Incessant Meowing...HELP!!!

I've had my cat, Lucy, for more than a month now. She has been absolutely wonderful, but has developed a very odd habit as of the past four or five days. She won't stop meowing! I got her from the local humane society where her past owner stated on the papers that she doesn't get along with dogs, but I also think she has abandonment issues as she would meow right off the bat when she thought people weren't home. She also eats food from behind her dish so she can watch everything while she eats which I think is because dogs probably used to eat her food which is another story.

Annnnnnnnyway, for about 4 days it has gotten out of control. It's not even meowing. It's the scariest most heart-wrenching must be being attacked by wolves almost growl that I've heard. It's a truely frightening sound. I used to have a cat that made a similair sound when she was about to throw up, but it's that times 10. She makes it when she's alone, but this is why it's so weird...we're all home. I live with my mom, dad, and two brothers so there is always somebody around. She'll take note of that, come visit the person for a while, but then go into a seperate room or even the basement and make the terrible noises until somebody comes to call her. She then quits meowing, runs to whoevers calling her and is fine until you quit paying attention to her, then she will start over again.

It's worst at night. When everybody is in bed she does it literally hours on end. We've tried to ebb the cycle by keeping doors open and keeping her in my room but she eventually wants out only to start meowing again. It's almost like a crying baby, I wish I knew what was wrong. Another oddity is the fact that she used to sleep ALL the time but I honestly haven't seen her even nap since this meowing started. I'll find her laying down, but never sleeping.

It's just so odd. It's like she wants confirmation that people care that she's alive so she feins death so people will come running...but to repeat the cycle over and over day through night? My mom thinks she's in heat but I think she's too young. She hasn't been spayed yet so who knows. Any input would be a huge help, I love my kitten and I want to know what's wrong. I haven't slept right in almost a week.

Upon further research, it sure sounds like she is indeed in the midst of a heat cycle, which unbeknownst to me can happen as early as 4 months of age. It also says most surgeons will spay in the middle of a cycle, but prefer not. I'm going to get her spayed next Wednesday but may hold off until she's done howling. Still weird that the said pain-caused howling quits when she's called though.

Yep. She's in heat.

My kitty Bootsie went into heat too a while back (before I got Monty thank goodness). She would stop meowing only when I gave her cuddles. This distracted her from her otherwise unshakable desire to call over all the Toms in the neighborhood. She was spayed while in heat but I think it was harder on her and she recovered quite slowly (a few days).

If you kitty is not spayed, she's probably in heat and will continue to call on/off till she is bred or spayed.

Now if she is spayed, then perhaps she has oriental in her - they tend to do a lot more talking (and loudly) then most other breeds.

Originally Posted by DJuu

Upon further research, it sure sounds like she is indeed in the midst of a heat cycle, which unbeknownst to me can happen as early as 4 months of age. It also says most surgeons will spay in the middle of a cycle, but prefer not. I'm going to get her spayed next Wednesday but may hold off until she's done howling. Still weird that the said pain-caused howling quits when she's called though.

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Thats exactly what I thought it was too lol. And since she's not spayed, I'm almost 100% sure that's what it is. It really is annoying isn't it lol! And they do tend to get louder at night. Mama went unspayed for about a year b/c she has a murmur and I was afraid to risk the surgury. Now that she is spayed it's a whole different cat at times Luckily the first heat tends to be shorter and less intense (although it does sound like Lucy's being pretty intense). Even though Mama's spayed she still tends to howl every once in a while but that could just be because she's only been fixed for a little over a week. Hopefully that won't be the case for you. Good luck!

Edit: I forgot to mention, try howling back at her and see if she comes running. That's how I can tell when Mama was in truely in heat.

Thanks for the info, I tried howling back but no dice...I doubt I sound too much like a cat

A quick question on top of all of this though...my mom had a coworker tell her that the first heat is the 'messiest' and to be prepared for trails of blood throughout the house. Say it ain't so! Beyond the fact that we just got new carpeting, that just isn't good. Should this be a legitimate fear and is it ok to keep her in the garage if it happens? I don't want to have to do that though . Then again, a girlfriend of mine had a cat who enjoyed using the cars in the garage for scratching posts...yet another cunundrum! What do I do??

I NEVER had and problems with her bleeding. I think that bleeding is more common with dogs because they're open and exposed. Cats on the other hand tend to lick themselves clean. So I think that's not something to be worried about.

Great news. My mom's coworker said her cat has been bleeding all over the place, maybe she's just not a good self-groomer? I thought it sounded kind of fishy as well, or at least isolated. I'm know a bit about animals and I know I've never heard of this with cats.

If your moms coworkers cat is bleeding all over I would seriously be concerned. It's really not normal lol. Maybe mention to your mom that she should suggest her coworker bring her in or at least call a vet about it.