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Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: Moggies
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Birmingham UK
Posts: 101
31-05-2010, 02:33 PM   #1

Screaming Meow!


Jess is 13 years old and for the past 6 months has been doing this meow that is so loud it's ridiculous. It's not all the time just when she wants something i.e to be let in or out or if she is alone somewhere. She is perfectly normal otherwise, healthy and eating and drinking. Anyone any ideas why she is doing this? Is she going senile or deaf do you think?

Any thoughts would be welcome,

Thanks Ali



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dandysmom's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Leia: blue torbie
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Posts: 31,378
31-05-2010, 04:31 PM   #2

Re: Screaming Meow!


That's puzzling. She's a little young for feline senility to be setting in; they usually do that loud plaintive wailing at night or when they're disoriented, and she seems to be doing it when she is fully oriented and wants something. It may be that she's getting deaf and doesn't realize how loud she is; I don't know the symptoms of deafness in cats .....



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angieh's Avatar
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Cats owned: Magnificent moggies
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Location: Hampshire, UK
Posts: 21,718
31-05-2010, 04:51 PM   #3

Re: Screaming Meow!


Sorry Aliwin - I've no idea either, although deafness does sound like a reasonable explanation. Hope someone else will come up with a good idea. Have you tried to find out if she can hear OK?



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Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: Moggies
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Birmingham UK
Posts: 101
31-05-2010, 05:26 PM   #4

Re: Screaming Meow!


Thanks for your replies. I'm not sure how to test for deaf cats however, she is snoozing in her basket not far from me and I am calling and trying to attract her attention and she is not responding. I'm not sure of her exact age the rescue she came from told me she was about 18months when we got her but I guess they could have been wrong. I think another once over at the vets won't hurt just to put my mind at rest. What age do you reckon they go senile then?



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Phoenix's Avatar
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Cats owned: 2 cats black/white and one tabby
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Location: Somewhere or maybe nowhere
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31-05-2010, 07:17 PM   #5

Re: Screaming Meow!


Beauty was about 14 (we think) when she started to go senile. If that helps.



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angieh's Avatar
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Cats owned: Magnificent moggies
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31-05-2010, 08:16 PM   #6

Re: Screaming Meow!


It seems to vary - Merlin started night yowling at around 18, but it wasn't very loud and he soon settled. I think Smudge did it too to a lesser degree, but I did not know what it was in those days.

I think it's unfair to try and test Jess' hearing when she's dozing. It is so easy to test a cat's eyesight - but hearing - when she's awake, I would firstly try clicking your fingers on one side of her head but try to do it without her being able to see your hand. If she turns her head in that direction then presumably she's heard you. Try the other side.

For a better test, I'd take her to the vet.



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dandysmom's Avatar
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Cats owned: Leia: blue torbie
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Location: Washington, DC, USA
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31-05-2010, 08:32 PM   #7

Re: Screaming Meow!


Patches was about 18 - 19 when she began exhibiting signs of dementia.

Try standing behind her and making a sudden loud noise like banging a pan with a spoon ,,, you should be able to see if she reacts. And of course we all know cats have selective hearing... they hear what they want to hear!



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Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: Moggies
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Birmingham UK
Posts: 101
31-05-2010, 09:14 PM   #8

Re: Screaming Meow!


Quote:
Originally Posted by angieh
It seems to vary - Merlin started night yowling at around 18, but it wasn't very loud and he soon settled. I think Smudge did it too to a lesser degree, but I did not know what it was in those days.

I think it's unfair to try and test Jess' hearing when she's dozing. It is so easy to test a cat's eyesight - but hearing - when she's awake, I would firstly try clicking your fingers on one side of her head but try to do it without her being able to see your hand. If she turns her head in that direction then presumably she's heard you. Try the other side.

For a better test, I'd take her to the vet.
She wasn't asleep just kind of looking around and settling down but no not the most scientific of tests. I have tried clicking my fingers since and still no response, I will take her for a check up as it's important I know so I can avoid traffic for her. We only live in a quiet cul-de-sac but at least I can warn the neighbours who are all very cat friendly.



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Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: Moggies
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Birmingham UK
Posts: 101
31-05-2010, 09:17 PM   #9

Re: Screaming Meow!


Quote:
Originally Posted by dandysmom
Patches was about 18 - 19 when she began exhibiting signs of dementia.

Try standing behind her and making a sudden loud noise like banging a pan with a spoon ,,, you should be able to see if she reacts. And of course we all know cats have selective hearing... they hear what they want to hear!
Don't they just Jason my 16year old is really senile and I think he is losing his sight Looks like I need to visit the vet this week with them both. I hate that they are getting older



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dandysmom's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Leia: blue torbie
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31-05-2010, 09:41 PM   #10

Re: Screaming Meow!


My Misty went blind when she was about 18; she was so clever at coping it was a while before I realized she was blind. As long as you're not big on rearranging the furniture, they cope beautifully. She was an indoor cat, as was Patches.

Do let us know what the vet says. It isa so sad that their lives are so short.....



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