Loud yowling - make it stop!

cassiecalypso

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Nov 21, 2013
Messages
19
Purraise
10
My cat has recently decided that she likes to randomly yowl really loudly for no apparent reason.  She'll do this for 10 or 15 minutes at a time, easy.  It used to be she'd stop when someone played with her or whatever.  Now, she's doing it all the time, and nothing seems to make it stop.  We've tried everything - checking their food and water, playing with her, cuddling with her.  SHe usually doesn't want any of that.  We've started spraying her with water when she does it, because it's SO LOUD and half the time she does it while pawing at a closed door (which is also really loud.)  She's started doing this in the middle of the night, too, and it wakes everyone up.  Spraying her with water doesn't really help anymore.  I don't know what to do, since there doesn't seem to be any reason for it.  Please help!
 

mani

Moderator and fervent feline fan
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Messages
46,566
Purraise
23,328
Location
Australia
Please don't spray her with water.. it really doesn't help, even though so many people do try it.


It sounds very much to me like your cat is on heat... has she been spayed?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

cassiecalypso

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Nov 21, 2013
Messages
19
Purraise
10
Yes, she has been spayed.  She's 8 now and she's never done this before.  And this has been going on every night for the past week and every day for the last 2 or 3 weeks.  
 

mani

Moderator and fervent feline fan
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Messages
46,566
Purraise
23,328
Location
Australia
It's really unusual behaviour unless she's on heat.  Honestly, I'd get her to a vet asap.  It really needs to be checked out.
 

catpack

TCS Veteran
Kitten
Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Messages
3,271
Purraise
646
Location
Southeastern USA
While at the vet, ask about having her thyroid levels checked (T4.) Hyperthyroidism can cause a cat to become vocal, as can several other health issues.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

cassiecalypso

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Nov 21, 2013
Messages
19
Purraise
10
:-(   Alright, will do.  If it's thyroid issues, what are natural ways to heal it?  
 

catpack

TCS Veteran
Kitten
Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Messages
3,271
Purraise
646
Location
Southeastern USA
Not sure there are any proven ways of treating hyperthyroid naturally. Methimazole is often used (pill or transdermal medication;) but surgery and radioactive iodine treatment are also used.

But, let's not put the cart before the horse here.
 

detmut

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 5, 2010
Messages
1,233
Purraise
147
Location
New Orleans area (Metairie), Louisiana, United Sta
if it's hearing loss:

Some cats will experience hearing loss as they age. Slight hearing loss is hard to evaluate in cats. Often hearing loss is severe before the owner becomes aware of the problem. The first sign noticed may look like aggression. In reality, it may be the cat was unaware of a person's approach, became startled when touched, and instinctively reacted.

The hearing loss generally can not be reversed, but some changes in interaction with the cat can help reduce the effects. The use of lights to signal cats (turning a light on and off rapidly several times before entering a room) can be useful. Cats with hearing loss can still sense vibration, so clapping hands or stomping on the floor may alert the cat to your presence.
 

otto

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 7, 2008
Messages
9,837
Purraise
197
there is one diet for cats with hyperthyroidism. it completely eliminates iodine and must be fed exclusively:


http://www.hillspet.com/products/pd-feline-yd-can-canned.html

http://www.hillspet.com/products/pd-feline-yd-dry.html
There certainly isn't any thing natural about those "diets" and would urge everyone to avoid them.

High blood pressure and hyperthyroidism are both common causes of this type of yowling. Both can be controlled with medication.

Blood work and a blood pressure check are the first things to do. Good luck to your girl at the vet.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

cassiecalypso

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Nov 21, 2013
Messages
19
Purraise
10
I actually am thinking it's more likely hearing or ear related.  I just looked up the symptoms of both hyper- and hypothyroidism, and she doesn't have any of the other syptoms of either one.  But your comment on the hearing loss about cats being more easily startled and reacting - she does do that a bit.  If you touch her when she's looking the other way or asleep or anything, she startles and makes this weird cackle sound, which she didn't use to do.  I didn't realize it was recent until I read your post.  

She's also off and on been scratching at her ears a lot, where she'll do it all the time for a day or so, and then she stops and seems to be fine.  I wonder if maybe she's got a lot of crap in her ears or something?  Would that cause a similar effect?
 

otto

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 7, 2008
Messages
9,837
Purraise
197
Please do take her to the vet today. It will end the guess work. :) Ear problems get worse the longer they are left untreated, and can turn chronic if left for too long. But blood work should be done also.

Remember that cats hide illness. You can't go by whether a cat has obvious symptoms of any disease including hyperthyroid. By the time the obvious symptoms start showing the cat has usually been ill for a long time.

Please, get her to the vet.
 
Top