Probably a stupid question about cat sounds

[Beth922]

I have a very talkative cat. Particularly if it's a meal time, he follows me around yelling at me. I actually know he's unwell if he stops doing that. However, recently I read a couple things on Pinterest that were basically about how to tell if your cat was sick or hurt. Now I'm starting to wonder how you tell if sounds made by a normally talkative cat are concerning. He's 13, and he hasn't been eating as much, but I bought a new food yesterday and that he will eat. The stuff I stupidly keep reading makes me worried. For example, a couple times he was just yelling loudly in my bedroom, so I went to check on him. He was sitting or laying partially behind the bedroom door. I saw nothing unusual, and he didn't seem uncomfortable. I just don't know why he was laying behind the door, and if he was just trying to get my attention. Other times there will be a whole lot of noise in the bedroom (probably him), and I'll come in and see him and my other cat sitting facing each other. I'm assuming I just missed some disagreement (they do fight sometimes). None of the stuff I have read about cat sounds seems to describe a cat that yells for no apparent reason because it's not a usual meow but also not a yowl in pain. I guess my question is does anyone's cat just scream in other rooms for no obvious reason? How do I tell the difference between his usual yelling and a cat that's sick? Also, I will just try to stop reading things on Pinterest on how to tell if your cat is sick or dying.

 

[Kris107]

Cats usually hide illness/pain when they can. I think that whenever a cat has a change in behavior and especially when not eating, he should go to the vet. At 13, he is senior and needs senior check-ups. The vocalization may or may not have anything to do with his health per say. I have had some cats who will talk to themselves. I know, a lot of what you read says they talk to us humans, but I've also had them talk to themselves. Also, your cat could've trained you to give him attention when he makes a certain sound. So he could just be playing with that. But to ease your mind, it'd be good for him to see a vet.

 

[Beth922]

Cats usually hide illness/pain when they can. I think that whenever a cat has a change in behavior and especially when not eating, he should go to the vet. At 13, he is senior and needs senior check-ups. The vocalization may or may not have anything to do with his health per say. I have had some cats who will talk to themselves. I know, a lot of what you read says they talk to us humans, but I've also had them talk to themselves. Also, your cat could've trained you to give him attention when he makes a certain sound. So he could just be playing with that. But to ease your mind, it'd be good for him to see a vet.

I probably will take him to the vet, but he was at the vet about a month ago because he was being picky about food. The vet said he was healthy. I should say that he hasn't lost his appetite completely and will come running if he hears the treat bag. I think he'd live of Temptations if I let him. I'm going to see what happens with the new food for a little while before I take him because I really want to figure out if he's just being picky. He definitely knows that I'll come if he yells, and a lot of the time he's just waiting for me when I show up. It's really my fault because I've always talked back when my cats meow at me.

 

[Hellenww]

Around the same age our Yoshi started getting in the tub when the curtain closed and yell loud. I figured he just liked the way the sound bounced around. He was losing his hearing but since your boy still comes running when he hears the treat bag his hearing is probably ok.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. Given your cat's age, I presume you've had him for a long time - on that note, you sound like you know his traits and quirks and are overthinking things at this point. I don't think it appears, from what you have said, that his vocalization has really changed at all. What's changed is you reading stuff on the internet that is making you second guess what you've never second guessed before about him.

Cats, especially older ones, can get picky about their food, but it doesn't always have to mean a health issue. Try the new food and see if it helps. It may be that you will have to try some new foods from time to time to help with his pickiness.

I agree about routine senior vet checkups, but it seems you just had one. As long as he doing well otherwise, I wouldn't worry about the pickiness until you would see other signs to suggest he is unwell or his health is deteriorating.

 

[Alldara]

A cats vocalness changing can be a sign of hyperthyroidism and that can be detected with a test.

Older cats should get bloodwork done every 6 to 8 months or as directed by your vet.

How you tell if a talkative cat is concerning: it sounds different from a normal meow (for example for MY one cat if he has a long "oul" or "owl" sound. His sounds are normally a sharp staccato 'ow'! And the "owl" sound is deeper than his tempertantrum howl.). For Magnus the change in sound has been followed by vomiting or a stranger cat being outside. Both "bad things" to him.

If it increases in frequency or decreases in frequency. Talkative cat becomes quiet or stops being quiet during times of day they are regularly quiet.
Magnus became insufferable with talkativeness and unable to settle when he had worms. When he was sick he became fatigued and not eating well for a few days that was unrelated to weather. (He is solar powered and always a bit lethargic on rainy or cloudy days.)

 

[Draco]

Sometimes cats will scream or yowl loudly when they start to lose their hearing. Your cat is an older cat, it may, or may not be a possibility. Your vet can determine that too