Intermittent Howling - 'Just' old age?

[FeebysOwner]

I don't end up posting as often as I sometimes feel like doing, because half the time I feel like Feeby is so weird, old, and out of the normal, that there really is never any kind of explanation/resolution. Even her vets, including specialists, have called her an enigma. It is also frustrating to have to repeat over and over again Feeby's history so that there is groundwork laid for what is currently going on. Most of the time (this one no different), it ends up being 'War and Peace' in terms of length.

So, here we are again. Feeby (18+ yo) with hyperthyroidism, CKD, indolent lymphoma, high blood pressure, and arthritis. Her conditions, excluding the lymphoma, are being treated/managed in one way or another. And yet another preface: her lymphoma was found by accident, and any of the symptoms she has/had all appear to be unrelated - and she had no new symptoms since diagnosis (6/2022). So, I am not attributing her howling to the lymphoma. She is likely hard of hearing, and probably has been for some time now. If her sight is diminished, no one knows, but her vet suspects some, just by virtue of age. Her 'activities' are limited to eating, drinking, litter box, and hanging out on the bed, couch, or patio perch. She was never a cat to play, so that has remained unchanged for most of her life.

Now, on to the issue at hand. Feeby has been intermittently howling for at least a few months. She rarely howls after 7PM - even if she is awake, and generally doesn't start again until after 9AM. It is mostly during the day when she is awake from one of her many naps and is wandering about the house. It isn't tied to any particular activities, like getting in and out of the litter box, or jumping onto couches/bed/etc. It is mostly when she is 'alone' - but not always, as she can walk to a room I am in and start howling. Talking to, petting, or picking her up may or may not resolve that current howling session.

Can this just be a sign of part of her aging process?

 

[Susanna72]

I don't end up posting as often as I sometimes feel like doing, because half the time I feel like Feeby is so weird, old, and out of the normal, that there really is never any kind of explanation/resolution. Even her vets, including specialists, have called her an enigma. It is also frustrating to have to repeat over and over again Feeby's history so that there is groundwork laid for what is currently going on. Most of the time (this one no different), it ends up being 'War and Peace' in terms of length.

So, here we are again. Feeby (18+ yo) with hyperthyroidism, CKD, indolent lymphoma, high blood pressure, and arthritis. Her conditions, excluding the lymphoma, are being treated/managed in one way or another. And yet another preface: her lymphoma was found by accident, and any of the symptoms she has/had all appear to be unrelated - and she had no new symptoms since diagnosis (6/2022). So, I am not attributing her howling to the lymphoma. She is likely hard of hearing, and probably has been for some time now. If her sight is diminished, no one knows, but her vet suspects some, just by virtue of age. Her 'activities' are limited to eating, drinking, litter box, and hanging out on the bed, couch, or patio perch. She was never a cat to play, so that has remained unchanged for most of her life.

Now, on to the issue at hand. Feeby has been intermittently howling for at least a few months. She rarely howls after 7PM - even if she is awake, and generally doesn't start again until after 9AM. It is mostly during the day when she is awake from one of her many naps and is wandering about the house. It isn't tied to any particular activities, like getting in and out of the litter box, or jumping onto couches/bed/etc. It is mostly when she is 'alone' - but not always, as she can walk to a room I am in and start howling. Talking to, petting, or picking her up may or may not resolve that current howling session.

Can this just be a sign of part of her aging process?

My cat Mama Dear did this and the vet said it could be dementia. I adopted her after her owner died and she was already 17, so I thought maybe she was calling for her owner? That was the only sign of dementia she had, so I was skeptical. I would get up, pick her up and take her back to bed and she's curl up and sleep. Then an hour later, she'd do it again. Editing to say it was not every night, but often enough.

 

[FeebysOwner]

My cat Mama Dear did this and the vet said it could be dementia. I adopted her after her owner died and she was already 17, so I thought maybe she was calling for her owner? That was the only sign of dementia she had, so I was skeptical. I would get up, pick her up and take her back to bed and she's curl up and sleep. Then an hour later, she'd do it again. Editing to say it was not every night, but often enough.

