism - and probably heading into ckd as well, I am pretty sure the howling somewhat has to do with her aging in general. Life changes for them with aging, just like it does us. Aches and pains we never would have imagined in our younger days - that kind of stuff, just happens. Bummer, but what it is.

Nonetheless, keep us posted.
 
Top