By Courtney Prue | November 18, 2025

Why is my Senior Cat Always Yowling?

What’s the difference between a meow and yowl?

We’re all familiar with the sound of our cat meowing. A cat meows to communicate with us. It might be their way of saying hello, asking for play, letting us know they’re hungry, or that they want to come in or go outside. They might even be telling us they’re frustrated or bored. A meow tends to be shorter and of a higher pitch than a yowl.

Yowling, or even howling, sounds different. It is a prolonged meow – usually at a greater volume and can sometimes have a tone of distress to it. Yowling is often heard more in senior cats. 

Reasons Why Senior Cats Yowl

There are a variety of causes for yowling in senior cats, including some health conditions as well as a few non-health related behavioural changes. 

Health Conditions That Can Cause Senior Cats to Yowl

1. Pain

Cats who experience an injury or illness may vocally express their pain through yowling. In saying that, many cats are quiet and withdrawn after an injury, so the yowl is not always a signal of pain, unless other indicators are present. If you notice your cat yowls when they walk on a particular limb, or if they flinch or yowl when you pet them, an injury or illness such as arthritis might be likely. 

Arthritis is a common cause of pain in elderly cats, though most cats will hide their pain and often only display subtle signs. So if you’re concerned your senior cat might be injured, in pain or unwell, observe their behaviour. Are they avoiding touch or hiding in a way they don’t usually? Do they have a hunched posture or awkward movements? Or are they more reluctant to jump up onto the couch or bed? These behaviours may signal pain, injury or a health condition, so it’s important to take them to a vet as soon as you can for assessment and treatment.

Learn how to support your senior cat with arthritis here. 

2. Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a common medical issue in senior cats in Australia, affecting approximately 10% of cats over the age of 10. Hyperthyroidism occurs when a cat has an overactive thyroid gland that produces too much thyroid hormone. This condition is most commonly caused by a non-cancerous mass on the thyroid gland or an overgrowth of thyroid tissue but in rare cases (fewer than 2%) can be caused by a malignant tumour. The production of excessive thyroid hormone will speed up a cat’s metabolism and can affect many different body systems. 

A common behaviour that is seen in senior cats with hyperthyroidism is excessive yowling (or howling, or repeated meowing), especially at night, when your cat may feel especially confused or agitated. Sometimes this excessive yowling may also be your cat’s way of demanding more food and water, as they will often experience an increase in appetite and thirst. Other signs of hyperthyroidism include weight loss, increased urination, vomiting and/or diarrhoea, restlessness and a change in their coat condition. 

If you notice any of these signs or any changes in behaviour in your senior cat, then it is important you take your cat to see a veterinarian. Your veterinarian will likely perform a blood test to check for hyperthyroidism as well as other common health conditions that can cause similar signs and excessive yowling. A range of treatments are available to support your senior cat, including prescription diets, medications, surgery (in unique cases) and radioactive iodine therapy.

3. Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome

As a cat enters its senior years, its brain goes through a number of changes, and commonly, there’s a decline in awareness, learning and memory. This degenerative brain condition is known as Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS). (It may also be referred to as ‘feline dementia’, ‘feline cognitive dysfunction’ or ‘cat cognitive dysfunction’.)

Approximately 30-50% of cats over 11 years of age experience CDS, and the chances of a cat being impacted by CDS increases after 15 years of age. A range of behaviours are associated with CDS, though your senior cat may display only some or all of these behaviours.

CDS-associated behaviours include:

• Yowling (or increased vocalisation of any form)
• Disorientation: Your cat may become easily disoriented in familiar places. This is often heightened by the reduced vision and hearing loss that commonly occurs in elderly cats.
• Change in Sleep Patterns: CDS can disrupt a cat’s natural circadian rhythm resulting in disrupted sleep. You may notice your senior cat becomes more restless at night, and will often spend the night wandering and pacing. You may also hear your elderly cat yowling a lot throughout the night. Often this results in them sleeping for longer periods during the day which will then impact their ability to sleep again at night-time. 

