A cat owner who had gone away for the night rushed home after checking in on her senior cat and hearing the most heartbreaking sound.
Julie Nashawaty, a professional cat sitter from Boston known to many as “Auntie Julie” adores her two senior cats, Luna, 19, and Ollie, 17. It’s not always easy though.
Luna, in particular, keeps her on her toes.
“She is my soul cat and she’s been through so much,” Nashawaty told Newsweek. “I brought her home after she was rescued from a house of hoarders where she lived in a rabbit cage for 12 years.”
Despite enduring such unimaginable difficulties, Nashawaty says Luna is “the most loving affectionate cat” she has ever known. That’s probably why the last 18 months have been so difficult.
“She’s been living with feline dementia, which has been really challenging for her,” Nashawaty said. “A big part of it is sundowning.”
Sundowning is something that occurs in cats with dementia. It is characterized by increased confusion, anxiety, and agitation that worsen in the late afternoon, evening, or night.
“At night she becomes confused, scared, and very vocal,” Nashawaty said. “Because of that, we usually stay with her and feed her frequently through the night to keep her calm and comfortable.”
How Common Is Feline Dementia in Cats?
Feline Dementia is a sad reality for many pet owners with an elderly cat. In 2025, a clinical review published by Improve Veterinary Education found 28 percent of cats aged 11–14 show at least one dementia‑related behavioral change, while 50 per of cats aged 15+ are also likely to show clear clinical signs of cognitive decline.
Unfortunately, one night recent circumstances meant Nashawaty was away from home.
“That particular night was actually the first time we had left her overnight in a long time,” she said. “We were only gone for about 24 hours and had someone checking on her late at night and again early in the morning.”
While Luna was OK overnight, at 6 a.m., Nashawaty’s petcam captured something that had the cat owner tearing up. In a video posted to Instagram under the handle @auntiejuliethecatsitter, Nashawaty shared the footage of what came next. Luna began vocalizing. But there was something different this time.
A Cat ‘Talking’
“We know Luna’s different meows and sounds very well, so we weren’t surprised to hear her calling out because that can happen when she’s confused and looking for us,” Nashawaty said. “But when we listened back and it really sounded like she was saying ‘where are you,’ we were definitely a little shocked.”
As stunned as they were by the sound of their senior seemingly saying “hello” and asking “where are you?” in that moment, Nashawaty knew exactly what to do.
“When we heard it, we actually jumped in the car and drove home because we know how scared and confused she can feel when she wakes up and can’t find us,” she said. “We try to do everything we can to keep her comfortable and supported as she navigates dementia.”
Nashawaty only decided to share the footage because it captured “such a real moment” for them as the carers of a senior cat.
“Caring for her has been an emotional journey,” Nashawaty said. “A lot of people only see the cute or funny parts of cats online, but there is also a very real side to loving and caring for them as they age.”
Social Media Reactions
For many of those watching, it really did sound like Luna was calling out to them.
One viewer commented: “I would never leave my house again!!! It really does like she is saying ‘Hello, and I love you!’ I’m going to be a homebody for ever now!”
Another wrote: “Aaaw I’m hearing hello and where are you.” A third agreed, saying: “OK, I swear I heard her say I love you.”
Nashawaty admits Luna’s meows certainly “stopped us in our tracks.”
“It sounded so much like she was asking where we were, and knowing how confused and scared she can feel sometimes made it really emotional for us,” she said.
Thankfully, Luna was OK and Nashawaty is back by her side. She hopes the clip will shine a spotlight on the issues faced by the owners of elderly pets.
Nashawaty said: “I hope it reminds people how deeply connected we are to our animals and how important it is to be patient, present, and compassionate with them, especially as they get older.”
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