I can't take this meowing all the time..HELP!

carrie640

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OK....so we have two new cats. The male is fixed and front declawed (came that way) and is pretty affectionate...but also content to be on his own sleeping under a bed or wherever.

Come night time (and even some during the day), he starts in with the serious meowing....and we are guessing it is because he wants OUTSIDE. OMG. It is super annoying...especially when sleep is in DIRE need.

My husband thinks he wants to go out to do a territorial thing (I don't know much about these things), but either way (OMG...I hear him in the basement now meowing like crazy)....I am losing sleep (between this cat, 5 mo old, and 3 year old) and my sanity.

I don't know what to do!! I've read about not giving attention with this cat is doing this and giving attention when he isn't, but this cat could really care less about attention like that...he just wants OUT or something. We've started squirting him with water every time he does it, but he just runs and hides and starts back over again. I wouldn't say he is "afraid", really....but sometimes a loud noise will startle him.....or if someone sneezes, he will jump....almost like he is on edge a lot (although, like I said..he is very affectionate and will let you rub his belly and everything). He isn't out a lot, either...when he isn't getting patted/eating, he is like under the bed or upstairs doing whatever.

I am not a big believer and dumping your pets for "stupid" things like this, but I don't know how much of this I can deal with.


Anyone have any suggestions?
 

howtoholdacat

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How old is he? Was he in a shelter before you got him?

He definitely sounds upset about something. Figuring out what he's upset about is half the battle!

Have you tried Feliway or a rowdy play session before bed time? I'm sure you have but your thread didn't really specify.

I know how rough that is when you're not getting sleep. Hang in there! Saying a prayer that he'll decide to sleep tonight!
 

jennyr

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I am sorry for you, it must be frustrating. But spraying him won't work - it will only make him associate you with something bad. I wish I had more constructive advice to offer.
 

mybabyphx

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Oh boy!
I understand how you feel COMPLETELY! I know its frustrating, and irritating... but don't give up! You know, the whole reason why I found TCS is because my PHX was meowing constantly. So, I have been through this as well. Thanks to TCS, I figured out how to work with PHX so it isn't 'as bad'. I'm sure your cat has a reason why he's meowing all the time. You just need to figure out "why" he's meowing!


As others have suggested, have you tried playing before bed? That's what I have to do with PHX to get him to settle down at bed time. It actually wears him out so much, that he just sleeps through some of the night! I would suggest getting one of those fishing pole toys...most cats LOVE them!
I do too, because PHX will go crazy for that toy!

I suggest searching around on the internet for some more information! You can click here for information on cats sounds! It's a really good thread, and I think it can help you understand this better!

I also thought you might like to take a look at MY first post here on TCS. It also had to do with meowing, and I got a lot of information here! You can click here to see my thread. Maybe it can help you???

I hope you get everything figured out! Keep us updated!
 

persi & alley

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Originally Posted by carrie640

OK....so we have two new cats. The male is fixed and front declawed (came that way) and is pretty affectionate...but also content to be on his own sleeping under a bed or wherever.

Come night time (and even some during the day), he starts in with the serious meowing....and we are guessing it is because he wants OUTSIDE. OMG. It is super annoying...especially when sleep is in DIRE need.

My husband thinks he wants to go out to do a territorial thing (I don't know much about these things), but either way (OMG...I hear him in the basement now meowing like crazy)....I am losing sleep (between this cat, 5 mo old, and 3 year old) and my sanity.

I don't know what to do!! I've read about not giving attention with this cat is doing this and giving attention when he isn't, but this cat could really care less about attention like that...he just wants OUT or something. We've started squirting him with water every time he does it, but he just runs and hides and starts back over again. I wouldn't say he is "afraid", really....but sometimes a loud noise will startle him.....or if someone sneezes, he will jump....almost like he is on edge a lot (although, like I said..he is very affectionate and will let you rub his belly and everything). He isn't out a lot, either...when he isn't getting patted/eating, he is like under the bed or upstairs doing whatever.