• Changes to Routine: A cat’s daily routine may become less predictable. They may sleep at different times, not want to play as much, may neglect grooming, and may want to eat more or less than they previously did.
• Social Interactions Change: Cats may become more shy or irritable than they previously were when interacting with other pets or with humans. Alternatively, some senior cats will demand more attention than they previously did, and may even become more clingy. Additionally, they may not respond to being called, and may lose interest in toys and activities they were once interested in.
• Litter Box Issues: They may have issues using their litter box, or neglect to use it at all and go to the toilet in unusual places around the house.

How to deal with CDS

If you’re concerned that CDS may be the cause of your senior cat’s yowling, it is best to seek a veterinary diagnosis. A vet will ask you a number of questions about your cat’s behaviour, and use behavioural assessment tools like the VISHDAAL (Vocalisation, Interaction, Sleep, House-soiling, Disorientation, Activity, Anxiety, Learning) scoring to help identify patterns of cognitive decline. 

If these behaviours occur regularly and seem to be worsening, the vet is likely to consider CDS as a cause. Your veterinarian will conduct a physical and neurological examination and may also perform blood and urine tests to rule out other medical conditions that can commonly affect elderly cats. 

How is CDS treated?

CDS has no cure, however it can be managed in a variety of ways. Your vet may prescribe medications that can help to slow down the progression of neurological disease. Dietary supplements like omega-3s and antioxidants, as well as environmental enrichment, can also help to support your senior cat experiencing CDS.

4. Hearing Loss

Many senior cats will start to experience hearing loss as they age, and is particularly common in cats over the age of 11. Elderly cats who have experienced hearing loss may not be able to hear the volume of their own yowl. They also may not be able to hear your responses to their yowls, inspiring them to yowl louder or for longer. 

If you suspect your senior cat has lost their hearing, you can run a simple test at home. Stand behind them and call for them using either their name or a hissing sound. If they don’t respond, it suggests hearing loss. (Cats can sense vibrations, so don’t clap or bang objects to do this test, as you might not get accurate results.)

It is also important that you speak to your vet about your concerns. They will check your cat’s ear canal for any obstructions that may be cleared, such as fur or ear wax, or for an ear infection, which may be treated with medication. However, often hearing loss in elderly cats cannot be reversed. 

If your veterinarian decides that your senior cat’s excessive yowling is being caused by hearing loss, then there are a number of easy adjustments you can make with how you interact with your cat. For example, you can use visual signals rather than auditory ones to communicate with them e.g. always approach them from the front so they can see you. There are also adjustments you can make to their environment to help comfort your senior cat.

5. Sight Loss

Similar to hearing loss, many elderly cats may begin to lose their vision as they age. This could be due to normal age-related changes or due to some medical conditions.

Loss of vision in your senior cat could lead to excessive yowling, especially if the blindness is recent, or progressing rapidly. Without the vision they used to have, your cat may become anxious and frightened by their surroundings. They may bump into things more than usual, and falls are more likely to occur. Their yowl may indicate that they need support or may just signal that they’re frustrated or stressed by not being able to safely navigate their surroundings.

Other signs your senior cat may be experiencing vision loss are:

• They bump into furniture or other objects
• They’re hesitant to jump onto furniture like they used to, or to move in new places
• They appear to stare at nothing and/or to track invisible things
• Their pupils are dilated and don’t respond to light.

If you believe your senior cat is losing vision, please take them to a veterinarian. They can run a range of tests for medical conditions such as kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and high blood pressure, which can lead to feline blindness. They will also check your cat’s eyes for cataracts, and assess the cat’s vision to see if neurological issues are indicated (vision can be affected by neurological issues such as head trauma, brain tumours or lesions, stroke, and Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (feline dementia).

Click here for articles on adjusting your household for the comfort of your senior cat.

