WWYD very vocal cat ruining our lives.

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This sounds so ridiculous but it’s been such a big issue for so long and I just don’t know what to do.

I rehomed my parent’s cat.
My dad absolutely adored the cat but after he died my mum had him, she died and I took him in as I knew how much they loved him and wanted him to have a good life.

This cat is the loudest cat you’ve ever heard, he’s also the hungriest.
Whenever he wants something he miaows incessantly at a loud volume that ends up escalating to howls. We feed him 4-6 100g cat food pouches a day and he stands by his bowl getting louder and louder till we feed him immediately.
He has started making a noise that’s like a loud high pitched howl mixed with a growling noise that I can’t explain but is really jarring and can’t be tuned out.
You can hear it even with earplugs.

The vet checked him multiple times saying he’s just a vocal cat but you really don’t understand his volume till you hear him.

He has started mioawing/howling through the night and my autistic DP just can’t cope. He works early shifts and is woken up often in the early hours of the morning from continuous loud howling. When the cat wants food one of us has to drop everything and feed him because DP gets so distressed by the noise. He can miaow/howl for hours with absolutely no reason anyone has been able to find.

The cat sometimes eats half his food but howls until we put more in his dish, we thought he was just eating the jelly but he eats it all when we have piled food in his dish. He won’t eat dry food no matter how long we don’t give him wet.

I started to put the cat outside when it starts at night but the neighbours started complaining and one said she gets less sleep from my cat then from her baby crying.

DP and the neighbours said they are constantly on edge waiting for it to start, I hardly sleep as the slightest noise means I need to wake up and feed him or put him outside before it ramps up.

I love cats, I’ve always had them and a lot of my friends do, I’ve never witnessed this from any other cat. People who visit always seem shocked and a friend who stayed with us as she was locked out ended up sleeping in her car as she couldn’t stand the noise. It’s often a case of being woken up by random high pitched sounds through the night for no reason.

My DP of 12 years said he’s moving out unless I rehome the cat, my neighbours have begged me to keep him quiet.

I really don’t know what to do and this has been going on for 5 years and is getting worse. The cat is 17 but in great health, he’s unlikely to be rehomed though. He was a rescue cat to start then moved when my parents died and they adored him so much I just feel so much guilt.
I fell out with my sister 3 years ago when I said I’d rehome the cat and she thought I was heartless, she has dogs the cat wouldn’t live with.

So far I’ve lost my sister, my relationship is suffering, my neighbours hate me, I get no sleep and I’m constantly on edge, I never wanted the cat on the furniture but gave in to shut him up so my sofa is trashed and it costs me a fortune in food.

I know it’s easy to just say rehome him but the guilt is so bad. I finally decided to post on here to get an unbiased opinion about what to do.

The cats miaow is literally like a high pitched siren so it jolts everyone from sleep through the night. I have tried so hard to train him by putting him out the second he miaows and other methods.

Would I be unreasonable to finally decide on taking him to a shelter and living a more peaceful life? People can suggest tips on how to stop this but I’ve tried so many suggestions from the vet and other professionals.
It’s 3.38 and I have insomnia so being woken up just after I’d just gotten to sleep makes me angry and tearful. My next door neighbour put her lights on as soon as I put the cat out so she was obviously disturbed too.

This is why it sounds like hyperbole when I say it’s ruining my life but it actually really is.

He has probably gone deaf, this is usually the reason elderly cats get very loud . He's also probably very stressed after losing your DP . Get your partner some silicone earplugs , he won't hear the cat through them . Leave dry good quality biscuits out, cats don't eat when they're not hungry unlike dogs .

Has the vet tested for overactive thyroid?

Can you tell my cat that he should only eat when he’s hungry 😂

he would eat til he popped!

Mine was put to sleep also but he had tumors but my god do miss he's loud noises he passed 23/12/24

I have stayed over at someone house with a Siamese that howled constantly and it is a pain in the arse, I feel your pain. I was wondering if the vet could give a medication to calm the cat down? I know some animals can be in an anti depressant but it could be an American thing. .