So sweet of you take in Mama Dear and care for her! Bless you! At least you have a plausible, although not confirmative, reason for why she might have been doing what she did.

 

[neely]

My cat Mama Dear did this and the vet said it could be dementia.

I tend to agree and think you're on to something with the howling being a sign of dementia due to old age.
Loss of hearing in addition to diminished vision may affect this too. Poor Feeby. I thought this article may have some helpful information whether or not it directly applies to her having possible dementia:
Dementia in Cats: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment | PetMD

Our dog had Sundowner's, (state of confusion in the late afternoon into the evening). He would pace constantly, ask to go in the yard to do his business, circle the patio but come right back in and did this over and over again. He had difficulty settling down, anxiety but never aggression. He also was hard of hearing and had cataracts which affected his vision.

 

[FeebysOwner]

neely - thanks. I guess if one of her health conditions doesn't get her first, the dementia will.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Is it a sign of confusion if I offer her treats (with her pill masker meds) on a plate and she won't eat them, but if I put her in one of her hang out spots and feed them to her one-by-one, she will eat them?

 

[iPappy]

to you both.
I've heard it said that a symptom of hyperthyroidism can be vocalizing, have they checked her levels recently to see if her medications need adjusted?

Is it a sign of confusion if I offer her treats (with her pill masker meds) on a plate and she won't eat them, but if I put her in one of her hang out spots and feed them to her one-by-one, she will eat them?

Is she a picky eater over all? A few of my older cats have gone through phases where they won't touch food off of a plate or out of a bowl, but put on the ground they gobble it. We even board a few dogs like that, for some reason a bowl or plate turns them off but off of the floor or a flat place mat and they gobble it up.

 

[FeebysOwner]

to you both. I've heard it said that a symptom of hyperthyroidism can be vocalizing, have they checked her levels recently to see if her medications need adjusted? Is she a picky eater over all? A few of my older cats have gone through phases where they won't touch food off of a plate or out of a bowl, but put on the ground they gobble it. We even board a few dogs like that, for some reason a bowl or plate turns them off but off of the floor or a flat place mat and they gobble it up.

Thanks. Her current T-4 is 1.9 as of January. So, no, not a H-T issue.

She is a very picky eater, and has been for some time now, but will eat her canned food from a dish, and even come out from her sleeping sessions at varying points of the day to do so. As long as I re-scoop it into a pile and add water (very long ongoing issue since she began eating wet food), she is good to go.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

I ws thinking it could by her thyroid as well. Has it been checked lately to see if she needs her meds adjusted?

And, no, I don't think her not eating her "loaded" treats off a plate is a sign of dementia. I think it's just her being her. Mine often won't eat treats unless I hand feed them.

 

[FeebysOwner]

I ws thinking it could by her thyroid as well. Has it been checked lately to see if she needs her meds adjusted? And, no, I don't think her not eating her "loaded" treats off a plate is a sign of dementia. I think it's just her being her. Mine often won't eat treats unless I hand feed them.

Thanks. As I said, her thyroid level is in check (1.9 as of January). Besides, she never even howled before she was diagnosed with H-T. I would not have even known except for her weight loss at that time.

She used to eat the 'treats' without being hand-fed. I've had her reject 'treats' in the past, but once she did, there was no getting her to eat them at all. I have had to change 'mediums' to get her to eat them again. This time, no 'medium' change is needed, just the way in which they are offered to her.

 

[neely]

Is it a sign of confusion if I offer her treats (with her pill masker meds) on a plate and she won't eat them, but if I put her in one of her hang out spots and feed them to her one-by-one, she will eat them?

Probably not a sign of confusion but just being picky in her old age. She may or may not do this again but I would just give her what she likes and let her enjoy her golden years.