Excessive vocalisation in cats can signal pain, cognitive dysfunction, sensory decline or anxiety, making it an important welfare indicator requiring veterinary investigation.
Excessive vocalisation in cats — particularly sudden onset or nighttime yowling — is a welfare indicator that too often goes uninvestigated. Owners may habituate to the behaviour or dismiss it as "attention-seeking" without recognising it as a potential pain or distress signal. Thyroid disease, hypertension, cognitive dysfunction and pain are all medically treatable causes of hypervocalisation. Investigating rather than tolerating or ignoring increased vocalisation reflects genuine welfare attention and frequently reveals treatable conditions that, once addressed, improve both cat and owner quality of life.