Why do cats meow at night?

Sleepless nights because of the cat meowing? It has probably happened to anyone who has a cat, sooner or later. But what to do if our beloved kitty robs us of sleep, night after night? Why do many cats meow especially at night and what can be done to counteract the nocturnal meow?

Summary

1. Why do cats meow at night?
2. The main causes of nocturnal meowing in cats
3. How can I teach my cat to stay quiet at night?

Let’s start with some bad news: i cats are nocturnal animals. For this reason, it is not surprising that they attract our attention by meowing loudly, especially at night, when they are most lively. However, there is no need to worry: even cat owners can enjoy nice quiet nights. Because the good news is that our beloved felines are able to learn to be silent during the night hours. First, however, it is important to know the causes of the problem.

Why do cats meow at night?

As is often the case, there’s no single reason why cats meow at night. As different as our domestic feline friends are, so are the possible reasons for their nocturnal moaning. While some rest peacefully and dream of the day’s experiences, others wander restlessly around the apartment, perhaps scratching the doors and meowing in an excruciating way. And of course there are also cat temperaments that are simply “talkers” by nature, cats that make their voices heard more often than others, such as some breeds including the Siamese and theRagdoll . Basically cats, meowing, want to tell us something. They don’t do this simply because they like to meow or because they want to keep us from sleeping. It has been proven that they use their verse to communicate with us humans. In fact, while adult cats communicate mainly with each other with body language, meowing is the expressive form they use with humans. Cats quickly learn that we bipeds are often a little “dull”, we struggle to understand, when it comes to interpreting physical signals. That’s why, similar to what we do with our language, cats use sounds to draw attention to themselves.

The main causes of nocturnal meowing in cats

Unfortunately, we don’t always understand our cat’s meow: we simply don’t know what it is trying to tell us. Sometimes it takes a lot of empathy, patience, and a good deal of investigative effort to find out the reasons why our cat starts meowing – after all, let’s not forget, every cat is different. However, beyond individual inclinations, habits, past experiences and specific needs, there is often one of the following reasons behind a cat’s nocturnal meow:

• boredom
• hunger
• sense of loneliness
• stress and insecurity
• habit
• disease or
• hormonal changes

How can I teach my cat to stay quiet at night?

Similarly to how, for the question of “why”, there is no single answer valid for all cats, also to this question there is not a single possible answer. The reasons for nocturnal meowing, in fact, can be different as well as different ways to avoid the interruption of the night rest by cats. If you already have some suspicions as to which of the above causes could be that of your pet, you have already taken a first step. Now you can try to take the appropriate countermeasures. Here are some tips to help you identify which solutions are best suited to your case.

© Alexandra King / stock.adobe.com

• If the cat meows out of boredom

During the day, your cat is napping comfortably on the sofa but in the evening and at night it suddenly changes and all of a sudden wants to be entertained?

Basically this is not something unusual: after all, cats are physiologically more active in the evening and at night. On the plus side, if you spend enough time during the dayentertain your cat , playing with him, letting him wander outdoors or keeping him busy with small hunting games, then at night he will be willing to rest for a few hours. Try identifying a toy that your cat never gets bored with. This can be a ball of wool, some balls, a reed with feathers, a laser pointer, a flat garden fountain or any othercat game : basically there are no limits to creativity when it comes to entertaining a cat. The important thing is to make sure that in the evening, before bedtime, your cat is full of activity and can enjoy your full attention.

If, despite these proposals for evening entertainment, your cat does not want to sleep at night, you can also think of offering him games and activities with which to entertain himself at night, such as multi-activity tables or othersintelligence games with which your cat can have fun independently while you rest peacefully.

• If the cat meows because it’s hungry

Unlike us humans or dogs, for whom one or two main meals throughout the day are ideal, cats are more suited to having many small snacks during the day, also for the benefit of their gastrointestinal system. If they don’t eat a lot in the evening and stay awake during the night, it is no wonder that they ask for a small night meal and for this reason they meow insistently.

However, in this case it is not a good idea to jump out of bed to go fill him up bowl , because if your cat learns what to meow to haveextra food works, there is a risk that it will do it again, again and again.

