We got a new cat from a shelter 4 weeks ago and she meows all the time. What can we do?

Question

We have another cat and they get along fine and are even starting to play. Our new cat is very sweet and lovable. The meowing during the day is no big deal (a little unnerving) but at night she roams the house and meows almost constantly. I keep telling myself she will stop meowing all night when she gets used to her new home (she was in a shelter for 2 years). We bought night lights.

Answer 1

Good for you for adopting an adult cat! Since she was in a shelter for so long, she's probably used to meowing and not getting a reaction from anyone. Even though it's very annoying to you, it means nothing to her. She needs a lot of handling and reassurance right now. She is still pretty new to your house so she's still checking it out. Most likely the meowing will slow down as she gets more used to her new home and starts picking up normal sleeping habits.

Answer 2

That poor little thing - so long to have lived only in a cage. She seems to have made a good adjustment otherwise to her new home. She should probably be confined to a smaller space for the nighttime. Can both the cats have a room to themselves at bedtime?

Rescue Remedy is really something that is very good to use with cats that come from shelters. You can get a bottle for $16 at a health food store. It is really wonderful for a cat displaying this behavior. You just shake the bottle very well and put three or four drops on the fur between her ears. Treat her four times a day at least for the next ten days. It should help her quiet down. The effect of the flower essences are intensified by frequent applications. So continue to treat for the ten day period even if she seems to be getting better. The flower essences are for emotional balancing and can do no harm so you can continue to treat as long as you feel necessary.

Answer 3

wow good for you bring home a shelter cat. Is she spayed if not she might be in heat this will cause her to meow all the time and yes it is unnerving. Other than that you might try giving her a safe place at night like a cage (I know she just got out of jail) with her being there 2 yrs maybe this is what she is used to . Try getting ahold of the shelter and see if she acted this way there and see what they did for her if any thing.Or call a vet maybe she has a problem she is trying to tell you about.

Answer 4

She may be lonely at night and it may take some time to stop the behavior. I found this from a cat expert:

Cats are nocturnal. They're most active during the night and twilight hours.

If you have a spare room, laundry room, or bathroom you could keep him in with food, litter and water, overnight, do that. He will certainly be upset at first. However, it does work to train most cats. After a couple months, they change their sleeping habits to coincide with their owners'.

I always recommend that cats be kept with other cats, too, if feasible. They'll keep each other company throughout the night. I have one cat who cries all night long if she's not with another cat. We put one of the other cats out of the bedroom with her (because she sucks on my neck at night!), and she's fine.

If the behavior continues, you may want to consult a vet or animal behaviorist about separation anxiety. There may be exercises you can do to help stop this behavior. Last of all, an anti-anxiety medication might benefit him. This can usually be discontinued after a few months, once the behavior has been controlled.

Answer 5

After 2 years in a shelter, she probably isn't used to being alone. I adopted a kitten that was left with her mother way too long, and if we ever left her in a room by herself, even for a minute or two, she would cry and cry until she found someone to be with. Human children have the same sort of problem at night if their parents don't get them used to sleeping alone at a young age.

Once she learns that she's safe when she's by herself she'll get better. At her age that will probably take some time, but she'll learn. Do you let her into your bedroom at night? If not, she'll adjust much faster if you do.

Answer 6

Have you tried taking her to bed with you at night?

I'm sure she finds the quiet of the house unsettling...perhaps if you leave a radio or the tv on in the room she typically spends the most time in at night it would help?

I had one foster cat that meowed constantly throughout the night, but that was because she had just been separated from her kittens. She meowed and meowed, and she looked in every nook and cranny in the house for them. Perhaps your new one is looking for her shelter buddies?

Answer 7

She's probably a little scared at night, maybe even lonely, because everybody's asleep and quiet. Shelter cats sometimes take longer to adjust to a new home, especially after being in a shelter for so long. Acknowledge her when she meows and see if she wants to nap with you. She'll adjust eventually.

Answer 8

The cat is probably going through a depression phase right now, yes this does happen to animals. Can you shut your bedroom door and keep the cat in the same room and try to get it to sleep with you to show comfort?

Answer 9

Can't she sleep in a caged in area.
She's not used to all that freedom.
I would set things up for her just as if she
was in a Shelter. A night light...
I would leave the door open in the day time.

Answer 10

She must be sick. Have her examined by a Vet. A blood test will cost you less than $200. Probably, she has a high blood pressure problem due to hyperthyroidism just like my cat. A tablet taken twice daily will calm her down.