16 yr old calico cat keeps waking us up

[Medusa]

Yes, dry food can make a cat fat. However, she may be crying about something totally different other than hunger. Please get her to a vet for some blood work and a good checkup. And keep us posted. Calicos are my absolute favorite!

[kuhio98]

When Kuhio became a senior kitty, she would sometimes sit in the hall in the middle of the night and cry for no reason. I think she was getting senile. It's like she was lost or lonely.

I would pick her up and bring her to bed and she would usually settle down.

[furry_friend]

but she really doesn't tolerate closeness she is very aloof

[Weebie's Mom]

I would agree with having her tested for hyperthyroidism just to rule that in or out. This is a very likely condition based on what you describe and easily treated.

The vet should also rule out hearing because my old cat Weebie at 18 years old apparently went deaf and tended to vocalize more, including at night. I was awakened one night by her yowling and found her on the sofa meowing vigorously at the cushion next to her as if she was hallucinating and "talking" to someone by her side. Of course when I appeared in the doorway, she looked up at me as if to say "What's your problem?"

Also, by feeding her when she cries, you are reinforcing this behavior (she's learned that it works!) so you might reconsider responding to this. If it helps to put her in a room where you can't hear her as well and she has nothing she can get into, like plants and so forth, that might be the solution for you to get some shut-eye.

Cats do best with well defined meal times and indoor cats don't need that much, especially at her age.

Good luck!

Weebie's Mom
COTD December 31, 2010

[furry_friend]

I just want to reply that our cat has never been abandoned or known what it is like to be mistreated in any way and yet she does not accept affection easily in any way or form