Owners of senior cats often report that their senior cat cries in the middle of the night. In most cases, the pet owner can see no reason for the cat's behavior. In some cases, senior cat owners become quite distressed about this type of abnormal cat behavior.
What Makes a Senior Cat Cry at Night?
There are many different reasons why a senior cat might vocalize at night. Some of the more common reasons are:
- failing eyesight
- diminished hearing
- pain
- metabolic disorders
- cognitive dysfunction
Failing Eyesight and Diminished Hearing in Senior Cats
In senior cats, as in older people, it is not unusual to see the eyes and/or the ears starting to fail. In the case of the senior cat who is crying, vocalization may be due to the fact that the cat cannot locate his owners or due to insecurity about suddenly finding himself alone.
If diminished hearing is responsible for the vocalization of the senior cat, speaking in a loud voice may be all that is necessary to reassure the cat and help him find his way back to his owner.
If lack of adequate vision is responsible for the abnormal vocalization on the part of the senior cat, leaving a night light burning might help.
Pain in Senior Cats
Many times, senior cats suffer from pain due to conditions such as:
- arthritis or other degenerative joint disease
- bad teeth or other oral health problems
- chronic or recurrent urinary tract disease
If pain is the cause for the cat's abnormal vocalization behavior, numerous treatments may be available to alleviate the cat's pain. However, the cause of the pain must first be determined and, if possible, the underlying cause removed.
Treatments commonly used to treat pain from various sources in the older cat include:
- NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) medications such as Metacam
- non-NSAID pain relievers such as buprenorphine or tramadol
- acupuncture and other non-traditional treatment modalities
- physical rehabilitation and/or physical therapy
Pain can be difficult to assess accurately and if there is doubt as to whether a senior cat is in pain, it may be worthwhile to try a pain relief option and see if the senior cat responds.
Metabolic Diseases Affecting Senior Cats
There are a number of metabolic diseases which can affect a senior cat and result in hyperactivity or restlessness. These diseases in turn may cause the senior cat to vocalize at unusual times due to their effect on the senior cat's personality.
Examples of diseases falling within this category include:
- feline hyperthyroidism
- diabetes mellitus
- hypertension (high blood pressure)
In these cases of abnormal vocalization, it will be necessary to treat the underlying disease process. Usually, working with a veterinarian will be necessary to do this.
Cognitive Dyfunction in the Senior Cat
Cognitive dysfunction in senior cats is a disorder of the brain which causes symptoms such as:
- an abnormal sleep/wake pattern,
- disorientation,
- lack of normal responses to family members,
- loss of litter box training,
- and other vague behavioral symptoms.
Unfortunately, this disease is seen all too frequently in older cats and treatment is often not terribly successful.
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