Rather, we recommend that you give him something to eat again just before bed and provide another small ration for the night that he can take for himself as needed. In this sense, iautomatic food dispensers or multi-activity tables with some treats inside them, because they not only satiate your pet, but keep him busy for some time while you enjoy your well-deserved rest.

• If the cat meows because it feels lonely

There are cats that especially at night, when their human is asleep and they are not allowed to go out, feel terribly alone. Especially ikittens , who are full of energy and extremely playful, do not like being alone at night.

It is a problem that you could solve by introducing into the family a second cat : this new friend, unlike you, is very active at night and is therefore an excellent playmate. While the two kittens run around the sofa or launch together to conquer the scratching post, you can continue sleeping in the next bedroom.

Even when it comes to adult cats, socializing them with another conspecific can be a good solution to prevent meowing during the night. The key factor, however, is to plan ahead for the new coexistence between the two animals and proceed with caution. Otherwise the risk is that introducing a second cat will degenerate into a territorial fight, with the result that you are likely to find yourself still deprived of sleep, but for a different reason.

• If the cat meows because they are nervous, they are afraid or feel insecure

Cats are very close to their habitat and extremely sensitive when it comes to changes in their familiar environment. The presence of new furniture and even more somoving to a new home can deeply upset a cat. Keep in mind that a strange environment, new smells and unusual noises are all factors that scare our feline friends. It goes without saying that, in such a situation, a good peaceful sleep is out of the question for you and it is likely that the frightened cat will start moaning and meowing.

Don’t forget that even unusual situations like the fireworks on New Year’s Eve or even the presence of a new carpet in the house that gives off an unusual smell can put cats’ refined sensibilities on alert.

It is important not to ignore your cat’s emotional state without paying too much attention to his nocturnal meow: after all, the risk is that it will become a way of loudly demanding your attention, and that it will repeat itself in the following nights. The advice, rather, is to give him more love and attention especially during the day. Play with him, stroke his fur and let him take a nap on your lap! You can also decide to leave your bedroom door open at night. Maybe your cat can even sleep on your bed and find peace of mind. If you don’t like this solution, you can set up a cozy place for your pet near or under your bed, or maybe place it in your room.

If, despite all these initiatives on your part, your cat is still restless at night, you can try the Bach flowers or with specialspheromone diffusers that can help him relax. Keep in mind that some cats also find it comforting to have a radio on at a low volume during the night, which helps to distract them from disturbing noises.

© denisval / stock.adobe.com

• If the cat meows out of habit

Of course, there are also cats who meow at night simply because they are used to it. This happens especially when meowing has the desired effect, which means it attracts your attention and causes you to take care of your pet, pet it or give it food.

The best way to prevent your cat from meowing at night is to ignore it when it does, even if it is difficult. Maybe for a few nights your cat will meow again, depriving you of sleep, but at some point he will realize that meowing is useless and he will stop.

It goes without saying that you should always take your pet’s meowing seriously and not ignore it on bias. Especially if he has never exhibited this type of behavior before, it is important to carefully consider what may have caused your pet’s new nocturnal habit. Was there an event, something that may have scared your cat? Have you recently had fewer opportunities to take care of your furry dog? Have you changed his meal times? If there is stress, fear or boredom behind your nocturnal meowing, the above tips may help. If, on the other hand, your situation does not match any of these descriptions, then you should definitely make an appointment with your trusted veterinarian, because also a disease or the presence ofpain can cause your cat to suffer at night, in which case the animal meows loudly for help.

• If the cat meows due to illness or pain

Many cats suffer in silence and hide the pain for as long as possible: it is part of their nature because in the past their ancestors, wild cats, were not allowed to show weakness if they were to survive. However, often at night the pain becomes unbearable (in this cats are not very different from us humans). Add to this the darkness, the silence, the absence of their humans and the lack of distraction: the result is that sometimes cats don’t know how to help themselves except by meowing loudly.

In addition to the psychological causes mentioned above, therefore, you should also always keep in mind the physical reasons that can determine your cat’s nocturnal meow. Pain from internal organs, joints, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, kidney failure and heart disease can be the cause of your pet’s restlessness at night. Possible age-related limitations, such as weakening of some senses (deafness, blindness), can also scare the cat so much that it will meow at night. This is why it is important to have your pet examined by a veterinarian, in order to rule out a disease as a possible cause of nocturnal meowing.

