Cat "howling" at night...........

[TR]

I have a 14 year old nuetered male cat. He has been doing this "thing" at night where he meows very loud, and then goes into a "howl". It isn't a cry, it is a howl. A very loud howl. He does this several times a night and is continually waking me up. He is an indoor cat, and there aren't any stray cats in the neighborhood. When I get up to stop him, he is usually just sitting on the couch or floor, like normal, and as soon as he hears me coming, he stops.
He did this before, and I simply closed the door to the room he was used to sleeping in and wouldn't allow him in it at night. That seemed to break him of it. But, the last couple of months, nothing has worked.
He is very healthy and doesn't exhibit any other "problems".

Any suggestions???

Thanks,
TR

[Mona]

Have you checked him for blindness or deafness. These two things will cause your cat to howl as he cannot see you or hear you.

I suggest you have him seen by a vet right away if you have not done so recently to check for these things, and have a blood panel drawn to make sure he is ok. After all he is a senior kitty now. Keep him close to you and give him a lot of love and attention too so he feels comforted.

Good luck!!

Mona, Honeybun and Chloe 8

[Traci]

Mona is right, you need to get your kitty fully examined (and full bloodwork please to rule out underlying health illness common in older kitties)

Blindness and deafness (or pain as a result of an illness) are usually the causes to vocalization, it is kitty's way of getting your attention to another matter....he is disoriented, does not feel safe or secure, cannot find his way about. When you are nearby, he stops because he then feels secure with your presense/touch/feel, etc.

Get him seen immediately and opt for full blood profiling, full opthalmic exam, oral exam and ear exam.