He was neutered when he was six months old. He is now 11 years old. Up until these last two months, he was quiet. Since he got out, accidentally, he's been yowling all the time-he gets really bad at night,. He paces from door to door to window. I've tried time out in a carrier. That just made matters worse. I've tried giving him special attention. I've tried ignoring him. I even put him out when he got so loud, I couldn't concentrate on anything and he was waking up my husband. We live in a one bedroom apt. We have two other cats-one younger male-one elderly female, both spayed, neutered- so he's not lonely. He's been aggressive with them too.
He is healthy and eliminates fine so no problems there. I even tried putting in ear plugs. Not a good idea on a regular basis.
Help. We are having a hard time sleeping and I'm starting a new job. At this rate, we may have to have him put down. He bites strangers so adoption is not an option. We love him a lot, but he is driving us nuts.
2006-08-13 10:25:05 · 8 answers · asked by penwright_1029 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
The first step with any cat who has become a "behavior" problem is a thorough veterinarian exam to see if the problem is with his health.
Cats just don't get the message with time-outs. So that's not going to work. I have a 22yr old female who yowls very loudly through the night, not continuously but maybe a couple of times. She is stone deaf. That's not the problem here.
I am trying to puzzle things out here. It has to be some kind of stress (if it is not medical) I am always recommending Rescue Remedy to people dealing with these "strange" problems. You can get that at most health food stores. You just shake the bottle well and put it on his fur.
At www.littlebigcat.com you can order Dr. Jean Hovfe's Stress Stopper. A bottle is $16.95 and there are no shipping an handling charges. You get directions for use with the bottle, they are the same as for the RR.
You might be well rewarded to try one of these things (somehow I would go for the Stress Stopper). It is so inexpensive, easy to use and can be remarkably successful.
You seem very sincere in your desire to help your kitty. I know putting the drops on him will require you to do it before bedtime and probably require you to get up during the night. Still, if it works, a week of doing it is also, in my opinion, worth the effort.
2006-08-13 10:52:37 · answer #1 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cats usually only act like this if they havent been neutered (but obviously that is not the case) Or they are in pain. Cats are very good at hiding the fact that they are unwell and can seem ok right up untill its too late (this is a survival thing in the wild so other cats etc dont attack them) But when things get too much they suddenly become aggressive. please take your cat to the vet. just to be on the safe side. Thae fact he is 11 years old suggests i could be right
2006-08-13 18:05:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cat just liked being outside. You can "extinguish" this yowling behavior by never ever ever ever letting it get out again - by accident or on purpose. If, after several weeks, it's yowling has NEVER worked at getting him out, he'll quit trying. If he manages to squeeze out between your legs one day out of 20, you can be sure you'll have another 2 weeks of yowling to look forward to.
It will stop the behavior if the behavior is never rewarded with getting out. Please don't put the poor cat down - he's just acting on his instinct. It's not really fair for humans to take cats in and then kill them when they act like cats.
Cats CAN be trained. What is required from you is nothing less than perfect consistency.
2006-08-13 18:01:42 · answer #3 · answered by HonestGrl 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately he has had a taste of being outdoors. Honestly the only thing you haven't done, and the only thing you can do is to let him go out. Problem solved. It's better than euthenasia. Just be sure to get him tested for feline leukemia and get him vaccinated. You don't want him getting it and possibly bringing it home to your other cats. Hopefully since he's neutered he won't pick fights with tom cats.
2006-08-13 17:36:27 · answer #4 · answered by k9resq 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with k9resq, he has gotten a taste of the outdoors and it's where he wants to spend time. Don't deny him that, he will drive you crazy until you let him out, it's all he wants. At his age he will be fine out there and he knows where he lives so he will come back. Cats truly pick their owners and if he continues to come back home, he loves you and wants to live with you, but how would you like to spend 11 years locked up? He doesn't really like it either, so let him go, he'll be fine, and you will get some sleep.
2006-08-13 18:05:13 · answer #5 · answered by SuzyQ9363 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your cat won't shut up, you should cuddle it and give it alot of loving. Maybe, you could play with it.
2006-08-13 21:04:22 · answer #6 · answered by kagome 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try a water gun its fun for u when he drives you nuts or just try leaveing him outside im sure he knows how to push your buttons and he is trying to get something
2006-08-13 17:32:27 · answer #7 · answered by abcbvdg24 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
take him to a vet.
2006-08-13 17:32:57 · answer #8 · answered by djarizpe13 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