• If the cat meows for hormonal reasons

Especially in non-neutered cats, hormones sometimes experience swings and fluctuations. At the age of around six months, cats become sexually mature and experience their first heat: they are ready to mate and demonstrate this condition by moving restlessly back and forth, rubbing their heads against objects, rolling on the floor, scoring more. the territory, raising its tail and meowing, hissing, or whistling. Even cats that have always been quiet suddenly start meowing at night when in heat. At the same time, sexually mature cats give off a scent that cats perceive even from long distances, thanks to their refined sense of smell. So it can happen that your cat suddenly becomes unmanageable if a cat in the neighborhood is in heat.

The most effective remedy for this behavior of the cat linked to reproductive reasons is certainly the castration . Normally, in fact, neutered cats become calmer and lose interest in conspecifics ready for mating. Castration also eliminates the risk of permanent heat that exists in animals that have not mated during the time they were predisposed. If you intend to have your cat neutered, the best thing to do is to discuss it thoroughly with your veterinarian: he will be able to give you detailed advice on the right time to have your pet operated on. benefits and possible side effects of castration.

My cat meows at night: should I have it examined by a vet?

Although most cats meow at night essentially for psychological reasons, i.e. boredom, insufficient physical activity or loneliness, it cannot be ruled out that there may be health disorders underlying this manifestation. If your cat suddenly changes behavior, it is always a good idea to first visit the vet. Your kitty may be sick and need specific medications or foods. And even if the doctor finds that your cat is in perfect health, the news itself will make you sleep more peacefully. At that point you can try the measures listed above against the night meow without worries, with greater calm and patience.

However, if nothing proves useful for this purpose and you continue to be unable to sleep at night because of your pet, you should not hesitate to seek professional help from an experienced behavioral veterinarian, a sort of “cat psychologist”. After all, it’s not just about not being able to sleep: your cat may feel uncomfortable and want to express a need, meowing like that at night, a need that you should understand.

Sleepless nights because of the cat meowing? It has probably happened to anyone who has a cat, sooner or later. But what to do if our beloved kitty robs us of sleep, night after night? Why do many cats meow especially at night and what can be done to counteract the nocturnal meow?

Summary

1. Why do cats meow at night?
2. The main causes of nocturnal meowing in cats
3. How can I teach my cat to stay quiet at night?

Let’s start with some bad news: i cats are nocturnal animals. For this reason, it is not surprising that they attract our attention by meowing loudly, especially at night, when they are most lively. However, there is no need to worry: even cat owners can enjoy nice quiet nights. Because the good news is that our beloved felines are able to learn to be silent during the night hours. First, however, it is important to know the causes of the problem.

Why do cats meow at night?

As is often the case, there’s no single reason why cats meow at night. As different as our domestic feline friends are, so are the possible reasons for their nocturnal moaning. While some rest peacefully and dream of the day’s experiences, others wander restlessly around the apartment, perhaps scratching the doors and meowing in an excruciating way. And of course there are also cat temperaments that are simply “talkers” by nature, cats that make their voices heard more often than others, such as some breeds including the Siamese and theRagdoll . Basically cats, meowing, want to tell us something. They don’t do this simply because they like to meow or because they want to keep us from sleeping. It has been proven that they use their verse to communicate with us humans. In fact, while adult cats communicate mainly with each other with body language, meowing is the expressive form they use with humans. Cats quickly learn that we bipeds are often a little “dull”, we struggle to understand, when it comes to interpreting physical signals. That’s why, similar to what we do with our language, cats use sounds to draw attention to themselves.

The main causes of nocturnal meowing in cats

Unfortunately, we don’t always understand our cat’s meow: we simply don’t know what it is trying to tell us. Sometimes it takes a lot of empathy, patience, and a good deal of investigative effort to find out the reasons why our cat starts meowing – after all, let’s not forget, every cat is different. However, beyond individual inclinations, habits, past experiences and specific needs, there is often one of the following reasons behind a cat’s nocturnal meow:

• boredom
• hunger
• sense of loneliness
• stress and insecurity
• habit
• disease or
• hormonal changes

How can I teach my cat to stay quiet at night?

