Why does a cat meow and scream at night for no reason?

• Posted by Olesya Vakhraneva
• Date: April 18, 2019

Knowledgeable people claim that a screaming cat can be heard 2–3 kilometers away. Constant meowing in cats can have many reasons, and it is important to know them, because both the health and sometimes the life of the cat and the well-being of the entire family are at stake, since only a Buddhist monk can endure continuous cat screaming.

• 2 Reasons for meowing, depending on the age of the cat
  2.1 Meowing kittens

  2.1.1 Video: why the kitten meows constantly

Reasons for a cat's constant meowing

To eliminate the problem of constant meowing, or excessive vocalization, it is necessary to accurately determine its cause. In cases where a cat has been living in a family for a long time, this is not difficult, since all the features of its behavior are known. The reasons may be different:

• breed inclination - some cat breeds, for example, Siamese and Abyssinian cats, love to “talk” more than others;
• situational conditioning - in a number of situations, a cat attracts a person’s attention, for example, when it cannot open the door, the tray is not cleaned, there is no water in the bowl - very often this is how the cat communicates and indicates an existing external problem;
• character traits and peculiarities of raising a particular cat: the cat may lack communication - you should definitely pay attention to the cat, play with it, talk to it, caress it;
• the cat may be overly impressionable - if there are any changes in the way of life, for example, moving, getting a new pet, change of owner, the cat may become stressed; you should communicate with the cat more often, take care of it, and its anxiety will pass;

  It is necessary to clarify the reason for the constant meowing of cats

• she cannot stand loneliness - a cat can start screaming when left alone for a long time, it is better, of course, not to leave her alone, but as a compromise it is worth offering her more toys or equipping a bed on the windowsill where she can look at the birds (in the same way the aquarium also has the effect);
• requires food outside of school hours - in this case, you should not follow the cat’s lead, especially when she screams loudly and demandingly, so as not to reinforce an undesirable behavior pattern in the pet; food can be put in when the cat calms down or if she asks quietly;
• the cat is nocturnal - it is natural in the wild, but sometimes the cat tries to involve the owner in its nocturnal life, demanding attention and emitting screams, in this case the cat should not be allowed to get enough sleep during the day, physically stress it with games to the point of fatigue and feed generously at night - a tired and well-fed cat will fall asleep and will not bother anyone at night;

The cat gets his way

Sometimes a cat behaves like a small child. If she screams, the owners immediately run up and give her what she asks for. Thus, from an early age, in a short period of time, the kitten manages to train its owners. As a result, the cat gets used to immediately receiving affection, play, and attention. If at first she does this only during the day, then gradually the screams move to the night time too.

Stop rewarding the animal when it attracts attention in this way. After the cat is silent (and sooner or later she will get tired of screaming), wait a few minutes and give her what she so actively asked for. Over time, the cat realizes that its screams have no effect and yelling is pointless.

However, if the cat has reached old age, then you need to treat her “talkativeness” with understanding. The feeling of loneliness is more pronounced in old age.

An older cat may be anxious and need attention.

Hurry up, choose a box and find out what gift awaits you

Discount on pet insurance

Promo code copied to clipboard

Causes of meowing depending on the age of the cat

The reasons leading to excessive vocalization differ among different age categories of cats.

Meowing kittens

Furry babies do not yet have autonomy and need constant attention, first from the mother cat, and then from the new owner. Therefore, the reasons for kittens meowing are usually:

• stress - kittens have difficulty moving to their owner, the absence of a mother cat, changing their usual environment, meeting other pets; in order for a kitten’s anxiety to go away, the attention and care of the owner and, of course, time are required;
• hunger:
• the kitten has an accelerated metabolism and growing needs for food, so it can remain hungry if the portions of food allocated to it do not have time to “grow” after it;

  A growing kitten needs a lot of food

too long interval between feedings;

Read also:  Lifehacks for cats: how to make life together easier and more fun
• if there are several kittens, the weakest or smallest kitten may not have enough food;
• a very small kitten, recently taken from its mother and brought to a new home, may not be able to eat from a bowl;

Video: why does a kitten meow constantly?

Meowing of adult cats and kittens

The constant meowing of adult male cats is usually closely related to reproductive function.

Cats come into heat several times a year and are accompanied by an active sexual desire. The cat's character changes, it rushes outside, can show aggression, rolls on the floor, raises the back of its body and emits a loud, low meow. Cats during estrus release pheromones that affect cats, and cats also scream and rage, and also mark their territory. Therefore, if the animal is not involved in breeding, it should be castrated. The situation can be temporarily saved by hormonal drugs that can interrupt estrus:

• Gestrenol: up to 5 kg of cat weight - 4 drops, 6-10 kg - 5-8 drops; drops on the nose or a treat;
• Stop Intim: 9 drops per day for 5–7 days, but no later than the 3rd day from the start of estrus.

All hormonal drugs have serious consequences of use in the form of the formation of cysts and tumors of the reproductive system. They are not recommended for use in breeding animals.

If the cat is a breeding cat, but for some reason does not go into heat, you can use sedative (calming) medications for cats (Bach Drops, Fospasim). Non-drug methods include reducing the diet and playing actively with the cat until it feels tired.

In addition, in some cases, after sterilization (castration), reproductive behavior with vocalization remains, although much less pronounced. This is explained by the fact that in the absence of the gonads, the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary system is preserved. In this case, sedatives (Fospasim, Kot Bayun) will help; in the future, spontaneous cessation of such conditions is possible. To prevent their occurrence, sterilization is recommended a week after the end of estrus. The most reliable prevention of such disorders is to sterilize the cat before the first heat.

