My cat is keeping me awake at night, miaowing and being a pain! What can I do?

Question

I got two rescue cats a month ago. They're both flat cats, have never been out, and can't go out of my flat either because I live by a busy road.

One of them was ill with cat flu when we got them, so she had to go back to the rescue centre to get over it for almost three weeks. In the mean time, the other cat really settled in. He's quite a noisy character, but would sleep through the night on our bed without disturbing us.

Since the other cat came back, he's turned into a right terror. He leaps on her and attacks her (seems to be in a playful, not aggressive way) all the time, even though they grew up together and were fine before she went away.

At night, he's started messing around and miaowing for attention. We've tried shutting him out of the bedroom but he just scratches at the door and miaows outside.

Does anyone know how we can get him to chill out again? I could never take him back because I'm too attached now, but it's like having a new born baby! We can't sleep!

Yes, he has been neutered. I think he may be part siamese (he's very long and lanky with a pointy face) and I've heard those can be very vocal. He 'talks' all day too, but it doesn't bother me unless I'm trying to sleep!

Answer 1

There are a few things you could try-

Has he been neutered? This usually chills out cats especially young Toms.

Are you feeding him food for indoor cats? Royal Canin has a very informative nutrition section on there web page http://www.royalcanin.co.uk/

Make sure you play with him for ages before bed to tire him out and show him that you like giving him attention as he may feel left out as the other cat has been getting attention because of her illness.

Answer 2

As the last person mentionned, if your cat is not neutered you should get it done as boys tend to become much less vocal afterwards. If that's already done - and since you got him from a shelter i'm assuming it has try the following:

Tie some empty cans (or anything else that's noisy) with a very long string. leave the cans outside of your bedroom door and close the door for the night leaving both cats in the rest of the home. When kitty comes over to the door to meow loudly or scratch just pull the string. The noise will most likely discourage him from continuing the behaviour. I read this advice a while back online and it's proven really helpful with a couple of cats. Hope you get a good night's sleep!

Answer 3

Unfortunately most cats like to get up into faces to sleep or around the neck area because of body heat. I would put some food or toys with catnip outside the bedroom so you can get some rest. The cat may be bored or hungry. Also build a scratching post with an upward perch on it so the cats can claim it as their own.

Answer 4

I ts obviously attention seeking!! our cat was the same when we got a new kitten
She is just looking for all the attention she got when she was the onlt cat there. Now there are two there is obvious jealousy between them. You will just have to do things in twos, when you pick one cat up your partner will have to pick up the other, If bend over to give one attention and a rub, dont forget the other one either. Could be a bit tedious for a while but once she realises shes not being forgotten she will settle down again to the way things used to be.
Hope this helps:)

Answer 5

My cat has tried to do the same thing off and on. I try to keep my cat awake when I am around. When he is sleeping when I am around and not at work, I play with him and wear him out and that seems to work.

When he did that at night, he would originally come to bed with me and wait one minute (not all the time), then get up, go in the other room and just start wailing. I punished him by getting up and chasing him and yelling Bad and NO NO. If he does that on occasion any more, all I have to do is get up and yell NO NO he stops. Then in about 5 minutes he decides to come back to bed and purr next to my face since I won't get back out of bed like he really wanted me to. The playing with him with a stick that has a string that he loves to jump and flip and catch that wears him out works well. My kitten is now 9 months old and I adopted him from the Humane Society at the age of two months old. I only have one kitten and I couldn't have two since my kitten has a contagious kitty virus. He has to be an only kitten.

Best wishes to you and your new family.

Answer 6

I totally know what you are going through. For months the same happened to my cat.Ilove him to bits by the way. I was letting him out at night then i'd be woken 3 or 4 times a night (he would meow outside our bedroom window, yes he knew where we slept)with him wanting in then out then wanting fed! Then i thought NO i'm not doing this anymore! It really was like having a baby! So now most nights I put him in the spare room!!Occassionally I let him out at night.He still goes out through the day! Now i sleep so much better. Good luck, don't let that cat control your life.

Answer 7

discipline is important. you need to be firm with your cat. close your doors at night and let the cat sleep somewhere else besides your bedroom. Eventually, the cat will stop meowing and being a pain. Don't give in to the cat. get some ear plugs.

Answer 8

if he hasnt been neutered, then thats what you should do first. if he has, then all this might be his was of trying to get attention from you. its a lot of trouble but get up at night for a bit and pet him and try to calm him down. cats are like children sort of. mine thinks she is one of the kids and acts like it too. so, your cat is vying for your attention, give it to him. good luck.

Answer 9

I think Miaowing in the night is the signs that they want milk or foods.....Just feed em before you go to bed.Im sure they will be calm

Answer 10

My cat does this sometimes i let her sleep in my bed or i put her bed next to the radiator at nite or i just tell her to wheesht!