Why does my cat vocalizing at night

If you've ruled out health issues, though, consider some of these tactics to stop your cat from meowing all night:. Cats are crepuscular active at dawn and dusk and nocturnal active at night. Active play can between naps can help your cat stay alert during the day.

When night falls, schedule a hearty play session with your feline friend to further tire him out. Follow playtime with his evening meal.

If your cat is a free feeder and grazes throughout the day, changing this behavior could prove a wee bit more challenging. Cats prefer a fresh and clean litter box when they go about their business. So a dirty litter box could be the reason your cat is crying at night. Try scooping before bedtime so your furry friend has a clean place to do business. A glistening litter box will help keep your cat happy and quiet at night.

Some cats cry at night out of loneliness, boredom, or anxiety. Especially if you've been away at work all day, your cat needs interaction and companionship.

Spend time with your kitty in the evenings. Lavishing a cat with love and affection should be fun and rewarding, right? So grab a laser, ball, or wand, and get ready to romp. Being able to see their surroundings can help an elderly cat with visual problems or impaired cognitive function feel less fearful and more confident, which should help tone down night-time caterwauling.

As hard as it might be, shrugging off the behavior with neither a hush nor an admonition will teach your cat that no amount of unnecessary meowing will get you out of bed. Will this tactic work? Yes, but it might take a couple of weeks. In the interim, you might invest in ear plugs. Tracey L. Kelley headshot.

By Tracey L. Kelley November 08, Pin FB More. Credit: Yeji Kim. Does kitty run to the food or treat cabinet as soon as they see you? It's playtime! Some ideas might be to run a feather up and down their cat tree , throw a wadded ball of paper across the floor, or use an interactive toy for fun bonding.

If your fuzzball simply blinks at you or seeks immediate lap space, they might be bored and want company. All rights reserved. Close Sign in. If they haven't eaten again in the evening and are awake at night, it's of course understandable that they will ask for a small meal at night too and therefore meow loudly. Nevertheless, you shouldn't jump straight out of bed in this case and fill the cat bowl , since your cat will then learn that meowing for food is successful and will presumably try it again and again.

Instead, you're better off feeding your cat once more just before you go to bed and put down another small portion for the night that it can eat itself if need be. Automatic feeders or a drag board filled with food can also be practical, because they make your cat full and entertain them for a while at the same time, allowing you to sleep peacefully. Some cats feel terribly lonely at night in particular when their caregiver is sleeping and they may not be allowed outside. Especially kittens, which are full of energy and extremely playful, don't like being alone at night whatsoever.

A second cat could be helpful in this respect, because unlike you, it is also active at night and therefore makes an excellent playmate. Whilst the two little cats race around your sofa or conquer the scratching tree together, you can sleep away peacefully in the room next door.

Even with older cats, the company of a second cat can be a good solution for nocturnal meowing. However, the requirement is that you plan well in advance how to bring the two cats together and proceed cautiously. Otherwise, a second cat entering your home could trigger a turf war, which would probably rob you of sleep one way or another. Cats are creatures of habit and are very sensitive when it comes to changes in their trusted environment.

New furniture or even moving to a new home can deeply unsettle a cat. The unfamiliar surroundings, new smells and unusual noises make them anxious.

A peaceful sleep is of course out of the question in these circumstances, so they start their loud lament instead. Other events such as loud fireworks at New Year or even a new, unfamiliar smelling carpet can frighten cats with pronounced senses.

It's important that you take your cat's worries seriously without attending to it too much at night when it meows — after all, it can interpret this as a request to loudly demand your attention again during the next few nights.

Instead, give your cat plenty of love and attention throughout the day in particular. Play with it, stroke its fur and let it have its nap on your lap. The door to your bedroom shouldn't be closed at night either. Maybe your cat can even sleep in your bed and find peace in that way? If you don't want this, you can also set up a cosy sleeping spot next to or under your bed or put up a cat hammock.

If your cat is still restless at night despite these measures, special plug-in fragrance diffusers can also help it relax. With some cats, it can even help to leave a quiet radio playing to distract them from unusual noises. Of course there are also cats that meow at night simply because they are used to it.

Especially if meowing achieves the desired effect, namely attracting your attention and ensuring that you deal with your cat, stroke or give it food. In order to avoid meowing out of habit, it's best to ignore your cat at night, as difficult as this may be.

Even if your cat still meows for a few more nights and stops you sleeping, it will notice at some point that meowing is pointless and will stop it. Nevertheless, you should naturally take your cat's meowing seriously. Especially if your cat hasn't behaved in this way before, you should consider what could have triggered its nocturnal woe. Has there been an event that may have frightened your cat? Have you not been able to devote it much time recently? Or have you changed its feeding times?

If stress, fear or boredom are behind your cat's nightly theatrics, the aforementioned tips may help you. If this isn't applicable, you should definitely arrange an appointment with the vet to rule out illness or pain.

Many cats suffer in silence and conceal pain for as long as possible — this is in their nature, because wildcats, their ancestors, were never allowed to show weakness in order to survive. However, pain often becomes unbearable at night this isn't too different with cats to with humans. This is compounded by darkness, silence, their human family not being present and lack of distraction, therefore many cats sometimes do not know to help themselves other than by meowing loudly.