In this article we will talk about the reasons why a cat yells at night, how to behave with a screaming animal, and whether it needs to be punished. Let's figure out how to stop a cat from yelling, what methods exist and what not to do.
Sometimes cats can irritate even a patient owner. The behavior of a cat is especially annoying when it starts screaming at night. Sometimes it seems that the cat behaves this way out of harm. But to find a solution to this problem, you need to understand why even a neutered cat screams in a bad voice at night. Let's figure it out.
Sometimes domestic cats can irritate even a patient owner
Reasons why a cat screams at night
It’s not difficult to cope with your pet’s nightly “concerts”. You just need to find out the reason for such strange behavior. Some animals are “talkative” by nature and can yell, commenting on any event, be it a flying fly or an overfilled tray. Others - convinced silent people - yell only in emergency cases, when it is truly vital. Let's try to understand the reasons for the behavior of both.
- Hormonal surges
If your cat was not sterilized on time, the heartbreaking screams that initially made you jump on your bed in a pre-heart attack state will soon become firmly part of your daily routine. The neighboring uncastrated cats, who regularly gather under the windows of your house and delight you with nightly serenades, answer her no less loudly. Only urgent sterilization can change the situation. If you are going to start breeding cats, all you have to do is find a suitable spouse for your pet, then for some time you will be able to sleep completely peacefully.
- Pet disease
Your elderly cat was spayed a long time ago, but suddenly resumed her nightly concerts? Be sure to show her to your veterinarian. Such cries may indicate some kind of disease or nervous disorder, which is sometimes found in old animals. Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to cure a cat, however, with the help of properly selected medications, you can maintain the animal in adequate condition for a long time.
Sometimes animals scream loudly when experiencing severe pain - for example, in the stomach. If your cat is healthy, he completely calmly allows you to feel his stomach, without showing the slightest resistance.
Neutered older cats may cry due to urolithiasis, in which the process of emptying the bladder causes severe pain.
It often happens that a sterilized cat suddenly starts screaming, demanding a cat. Sometimes this happens - for example, if part of the ovary was not removed. In this case, you must definitely consult a veterinarian.
- Parasites
Has the always balanced, not too active cat become restless and scream loudly? It is possible that it is time to worm it. Just in case, take him to the vet.
- To attract attention
Does your pet scream at night for no reason? He may be trying his best to get your attention. "For what?" - you ask. Let's say the day before you took him into your bed and now he protests against his modest couch, resolutely preferring the vast expanses of the master's bed to such spartan conditions. Or maybe you treated him to something forbidden, and therefore especially tasty, and the little sly one wants to continue the banquet. Some owners take the path of least resistance, giving the cat a coveted piece of sausage at an inopportune hour or allowing the cat to spend the night snoring blissfully in a duvet cover. But it's better not to do this. Cats are notorious manipulators. Once the owner shows weakness, the next time it will no longer be a request, but a demand.
- Sense of anxiety
Sometimes cats start screaming, anticipating a natural disaster or some tragic event in the life of their owners. There are widely known cases where pets used shrill screams to warn their owners about a fire, a gas leak, or an approaching earthquake.
House cats often scream, signaling that a severe cold snap is approaching. If your cat either jumps onto your lap, meowing anxiously and looking into your face, or dives under the blanket, and does this repeatedly, do not waste time - take care of insulating your home. Intuition never fails our pets.
Many cat owners pay attention to the fact that their pets begin to scream heart-rendingly when uninvited guests approach, with whom their owners are at odds.
- Battle for territory
Cats, laying claim to their territory, place pungently smelling marks everywhere. But not only that. The cat, which nature has endowed with powerful lungs, screams in a guttural voice, warning the cats living nearby that they do not dare cross the border of the territory generously sprayed by him. Cats do this especially often when they change their place of residence.
- Yearning
Little kittens, left too early without their mother and not having time to get used to their new home, often cry at night, asking for attention and affection. Please be a little patient! Try to calm the baby down, stroke him gently, talk to him. If it's convenient for you, place your kitten's bed next to your bed to make him feel safe. Cover your kitten with a wool blanket to keep him warm and calm, and be sure to pet him from time to time to let him know you're nearby. Very soon your little pet will get used to it and stop crying at night.
