Korean Job Discussion Forums

[paynedaniel]

Does anyone have advice for stopping a cat from meowing constantly at night? I haven't been able to get a good night's sleep for almost two months. Thanks in advance.

[fermentation]

I'm assuming you got the basics covered like making sure its not hungry and it's not telling you to clean up its litter box?

It can be bored, so get it some toys and attention during the day. Meowing can be attention-seeking behavior. Cats act like they're better than you but they are secretly attention-whores.

If it's stressed, like it's in a new environment or in physical pain, it can be expressing that. Never rule out physical illness so take it to the vet if nothing else works. Especially if its an older cat. It can also be stressed if it senses/smells another animal/cat in the area. Maybe one of your neighbors has a cat and yours cat smell it?

Don't give it attention while it's meowing/yowling because it'll only reinforce its behavior. Ignore if it does something you don't like and give it attention when it does something good.

Another cat can also help. My girlfriend has two cats and one of them likes to meow a lot when he's bored. Sometimes the other cat plays with him and that reduces a lot of the meowing.

Giving your cat its own little space can help too. I've heard people setting up an entire room for their cat or at least get it a cat tree or something. My girlfriend's cat uses a closet for his own little private space and putting him in there usually shuts him up as well. Before that my girlfriend used a cardboard box that worked equally well.

Like anything, changes aren't going to happen right away. You're gonna have to have patience.

[methdxman]

Can you tell a rainbow to stop being a rainbow? Such is Mango.

[TellyRules986]

When I had a cat, I put him in a small carrier at night, which worked for me.

That cat liked to go into empty rooms and scream. So, he was weird anyway.

[wishfullthinkng]

it's trying to tell you something. you need to figure out what that something is.


random cat fact:

cats don't meow to each other, only to humans when they are trying to communicate with them.


another random cat fact:

when you pet a cat and it lifts its tail up it is in fact happy and inviting you to sniff it's rear end.

[ajuma]

Now, I'm assuming that your cat is fixed, right? If it's not, it's looking to mate.

If it IS fixed, I suggest playing with the little darling for an hour or so before bed time. It sounds like your little sweetie is bored to death during the day and wants to play with you at night. Have him/her run around, chase things, jump, whatever, in the morning when you get up and at night before you go to bed.

Ignoring him/her when s/he's meowing is a good plan. Pay attention to it when s/he's quiet.

Getting another cat might be a good idea as they'll amuse each other when you're not there.

I've had cats forever and they like attention when THEY want it. Your goal is to teach them to want attention when you want to give it!

[The Cosmic Hum]

[Mix1]

It sounds bored and/or frustrated.
Cats need space and they generally want to explore and patrol a bit. If you are in a small one room apartment, of course the cat is a bit frustrated. Imagine if you could never leave your apartment, you'd be whining too after a while. Maybe set up some obstacles, boxes, kitty loft, or whatever to give it some variety.

I'm not saying this is the problem, but from growing up with cats, it could be a factor.

Cats are often semi nocturnal and are active at night. It's often when they'd be hunting, exploring or mating if they were in the wild. I've never had a cat that could sleep all night; it would always get bored, walk around, try to wake me up, and want out of the bedroom eventually. They usually like things one way: their way.

Play with it a lot during the day, and maybe feed it at night so it will sleep after a meal.

Also some cats are just more vocal than others. I had one cat that rarely made a peep, and another one that wouldn't shut up. I think the loud whiny ones are usually female. Go figure.

[catman]

Poor thing is just bored/

[pkang0202]

[Mike_Jones]

You must live in my apartment. There are two cats in the hallways that don't stop meowing!

[travellingwilly]

[Son Deureo!]

If he's meowing at night, there are a few things that should help.

1) Shut him out of your bedroom at night and ignore him. Any attention you give him (telling him to shush, talking to him, yelling at him, or complaining) will reinforce the behavior problem you're trying to get rid of. If he can't see or hear you reacting to his nighttime meowing, he will probably get tired of doing it and stop.

2) Feed him and play with him just before you go to bed. If he's tired and well-fed at night, he's less likely to need or want anything from you.

3) Get a second cat. A playmate can keep him occupied when you can't or won't.

Good luck!

[Udo]

Give fake crab sticks (massall) also make sure that the cat gets normal feed and water.Otherwise, it may be a medical condition that needs a vet to evaluate (spay/neuter?). If its a male, might be a territorial thing. Cats can get noisy when they are looking for mates and make kittens....just sayin

[ricochet]

catnip