Ask the Expert: Dog and Cat Behavior
Help! My dog’s bark is as bad as his bite!
Why does my cat lick me?
I have a dog, but I want to get a cat. How do I keep the fur from flying?
The ASPCA Animal Behavior Center’s experts tackle your toughest problems.
Our experts are currently helping animals in the field and are not accepting questions at this time. Please browse our archived Q&As or check out our
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Most Recent Question
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I have a 13-year-old male who became verbally demanding about 1 1/2 years ago, when we lost one of our cats to kidney failure. My theory? The cat who passed on was the alpha female and had him under her thumb. Since she's not here, is he showing how spoiled I've made him? He's the healthiest one in the house, so it isn't medical. Any input?
It could be that he's still searching for the female, but that's quite a long time to continue this behavior. And it sounds like you have other cats, so we presume he's not lonely. Given his age, it's a good idea to ask your veterinarian to check him for hyperthyroidism. Excessive meowing can be a symptom of this, and it can also make a cat hungrier.