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About Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too.
Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again.
Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
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* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Cats > Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral) > Talkive Kitty
Expert: Dear Tabbi - 10/27/2009
Question
Hi
I have a 4year old cat. In the last month or so shes has been meowing none stop either very early in the moring or very late at night (when were in bed). I'll call her name she'll give me a few happy chearps and then she'll stop. (shes spadded so she cant be in heat)I'm just wondering why shes been doing this? It just not like her
Thanks for the help
Stacy M.
Answer
Stacy,
Could there be a slight chance that she is going (or is) deaf? The meowing behavior at night usually happens when everyone is in bed and there are not any movements to cause vibrations to let the cat know where his 'people' are and they get confused and cry. I'm including this information to cover the possibilities.
It is also possible that she is seeing or hearing stray cats or nocturnal creatures out the window and is reacting to that.
Actually her actions are a common behavior problem. You need to change your routine with the cat and get her used to the new one. It is a habit she may have had with a previous owner.
Play with her right before you go to bed. A pet laser light is an excellent interactive toy (you can get them at PetSmart, Petco, etc.) A good play session before bedtime will tire her out, which is essential for a good nights sleep for you both!
Then give the her a can of catfood after you play with her, just before you go to bed. That way she will have a full tummy, be tired from playing, and should sleep longer.
The way to stop her waking you up is to ignore her. COMPLETELY! It is very difficult to do and annoying, but you can NOT acknowledge her actions in ANY way. She will EVENTUALLY stop when she doesn't get any reaction or attention from you. You have to be consistent though. If you even react once to her, then it won't work and it will be worse because the cat will know if she does it long enough eventually you WILL react, so she will keep it up longer.
DO NOT punish the cat. She is only trying to get your attention and tell you her wants the only way she knows how. If some behavior got your attention before, then that is how she will do it again...and again.
I hope this helps and gives you some ideas how to go about stopping her wakeup calls.
Tabbi
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