What is that sound?

Dealing with a yowling kitty

photo courtesy of Thoughts a Thinking

Twelve and a half years ago, we adopted this little girl.

A former feral, she had given birth to six kittens. Her foster mom had found homes for all the kittens, and then we stepped up to adopt the little momma. She was so tiny and petite. She would make a great pal for our other kitty, Sammy.

She has always been a vocal girl. When she first met Sammy, she wasn’t overly friendly. She was inquisitive about her, but she didn’t understand Sammy’s invites to play. Also, she did not like if Sammy invaded her “space”.

Even though they would never cuddle together, you would see them lying near each other. I truly believe they loved each other in their own way.

When we decided to winter down south in our motorhome, we wondered how they would do in a 29ft home. Amazing, they coexisted beautifully. Never a fight. They found their spots. They made it work.

Three years ago, the unexpected happened. Sammy had been having breathing issues, and after trying many things, the vet said we had run out of options. We hadn’t seen this coming. When the vet gave us the news, we asked to bring her home for one last day to spoil her. And spoil her we did. To see her and Luna hang out on the porch that last day was so special, but we wished we could prepare Luna for what was about to happen.

For the first few days, Luna looked for her, but she had been without Sammy for a couple of days before, when she had had to spend an overnight at the vet, so I think she still thought she’d be coming home.

It was soon after this that it began.

The yowling. Here and there. Sometimes, after we went to bed, sometimes when we would be gone for a period of time. We attributed it to grief.

While we knew they weren’t what you would call a “bonded pair”, I think Luna missed her more than we ever realized she would.

As the years have gone by, the yowling still continues.

I had asked our vet if she thought this could be the start of dementia? She hesitated on that one as a diagnosis, as she felt Luna was not old enough.

We’ve done blood work, and she is healthy. She’s your typical “senior” cat.

Playing has slowed down. She has been diagnosed with arthritis in her hind legs. We’ve bought a set of foam stairs so she doesn’t have to jump as much to get places.

The yowling is primarily at night. She rarely yowls when we are away anymore. That part has luckily slowed down to almost never. When the lights go out at night, and we head to bed, that is a different story.

Bedtime equals yowling time. Sometimes I’m not even in bed, and I hear her.

She is always in the same area. In the living room. Just sitting there. Yowling.

If I yell out to her when she is yowling, she will usually stop. Sometimes for a short time, and then she will start again.

Some nights, I’ll go out and pick her up and bring her to the bedroom. She may be happy with that for a while, then she will go off on her own. Sometimes to find a new place to sleep, sometimes to go eat.

Leaving the bedroom can also result in yowling. She will go off and eat, and then you will hear the yowling begin again. As soon as you yell out to her, she will stop. Sometimes that will be that, other nights she will begin the yowling again.

During the day, she is fine. Since Sammy’s passing, Luna has become more loving, and some days will follow me wherever I go. She likes her alone time, but when she is ready for human time, she will be either on a lap or sitting on the recliner next to both of us.

I have tried many things. I have tried Feliway, and it has no impact on her.

I’ve tried ignoring the yowls vs acknowledging them. Nothing changes.

I got desktop night lights to light up the area where she tends to sing her songs.

I’ve read so many articles on the topic, and I truly believe my baby has the start of dementia. While she doesn’t have all the “symptoms,” she has enough to make me feel this is the reason for the yowls.

When we went down south last year, I wondered how she would do in the motorhome. Surprisingly, for the first 4 months, she rarely yowled. During the last month, she started to be vocal, but not often, and not to the degree she does in the house.

She will be 13 years old this year, and for her first year, she was on her own. She didn’t have the care that kittens would normally have if born into a home. I have to wonder if this just sped up the process.

I plan to discuss with the vet again this year.

Yowl or no yowl, she is our baby. We may never understand what is going on in that little brain of hers. While we wish we could figure this out to make it better for her, we continue to love her. When she wants a lap, and we have nothing else that has to be done, she will get it. She gets all the love she wants, on her terms, as it’s been her whole time with her. She has truly shown us that a feral kitty can become a loving family member. You just have to be patient.

Her first year was her hardest, and we hope we are making the rest of her years her easiest.

Has anyone else out there had to deal with a yowling kitty?

***Thoughts a Thinking*** is a name I chose as I wanted to base my writing on thoughts I have. Retired and loving it. It’s time to do what I’ve always wanted, and that’s to write. I hope you all enjoy it. Feel free to check out my stories on Medium.

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