A similar condition can occur after castration of a cryptorchid cat in an unscrupulous clinic, while the testicle that has not descended into the scrotum retains its function while in the abdominal cavity, and the cat retains sexual activity.

During pregnancy, a cat feels a lot of stress because its physical condition changes and the animal feels discomfort. If meowing that appears during pregnancy is accompanied by a deterioration in the cat’s well-being, loss of appetite, or problems with stool, then a veterinarian’s consultation is necessary.

Video: cat asks for cat after sterilization

Old cat meowing

As cats age, just like people, they become more emotional and cope less well with stress, so the cat may become more “talkative.” In addition, some cats develop age-related cognitive dysfunction, which manifests itself in cat disorientation; this also leads to meowing, which is more pronounced at night, since disorientation at night bothers the cat more than during the day. The solution to the problem is to prescribe sedatives after examination by a veterinarian and rule out other causes of this behavior.

This phenomenon usually occurs in cats over 10 years of age.

Photo gallery: medications that help eliminate excessive vocalization

Gestrenol is effective for interrupting estrus, but can cause ovarian cysts and tumors, like all hormonal drugs

Sedatives allow the cat to quickly adapt to the changes that have occurred.

Sedatives Kot Bayun can be used from 10 months of age

Sex Barrier is a hormonal drug that should not be used in breeding animals

What to do?

If your pet is meowing unhealthy or anxious, you should consult a specialist for examination.
If a neutered or unneutered cat shows anxiety, yells, and behaves uncharacteristically, it is best to take the animal to a veterinarian, who will tell you what to do in this situation. At the initial examination, the doctor will ask how old the pet is, what diseases he has suffered from, and what other symptoms are of concern. To find out the reason for this behavior, a comprehensive diagnostic study is prescribed, the results of which will become the basis for determining an effective treatment regimen.

If any internal disease is detected, the doctor will prescribe medication or surgical treatment. When screaming and anxiety are associated with hormonal disorders, the doctor will advise castrating the animal. If there are psychological problems, in addition to therapy, the owner will need to pay more attention to his four-legged friend. The animal will feel more confident and calm if the owner plays, talks, and caresses it more. After active games, it is recommended to feed the cat nourishingly, thanks to which it will be possible to imitate the natural process - hunting - eating prey. A fed and satisfied animal immediately relaxes.

If your cat wants to sleep in the morning, you can let him take a nap. In the evening it is better for the cat to be awake, then she will be guaranteed a good night's sleep. If a new family member has moved into the house, it is useful to introduce him to his personal vacation spot from the first day. While the kitten is settling in, it can vocalize all day and even at night. You should not hit the baby, lock him in another room, or scream. After 1-2 weeks, the pet will get used to the new environment and love it as before.

When to urgently contact a veterinarian

Urgent consultation with a veterinarian is necessary if constant meowing is combined with other manifestations indicating a problem with the cat’s health:

• nausea, vomiting;
• general oppression;
• bowel dysfunction (diarrhea, constipation);
• fever;
• decreased appetite;
• other signs.

This is how decompensation of latent chronic diseases, lethal infections of cats, as well as dangerous poisonings can begin. By paying attention to a cat's meowing in time and clarifying its cause, a person can save its life.

What to do and how to calm an animal meowing at night?

Above, we figured out why a cat yells for no reason at night, and now let’s talk about how to calm an agitated animal. Experienced breeders recommend:

• provide the animal with active games during the day, using toys for these purposes, both purchased in pet stores and made independently from scrap materials;
• in the evening, shortly before bedtime, feed the cat with meat delicacies - protein-rich food will help the animal begin to fall asleep, thanks to it the cat will not get hungry until the morning and will not wake up its owner.

If, despite the measures taken, the cat still continues to scream at night, then it’s time to show him to the veterinarian. A professional examination will let you know if your pet needs treatment or if it needs to be wormed to stop the nightly concerts.

Natural reasons for concern

They can be congenital or occur over time.

1). Some cats simply have a personality tendency to start “calling” at the time of feeding.

Try this: buy an automatic feeder and set it to open at a set time. Perhaps then, shortly before lunch, Murka will not start meowing at you, but will switch to her

What if you have developed a habit of begging for treats from the table every time?

It is difficult to wean an adult animal. It’s better not to start accustoming him to treats that are random in time from a young age. After all, you can leave something delicious for later - at the prescribed meal hour. Do you agree?

By the way, what is tasty for a person is not always healthy for a cat.

2). Severe and sudden or chronic stress due to changed circumstances:

• God forbid, illness or loss of a loved one;
• improper placement of other pets, including cats;
• for small children - separation from their mother;
• cruel treatment.

3). As with humans, as we age, our purrs may well experience various forms of psychological confusion, including disorientation in space. Because of this, they can often raise their voices, seemingly for no apparent reason, but in fact, they unconsciously ask for help from their owners.

And sometimes a “senile” habit arises: the pet walks around the house and “mutters under its breath,” and not only during the day, but also does not sleep at night. Maybe due to ill health or simply physical weakness.

4). For those new to keeping cats, noisy and even violent behavior after puberty can be an unpleasant surprise. If there is no desire to breed offspring, then the solution, for the sake of general peace, is sterilization (or castration).

Why does it meow?

If this lasts recently - only a few days - then some kind of, not yet noticeable, discomfort in the body due to medical problems has probably arisen. For example, high blood pressure or kidney disease. Because of this, the pet gives “distress signals” that cannot be ignored.

There is only one way out: take him to a veterinarian for a consultation.

What if it’s been a long time, but the problem can’t be solved? Then, most likely, it is difficult for you to understand what is happening if you are an inexperienced owner, or have recently taken into your home an animal raised in another family and do not know its character. You never know why. What to do? Let's sort it out in order.