Similarly to how, for the question of “why”, there is no single answer valid for all cats, also to this question there is not a single possible answer. The reasons for nocturnal meowing, in fact, can be different as well as different ways to avoid the interruption of the night rest by cats. If you already have some suspicions as to which of the above causes could be that of your pet, you have already taken a first step. Now you can try to take the appropriate countermeasures. Here are some tips to help you identify which solutions are best suited to your case.

© Alexandra King / stock.adobe.com

• If the cat meows out of boredom

During the day, your cat is napping comfortably on the sofa but in the evening and at night it suddenly changes and all of a sudden wants to be entertained?

Basically this is not something unusual: after all, cats are physiologically more active in the evening and at night. On the plus side, if you spend enough time during the dayentertain your cat , playing with him, letting him wander outdoors or keeping him busy with small hunting games, then at night he will be willing to rest for a few hours. Try identifying a toy that your cat never gets bored with. This can be a ball of wool, some balls, a reed with feathers, a laser pointer, a flat garden fountain or any othercat game : basically there are no limits to creativity when it comes to entertaining a cat. The important thing is to make sure that in the evening, before bedtime, your cat is full of activity and can enjoy your full attention.

If, despite these proposals for evening entertainment, your cat does not want to sleep at night, you can also think of offering him games and activities with which to entertain himself at night, such as multi-activity tables or othersintelligence games with which your cat can have fun independently while you rest peacefully.

• If the cat meows because it’s hungry

Unlike us humans or dogs, for whom one or two main meals throughout the day are ideal, cats are more suited to having many small snacks during the day, also for the benefit of their gastrointestinal system. If they don’t eat a lot in the evening and stay awake during the night, it is no wonder that they ask for a small night meal and for this reason they meow insistently.

However, in this case it is not a good idea to jump out of bed to go fill him up bowl , because if your cat learns what to meow to haveextra food works, there is a risk that it will do it again, again and again.

Rather, we recommend that you give him something to eat again just before bed and provide another small ration for the night that he can take for himself as needed. In this sense, iautomatic food dispensers or multi-activity tables with some treats inside them, because they not only satiate your pet, but keep him busy for some time while you enjoy your well-deserved rest.

• If the cat meows because it feels lonely

There are cats that especially at night, when their human is asleep and they are not allowed to go out, feel terribly alone. Especially ikittens , who are full of energy and extremely playful, do not like being alone at night.

It is a problem that you could solve by introducing into the family a second cat : this new friend, unlike you, is very active at night and is therefore an excellent playmate. While the two kittens run around the sofa or launch together to conquer the scratching post, you can continue sleeping in the next bedroom.

Even when it comes to adult cats, socializing them with another conspecific can be a good solution to prevent meowing during the night. The key factor, however, is to plan ahead for the new coexistence between the two animals and proceed with caution. Otherwise the risk is that introducing a second cat will degenerate into a territorial fight, with the result that you are likely to find yourself still deprived of sleep, but for a different reason.

• If the cat meows because they are nervous, they are afraid or feel insecure

Cats are very close to their habitat and extremely sensitive when it comes to changes in their familiar environment. The presence of new furniture and even more somoving to a new home can deeply upset a cat. Keep in mind that a strange environment, new smells and unusual noises are all factors that scare our feline friends. It goes without saying that, in such a situation, a good peaceful sleep is out of the question for you and it is likely that the frightened cat will start moaning and meowing.

Don’t forget that even unusual situations like the fireworks on New Year’s Eve or even the presence of a new carpet in the house that gives off an unusual smell can put cats’ refined sensibilities on alert.

It is important not to ignore your cat’s emotional state without paying too much attention to his nocturnal meow: after all, the risk is that it will become a way of loudly demanding your attention, and that it will repeat itself in the following nights. The advice, rather, is to give him more love and attention especially during the day. Play with him, stroke his fur and let him take a nap on your lap! You can also decide to leave your bedroom door open at night. Maybe your cat can even sleep on your bed and find peace of mind. If you don’t like this solution, you can set up a cozy place for your pet near or under your bed, or maybe place it in your room.

