Cats voice (?) has changed

[autumnevenings25]

Possibly a strange one but I’m trying to get kids to bed and I can hear the cat at the bedroom door as he doesn’t like being left out. I noticed it a few days ago but his voice (?) / meow sounds odd/different. Croaky/weaker ….anyone come across this before? It’s been around a week I’d say. He’s 13 and never sounded like this before

I have form for taking this particular cat to the vets and them laughing at me (who knew a neutered cat getting horny with you wasn’t a sign there was an issue with them …but did mean i was pregnant) so I’d rather Canvass opinion here before I book another appointment - can you be accused of munchausan syndrome if it involves a cat?

My 13 year old cat’s miaow changed (more raspy?) and it was one of the symptoms of overactive thyroid. He was also ravenous but getting skinnier. He has been on thyroid meds for a year, is his gorgeous chunky self again and his miaow is back to normal! Might be worth a check with the vet if it looks as if he has any thyroid like symptoms as i am told it is common in this age of cat.

When did you have the baby? Cats can change their meow to mimic the baby’s cry because it’s an effective way of getting attention.

A few years ago my boys voice went whiny and he always sounded upset. I took him to the vet who told me he was "just dramatic". And he still is to this day.

I hope this doesn't sound too bonkers and obviously I could be way off the mark, but cats can get dementia and I have experience of a cat with dementia (I house and cat sit) and the poor mite had a very plaintive wail that was expressing her confusion and need for attention.
Only one idea, obviously.
I hope he's OK.

Thanks so much for that! Maybe I wont sound so crazy then if I do take him in! He’s not losing weight that I can tell and is eating just as much as usual

i can usually tell when he isn’t feeling himself as he doesn’t act as my toilet close protection officer and sleeps in a particular corner but he’s been his usual (nutcase) self

I swear the cats make me worry more than the kids 😅

The babies (twins) are 4 so if he was going to mimic anything it would be arguing and k pop demon hunter 😁

I was going to suggest just this . Thyroid issues are common in older cats and cause a voice change. I had two cats with this, that raspy meow is very familiar to me.

@TemporarilyCantDoMyself
ill keep an eye out for any odd changes in behaviour Thankyou! He’s always been a character - more like a dog than a cat. He is terrible for following my eldest to school and I’d get a call to come and retrieve him and he hates visitors to the house - more so now I’m divorced and especially if they are men - poor chap pricing up for a new window last week had him jump off the porch roof onto his head in a stealth move

@Christwosheds

thankyou! I’ll see about a check up then with the vet - he’s due his annual vaccination in the next couple of weeks and at least I won’t sound totally crazy if I ask them about the croaky meow!

Awww, he sounds quite the dude! Can we have a cat tax please? 😍

@TemporarilyCantDoMyself
ill go and find the little so and so and take one - this is usually his playtime with the local fox - which has been known to sit at the back door waiting for him - freaked the new neighbours out when they saw them playing chase once 😻

My cat's meow changed and it turned out to be a benign growth in the throat. Thank goodness for pet insurance, was very expensive to get it removed. Meow didn't return properly though.