How is her hearing? Abby started to howl more when her hearing started to go. She generally does it when she doesn’t know where we are. As soon as we go to check on her she stops.
I don't know if it is something I said, or something someone else said, but I didn't think I ever suggested that Feeby knows the time of day. I merely used the time of day to illustrate to my fellow humans the point that her howling is recurring in the exact same part of the day.Cats know when the sun rises or sets and can anticipate when things might happen, based on that but "clock time" is meaningless to them.
The internist didn't seem to think her hearing is much affected, if at all. But I think she has lost some hearing over the past couple of years. She can be looking in another direction, and I can actually 'sneak' up behind her and get pretty close before she realizes I am there - that is when I get a 'squawk of surprise' - I swear she literally has a specific noise for that!!How is her hearing? Abby started to howl more when her hearing started to go. She generally does it when she doesn’t know where we are. As soon as we go to check on her she stops.
I was suggesting that, even though it often looks like an animal does things on a time schedule, it's really because of something humans do which happens on a time schedule.... I didn't think I ever suggested that Feeby knows the time of day. ...
That's OK. If it were something as obvious as the cuckoo-clock example, I think I would have figured it out by now!! If I had a routine schedule that I kept all week and weekend long, then it would be much easier to see if her howling is triggered by something I am doing during that time of day - but, I don't. I can't find a pattern of any sort that coincides with her howling session. If it is from a source outside, I don't stand a chance of being able to figure that out, since I don't see/hear/smell anything myself. I am not suggesting that she can't - I just know I can't.I wasn't trying to tell you something you already know. I was trying to remind everybody that it would be worthwhile to think about time cues that might be triggering a cat's (or other animal's) behavior.
Other than her first meal of the day, which is around 8AM, when she eats the most at one time (probably about 1.5 to 2 oz), she nibbles on her food off and on all day long - a bite or two here and there ongoingly. She tapers off in the evenings, although she will eat a piece or two of our dinner meat (chicken, steak, turkey, fish) but still gets baby food meat before her bedtime which is around 1AM. My husband typically gives her more baby food meat around 5AM - but that time can vary from one day to the next depending on his schedule - and hers (she doesn't always get up to see if he will give her anything!).Maybe it could be something associated with food or feeding times?
Oh I agree clock time is meaningless but that doesn't mean they can't timekeep to some degree.Cats know when the sun rises or sets and can anticipate when things might happen, based on that but "clock time" is meaningless to them.
She is due for full scale bloodwork this week or next, and a 6 mo check up following the results. I'll see if I can catch it on video before the vet sees her.A senior vet check (& blood work) might be in order for your howling kitty. I would talk to your vet about the howling & run any tests she recommends. Maybe even make a video of it to show your vet.
Nope, I am good. The bottom line seems to be: 1.) Apparently, no other cat does this type of thing without it being some sort of 'outside source' provoking it. or 2.) It could be health related, be that pain or dementia, low blood sugar, etc., that is, so far, only occurring around the same time each day.At this point I'm not sure what it is that you want to hear/read... I would like to reiterate that trying a sound machine, classical harp music or even a calming collar --or whatever calming product may appeal to you, could help her.
My husband, who just retired, is the one who likes to take her for strolls around the yard. He has done this a lot over the years after work and on weekends. So, maybe not upending her routine entirely, but now that he is home to see her do this howling thing, he has been taking her out for walks at that time. Not sure it has made a difference, but it is a distraction most certainly, and he likes doing it for her. Now that he can do it more often, maybe it will help over time!oh, drat, I forgot to mention, I was also thinking what if you upend her routine? Can you give her a buggy ride in a pet buggy, that sort of thing.