I have a 14 year old cat that just continues to walk in circles. I have no idea what it could be because she just started to do it all of a sudden. She also stares off into spaces and occasionally lets out a kind of wailing meow. Could she just be losing her sight or is there something else that could have happened to her?

Can she walk straight at all or is the circles just sometimes?
All I can think is either a stroke or her equilibrium is off maybe.

She can walk straight but as soon as she stops she starts to circles again. The majority of the time she is making circles.

I had the same experience with an old cat. The vet said he had a stroke and could have more. He gave me the option of keeping the cat alive to satisfy my selfishness or putting him to sleep and release him from his confusion and discomfort. I chose to let Muggsie pass on with me hugging him and the vets help.

As you said. Your cat is getting old. She's getting very conffused, like as older people do. I had a dog that did that and she has siezers, and would walk in circles and would not know where she was going. She died the next week. Just be prepared just in case It's her time to go. Give her the best love you can give. GOD bless

It could also be an ear infection. Last year my outdoor male stray, Titan, whom adopted me was missing for a few days... I was worried sick. One day he showed up and I thought he was dying! He would walk in circles and sometimes his feet would give out and he would walk like a drunk! He looked all muddy and like he had been in a cat fight or such.

Well, I took him to the vet... the vet told me had an ear and sinus infection.. all, his behavior, walking in cirlces, stumbling, was due to this... he was most likely dirty, cause he was trying to find his way back home to me and must have wondered whom knows where... he could have looked as if he was in a cat fight, because he may have fell or circled into the woods that border my home and got into thorny greenery etc.

Well I hand nursed him in my garage for the next two weeks... and gave him his medication from the vet... he got stronger and well... he was fine for the next year...

Til now Fall of 2008, he is circling again... he needs the meds... as he hacks up phlem (snot) a lot and he cannot smell his food... I have to put his nose almost in it and his hearing is getting bad... I now have to yell at him his name to get him to hear me... my neighbor says he was a barn cat that there cat had about 7 years ago... did not know that until recently...

I pray that I can get some extra money (unemployed) to take him back to the vet... if not, I hope his immmune system does not give out on him... he has a new little kitten friend that has shown up and that cheers him up...

Hope this information helps, so it maybe is not a stroke... it could be like what my Titan has. God bless you and your kitty! :)