Cats are famous for being ste althy animals and very quiet, but sometimes they can become really insistent with their meows. The vast majority of the time, these cats meow with the aim of getting our attention and trying to communicate something to us, and the moment, place or person who is present when they do so can give us some clues about what the cat needs.
If your cat meows at night, whether it's an adult or a puppy, in this article on our site we help you discoverwhy it does it and how you can act to avoid it, don't miss it!
Insecurity during the adaptation process
If your puppy or adult kitten has been adopted and has only been living with you at home for a short time, still needs to adjust to its new environment and your human family and this is not something that can be achieved overnight.
Cats are very sensitive animals that generally don't tolerate sudden changes in their routines very well, so a move to a new home can be very stressful for them, especially if we are talking about puppies that have been separated from their mother and siblings. It is likely that during the day the cat seems more relaxed because there is more activity at home and he is entertained playing or receiving cuddles from his guardians, but at night, while everyone is sleeping, he may feel lonely, insecure or disoriented, which leads him to meow for attention and companionship. This usually happens, especially if you leave the animal alone at night in a room separate from yours, preventing it from having access to you or its other guardians.
In this other article we explain how long it takes for a cat to adapt to its new home.
Hunger or thirst
The feeding frequency of cats is not the same as that of other species such as dogs. In general, these cats prefer to eat small amounts of food throughout the day and night instead of eating their entire ration in one or two feedings daily. This implies that, at any time of the night, your cat can feel the need to eat and if his bowl is empty, it is very likely that he will notify you through a series of insistent meows. But beware! This style of feeding does not mean that you should give your cat as much food as he asks for, because if your furry is very gluttonous he may end up being overweight. You must get him used to consuming a specific amount, adapted to his age and physical condition.
In the same way, it is very important for a cat to drink enough water and stay properly hydrated, as these animals tend to suffer from kidney problems when they reach a certain age. Therefore, you must ensure that your cat has unlimited access to water both during the day and at night. If you notice that your furry consumes little water, you can encourage him to drink more by using cat fountains or combining his feed with wet or natural food.
Physical discomfort
If the above causes do not apply to you, your cat meows at night and does not let you sleep, it is possible that he is unwell or feels some kind of painNormally, in these cases the animal would meow during the day, but if the behavior starts suddenly it is important to rule out any pathology. Observe your furry looking for signs of pain and, in case of any suspicion of discomfort, go to your veterinarian for a check-up.
On the other hand, there is a possibility that the cat meows because it is cold at night This is more likely to happen in puppies, in breeds with little hair such as the sphynx cat, during the winter months or if the animal sleeps in open areas, with draughts or does not have a blanket or a den to shelter in.
Emotional discomfort
It is possible that your cat does not feel any type of pain or discomfort on a physical level but has an emotional problem that leads him to meow at night. This problem may be present chronically in the animal, as may be the case of stress, or appear suddenly associated with some event, such asfear during a storm.
Changes in the cat's environment, such as the arrival of a new member to the family, the departure of one of them or a reform in the home, can alter the behavior of the cat, which will be more nervous or sensitive than usual. This, if not taken care of correctly, can end up causing long-term stress and, therefore, erratic and unwanted behavior. On the other hand, some specific events can frighten or upset the feline, causing it to meow disconsolately during the day or at night, such as the presence of a visitor unknown to the animal or a fireworks display.
Boredom or lack of stimulation
A very common cause that also explains why a cat meows a lot at night and is restless, especially in young felines, is boredom. Cats are crepuscular animals, which means that their peaks of greatest activity are at dusk and dawn. This, coupled with the fact that they are very energetic felines and hunters who love to play, makes it very common for them to want to interact with their guardians at night, after having spent much of the day sleeping.
In many cases, cats' way of communicating that they are bored is by meowing in front of their pet's bedroom door. guardians and even scratching it. Therefore, if you have noticed that your cat does not stop meowing at your bedroom door at night, it is likely that it demands your attention. Likewise, if the animal sleeps next to its guardians, it is likely to jump on them, "knead" them with its nails, nip at them or rub against them while meowing for attention. In this way, if your cat wakes you up at night, it is also likely to be because of this. Finally, if the cat spends the night alone and locked in a room, there is a good chance that it will get bored and will meow to ask you to open the door and let it out.
It is essential to review the cat's environmental enrichment and offer it enough stimulation during the day to avoid this boredom.
Dirty or inaccessible sandbox
Cats are very clean and scrupulous and most of them can't bear to relieve themselves in a dirty litter box that is already full of urine and feces. In many cases, if the litter is not changed often enough, the cat can completely refuse to use the litter box, which is a problem for both him and for their tutors.
On the other hand, if the litter box is located very close to the animal's food, it is too small, there are fewer litter boxes than cats at home or the feline has trouble accessing it for whatever reason, You can also reject it and, as a consequence, you will become stressed, relieve yourself in inappropriate places or decrease the frequency with which you urinate and defecate, which can harm your he alth.
If your furry friend does not feel comfortable using his litter box, it is likely that he will meow for help, regardless of whether it is daytime or at night
Now then, if the problem is that your cat meows when it goes to the litter box, then we recommend you pay attention to whether it relieves itself normally or, on the contrary, if it has difficulties, since in this case may be suffering from a he alth problem.
Hormonal causes
The cats have their first heat at a very young age, because at five or six months they are already sexually mature and begin to look for a reproductive partner. During heat, cats change their behavior and become more upset, repeatedly rubbing their faces against objects, rolling on the floor, walking with their butts up and meowing a lot, even at night.
For their part, the males, who are already considered sexually mature between four and five months of age,They can detect the scent of a female in heat from several kilometers away and will try to escape from home to access her. This escapist behavior is accompanied by nervousness and powerful meowing during the day and night.
Discover more about heat in cats in this video:
What to do if my cat meows a lot at night?
Listening to your cat's constant meowing in the middle of the night can be really annoying and you've probably thought on many occasions what you can do to avoid it. As always, the first step will be to find the cause of the meow, for which you can review the information provided in this article as many times as you want and, if if you consider it necessary, consult your case with a veterinarian and a feline ethologist who will review the animal and advise you.
You should also keep in mind that cats, like dogs, can learn many behaviors by association so that, if on other occasions, meowing has been useful to your furry to call your attention, this behavior is likely to increase over time and your cat will become more and more insistent. Therefore, it is preferable to address the problem from the root, treat it early and, above all, prevent it.
Here are some tips on what to do if your cat meows at night and how you can calm him down:
- Before you go to sleep, make sure your cat has food, water and access to a clean litter box.
- Play with him before bed and enrich his environment with interactive toys, catnip, scratching posts or towers so he can climb and entertain himself when bored.
- If possible, avoid leaving him locked up alone in a room at night.
- Lower the blinds at night to create a dark environment and isolate it from noises or lights that may startle or alert your cat.
- Buy or build shelters for your furry to hide inside and place a blanket inside to keep them from getting cold or place a mattress or cat cot near yours.
- Use artificial feline pheromones in your cat's environment to calm him down and help him rest better. This is especially useful during adaptation processes and in cats with a tendency to become stressed or frightened.
- If the cause of the meowing is hormonal, castration is the most definitive solution, both in males and females. Of course, before taking the step, consult a veterinarian and an ethologist who will advise you on how and when it is best to carry out the surgery.