Non-Health Causes of Excessive Yowling in Senior Cats

The following is a list of other non-health related reasons why an elderly cat may yowl a lot.

They’re Seeking Attention

Cats may meow and yowl to seek attention. Yowls may indicate they want to play, they want food, want to go outside or come inside, or that they’re frustrated they can’t access something they want.

Evening Loneliness

Senior cats often feel lonely in the evenings, when you go to sleep and the home becomes quiet and dark. This might cause them to yowl.

Territorial behaviour

Cats may yowl if they see, hear or smell other cats.

Mating behaviour

Unneutered cats may continue to yowl into old age, though it might decrease gradually as they age.

Boredom or lack of stimulation

Cats need daily opportunities to climb, explore and hunt. If your cat is indoors and doesn’t have the opportunity to engage in these activities, they may become bored and yowl out of frustration. (Find out more about enrichment activities for pets here.)

Habit

Some cats simply develop a pattern of yowling that becomes self-reinforcing, even after the original cause (like hunger or stress) has passed. If this is happening with your cat, be careful not to respond immediately to their yowls, as this may reinforce the behaviour. Instead, reinforce quiet moments with gentle praise or treats.

Stress or change

Cats can often become stressed by change. Whether it’s a house move, guests or other people’s pets entering your space, new furniture, or even a different scent in the home, it can all incite a cat to yowl. If this is the cause, there are measures you can take to calm your senior cat, including providing them with hiding spots, maintaining routines and using familiar bedding.

Separation Anxiety

Your senior cat may yowl when you are away from them, such as when you leave them at home, or go away on holiday and leave them with a carer. This can signal separation anxiety, especially if this is the only circumstance in which they yowl. Try to leave some familiar items with them when you go, and ensure that the carer is available to provide ample attention.

Grief

A cat may yowl because it is grieving the loss of another pet it was bonded to. You might notice your cat looking for that pet, and yowling, as though to call out for them. Whilst there is no way you can bring back the other animal, you can provide your cat with lots of gentle and caring attention when they seem distressed.

Read more about supporting your cat through grief here.

When to Be Concerned About Senior Cat Yowling

While yowling is a normal form of communication for cats, persistent or unusually loud yowling in senior cats can sometimes signal a problem that needs attention. You should consider a veterinary check-up if your elderly cat’s yowling is:

• New or sudden – especially if your cat has never yowled like this before.
• Frequent or prolonged – louder or longer than normal meows. This is particularly relevant for aging cats crying at night, which can indicate discomfort, disorientation, or another underlying issue.
• Accompanied by other changes – such as weight loss, increased thirst or urination, disorientation, changes in sleep, grooming neglect, or unusual hiding or aggression.
• Linked to apparent pain or discomfort – flinching when touched, limping, or difficulty moving.

Even if the yowling is behavioural, a vet can help rule out underlying medical causes like hyperthyroidism, pain, sensory loss, or cognitive dysfunction, which are common in senior cats. Once medical causes are excluded, you can then explore non-health reasons such as loneliness, boredom, territorial behaviour, stress, or grief.

Paying attention to patterns, timing, and other behaviours can help you and your vet determine whether the yowling is harmless communication or a sign that your senior cat needs help. In the meantime, you can also learn how to comfort an old cat by providing gentle reassurance, safe spaces, and consistent routines.

Click here for useful resources relating to supporting senior cats.

Rest Your Paws: Supporting Senior Cats

Rest Your Paws provide a range of services for owners of senior cats, including: 

• Quality of Life Consultations (via Telehealth or in person)
• Palliative Care
• Peaceful Home Euthanasia
• Aftercare & Cremation.

We are not just here at the end. Rest Your Paws supports you through your senior cat’s entire journey, providing expert advice, emotional support, and guidance on ageing and end-of-life wellbeing. 

Need support, but not sure what to ask for? Just give us a call. We can talk about your unique situation and uncover how we can best support your cat.