how to stop cat from meowing at night | why is my cat meowing at night

As a cat owner, you might be frustrated. why is my cat meowing at night? And how to stop cat from meowing at night. Yes, it disturbs your and your family’s sleep and can be depressive. But you are not the only one who is facing this problem. All cat parents have to face this problem.

Relax! The problem of cat meowing is not constant, but first of all, you have to know what could be the reason behind it, then you will be able to end this problem very soon and give a peaceful sleep to yourself and your family. In this article, you will find the reasons and all the solutions why a cat makes noise at night, by which you can definitely stop your cat from meowing at night.

why is my cat meowing at night?

Figuring out why is my cat meowing so much at night can be a bit confusing and frustrating. If the cat becomes very vocal in the middle of the night, the root cause needs to be identified first. Here are some common reasons:

Due to a new place or environment

If you have recently brought a cat or kitten into your home, it may become more vocal at night. Cats are very choosy and it takes some time for them to adapt to a new environment. Kittens also make more noise when separated from their mother and siblings. This is a prevalent condition for which you do not need to worry. It becomes normal within 3 to 5 days and adjusts to the new place. Sometimes it may take up to 5 to 7 days.

Attention-Seeking Behavior

Sometimes cats meow to get your attention. In such a situation, if you respond to their meow at that time in the form of food, treat or petting, then it becomes their habit and they start meowing every day at midnight. In such a situation, you have to ignore their meow. If the cat is still meowing continuously, then you need to think about some other reason.

Boredom

Cats, like their wild ancestors, are active at night. If your cat doesn’t get enough playtime during the day, it may look for entertainment at night due to its high energy level and may meow out of boredom. Make sure your cat gets proper exercise and playtime during the day. For this, you can use interactive toys that will stimulate their mental and facial health and maintain their energy levels.

Anxiety or Stress

Cats do not like changes in routine or environment and when they get this change, they go into a state of stupor and meow loudly at night. Cats are social and like to interact with other pets or humans. They feel lonely when they do not get attention, which is a big reason for them being vocal at night.

In such a condition, you can give time to your cat or keep it with a friendly cat or dog so that it does not feel lonely. This will help them get rid of the habit of new cat meowing at night.

Thirst or Hunger

If the cat does not have a proper night meal, it may wake up in the middle of the night due to hunger or thirst. It is important to follow a feeding schedule and keep clean water available at all times. If the litter box and water bowl are in another room and the cat does not have access to them because the door is closed, it may meow at night.

Discomfort and Medical Issues

Pain, cognitive dysfunction (common in older cats), or any other health problem can cause cats to meow a lot at midnight. This meowing is a way to express their pain through long and deep meowing. If they do this during the day as well as at night, you should take them to the vet as soon as possible.

If your cat goes out, they may have eaten something poisonous and want to throw it out by vomiting. From my self-observation over the years, I have noticed that my cat often meows loudly before vomiting and becomes relaxed and calm after vomiting.

On seeing an unknown cat

If your cat meows on the roof or balcony, it is probably because it is in front of a street cat. It meows loudly to warn the cat in front of it for its territory. Cats, like their wild counterparts, are territorial creatures and fight over territory. Male cats are more prone to exhibit this form of meowing.

Cat meowing in heat at night

Often single cats look for a partner for mating when they become adults, and they make their presence known to other cats by meowing at night. If a male cat is meowing in heat, then there are many other symptoms of this, the most important of which is urine spray, Male cats spray their urine at various places to attract female cats.

A female cat meowing in heat at night is because she is ready to conceive, for which she looks for a partner.

how to stop cat from meowing at night

It is common for cats to be active at night which can be quite annoying for owners especially if you have a cat for the first time. But there are some ways you can keep your cat calm and let it sleep well.

Feeding schedule: Try to give the cat its last meal of the day sometime before your bedtime so that your cat does not wake up in the middle of the night due to hunger. Some cats like frequent meals and eat small quantities more often. In such a case, you can use an automatic feeder which will keep providing feed to them according to the time. This will allow the cat to go and eat itself without meowing if it feels hungry at night and your sleep will not be disturbed.

Provide enrichment during the day: Give your cat physical stimulation to prevent boredom as a bored cat tends to be vocal. Engage your cat in activities during the day that will maintain stimulation and exercise. Spend time with them using puzzle feeders, and interactive toys that will keep them entertained.
With proper training and care, you can also take them for outdoor walks where they will get to climb trees which cats love.

Ignore the Meowing: If you respond to your cat’s meowing at night, it gets into the habit of being vocal at night. Cats start meowing in demand of reinforcement, so if you ignore them completely, then slowly they understand that they are not getting any result from this. Until you identify a serious issue, you should ignore their meowing because sometimes they meow just to get attention.

Provide a Cat-Friendly Bedroom: Cats like a comfy place to sleep. Give them an orthopedic bed or perch that is soft. A temperature of around 20-24 degrees Celsius is very comfortable for them. They do not sleep well in extreme cold or heat.

Cats do not like loud noises, so give them a quiet space. Avoid keeping your cat in a place with loud music and traffic horns as this can cause stress.

Consider a Second Cat: A single cat starts meowing in loneliness because during the day the owner or family’s activities keep going on around it but at night it feels lonely due to complete silence. In such a case, you can keep a friendly dog ​​or calm cat breeds like Persian, Himalayan and other pets with them.

A new cat or dog should be introduced to your cat very carefully as both cats can become aggressive and fight and can harm each other.

Health Check Importance: If you see a behavior change, you should consult a veterinarian. Your cat may be in pain due to which it meows at night. Cats have to go through a lot of pain with hyperthyroidism, arthritis, and dental problems. Their health can be monitored with regular vet check-ups and many health problems can also be prevented.

Spay and Neuter: If you are wondering does neutering a cat calm them down? Then yes spaying and neutering can stop a cat from meowing at night if the reason behind it is heat. This needs to be done before the kitten’s puberty period which involves the surgical removal of the ovaries and usually the uterus in female cats and the testes in male cats. The recommended age for spaying and neutering a cat by the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) is 1 month.

How does spaying a cat calm them down

First, it is important to know whether your male or female cat is meowing in heat. There can be many symptoms some of which are as follows.

• Changes in behavior
• Shaving
• Aggression
• Hissing
• Licking genital parts
• Lower appetite
• Spraying urine outside the litter box
• Excessive vocalizations
• Trying to go out of the house

Neutering reduces the chances of infections and communicable diseases. By getting your cat neutered at the right time, the cat does not develop the feeling of intimacy which reduces their physical desire. And the cat becomes very calm and gentle. The health of the cat also improves after spaying and neutering.

Pro Tips

• If you are adopting a cat for the first time, consider a gentle and calm cat like a Persian cat, Himalayan cat or Ragdoll cat.
• Wear earplugs or use a white noise machine to block out the nightly meows.
• Don’t buy a kitten younger than 10 weeks.