HELP! I can't stand the meowing!

amyandtommy

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Hello,

I have an 11 year old tomcat called Tommy.
I have recently moved home and he has come with me and my partner. (He used to live with myself and my mum)

He is an indoor cat who sometimes explores the back garden for a bit of grass then comes back in.

However, since moving, he meows so loud at the doors and windows, he paws at them and dashes to doors when he hears them opening or keys rattling. We've took him out to the back garden a few times. But it's getting worse as he went out the other day and ran off into the neighbours garden.

We don't want him to be an outdoor cat as i fear he's too old for change and new area means he won't find his way home again.

Can anyone suggest anything to stop the desire to escape the house and to stop this constant meowing at the doors??

Thanks

Amy
 
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amyandtommy

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I forgot to add we've been in the new house for 7 weeks now
 

calicosrspecial

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Amy,

Thanks for your post.

The move can cause some insecurity. It is pretty normal.

I would do a couple of things.

Please step up play with him. Really good play, have the toy act like prey (a mouse, a bird) and let him pounce on it, jump for it. Let him get it and "kill" it. Then repeat. Make it interesting for him, replicate the wild. After a good play session feed either treats or a meal.  This is what they love Hunt, Capture, Kill, Eat. It builds confidence and can also tire them out. Also, add some cat trees so that the cat can look outside and watch the wildlife. Or window perches, Anything to get your cat up n the world and so he can watch outside. Also add some scratching posts so he can get his scent on things and "own" his territory more. Also add a lot of comfy and warm bedding. Finally, make sure he knows you love him. Use food, try to get him to purr but only if you are not at risk of being hurt in any way. Finally be as calm and confident around him. Cats take on our emotions so the more anxious stressed we are the more they are. The more calm and confident we are the more they are. We want to make the inside of the house the ideal place and so he has no desire to go out.

I hope this helps. Please let me know and we can adjust as needed.
 

arouetta

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You said the word "tomcat".  Is he an intact male?  If so, he might be smelling a female in heat.  Getting him fixed would solve that.
 
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amyandtommy

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He doesn't want to play much now he's older. He's really disinterested.
Tiring him out... well he sleeps so much because of his age.
We have a scratching post for him which I brought with me, along with all his comfy bedding and familiar blankets and bed.

I adore my cat, so much that my partner thinks I'm a little obsessed (haha).
so it's not that he doesn't feel loved or not getting enough.


In regards to the female cats, I haven't seen any around, but he has been done and has been since he was younger.
I thought about a female cat possibly in heat, but with him being done, can this still affect him?


I'm stuck!
I try to ignore the meowing too, and greet him in the lounge away from the front door when I come home.
I reward him when he's silent and settled by lots of fuss and treats.
 

basschick

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our cat is an older gentleman at 18+, but he still goes on meowing binges periodically, sometimes to wake me up, sometimes... just because.  he'll keep meowing for 10 or 20 minutes if not attended to, but i always do my best to keep him happy.  sometimes he doesn't want food, clean water or petting; instead he wants me to go back to bed so we can both sleep there.  in the middle of the day while i'm working, i can't really go back to bed, so he'll nag me.  he's always been vocal - he chats with us, as well as the nagging meowing.  that hasn't changed as he's aged.  

can you enclose part of the back garden so your cat can hang out outdoors without getting away?

btw, even if you don't see female cats and your cat is fixed, he still may respond to an in-heat female who isn't that close. 
 

IndyJones

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When cats get old they can become senile.

Senile cats will cry out for no reason, may have accidents, wander, and even become lost in their own home.
 

calicosrspecial

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As basschick mentions a catio could be helpful.

I think the fact it is new territory is probably the driver of the behavior. So as time goes by it should reduce as he feels more at home and feels more ownership of the new home.

Please try to play. Make it as interesting as possible (make the toy act like prey). I know it isn't always possible but I hope he will play. That helps A LOT.

VERY GOOD that you brought over the scratching posts, beds, blankets etc. That helps him feel ownership. Can you add a cat tree to help him "go high" in order to build confidence and security. Maybe even a window perch?

Try to be as calm and confident around him also if possible as cats can take on our emotions.

How does your partner interact with the cat? He needs to really accept him and be calm and confident around him. Get your partner to feed to build the cat's trust and confidence as well.

Any time there is change a cat can go through difficulty. Cats do not like change. But the more confident and secure and loved we can make the cat feel the more likely the change will be more accepted.

PLEASE keep us up on how things are going and please ask any questions. Hopefully we can help you through this.
 
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