Seriously, if my cat meows one more time...

[huskerlaw]

ok, no, I won't hurt him in any way, but it's beyond annoying.

Here's the deal. My cat Riley is a 2 year old neutered male. He's always had a habit of walking around the apartment meowing right before I go to bed. Until recently, he only did this for about 10 minutes, then he'd be quiet for the rest of the night.

I moved across the country 6 weeks ago. The meowing increased, but was still under control. About 2 weeks ago, a stray cat showed up on my balcony. I've been feeding it, outdoors. StrayCat usually shows up about nightfall (5-6pm), eats, and leaves. Ever since then, Riley has started meowing like a banshee...when I go to bed, as before, but far more loudly and for far longer than 10 minutes. And also at about 4 am. He barely ever meows during the day. It's driving me insane.

I've tried telling him to be quiet. I've tossed him in the bathroom until he calms down (I don't want to leave him in there all night as it's fairly small and completely dark), I've tried ignoring him. I even tried squirting him with a water gun. Nothing works. Nothing appears to be wrong with him either, I've tried giving him new food right before bed, refilling the water dish, cleaning the litter box...aaargh.

So...any thoughts about why he's doing this? How to make him stop?

Thanks!

[ET Awful]

1. Try Rescue Remedy possibly. Might calm him down. Same with

Feliway. They may both mellow him out a bit. The thing is he's now in a new place, and it deosn't smell or feel familiar. Feliway will make it smell more like home to him (if I'm not mistaken, it's a simulation of the pheremones that cats rub off when they rub their face on everything).

He's just stressed the poor little guy.

Rescue Remedy:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3550&rel=1

Feliway:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8906&cm_mmc=Shopping%20Portal-_-Froogle-_-Cats-_-Comfort%20Zone%20Plug-In%20Refill&OVMKT=K3QPUMA15VGJPI32VHS07EP4RS&ref=3312&subref=AA&GCID=C12188x003&ctt=60

[huskerlaw]

4. Thanks!

I just ordered Feliway...I hope it works!

[IndyOp]

2. Exactly what ET Awful said - Feliway & Rescue Remedy -

They can make a BIG difference helping Riley adjust to his new world.

New toys are also good (including automated toys) and so is your playing with him vigorously for 30-45 minutes about an hour before your bedtime.

Da Bird (You have to play too)
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11643&rel=1

Swatical (Cat activated)
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13122&inm=1&N=2002+113121+2035

Cat Attack - Has Gotten Rave Reviews Here at DU (Automated)
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12910&N=2002+113121

Catnip Toys and Treats (Take catnip away at least an hour before bed)
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/NavResults.cfm?N=2002+113614

If you want to be nominated for 'awesome cat person of the year' you might think about getting a second cat who will keep Riley company - cats know how to keep each other busy and happy.

[huskerlaw]

5. I just ordered

Feliway, thanks for the 2nd recommendation. :)

I've filed the cat toy suggestions away for future reference, at this point he has more toys than he knows what to do with!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. It's stress, poor thing.

Whatever you do, don't punish him; he's "crying" because he's stressed about his new home and the stray cat outside. Yelling at him and squirting him with water will only stress him more -- it's like spanking a little child for crying! Get some Feliway or go to the vet and see if they can't give him some kind of tranquilizer.

[huskerlaw]

6. I didn't punish him

for over a week, but he wasn't responding to anything else. I felt bad, but at the same time, I need sleep. I don't really "yell" at him...more like, "Riley. Honey, be quiet" and the water gun, well...I aimed at his tail. ;) The bathroom was more of an attempt to calm him down than a punishment... But I do get what you're saying.

What I don't get, is if it's all stress, why did it take nearly a month to fully manifest itself? He seemed perfectly content for the first few weeks. I realize that StrayCat threw another thing at him, but he doesn't really react to StrayCat...the meowing happens long after StrayCat is gone.

Thanks for your advice. I've ordered Feliway, and hopefully that will do the trick. :)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Cats are weird. I think sometimes stuff just builds up and they sort of

snap. I have a cat who, when I first brought him home, wandered around the house and howled and howled and howled...

MEOW
MEOW
MEOW
MEOW

for about three days and he just drove me nuts. Eventually he stopped, but, um, I feel your pain. Another cat I had some years ago would come unhinged after he saw another cat outside, but not right away. It's like he had to think about it for awhile, then he'd start to howl. Good luck with Riley. I'm sure he'll settle down.

[newsguyatl]

7. good luck with riley

let us know if feliway does the trick

[Lorien]

11. Didn't Nikko drive you nuts before you got Jesse?

I think Riley needs a buddy!

[Eurobabe]

9. Have his hearing checked

I told my vet that my older cat meows really loud all the time too, and he said he is probably deaf.

[Lorien]

10. Sounds like a bored and /or needy cat to me

especially since he did it to a degree before you moved. My young cats get a little nutty right before I head off to bed, and I think it's because I usually won't let them sleep with me- so they get stressed about being without me for seven hours (I work at home). They want that last bit of attention. I play with each of them for a few minutes before heading to bed; that usually calms them down a bit. Also-my older cat Miro meowed incessantly for weeks after I lost my kitty Peewee two years ago. Once he got Oberon as a new companion, he was quiet and fairly content. Consider getting another cat; often two are less trouble than one if the one you have feels needy or is easily bored (a problem with younger cats).

[huskerlaw]

12. I would love to get another cat

but my apartment only allows one. :(

[meow2u3]

14. We're both in the same boat

My Boots is driving me up a tree with his clinginess, meowing to go out, and waking me up in the middle of the night to play. I can't even go out to the store without his chewing me out when I come back home!

I'd like to get him a companion cat--preferably a spayed female--but not only does my apartment allow me just one cat, but also I don't think I can afford to care for two animals.

[Lisa0825]

13. I wonder if Feliway would work on my nose?!

Leo is completely obsessed with my nose! A little kiss on the nose is fine by me, but he wants to lick the skin right off! He wakes me up in the middle of the night purring like a lawnmower and licking my nose. If I roll over, he crawls over me. I end up sleeping with the covers over my head until it gets too stuffy. I wonder if Feliway is safe for use on human noses?LOL :shrug: