Why Is My Cat Up At Night
The reason it seems as though your cat is nocturnal is because he is crepuscular, an animal naturally more active at dawn and dusk. That transitional time between nightfall and daylight is your cats time of greatest activity and when he most wants to hunt, play, eat, and cuddle. It is the time your cat is most likely to seek out your attention.
Because we humans tend to have our deepest sleep at the pre-dawn hours, it can be particularly disruptive to have a cat in your bed who thinks it is time to play. This can be especially intense during spring time, when the daylight length extends and those pre-dawn and dusk times come earlier and later. If you have a younger, active cat, it can seem as though they will never let you sleep!
When your cat keeps you awake in those pre-dawn hours, it is easy to resent seeing him blissfully sleeping later during the day. Cats are fortunate because they can easily cycle from sleep to wakefulness and back again without any of the familiar grogginess that humans experience. Cats are so adept at falling asleep that human sleep researchers used cats as the original models for how REM sleep works. And of course, we all know why the term catnap so perfectly describes what those champion feline sleepers do best!
Where Cats Go At Night
Its natural to wonder where the heck cats go at night. At home, theyre usually sleeping, playing, cuddling, eating, or sleeping some more. But what do they do when theyre off on their own? Turns out, its quite a lot.
Researchers at the University of Georgia placed small cameras on 55 cats in the Atlanta area and then studied more than 37 hours of footage to look for trends. Here are a few of the key takeaways.
- 44% of the cats hunted wildlife.
- Their main prey were reptiles, small mammals and invertebrates .
Why Does My 15 Year Old Cat Yowl At Night
Q: Pete, our 15-year-old cat, yowls at night. His hearing is gone, he has arthritis and hyperthyroidism, but otherwise, the vet says he seems younger than his years. What is causing the yowling, and what can we do about it?
Sometimes the canines unite in a harmony chorus. In general, dogs can howl for many reasons than cats. Besides, they do it more often than cats, and it has a lot to do with genetics.
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Other Common Cat Fight Injuries
In addition to bite abscesses, bite wounds are also the primary way of transmitting Feline Immunodeficiency Virus , as well as Feline Leukemia .
Untreated fight wounds can easily become infected. A cats mouth carries as many bacteria as a dogs, but their teeth are better suited to transmit those bacteria, even through minute puncture wounds, according to researchers with the Mayo Clinic.
Cat claws also carry a ton of their own bacteria, which will fester and thrive in the warm moist environment of a fresh wound. In fact, cat scratch fever is caused by the Bartonella bacteria transferred through a cats claws, which is actually transmitted to a cat through fleas.
Unneutered males are far more likely to fight than neutered cats. This is even true of multi-cat households, where unneutered males are more likely to fight with each other, as well as spray to mark their territory. Neutering indoor-only cats wont eliminate fighting, but it should reduce the number of fights.
Why Does My Cat Meow At Night
Cat pawrents ask themselves many questions about their peculiar critters one of which is why does my cat meow at night? Also known as night vocalization or night calling, hearing a cat meowing at night is a common occurrence for pawrents. This usually isnt a cause for concern, unless your cat is in distress or your chatty Cat-hy is causing you to become nocturnal, too. There are several common causes for a cat meowing at night. To better understand your feline friend, you can familiarize yourself with the many sounds cats make and what they mean, and why cats meow at night.
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I Trained The Cat To Meow Louder
When we tell you to ignore the cat, we mean ignore the cat completely and perfectly. This means no peeking, no talking, no sighing, no petting. Dont do anything that could be perceived as attention. Yelling, spraying the cat or punishing it are forms of attention and can encourage the cat to keep it up.
Ignoring the cat properly after previously giving in for a while will likely cause the cat to amplify the behaviour before stopping it completely. It may meow louder or find new ways of waking you, such as tripping things off the shelves, walking across your face this is called extinction. It means its working! Reacting then would be a big mistake, because the cat would understand that whatever it did worked, and will start with that going forward. Ignoring the cat through the extinction burst is of the utmost importance in order to stop the cat meowing at night, or to avoid worse behaviours.
Cats Yowl When Theyre In Pain
A cat might yowl if shes hurting. Since cats instinctively hide their pain, almost anything could be causing it, including arthritis, an injury or an illness. You want to rule out medical , so have your vet do a full physical, including looking at bloodwork to make sure theres nothing abnormal and checking for pain, says Dr. Karsten, who adds that hyperthyroidism may cause irritability, which manifests in cat yowling.
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Why Cats Fight At Night
There are two main reasons that lead to cat fights. As cats prowl neighborhoods and city streets, they will fight when there is competition for food or a mate. In many places, these encounters are more likely because cats territories are shrinking as neighborhoods become denser.
According to Dr. Marci Koski, a certified Feline Behavior and Training Professional, studies have shown that cats’ home ranges and territories are shrinking as the environment gets more crowded with cats in other words, more cats in closer proximity equals more encounters and more fights as they compete over resources. And these chance encounters are more likely during the pre-dawn and post-twilight hours when cats are venturing out to hunt .
Why Does My Cat Meow A Lot
Cats love to meow and “talk” to their owners, but sometimes it can get a little out of hand, even for the cutest fur babies. When your cat is meowing frequently and can’t seem to stop, you may find yourself asking: “Why does my cat meow a lot?” Excessive meowing can have many causes, including boredom, wanting to talk with you, feeling hungry, or being stressed or sick. The key is learning to translate your cat’s meows.
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How To Stop Cat Howling If Your Cat Is Howling For Medical Reasons
First and foremost, medical concerns should be ruled out when were faced with cat howling. As previously mentioned, cat howling could indicate injury or illness, including hyperthyroidism and CDS. And for our cats comfort and our own as well as feline overpopulation prevention cats should be spayed and neutered.
Cats Are Naturally More Active At Night
Your cats meowing at night may have much to do with the fact that they are naturally more active at certain hours of the night. Although its popularly thought that cats are nocturnal, this is not strictly true. However, they are crepuscular meaning that they are naturally most active at dusk and dawn. Although many cats do adapt to the routine of their owners, this crepuscular tendency means that your cat may be especially active in the early hours of the morning, when the rest of the house is asleep.
Younger cats have an increased tendency to be active at night, as their instincts tell them that this is a great time to hunt. As they mature, though, it is likely that their rhythm will adapt to that of the rest of the household, which may hopefully mean less cat meowing at night.
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Common Complaints When An Old Cat Meows All The Time
Just to be clear, this article is not about a cat who talks to you, meows a lot or is purring loudly.
No, this article is about geriatric catsyowling or screaming these cats sound genuinely distressed. They may walk aimlessly, not trying to communicate with you just vocalizing. And its loud.
Here are some common complaints I hear as a veterinarian:
- Shes keeping me up at night!
- I think my senior cat is in terrible pain.
- At 3 in the morning, this old cat starts yowling. Whats wrong with her?
- I got a complaint from my landlord about the cats constant yowling. Now what do I do?
Some people who bring their cat to the vet for this are worried only about the cats well-being.
Other people? Theyre worried about their own lack of sleep.
We used to think these cats had become senile or demented, and didnt believe there was a lot we could do. Now we know there is a direct correlation between certain medical and neurologic conditions, cognitive dysfunction and excessive vocalization in cats.
You have to be willing to have your vet do a thorough workup, which is important for a geriatric cat anyway, and have patience to do some trial drug therapies. This is one area where traditional medicine can work nicely with more naturopathic treatments.
How To Get A Cat To Stop Meowing At Night
Are you being driven to distraction by night-time meowing? Or perhaps youre concerned that these nocturnal vocalizations are a sign that all is not right with your beloved feline? There are a number of common reasons why your cat is likely to be meowing and a few simple strategies to help you both have a quiet and restful nights sleep.
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Why Does My Cat Yowl At Night Hill’s Pet
It’s a part of every cat parent’s life: You’re sleeping deeply in the middle of the night when suddenly, you wake up to an earsplitting shriek. It’s not a bad dream it’s just your cat.
So, why does your cat yowl at night? Some cats are chatty because it’s a breed characteristic but most kitties do it for specific reasons. A cat yowling at night has something to say and wants to say it. Right now.
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Central Nervous System Problem
There may be clues in a neurological exam that the cats excessive vocalization is caused by a central nervous system problem such as a brain tumor. These cats may be circling, having seizures, or acting depressed or dull.
A definitive diagnosis needs more advanced imaging, such as a CT or MRI, and these cats can do very well with surgery.
Often, we tentatively diagnose a meningioma based on the symptoms. Medical treatment can be of some help.
Cognitive Dysfunction
If most of the testing on your geriatric cat is normal up to this point, your cat may be suffering from cognitive dysfunction.
Because of an aging brain, your pet may have a syndrome not unlike Alzheimers in humans. There is no definitive test. I prescribe a number of medications and supplements to see if we can stop or decrease the yowling.
In this quick video, Dr. Wendy McClelland, DVM, explains more about why an old cat meows all the time:
For many people, giving medicine to a cat is hard work.
Some cats are resistant to getting a single pill, let alone up to 4 or 5 pills a day.
If my patient is a hyperthyroid, hypertensive cat with cognitive dysfunction, I may need to prioritize which meds I prescribe first.
This cats pill container could look something like this:
- Hyperthyroid: methimazole
- Pain: gabapentin and/or many others
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories
- Regular exercise and sensory stimulation
- A nightlight
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Getting Your Cat Fixed As A Solution
The most effective remedy for this sexually motivated behaviour is definitely castration or sterilisation. Castrated males are usually calmer and lose interest in cats ready for mating. The danger of female cats being permanently heat is also warded off through sterilisation.
If you wish to castrate or sterilise your cat, you should discuss the procedure thoroughly with a vet. They will give you in-depth advice on the right timing, benefits and possible side effects.
Tips If Cats Meow Because They Are Nervous Anxious Or Insecure
Cats are creatures of habit and are very sensitive when it comes to changes in their trusted environment. New furniture or even moving to a new home can deeply unsettle a cat. The unfamiliar surroundings, new smells and unusual noises make them anxious. A peaceful sleep is of course out of the question in these circumstances, so they start their loud lament instead.
Other events such as loud fireworks at New Year or even a new, unfamiliar smelling carpet can frighten cats with pronounced senses.
It’s important that you take your cat’s worries seriously without attending to it too much at night when it meows after all, it can interpret this as a request to loudly demand your attention again during the next few nights. Instead, give your cat plenty of love and attention throughout the day in particular. Play with it, stroke its fur and let it have its nap on your lap. The door to your bedroom shouldn’t be closed at night either. Maybe your cat can even sleep in your bed and find peace in that way? If you don’t want this, you can also set up a cosy sleeping spot next to or under your bed or put up a cat hammock.
If your cat is still restless at night despite these measures, special plug-in fragrance diffusers can also help it relax. With some cats, it can even help to leave a quiet radio playing to distract them from unusual noises.
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Calming Diffusers Can Help
Try a calming diffuser to help your cat feel more comfortable. The Comfort Zone Calming Diffuser releases a drug-free, odorless vapor that mimics a cat’s own natural, soothing pheromones.
To reduce tension and conflict between cats, the Comfort Zone Multi-Cat Diffuser dispenses a synthetic pheromone that mother cats produce to help their kittens feel safe and secure. This pheromone is different from the one used in the Comfort Zone Calming Diffuser, and the two products can be used together.
Meowing Because Of Eye Sight Issues Or Deafness
If a cat cannot see or hear well, they may be scared or confused. At night your house is usually darker and quieter than it is during the day, and if your cat’s eye sight is failing or they are deaf and can’t see you, they may meow to receive help or comfort. Your cat may also not be aware that they are meowing loudly because they cannot hear themselves well. Eye sight can deteriorate with age and disease, as can hearing, so if your previously well-sighted and hearing-capable cat seems to be losing its senses, get it checked out by your veterinarian.
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Yowling Could Be The Sound Of Mating
As many of us know through experience, extremely loud screeching and cats yowling at night can be the sound of mating.
This is a natural process, but we strongly suggest that you get your cat neutered both male and females as it significantly reduces the amount of unwanted kittens. Not to mention, itll also stop the loud yowling sound!
Why Does My Cat Meow After Eating
Most cat owners will be familiar with the situation where their pet comes and asks for food, it is this simple communication where cats are determined to ease their hunger. Delays can lead to persistent meowing. But, you might also find that your cat meows after feeding. Our Siamese used to meow and eat at the same time, it was the strangest of noises but we assumed it was because he was enjoying his food. He did turn his nose up at cat food so was on a raw diet. This could be a sign of contentment or gratitude for getting what they wanted. But, it is important to watch out for yowls after feeding.
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How Can I Make Caterwauling Stop
Since the reasons for caterwauling vary, you may have to try different tactics to alleviate the behavior. Here are a few suggestions:
- Visit your veterinarian to rule out medical problems. Even if your cat sees her veterinarian regularly, take her in as soon as you note behavior changes. She may have developed a new medical problem. Early diagnosis of thyroid disease, kidney malfunction, arthritis, or other ailments may mean more effective treatment. The right medical remedy may also remedy the caterwauling.
- If your cats caterwauling is hormonal in nature, fix the problem. Get him or her fixed. Female cats should be spayed before their first heat cycle. Male cats should be neutered at an early age, too. Talk to your veterinarian about the optimum time for the procedure that will benefit both your cat and you. In addition to the elimination of hormonal caterwauling, you will help the cat overpopulation dilemma.
- Reassure territorial cats. Cats that resist having anyone enter their domain may need reassurance. Comfort your cat with physical attention while gradually introducing the newcomer. If your cat howls at people or animals or birds that are outside, restrict his view temporarily by closing the shades or drapes. Of course, if your cat likes to look outdoors for entertainment, he may become bored and howl for another reason! Moderation here is key!