Why is Your Elderly Cat Yowling Excessively?

Have you noticed your elderly cat yowling and howling suddenly, and you’re not sure why?

When a cat suddenly starts yowling, it can be off-putting, to say the least. The worst part is that cats make this kind of noise when their people are asleep at night. 

The good news is that treatments are known to reduce or eliminate yowling.

Your old cat meowing a lot might be cause for concern, but it might not be for the reasons you think it should. Our experts unpack why senior cats may yowl vs. meow. We answer why elderly cats’ meowing and yowling patterns and behaviors change with age and also address why cats yowl at night. Lastly, we address how to approach stopping or reducing senior cat yowling. 

Why Do Senior Cats Yowl?

If you think your cat is making strange noises compared to the meowing you’re used to hearing from them, that’s yowling. But why do elderly cats yowl? 

Cats use meowing for cat-to-human communication and rarely with other cats beyond when they are kittens. Meowing is also used for kitten-mother communication. Meows, compared to yowling, are less threatening-sounding, higher-pitched and softer-sounding. They sound more closely like the sound of an infant crying, and people are likely to respond positively to this adorable sound. 

Yowling, on the other hand, sounds more jarring and happens when cats need to communicate to: 

1. Mark their territory 
2. When they’re in heat and during the mating process (less likely if neutered) 

The above two causes apply to adult as well as senior cats. There’s also the cause that the older they get, the more likely the reason may be Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS). CDS is a form of cat dementia, and one of its symptoms is yowling at night.

Another possible cause specific to senior cats is hearing loss. If your cat experiences deafness, they might not be able to hear themselves meow like they used to, resulting in louder vocalizations. Look out for signs of hearing loss, such as if your cat doesn’t respond to noises like they used to. 

Illnesses, such as hypertension and central nervous system disorders, can also cause yowling. Pain from any illness can also cause your cat to uncharacteristically yowl. The pain may also come from arthritis, dental disease and more. 

If you have questions about odd cat behavior, like Why does my elderly cat yowl after eating?, as with the other issues mentioned above, this may be due to pain from an illness that a veterinarian will need to diagnose and treat as soon as possible.

Why Elderly Cats Yowl Constantly

Perhaps your elderly cat is not only yowling but yowling constantly. To better answer the question, Why is my elderly cat yowling all night long?, you’ll need to consider how aging can affect all functions of a cat’s body, and an old cat yowling constantly might be a symptom of a more significant concern.

Yowling constantly is often a sign of unusually dramatic territorial aggression, for which cognitive decline and neuter status can be factors. 

• Cognitive Decline: For an elderly cat, yowling is a common symptom of cat dementia, which can cause a senior cat to yowl constantly. 
• Neuter Status: If not neutered, a cat can still be in heat when senior. Yowling may grow more excessive than it would for a younger cat in heat when paired with cognitive decline. That may be why you hear your elderly cat yowling all the time.

Why Older Cats Yowl at Night

You might also wonder, Why does my elderly cat yowl at night?

While cats are naturally more active at night, an older cat crying at night can be cause for concern. When a cat’s yowling happens at night while you’re trying to sleep, you’ll need to consult with a veterinarian to find the cause and some peace, as it can get worse as your cat gets older. Here are a few potential causes for an older cat yowling at night: 

• Your cat may be under-stimulated and expending energy. Play before bedtime can help this. 
• Excessive yowling at night can be a sign of various illnesses such as: 
  • Overactive thyroid 
  • Kidney disease 
• Again, a symptom of cat dementia is yowling at night, as well as an elderly cat yowling during the day. 
• A cat in heat yowls in the later hours of the night.

Because there are various potential causes for an elderly cat yowling at night, it’s essential to schedule a visit to the veterinarian as soon as this starts happening to determine the best course of treatment for this weird behavior.

How to Stop Elderly Cat From Yowling

Only a veterinarian visit can best tackle the question, Why does my elderly cat yowl? It cannot be said enough, but it’s imperative to visit your veterinarian to rule out any illness if your cat suddenly starts yowling, mainly because cats can be very secretive about pain until it becomes severe. Schedule a visit as soon as the old cat yowling happens alongside the following, as it might signal a severe illness: 

• Appetite changes
• Hiding
• Irritability
• Lethargy
• Litter box avoidance
• Poor grooming

While you should call your vet as soon as you notice your elderly cat yowling, one thing not to do is punish your cat for vocalizing. Remember that cats vocalize for a reason, so be kind to them as you figure out what they are trying to say to you.

For more expert tips on caring for your senior cat, explore our other senior cat behavior articles.