Hi Maggie,

There are a lot of possible things that could be going on here by your description to cause the meowing and yowling. Some of them are very treatable and some of them may be more concerning. Actually, the symptoms you mention seem pretty manageable.

Right off the bat, you need to do bloodwork and a urine. This would help to identify any medical conditions that could be causing these symptoms. A very common feline disorder is hyperthyroidism. This is a metabolic disorder that is easily treated and it can cause cats to wander at night, stay up, yowl a lot through the night and otherwise seem normal. This is a disease that is easy to treat and you would end up seeing rapid improvement.

A condition like joint pain, arthritis or any kind of discomfort can cause cats to vocalize and walk around. They tend to be restless because they can’t seem to get comfortable. The source of the pain would have to be determined by your veterinarian during a consultation and physical exam.

Sometimes when a cat meows constantly it’s because of a medical disease but also anxiety. So if there is not a medical cause for it after performing the bloodwork and urine, then you could start using supplements or medications to treat anxiety. As our pets get older the world could become a scarier place. Their eyesight, hearing, strength and confidence in their movements can become reduced making them more fearful.

This is why annual physical exams and diagnostics are so beneficial. You can find conditions that are developing far in advance of them creating quality-of-life issues of your pet. Keep in mind that as animals age, just like us, they require medical care. These are simply symptoms of things that could be going on that are very treatable. So a visit to your veterinarian and performing bloodwork and urine, to start with, is your best next step.

Thanks for your question and good luck.

Dr. Clayton Greenway