cat_howl

Your Pet: Why Is My Cat Howling At Night Nathan is not getting any sleep. It is not because he's not tired, he is, and it's not because he is stressed by the weight of the world on his shoulders. Nathan can't sleep because Pumpkin, his thirteen year old cat, is keeping him up at night howling around the house. Pumpkin appears to be especially interested in howling in Nathan's bedroom and he is losing his patience along with his sleep. Excess vocalizing in cats, especially at odd times such as is being demonstrated by Pumpkin, can be associated with certain disease processes. This is especially true in older cats and several processes come to mind when considering Pumpkin's case. Actually, two of these conditions can be linked together and occur one as a result of the other. The two diseases to which I refer are hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hyperthyroidism. We have discussed both of these diseases in cats in the past, but for Pumpkin and Nathan, some of the information bears repeating. Elevated blood pressure of a long standing nature can cause cats to wander through the house vocalizing. We think this is because chronic high blood pressure is uncomfortable. This discomfort leads to difficulty sleeping and excess vocalization can be the result. High blood pressure in cats can be a primary disease caused by a heart problem termed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). With this disease, the heart muscle thickens effectively decreasing the size of the chambers in the heart causing the heart to beat more often to provide the same amount of blood output over time. The heart, like any muscle in the body when worked hard, will increase in size leading to HCM. This disease is progressive and fatal if left untreated. Kidney disease can cause high blood pressure and conceivably excess vocalization, however these cats usually have other symptoms that show up first. Those might include increased water intake, increased urination, and decreased appetite. Pumpkin was not reported by Nathan to have any of these symptoms. Another possibility causing Pumpkin's howling at night resulting in Nathan's lack of sleep is hyperthyroidism. This disease is caused by tumor development in one or both of the thyroid glands. These are benign tumors, but they are functional and produce excess thyroid hormone. Over time, this excess production wreaks havoc on the cat by raising the metabolic rate. This causes the body to in essence, burn up. These cats are often ravenous and even though they eat excessively, they lose weight. Progression of hyperthyroidism can lead to deterioration of the liver. The heart becomes hypertrophic because the raised metabolic rate causes the heart to over work which increases the blood pressure just as in primary HCM. Also, like with primary HCM, hyperthyroidism, left untreated, is fatal. It is time for Pumpkin's trip to the veterinarian. With a thorough examination, blood pressure measurement, blood analysis and possibly an echocargiogram to access the heart, all of my proposed causes for Pumpkin's vocalization through the night can likely be ruled in or out. Hyperthyroidism is curable and something to root for as a result. Primary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is treatable, but not considered curable. I did mention kidney disease as a possible cause though less likely, but should say that it is not likely a curable condition if indeed Pumpkin is afflicted. It too is treatable in some cases though not usually curable. There are other possibilities causing Pumpkin's howling and it may even be behavioral, but I can assure you it is best to find out there is no physical disease before assuming a behavioral cause.