Screams of young cats and cats
Young, sexually mature, uncastrated cats begin their calls closer to spring - in February or March, calling for a partner. If you do not plan to get offspring from your animal, the easiest way to stop nocturnal yelling is to castrate your pet.
By doing this, you will only improve the quality of his life, eliminating possible negative consequences (pyometra in cats, territorial markings of cats), and lengthen his life.
Other causes of loud screaming may include:
The desire to attract attention - this is how cats can beg for a treat, demand to open a closed door, demand to play.
Anxious state - cats sense the approach of a natural disaster or weather change within a few days, and can scream to wake up their owners if there is a fire in the house or with neighbors.
The struggle for dominance in a pride - if there are several cats in the house and more than one stud cat, a young cat can find out with an older one “who is boss” even without a fight, just loud screams.
Not everyone reacts to the behavior of their owners; unfortunately, owners treat their pets adequately. If a cat is beaten or shouted at, then in response the cat may begin to show aggression towards the owner (pressed ears, raised fur on the spine, a heart-rending scream coupled with jumping sideways - indicate that the cat perceives the owner as an enemy, which must be driven away).
What to do?
A distraction strategy can stop the night cries of a young animal that are not associated with a spring hormonal surge: keep the cat awake in the evening, amusing him and yourself with active play with running around and simulating hunting; before going to bed, feed him generously, preferably meat (it takes longer to digest).
If this does not help, you can use plant-based drops (Cat Bayun), the Feliway system, or other sedatives.
When getting a pet, you need to remember that it is easier to teach than to retrain. If you don’t want problems with a cat crying at night, teach your baby order from the first day in the house.
How to deal with a cat screaming at night - instructions
When a cat, who until recently behaved completely calmly, begins to scream at night, the first thing to do is show him to an experienced veterinarian. Only a specialist can help you understand the reasons for your pet’s restless behavior.
If your unneutered cat screams at night, what to do in this case is dictated by simple logic: let the poor guy go free. True, there are products on sale that help cope with sexual desire. However, they can only be used as an exception, since they can cause serious damage to your pet’s health. In the future, it is advisable to neuter the cat in order to once and for all protect yourself from sleepless nights, and protect your pet from injury and even death.
And if a castrated cat screams at night, what should you do then? Perhaps not much time has passed since the operation and the hormonal changes in the body have not yet completed. Only patience can help here. Soon the nightly shouting should stop.
But it also happens that in the middle of the night a sterilized cat, who has forgotten even to think about breeding, suddenly starts screaming. Most likely, she just got bored. If you have other pets, they will quickly call the night owl to order. All you have to do is arm yourself with a ball or string and play a little with your pet. Of course, you won’t do this every night; you also need to rest. The best way out is to play properly before bed, then your furry fidget will sleep very soundly.
The cat screams when no one is home - reasons
If your pet starts screaming when no one is home, you have a long and patient job ahead of you.
need to start by recognizing the problem. It is important for you to make a firm decision to correct your pet’s behavior, because if you act inconsistently and irregularly, your pet’s behavior problems will only get worse
Before you begin to correct behavior, you need to find a stimulus that will motivate the cat to the desired actions. Depending on your pet’s temperament, you can use the following as motivation:
- Delicacy.
- A toy or game.
- Affection.
It is important to understand that cats do not obey those who do not love them. It may be hard to believe, but four-legged animals are very good at sensing human intentions.
If you are irritated and very angry with your pet, it is better to silently go into another room and close the door.
Interesting communication with your pet will allow you to establish strong interpersonal contact and quickly achieve what you want from your cat.
Your cat may be crying alone because he's bored. Make sure your pet has ways to have fun and compensate for natural needs:
A scratching post allows you to let off steam, sharpen your claws, leave scent marks and brighten up your leisure time.
Small toys are a great method of entertainment for young cats who love to scratch and pretend to hunt.
The gaming complex is a must-have accessory for owners of cats of active breeds. Typically, a play complex consists of several scratching posts, platforms, hanging toys and shelters.
