Yes, old cats often cry (yowl or meow excessively), but it's usually a sign of underlying issues like pain, cognitive decline (dementia), hearing/vision loss, anxiety, or medical problems (hyperthyroidism, kidney disease), not just sadness, and warrants a vet visit to find the cause and appropriate treatment.
Older cats may vocalize excessively for a number of reasons, including disorientation, loss of hearing and pain due to one or more medical conditions. (Please see our article, Meowing and Yowling, for more information about excessive vocalizing and how to resolve it.)
Signs of a cat nearing the end of life include significant appetite/weight loss, extreme lethargy, poor grooming, hiding, confusion, and changes in breathing (rapid, shallow, labored) or litter box habits (accidents, straining). Behaviorally, they might become unusually clingy or withdrawn, vocalize distress, or seem disoriented, indicating declining health and a need to consult a vet for comfort and care.
Signs Your Cat May Be in Pain
Symptoms of dementia in cats include:
Loud meowing or increased howling in elderly cats can sometimes point to cognitive issues. Although excessive vocalisation can have many different causes, including seeking attention or signalling a desire to go outside, meowing in cats is also associated with signs of feline dementia.
Signs your cat's quality of life might be declining or changing can include:
New Cat? Set Realistic Expectations! You can expect that it will take your cat some time to get used to the new routines and environment. The 'Rule of Three' means that you can gauge the time it might take for your cat to fully acclimate to his home in threes: three days, three weeks, and three months.
The cat may remain compressed with their legs tucked underneath themselves while lying down instead of stretching out. The cat may make facial expressions that are out of the ordinary, such as closing their eyes, squinting, or flattening their ears, and their cheeks, nose, and mouth may appear more tense than usual.
Simply put, animals, like humans, like to be alone when they aren't feeling well. Moreover, this action is a natural instinct. Animals, including domesticated dogs and cats, are hardwired to hide when they are feeling sick and/or weak because they understand that weak animals are easier targets for predators.
Dying cats might be more prone to hiding for long periods of time, not wanting to come out for meals or things they typically enjoy. Confusion. Senior cats and cats nearing the end of life might develop cognitive dysfunction much like human dementia. They may forget where they are and feel lost in their own home.
Signs That a Cat is in Pain
Frequent or ongoing meowing or howling. Litter box accidents, urinating outside of their litterbox. Tail flicking. Won't eat or reduced appetite.
Just before your cat gives birth, she may show some of the following signs:
Confusion and other age-related issues
Older cats can be particularly prone to yowling. Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), also known as feline dementia, is on the rise as more cats are living longer. The resulting disorientation, anxiety and confusion can set them off.
Cats can suffer from sundowning, a period of confusion that begins in late afternoon and lasts into the night, just like humans and dogs. In fCDS, older cats may show spatial disorientation, stop playing, and sleep more than the usual cat-napping routine.
Vocalizations. Occasionally, cats that are dying may become suddenly, loudly, and unexpectedly vocal. These sounds might include yowling, meowing, or whining and might be a sign of pain or distress.
Although eating habits may change, it is incredibly important to remember that cats in pain will still eat and may in fact eat perfectly normally – just because their hips or teeth hurt doesn't mean they aren't hungry! They know that if they don't eat they will die so, like everything else, they just get on with it.
Cats say "I love you" through actions that show trust and affection, like slow blinking (a "cat kiss"), head-butting (bunting) to mark you with their scent, kneading ("making biscuits"), showing their vulnerable belly, and bringing you "gifts" like toys or prey, all signaling they feel safe and consider you family. They also show love by purring, rubbing against you, following you, and holding their tail up high with a slight curl.
The top "silent killers" in cats are Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), often progressing until 75% kidney failure, and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart muscle disease, both often showing few symptoms until advanced stages, along with Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) and Hepatic Lipidosis (Fatty Liver), leading to sudden illness or organ failure if undetected. Early detection through regular vet check-ups, blood tests, and monitoring for subtle changes like increased thirst/urination, weight loss, or hiding is crucial for managing these common, often hidden, feline diseases, says this article.
The most difficult age for a cat can vary depending on the individual. But generally, adolescence (around four months to two years) is often considered the most challenging phase. During this period, cats undergo significant physical and behavioural changes.
In general, cats will go through some stress, and what many anecdotal reports describe as a period of mourning when they are rehomed. They likely feel confused and scared by the sudden change in their living situation. However, if a cat lived in a neglectful environment, where they didn't have an owner who loved them.
Although a pet's enjoyment of life depends on a variety of factors, physical symptoms — such as unrelenting pain or extreme difficulty breathing — should weigh heavily in the euthanasia decision. These factors constitute very poor quality of life, regardless of other factors.
Veterinarians frequently remind families that euthanasia does not end a life too early—it ends suffering. The disease, age-related decline, or mental anguish was already taking your pet's life away piece by piece. Euthanasia is the gift of peace when medicine, time, or care can no longer restore joy or comfort.
Obvious behaviors that indicate a cat may be in pain include: