Cat acting strangely

Question
Jessica, I have 2 cats, brother and sister, 19 years old and in good health.  Male (Phoenix) is on Thyroid med.  For the last few weeks he just can't seem to get close enough to me.  Especially at night.  For the last 2 weeks he has been waking me up about every 10 minutes meowing at the top of his little lungs to be petted.  All night long!  He HAS to be touching me all night, which is fine, but the loud meowing and waking me up all night has to stop!  What can I do?  

Answer
Hi Cheryl.  Often when a cat seeks to be near his owner constantly, it's due to an illness or pain.  Cats that suddenly start craving lots of physical attention sometimes have fevers and like to be near their owners for warmth.

Also, I wonder if Phoenix could be experiencing separation anxiety, though this is rather rare to develop this late in life.

Another possibility would be Cognitive Dysfunction, similar to human Alzheimer's.  More cases are being diagnosed as our pets live longer.  This disease is caused by amyloid (a protein) deposits in the brain which harden and form a plaque that interferes with the normal thought process.  The result is a change in behavior, including overvocalization.  Some cats need extra reassurance that everything is okay when they begin feeling their surroundings are unfamiliar and will become very clingy with their owners.  Cognitive Dysfunction is a progressive disease, but progression can be slowed with a medication called Anipryl, the brand of a drug that was favored for treating human Alzheimer's, which is labeled for dogs.  It's use in cats has been successful, as well.  Some cases of Cognitive Dysfunction are actually reversed.

In any case, I would suggest a vet visit, first.