The next important step is setting priorities. The cat must understand that the main thing in the house is the owner. In addition, the pet must clearly distinguish between your reactions. Simply put, if you are unhappy, you need to express it in such a way that the pet is sure to understand you. In order for the four-legged dog to understand the contrast between positive behavior and negative reactions, it must be praised often.
Try to play with your pet as much and as often as possible, as this is the most reliable way to spend energy. Be sure to use safe, familiar accessories for play. In this case, your pet will have the opportunity to have fun independently and in the usual way, even if you are not at home.
How not to behave
Of course, the patience of any person is by no means unlimited. Your cat has been treated kindly, fed, watered, neutered - and still continues to scream? Do not rush to grab a broom or, even worse, raise your voice at your pet. Violent measures will not help here. The cat may become frightened or offended, and in this case he may begin to take revenge. It is almost impossible to predict exactly how. Animals are subtle psychologists. They know your most vulnerable spots very well. Rest assured, this will not end peacefully. New wallpaper torn to shreds, puddles in the bed and unattractive piles in shoes are just a small part of what an angry cat is capable of.
Therefore, we kindly request you! – don’t make your life more difficult by punishing him. Try to understand the reason for his behavior and do everything possible to eliminate it.
Veterinarian advice
You can calm a cat that regularly yells at night with the help of medications or folk remedies, but veterinarians advise not to abuse either one. It may well be that the reason for your pet’s yelling lies in adaptation to the new home, fear of strangers (if you have guests), aggression towards other four-legged residents. The best remedy against yelling in this case is affection and attention.
If you nevertheless decide to resort to a sedative, veterinarians advise:
- do not abuse such drugs, as they are quickly addictive, and in the worst case, lead to serious health problems;
- closely monitor your pet’s well-being - the slightest signs of illness in the form of excessive drowsiness, nausea or vomiting may indicate an atypical reaction of the body to any component;
- Don’t buy a drug just because it helps your neighbor’s dog—the same dose will have different effects on animals of different species, sizes, and genders.
Before purchasing any sedative for your cat, be sure to consult with your veterinarian.
What can't you do?
If the owner takes all the necessary measures - pays attention to the cat, plays and walks with it, feeds and waters it, but the animal continues to howl at night, such behavior can drive anyone out. In such a situation, the main thing is to control yourself and remember that a cat will never yell for no reason. If your pet screams, it means something is bothering him.
It is strictly forbidden to hit, throw or pour water on a cat, since in any case it will not understand what it did to deserve such treatment.
Folk remedies for fighting orom
The nightly concerts of pets get on the nerves so much that their owners, despairing of finding a radical remedy, are finding their own ways to calm the “singers”:
- Spray bottle with water . It has been noticed that if you specifically spray water on a cat’s tail, its owner will have no time for songs. For some time he will be busy licking his main decoration and will calm down for a while. If after this he starts yelling again, threaten him with a spray gun. Most likely, the cat will hide in a secluded shelter and soon fall asleep.
- A game. If your pet is not in nature and is forced to spend all his time within four walls, he has no way to relieve excess energy. Outdoor games can help with this - only, of course, not at night, but shortly before you go to bed. Having had a good run and relieved the accumulated tension, your pet will sleep without its hind legs. If you have neither the energy nor the time to play, hang two or three toys near you on strong laces - the cat, rejoicing that you are watching him, will happily catch them, and having had enough fun, he will fall sound asleep.
- Nutrition adjustments . Save the largest portion of cat food for evening feeding. Having properly refreshed himself, the cat will sleep soundly until the morning, completely forgetting about vocal lessons.
Medicines to calm you down
In order to calm an angry cat, there are many medications:
- calming tablets;
- drops;
- solutions for injections.
The most popular of them:
- Fitex - soothing drops with motherwort, valerian and hops, help relieve stress and normalize heart function;
- Stop-stress – quite strong tablets and drops that reduce the activity of the animal’s brain, but are not addictive;
- Cat Bayun is a powerful sedative in the form of a solution and tablets, intended to relieve aggression (especially in cases where the cat is marking the apartment and is overly nervous), as well as to relieve estrus in cats.
All other drugs pose a danger to the health of cats, so it is better not to use them.
