Q. Our 15-year-old, neutered, orange tabby wakes us three to four times a night with his meowing and yowling. He has food and water available. When morning comes and we get up, he's ready for his first nap of the day. Can you help?

A. Cats are nocturnal animals by nature, so nighttime activity and sleeping during the day is perfectly normal for your cat. If this change is recent, however, it might indicate an underlying problem. Many cats at this age that develop such symptoms are thought to be showing signs of cognitive dysfunction. I would recommend that you visit your veterinarian and have your kitty thoroughly checked out, including a full physical examination, blood work and urinalysis. If all this is normal, then he may be a candidate for pharmacological intervention, which addresses cognitive dysfunction.