New pattern of clinginess

I had 2 cats, one adopted age 3-4 and the other raised from kitten. In November, so five months ago, the older cat died age 16. It was fairly quick and no reason to suspect anything but old age as the cause. Naturally I was upset by it, and the younger cat, who is now 13-14 years old has acted different since then. She looked freaked out on the night the older cat died, watching as I was trying to comfort the other cat. and from then onwards she has been overly vocal and seems to hate it whenever she realises that I'm not in the same room as her. She's deaf, an odd-eyed white cat. She's always had a  lot of personality- she'd come to me if I rapped on the floor and she felt the vibrations, when we lived in a house with wood floors. She decided when she was a kitten that she wanted to play fetch and brought me things to throw for her to bring back. She never really played with the other cat and they never curled up together or groomed each other- they occasionally had a bit of a scuffle that involved growling and hissing at each other but no serious fights.

It is as if in her mind, after seeing the other cat leave one night and never return, that she is worried to let me out of her sight in case I never come back? She cries sort of long loud wailing miaows. If I go for a walk she is still doing it when I get home, or if I go and try have a long soak in the tub (she isn't allowed in the main part of the house due to housemates cat allergy) she hangs around outside the bathroom doing it. She has long been in the habit of sleeping curled up in my arms, that is fine with me. ..but now whenever she is awake she wants to be on, or very near me at all times. Is she mourning the other cat, do you think?  Can she miss the other cat just being around so much if they never even were on great terms with each other? Would she like another companion or would that be another stress? Is she just getting old and demented? Not noticing any other changes in her behaviour or eating patterns- she has since been let out into the yard in the daytime most days after never being allowed out at previous houses due to the combination of her being vulnerable to sun damage and a sitting duck with the high visibility coat and lack of being able to hear any approach from behind (I'm in the yard with her, mostly she is in the shade and doesn't get out of the yard). But the clinginess and wailing started before that, right after the older cat died. I feel bad letting her cry sometimes, like if I'm trying to have a bath or whatever, but I don't think I should drop everything whenever she does it because wouldn't that reward the behaviour in her mind? Any suggestions?

Ah, poor kitty. I'll bet she does miss her companion kitty.

I have a 14 year old who went deaf--the constant wailing was maddening! I got him an herbal calming collar which has worked wonders--it greatly reduced his anxiety. Do you have a tv you can leave on during the times you're gone so she can see the moving pictures? (That was a suggestion from my vet for my deaf kitty.).

By the way, I also have an odd-eyed white cat, about 11 years old--she's not deaf, though.

Hi Betsy I hadn't thought of that, leaving the tv on. I'll try it later on today.  We leave the radio on inside for the cockatiel during the day to give him some stimulation, so maybe it will work for kitty with the pictures moving.

LOL I have been awake less than 20 minutes and she is already purring on my lap. It is a slightly chilly morning, and she has been more lap obsessed in the last week- maybe she is a bit cold too. Before this week she would be curled up at my feet on a mat most of the time when I'm at the computer. Or winding round my legs asking for head scratches. I wonder if she would like a little cat jacket. She hasn't worn one before- the winters here in Australia are very mild, it never snows. But maybe she is feeling it more, like old people say they get aches and stuff in the cold. I'll look into the herbal collar as well, I hadn't thought of that either.

Cats definitely will grieve when they lose a companion, even if they didn't get along, it was a companion, like a brother you don't quite like. If you can afford it, get her a pet warming pad, my older cat loves his so much he doesn't like to leave it. They sell these on Amazon. Also there is a pet calming treat you can give to take the edge off, also on Amazon. Five months is a while for her to be depressed, but my Chrissy has been gone a year now and my Burt still jumps up on the fridge and calls for her, she used to sleep up there. It's heartbreaking. For now, all you can do is comfort each other and give her extra love and attention, she is confused and scared right now. Thank you for being so concerned!

Thanks Di and Bob, I'll look those up on Amazon as well. I'd like to try what I can to address it before seriously considering adopting a friend for her as a possible solution..  I think she does miss the dynamic of another cat being round. But also as she is getting on in years I worry that she might be overwhelmed by a new addition to the place or jealous of having to share attention.