excessive crying - how to stop?

Smokie has been crying more than normal lately probably since my brother in law moved out. Which I realize is because of the change. But he now meows constantly since I switched him to wet. I am giving him one can in the morning and one in the evening with dry during the day. So, he's not hungry he just prefers the went and I believe his crying is to tell me when he wants the wet.

However, my fiance isn't pleased with this and is causing him stress to listen to it all the time. I've read online that if you reward them when they cry they think that if they do it all the time they'll get that reward. Which I admit I do. I cater to his crying. They say to only give him the reward when he stops crying. However when I do this, he starts crying when I get the can to feed him then. At this rate he wouldn't be eating at all.

So I guess does anyone have any other suggestions? I don't think feilway spray will work for this. But right now because I spent so much on vet bills I don't have the money for the feilway spray.

Any other ideas?

We do have a bird feeder and a humming bird feeder outside the window. I notice they do like this a lot. However to keep energy costs down we do have the drapes closed during the day. So only a few cats actually go behind the curtain to look at the birds. They also love the chipmunks that are outside too.

I do play with him. The toy I did buy for all the cats is a feather toy with a bell on it. He's not to thrilled with it. He used to love those kinds of toys. But I have noticed his tastes changing as he gets older. Some of the cats will play with it. He prefers string and a new acquired taste in bouncy balls. They are big enough that he can't swallow them. But we bounce them around and he races after them. One time he raced right into the water dish and he got all wet. It was quite funny, however, he didn't think it was so amusing. But we have 4 bouncy balls and they are all MIA right now. We don't know what he did with them! He's got a goldmine somewhere of bouncy balls.

We do have a cat tree but it's one that was home made and it's quite big so the only place for it is in the basement. We have it by a basement window so that they can look out and see the birds. Occasionally there will be a chipmunk in there and they have a field day with that. Of course, being an animal lover, I have to rescue the chipmunks so they don't starve to death because they can't get out.

But I will try to play more with him on a regular schedule and hopefully soon I'll be able to afford the diffuser refill.

I found a fuzzy ball that had been batted underneath the couch. I rolled it in some cat nip and he went crazy with it for like 30 minutes. He then tuckered out and has been sleeping for a while. There has been less crying.

We lock the cat door so that when the cats go out at night they stay in the basement. Otherwise they keep us up at night and paw at our doors.

Since we have a problem with him crying in the morning to be let back in/get fed. I told my fiance to put him in the bathroom downstairs with food. And then he can let him out when he leaves. This way Smokie gets what he wants and so does my fiance.

But so far so good.