I do think the cat may have dementia at that age. He sounds distressed. I’ve always had cats but have only had one ‘loud’ one, but not as bad as yours, and he was young.
Id take all the non PTS options and if they don’t work then maybe it’s the kindest thing to let him go.

Go where ?

I would switch to a much better food like Katkin which is high protein and timer bowls that open throughout the night. However it does sound like dementia.

I think the cat sounds like it needs testing for hyperthyroidism. It’s very common in cats. Symptoms include yowling and constant hunger.

If you need help persuading your vet then I would keep a diary and take a video. I wouldn’t tell anyone else in the family either I would just say the vet found something.

I agree - I'd tell everyone else the vet suggested PTS so you went with their advice.

Sorry if this has already been asked, but has your vet done a blood and checked for an overactive thyroid? It costs approx £100 plus. Old cats, are susceptible to thyroid issues and an overactive one can cause them to be constantly hungry and active. If he’s eating a lot and not putting on weight, this might be the issue.

if he does have hyperthyroidism, it can be cured either by diet, medication, surgery or iodine radiation therapy. Good luck finding a solution.

I hope you reported your neighbour to the police and RSPCA for animal cruelty? If your evil neighbour had done that to my cat, I would dispatch them with their spade.

Absolutely. Our car drove us nuts. Once his meds were sorted he was as good as gold.

Cat!

Nobody needed to know it made you laugh.

If bloods have been done to rule out hyperthyroidism (which makes cats super hungry and a little manic) and the situation has become worse then like others I would say it has dementia.
Our elderly cat had it had she used to wail and not settle, especially at night when the house was quiet.
I would euthanise instead of rehoming at the age of 17, if it’s as bad as you say that is the kindest option because it’s unlikely anyone will cope with the cat and it risks being passed from pillar to post.

This!!!

I doubt he'll live much longer. What about getting a licking mat, with paste on it and toys that dispense food. That way he'll be busy and it will take ages for him to eat. Do you have a conservatory to lock him in at night, with these things and a litter tray?

I’m surprised Vet hasn’t looked at Thyroid problems noticeable for constant hunger, are very common in old cats
As Cat was originally a rescue ask at: Cats Protection League, your Vet, local Facebook Cats page etc, etc, if they know of a farm near you where your cat could be rehomed? Then maybe you can visit him once rehomed.

The vet said it's not dementia because he's always been loud, but it sounds like the behaviour is getting worse.

So yes, his yowl is loud, and always has been, but constant noise overnight is new? That sounds like he's confused or unhappy, which could be dementia.

You cant get rid of him how cruel did the vets do bloods he sounds diabetic being constantly hungry, also elderly cats can get dementia and start howling at night, my old elderly cat did it, i would also try chunkier cat food to fill him up and buy sandwich ham and chicken and give him tiny bits if he howls....dont you dare get rid of him he sounds worried and anxious bless him

I haven’t read the whole thread but has an automatic timed feeder been tried or suggested? You can get one with multiple openings and set them to any time.

www.petsathome.com/product/closer-pets-automatic-five-meal-pet-feeder/7154540P?productId=7154540&purchaseType=one-time&size=oneSize

I don't think pts is unreasonable in these circumstances, regardless of cause.

We have a duty of care for our pets, but this cat is making many people miserable and destroying your relationship. I don't think multiple humans should suffer for the sake of an elderly cat. And rehoming the cat would be cruel.

This was my cat, he was 17 and diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, he was thin even tho he ate and ate, and so shouty! We had him on the medication but he used to hide from me, didn’t want to snuggle thinking I was going to make him take tablets, so after 2 months and few other issues (needed a tooth out, weak bladder, unable to manage his grooming and we think a stroke), I took him of the medication and let him eat whatever he wanted for the weekend, then i took him in to be put to sleep in my arms. The vet said better a week early, than a day late.