Followed Rebecca’s advice, and called the vet. Vet said I’d better bring him in. It was challenging bringing the baby AND the cat, having to put both in their respective carriers, but it went fine. Baby cooperated. Cat complained but he’d been worse.

Vet suspects hyperthyroidism due to Dodo’s increased food/water intake, also kidney disease. One or the other would cause high blood pressure, which gives headaches, which would make the cat yowl more at night. They took a full blood panel and she’ll call me with the results later today. Ultrasound revealed enlarged kidneys with cysts inside. The vet said it’s seen in exotic breeds (like Dodo, I guess), but that she’s surprised he’s 14 years old because they usually see this in younger cats. She’s impressed he’s lived this long and sorta credits how much water he always drinks. The bloodwork will tell how much of the kidneys are operating. Cats are considered to have high blood pressure if it measures 180. Dodo came in at 230 or 240. She said instead of treating the high blood pressure immediately, she’ll wait for the results of the blood test, because if it’s the thyroid, treating that would cause the blood pressure to go back to normal, then I woudln’t have to medicate for the blood pressure alone. She was very impressed with Dodo, said he was very good when they were doing all the tests and blood draws. She gave me a complimentary ear cleaning and claw trimming for the cat. I still feel like the worst cat mom ever.

Allie charmed everyone at the vet’s. The vet herself even sat in my car and watched Allie for me while I paid the receptionist. The receptionist jinxed me, tho. She asked how long Allie’s sleeping, and I told her 11 hours or so a night. She was impressed and said her grandkid at 10 months won’t sleep for more than a couple of hours at a time, because her daughter-in-law picks up the baby at the slightest sound and stir. I said it took some work getting her daytime naps in but it did make her nighttime sleep extend. So what does Allie do last nite? Went down at 7:30p, up at 11p for a feeding, went back down, up at 4:30a for a feeding, and is now sleeping still. So things are all messed up right now and I’m nervous and stressed because I’ll have to leave the house at some point for a couple of hours when the cleaning people get here, not sure when they ever come. Hopefully not right at naptime or when I’m pumping. 🙁 Considering waking her up.

When the vet was discussing Dodo’s kidney ultrasound results with me, it was past Allie’s naptime so she started getting fussy in her carrier. Suddenly Allie said, “I’m ready!”
The vet looked at her in surprise. “What did you say?”
I said, “Did you said you’re ready? Are you ready to go home?”
The vet said, “That’s what I heard, too!”

Back to Dodo. I told the vet he’s shown no sign of discomfort. She said that’s cuz he’s such a sweet cat. The yowling appears to be part of his eating routine…maybe he’s eating more and awake more at night due to the headache/high blood pressure, so I associate yowling with food but the two are only related in timing. They say that people who own pets benefit by having lower blood pressure, because pets are so good for/to their owners. Maybe I need to get Dodo a pet.