Why is my cat making this noise?

mummydarling

Strange question, but wandering if any fellow cat owners have any ideas why my cat makes a really strange meow when she goes upstairs?

We moved into our house 4 months ago and since then, when she goes upstairs (en route to my bed) she stands on the landing and meows at nothing, it's a similar low meow to the one she does in the car on the way to the vets.

Is she afraid of something or is this considered 'normal?'

She is nearly 19 years old and in general good health.

Thank you!

gettingready

mummydarling

Aha the first one...I knew there would be!

Do you think I should call the priest?

gettingready

Exorcist?

gettingready

My previous GS used to do that - I am laughing now as it is funny cause I am not involved this time (;))but he used to scare the hell out of me.

He would sit in the room dorway, facing/staring at one spot in the hallway, hair up, growling a bit, walking backwards etc....

Brrrrrrr

You home alone?

mummydarling

No, DH is playing fifa on the Wii and cat has settled on her cushion.

The house doesn't give off any bad vibes....in fact our previous house was haunted, so do you think the cat is missing the old ghostie?

Seriously, it baffles me, because even if you go upstairs and speak to her it's like she's in a trance.

Maybe she has some kind of cat dementia?

Lilith1980

I think sometimes that that behaviour can be put down to dementia, although our cat does it as well. He sits in the doorway of the kitchen seemingly looking at nothing, making this whiny miaowing sound :rolleyes:

Maybe your kitty is still getting used to the house - we only got ours four months ago and he has only really started getting used to coming upstairs as it scared him before

Fuzzy_Duck

Since it's a meow she only usually does on a trip to the vets maybe something is unnerving her. It probably is just that she's getting used to the new house, maybe there's areas that have a weird scent to her and she doesn't like it. Perhaps the previous owner had a cat and she can smell it?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

If it's sort of a 'owoooooooo', bit like a wolf (but not a threatening cat fight one), it's kind of an 'are you still there Mum?'.

One of mine does it when he wakes up after everyone has gone to bed - he's suddenly all alone in the dark and wants to know where we are. I usually call his name then he shuts up and goes about his nighttime business, but sometimes he carries on until one of the other cats gets up (probably to give him a slap for waking her up), then they start nocturnal drag racing. [sigh]

If you speak to her, perhaps she'll relax more.

(btw owee owee owee would mean furballs on the way)

paddypaws101

Oh Gosh, that furball 10 second warning gets me moving pretty darn quick!
I think the yeowl is her checking in to see where you are, Nellie has always done this and it is increasing now she too is getting old and losing her marbles. Ahh

SnowyOwl_2

It sounds like dementia to me too. My old dear Tabitha used to do similar yeowling in her twilight months. She'd wake up in the night and start the noise - it was like she hadn't a clue where she was and was very afraid. She'd calm down after a bit of reassurance, poor thing. It's horrible hearing that pitiful cry but I don't know what else you can do to help.