Okay, one of my cats won't stop meowing at night and chases the other all around the condo. I can't sleep!!

Question

What should I do in this scenerio? I have searched for similiar questions but I thought I would just throw it out there. The cat is a boy, 2 yrs. old, and is just needy but well loved. If I close my bedroom door to get some sleep, he sits on the other side with a constant "meow, meow,meow..." that drives me nutts!!! PLEASE help!!

Answer 1

Hi there...I'm partially reiterating some of the other suggestions here, but elaborating on them. It sounds like your kitties has found a schedule of their own. There are many possibilities as to why they may be keeping you up at during the night time. For example many cats who are fed at a scheduled time will learn when to expect their meals, the family members come home and leave for day, etc. It's more of a conditioned response from a pattern which is being continually reinforced...and is why I'm making this assumption.

If you would like to change/adjust their schedule to yours consider by playing with them using more physical active activities (e.g. laser light) using nteractive play for 10-15 minutes prior to bedtime to exhaust them so they'll sleep longer. If your cats are not free fed (food available at all times) some people who feed their cats on schedule (once in the morning and once at night) have found that by feeding right just before bedtime also note that this has a sedating effect because their tummy's are full.

This particular method isn't known to many as most people are not willing to consider it, however one the things we as animal trainers/behaviourists do to break bad behaviours with animals is to ignore the undesired behaviour. What follows is called an extinction burst where the behaviour becomes progressively worst for awhile hoping for the same positive reinforcement as received in past. Eventually the animal learns this behaviour does not gains them any positive reinforcement and eventually fades away.

Here's another example of how an extinction burst works: This happens when a proven method of doing something that brings a desired response (i.e. stealing socks always elicits a chase from a human), all of a sudden stops working. The extinction burst is the part where the dog tries the proven method again and again, and hundred times stronger before they figure out that it just doesn't work anymore. Human equivalent: you're at the elevator. You pressed the button 10 seconds ago. This has always made the elevator come and pick you up. For some reason, there's no sign that the elevator's coming. You press it again. And again, and again and again, harder and harder, with more force (extinction burst!), until finally you just give up and use the stairs. If the original method doesn't work anymore, why use it?!

More on Extinction Burst:
http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/archives/bursts.txt

Answer 2

My male cat was the same and he is spayed. He would even "body slam" the closed door! Firstly, I agree with the other respondents and try and play with them more in the evening and try to tire them out as they have slept all day while I am at work. I also keep a squirt water bottle in the bedroom - I only had to squirt him a couple of times and he got the message! Now all I have to do is pick up the bottle and he is gone! he is so much better behaved and I sleep better! and he only comes in to wake me up when the alarm goes off.

Answer 3

If he's a full tom, he should be spraying all over the place. If he's been altered, he's just needy and bored at night. Remember, cats are nocturnal animals, and boy cats are genetically made to roam and yowl at night. Leave the door cracked so he can get in. There is something about a closed door that makes my male cat go into a scratching frenzy. He just wants the door open. If I leave the door cracked so he can come and go, it seems to satisfy him.

Answer 4

As the owner of four cats and having a very demanding job (and thus a need for full sleep), I've learned this trick. It may seem mean, but it works.

Take said cat, stick him under the tub faucet, and run a quick dash of cold water down his back. He will be occupied for hours licking himself and will not feel the need to wake you again. I did this with Corey, my orange cat, and he was cured of the annoying habits within 4 dunks.

Avoid the head and ears. If you do the tail area instead, it doesn't take as long to dry himself.

Yes, I know, mean, but you really DO have to sleep each night.

Answer 5

I have two female cats, and I think the black one is in heat or something, it cries pitifully all day and night and has been doing so for weeks. How long does heat last. and prime time for them is 11:30 p.m., They run like horses through the house, I swear.

I have a room with a door where their food and litter is kept, when they get really bad, I grab them both and put in the room and shut the door. It's an addition to the house and opposite where we sleep.

Answer 6

My cats do the same thing! As soon as I close my door they both go nuts. I suggest keeping them up a little more during the day if they sleep all day and maybe give them a little bit of food to fill up their bellys to sleep. You can also try spraying them with water in a water bottle. lol!

Answer 7

You could try a pheromone diffuser that plugs into an electric outlet like Feliway. I used it to keep cats from fighting once and it seemed to calm them down.

With my cats, I just learned you can't try to keep them out of the bedroom at night.

I also sleep with a fan turned on high to block out any noise they might make before I'm ready to get up.

Answer 8

Set up his bed farther away where you can close the door and the meowing is more distant. Eventually the cat will figure out that it is hopeless and will eventually be less needy in the night.

Answer 9

Is you cat de-sexed? 'Cos my cat did the same thing when it was on heat. But even after the operation, it still occasionally cries at night. My temporary solution is, shut it in a room with lots of food, toys n kitty litter, as far away from your room as possible.
Or, you could just get some ear plugs.

Answer 10

Cats sleep all day long. Try keeping them busy during the day so they will be tired when you are. My cats do the same thing but I have a 3 level house. SO try playing with them during the day.