If, despite all these initiatives on your part, your cat is still restless at night, you can try the Bach flowers or with specialspheromone diffusers that can help him relax. Keep in mind that some cats also find it comforting to have a radio on at a low volume during the night, which helps to distract them from disturbing noises.

© denisval / stock.adobe.com

• If the cat meows out of habit

Of course, there are also cats who meow at night simply because they are used to it. This happens especially when meowing has the desired effect, which means it attracts your attention and causes you to take care of your pet, pet it or give it food.

The best way to prevent your cat from meowing at night is to ignore it when it does, even if it is difficult. Maybe for a few nights your cat will meow again, depriving you of sleep, but at some point he will realize that meowing is useless and he will stop.

It goes without saying that you should always take your pet’s meowing seriously and not ignore it on bias. Especially if he has never exhibited this type of behavior before, it is important to carefully consider what may have caused your pet’s new nocturnal habit. Was there an event, something that may have scared your cat? Have you recently had fewer opportunities to take care of your furry dog? Have you changed his meal times? If there is stress, fear or boredom behind your nocturnal meowing, the above tips may help. If, on the other hand, your situation does not match any of these descriptions, then you should definitely make an appointment with your trusted veterinarian, because also a disease or the presence ofpain can cause your cat to suffer at night, in which case the animal meows loudly for help.

• If the cat meows due to illness or pain

Many cats suffer in silence and hide the pain for as long as possible: it is part of their nature because in the past their ancestors, wild cats, were not allowed to show weakness if they were to survive. However, often at night the pain becomes unbearable (in this cats are not very different from us humans). Add to this the darkness, the silence, the absence of their humans and the lack of distraction: the result is that sometimes cats don’t know how to help themselves except by meowing loudly.

In addition to the psychological causes mentioned above, therefore, you should also always keep in mind the physical reasons that can determine your cat’s nocturnal meow. Pain from internal organs, joints, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, kidney failure and heart disease can be the cause of your pet’s restlessness at night. Possible age-related limitations, such as weakening of some senses (deafness, blindness), can also scare the cat so much that it will meow at night. This is why it is important to have your pet examined by a veterinarian, in order to rule out a disease as a possible cause of nocturnal meowing.

• If the cat meows for hormonal reasons

Especially in non-neutered cats, hormones sometimes experience swings and fluctuations. At the age of around six months, cats become sexually mature and experience their first heat: they are ready to mate and demonstrate this condition by moving restlessly back and forth, rubbing their heads against objects, rolling on the floor, scoring more. the territory, raising its tail and meowing, hissing, or whistling. Even cats that have always been quiet suddenly start meowing at night when in heat. At the same time, sexually mature cats give off a scent that cats perceive even from long distances, thanks to their refined sense of smell. So it can happen that your cat suddenly becomes unmanageable if a cat in the neighborhood is in heat.

The most effective remedy for this behavior of the cat linked to reproductive reasons is certainly the castration . Normally, in fact, neutered cats become calmer and lose interest in conspecifics ready for mating. Castration also eliminates the risk of permanent heat that exists in animals that have not mated during the time they were predisposed. If you intend to have your cat neutered, the best thing to do is to discuss it thoroughly with your veterinarian: he will be able to give you detailed advice on the right time to have your pet operated on. benefits and possible side effects of castration.

My cat meows at night: should I have it examined by a vet?

Although most cats meow at night essentially for psychological reasons, i.e. boredom, insufficient physical activity or loneliness, it cannot be ruled out that there may be health disorders underlying this manifestation. If your cat suddenly changes behavior, it is always a good idea to first visit the vet. Your kitty may be sick and need specific medications or foods. And even if the doctor finds that your cat is in perfect health, the news itself will make you sleep more peacefully. At that point you can try the measures listed above against the night meow without worries, with greater calm and patience.

However, if nothing proves useful for this purpose and you continue to be unable to sleep at night because of your pet, you should not hesitate to seek professional help from an experienced behavioral veterinarian, a sort of “cat psychologist”. After all, it’s not just about not being able to sleep: your cat may feel uncomfortable and want to express a need, meowing like that at night, a need that you should understand.