I am not a big believer and dumping your pets for "stupid" things like this, but I don't know how much of this I can deal with.


Anyone have any suggestions?
I am wondering what breed of cat you have. I have read that cats such as Siamese are very vocal whereas cats like Persians are extremely quiet. I can vouch that Persi is very quiet. I wanted a Siamese until I read how vocal they are but some people really like vocal cats so it is a matter of preference.
 

kuntrykitty

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All of this advice is good, as well as the links. I hope you have good luck! (Zoe is Siamese colored, so she must have Siamese somewhere back there in her bloodlines, but she is VERY vocal!)
 

trixie23

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Some cats are more vocal than others! One of my cats talks non-stop day and night... He almost sings at night and it is horrible sounding lol. Mine is fixed as well! At what age did you have your boy neutered? Are there other cats that roam about outside in your area? I wouldn't recommend using a spray bottle, that has been proved as a not so effective method... Ill post a link on it, and what to use in such a situation! I definitely wouldn't put him in the basement where he feels secluded, that could be part of the issue!

http://www.thecatsite.com/Behavior/4...-Dont-Mix.html

I would recommend consulting or seeing a vet... To void out any painful health issues that may persist! Or maybe he is just very personable!
 
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carrie640

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We adopted them both last week....and my male (vocal one!!) is like an orange tiger cat (looks JUST like Morris the cat). We don't put him downstairs in the basement...he just goes there!!! We have a door at the bottom of the stairs that we can shut, but the stairs aren't enclosed, really, so he can just get down there by going under them. He likes it upstairs, too (refinished attic). He can go anywhere he wants to go (except outside!!!).....so it isn't like we have him restrained which could be causing it.

UGH. The humane society is NO help for me, either. They want you to consult them for behavior issues and I did...but they are NO help. I so don't want to surrender this animal back for a "stupid" reason like that....and if I didn't have small kids, there probably wouldn't be as much of a huge deal and if I were to take him back, it would TOTALLY hurt my chances for another adoption.


I tried the links above...got a 404 error...not found on the server....


OMG..and now he just came over and ATTACKED the female!!!! !OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He hadn't done that EVER before! In fact, it was the small female that originally had issues with him and now she is kosher with it.

He keeps pacing around here just meowing like mad. UGH.
 

mybabyphx

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trixie23

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My vocal cat is an orange tabby as well! Go to The Cats Site main page and go under Cat Behavior category. The article about how you can't discipline cats is the link I had posted! I'd consult a vet to see if there is some other underlying issue causing all of this meowing!
 

mybabyphx

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I really think the cat is meowing a lot because it's scared. This is a new house, new people, new everything! The cat just doesn't know what to do! The cats are talking to you saying "Hey, I like you and all. I just am bored, will you play with me? This is a new environment to me, and I'm scared... will you hold me?" Just try to make the cats as comfortable as you can! If the problem keeps going on, then I'd be worried! For now.... everything is still new!
Your doing a good job!
 

feral65

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carrie, i understand how annoying it is. the cat if i read correctly is only 5 months old and you've only had him for a week. in that case, the meowing is not unusual in my experience. he is just insecure. it could take two weeks or two months for him to "settle down" depending on the cat. just know that as long as he is not abused, he *will* settle down in time as he becomes more secure in his new environment, and then the meowing will stop. i also agree with the other poster that squirting water at him is a bad idea. i am so against that and i get so angry when i see it recommended still!!!!! last, i have a different opinion about "answering" when your cat meows. i have found that by responding to them (in a situation like this ONLY), they settle down more quickly. even better is to get up, pick them up, and try to "cuddle" them. he is a young cat and will appreciate the affection, but 10 second later he will want to "escape". instead of letting him down though, hang on to him and give him a few extra kisses and hugs. Eventually he will learn that if he meows, you will pick him up and hold him hostage and he'll have to endure all those extra hugs and kisses. :-) think of it as reverse-psychology for cats. :-) just never answer them when they want food or whine at the door though. that's different.......
 
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