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Question
Hi I have a 1 year old male indoor cat, he is neutered and gets everything he wants food,toys attention etc. I adopted him from the local shelter, he was very scared and shy but thankfully has come round he can stll be a bit jumpy from time to time.At the beginning he was'nt very vocal, recently he got out and went off for a few hours when he came back he was dirty and smelly, and had some scratches on his neck nothing serious. Lately for the last month he has meowed all night, even during the day at times. I've tried to ignore him but he gets louder, I've tried playing with him before he goes to bed, but he'll still wake in the early hours and meow all night. I live in an apartment and I dont know what to do as if he keeps at it I'll have to give him up or I'll lose the apartment. There was some stray cats and kittens that would come up and play outside the back door of my apartment and he would meow at them, but they havent been around in ages and his meowing has gotten worse!I could let him out for a few hours but I'm worried he might get badly hurt. I am very upset about having to lose him and want to avoid it if possible!!! Can you please help and give me some advice on how to stop him meowing?
Elaine,
I would strongly suggest that you take this cat to the vet and have him thoroughly examined including blood work and a urine test to rule out any possible medical issues prior to trying to stop the behavior. I don't think that this kitty is doing this just to irritate you, he's obviously trying to communicate something, the trick is to find out what he's trying to say...A bit more history would be helpful....Any details that the shelter was able to provide combined with a general summary of his behavior since you've been his caregiver would be helpful...
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Answers by Expert:
Ali
Expertise
I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.
Experience
I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.
Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.
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