28/09/2025
Increased crying from 10yr old cats
Over the last year I’ve noticed some behavioral changes with my 10 year old cats that are contributing to more crying from them and a serious lack of sleep for me. I’d love some advice for how to address these changes.
Background on each cat (I adopted them at the same time 10 years ago but they aren’t siblings):
The boy is ~14lbs, always been food motivated / focused. Play style is much more of a lay down and watch a string and bat at it a few times, maybe chase it around a bit but more of a watcher than an active player. Still likes active attention / being involved / cuddling up with me. Not overweight but shouldn’t gain any more.
The girl is ~8lbs, always eats her food but doesn’t ever cry for it. More focused on play and loves to chase mice toys and run around. Attention needy and always wants to be laying on me. Definitely the dominant one. Not overweight but shouldn’t gain any more.
Feeding routine I’ve stuck to for the last 10 years has been 1 can of wet food split in two bowls ~7-8am, 1 can of wet food split in two bowls ~530pm, dry food here and there in the evenings (never really measured out how much).
What’s changed:
Over the last ~year the boy cat has increasingly moved up the time he is crying for breakfast from 7 to 5am on average. I started giving in and feeding him then and getting back into bed.
This worked until a few months ago when he started to cry again after he finishes eating, so now we pretty much battle it out from the hours of 5-8am where he is crying off and on and I’m constantly getting in and out of bed.
Girl cat has always slept in bed with me, usual routine was to hang around and wait until I’m in bed with the lights off and then hopping in with me a few minutes later. New routine is to cry for me to call her once the lights are out before she gets in. She may come and go a few times in the first hour or so I’m in bed, used to do it with no noise and now cries each time for me to call her before hopping in (often waking me up each time if I’ve already fallen asleep).
Some other notes:
I had them both at the vet recently and nothing came up in their exams or blood work. Vet suggested changing the diet to something easier to digest so just recently started prescription wet and dry food. They seem to like it and are eating it all.
We live in an apartment building and moved last Nov to a new apartment, there is some more hallway noise / a dog across the hall that barks on occasion, but we are back facing and don’t have any street noise and the apartment is quiet for the most part. They’ve lived in apartment buildings their whole lives (this is the 5th building).
I work from home most days and they are often with me and napping by my desk.
I ordered two automatic dry food feeders (for the first time, I’ve never used these), but they haven’t arrived yet. Would love any tips for how to successfully introduce these.
I would really appreciate any advice or tips for how to handle this. For the first time I’m feeling like I’m not in tune with what is going on with them. I also feel like I’ve totally lost control of the situation (and I really miss sleeping through a full night).
