Did I imagine it, or was someone posting about a senior cat yowling
(apparently at nothing, for no reason)?

Cat Fancy Magazine just had an article about feline cognizance disorder -
akin to Altzheimers in humans and also "doggy dimentia".  When felines grow
older they often (it says) become disoriented, resulting in yowling because
they are "lost" in a familiar place.  Or they just sit and stare at nothing
for minutes at a time.  (I don't know that is indicative of anything, since
cats see and hear things we don't until they call our attention to them.  We
can't see Greeblings LOL)

Anyway, I had a few years experience with this with my (RB) loveable mutt
dog, Sampson who lived to be almost 18 years old.  It can really throw you
for a loop when they suddenly don't recognize you, or their own name.  Or
don't know where they are.  My Sampson walked between the bathroom door and
a wall and cried because he couldn't figure out how to get out again.  That
made me cry :(

The article recommends (after talking with the vet, of course)  to ask about
Anipryl, which is what they gave my dog.  Studies have been more inclusive
of dogs than cats for this medication, but I can tell you it definitely
helped my dog in the last years of his life.

But what really got me about this article, and what prompted me to ask about
stimulating kitty toys, is they (the always unknown, ubiquitous "they") say
to keep mental acuity up by keeping the cat stimulated with exercise and
play.  TOYS.  Lots of toys!  Keep them focused not only on their
surroundings and on you, but on playing and remembering what it was to play
as a younger cat.  That makes sense to me.  Sounds like a better solution
than medication, at least for a start.

And before you ask, NO, Persia isn't showing signs of cognitive issues.  But
since I don't know how old she is and the article said it could start as
early as age 12, better safe than sorry.  So play, pretty kitty, play!

Jill