It is completely natural for a cat to stay awake at night. Like all predators, it has the ability to see perfectly in the dark. Therefore, when in the dark she tries to attack your legs, she does this not out of harm, but following her hunting instincts. But, if these actions can still be explained, then finding the reason why the cat yells at night does not seem to be such a simple matter.
Moreover, if during the day this seemingly sweetest pet strives to rub against your legs, purrs and caresses. And the positive influence of cats on the nervous system of their owners has long been proven - they calm and heal with just their appearance. But to what extent they are able to drive these same owners with their heart-rending screaming at night! Even the thick walls of the apartment cannot save you and even the strongest nerves cannot withstand. Some people claim that castration solves the problem, but this is not true. Even when castrated and properly fattened after that, a cat can howl in a bad voice in the middle of the night.
But, in fact, there is a logical explanation for this cat behavior. Moreover, it can manifest itself not only at night, but also during the day.
The main reasons why cats get restless at night, why do they scream?
If we are talking about uncastrated cats and unsterilized cats, then at such moments their natural desire to reproduce prevails. Therefore, with such cries, representatives of the cat family invite potential soul mates, informing them of their readiness to reproduce.
It may happen that the animal screams because of illness or some kind of ailment that causes him suffering. For older cats, this could be a nervous disorder or Alzheimer's syndrome. Abdominal pain can plague animals of any age. And this can be understood by feeling the pet’s belly - its hardness will clearly indicate that this is the cause of concern. In a cat that has always been calm and suddenly begins to exhibit similar behavior, the cause may be common worms.
Urolithiasis bothers older animals, manifesting itself most strongly after it relieves itself. A clear confirmation of this is the cat's anxiety and screams after he leaves the tray. Neutered cats who have had part of their ovary retained may also experience anxiety and screaming.
Kittens suffering from lack of attention and trying to demand a treat or game from their owner also scream. Moreover, having received what they want, they very quickly remember the method by which they can achieve what they want and use it again and again. In addition, a kitten that has been weaned from its mother and just brought into a new home can behave very restlessly. He may refuse to eat, walk everywhere and scream, calling for his mother. If a kitten screams at night, then over time he will get used to it, adapt and stop such screams.
Also, a cat's screams can mean anxiety. It’s not for nothing that cats’ so-called sixth sense is so acute that since ancient times people have used them to predict various natural disasters, such as earthquakes. The pet's anxiety in this case may have the purpose of warning the owner about something. But such behavior, of course, is not observed every day, but only occasionally.
The possessive nature of cats forces them to mark their territory to prevent other animals from claiming it. But in order to reinforce the marks with more eloquent actions, cats declare their rights with such loud cries.
Extreme thirst and drinking too much water
If you cannot understand why your cat often goes to the toilet in small amounts, it is quite possible that the reason is the most commonplace - the animal simply drank too much water. The question is why the cat behaves this way. It's okay if the cause is hot weather, which causes the animal to quickly become thirsty.
There is no need to worry about heat, as this phenomenon is temporary and seasonal. It is enough for the animal to provide a cool place in the shade to avoid overheating of the body. If the cat urinates frequently at normal air temperatures and drinks an unusual amount of water, diabetes mellitus becomes a much more likely cause. This disease is diagnosed at a veterinary clinic using a blood test and some other tests.
Adult cats are most susceptible to diabetes, but in rare cases, the disease can also occur in kittens. The risk of developing diabetes also increases in obese animals. In addition, disruptions in the production of hormones, pregnancy, and estrus can lead to increased thirst. If you find that your cat frequently goes to the toilet in small quantities, you should not postpone a visit to the veterinarian, especially if the following symptoms appear:
- Urine with a distinct odor of acetone.
- Prolonged lethargic and apathetic behavior.
- Sudden weight loss (over several weeks).
- Vomiting several times a day.
- Excessive appetite, or its almost complete absence.
We recommend reading: Causes of Convulsions in an Adult Dog
The sooner the owner of a sick cat contacts a specialist, the simpler and more effective the treatment will be. There is no need to postpone a visit to the veterinarian, because if the disease develops severely, it will be more difficult to help the cat, and no one will be able to guarantee successful treatment.
What else is connected with the fact that the cat does not let you sleep at night?
Banal boredom can also bring an animal to such a state that it will annoy those around it with its screams. This can happen if the other day the owner, for example, just let his cat out for a walk in the yard, without having the intention of doing this regularly. Having appreciated such a wonderful walk, the animal quite logically begins to demand it again and again. Moreover, it’s boring to sit in an apartment, and there are so many interesting things to do outside. So the cat performs a “concert” under the door.
A person is accustomed to thinking that he is the one in control of everything, but we should not forget that pets have their own nature, needs and characteristics. Therefore, in many ways, they can look at things completely differently, unlike their owners. And if a person thinks that a cat is behaving “badly” for no reason, this does not mean at all that it is so. It is worth studying your pet’s habits more carefully and observing it more closely.
Signs of a cat's rest
Recently, more and more different signs about representatives of the feline family in the bed of their owner have been popping up on the Internet. Until now, experts continue to argue about why pets do this, but there are several plausible assumptions:
- Pets are designed in such a way that they have very strong energy, so they can easily find pain points on the human body and begin to heal them. If the owner has a headache, then for this reason the animal can lie down in the area of the head and try to “cure it.”
- an independent cat who has chosen a certain person as her owner believes that this person is a stronghold of security for her, so she lies down on his pillow or head and finds a calm place;
- if a pet sleeps in its owner’s bed, it shows its love and devotion;
- cats are extremely heat-loving animals; they are constantly looking for a warm place in the house. One of the sources of heat is a person, so it is logical that a pet is looking for a place near its owner.
Meowing at night - what to do about it?
If the cat starts yelling at night, then it is useless to shout and swear at him. Cats have more sensitive hearing than humans, so they perceive loud sounds quite painfully. And they can begin to behave completely unpredictably - for example, throwing flowers from window sills, tearing up furniture, etc. Stress can affect the animal's nervous and digestive system - it can become skittish and afraid of people.
Requirements
Why does the kitten meow constantly?
In addition to the options already listed, there are several more. For example, if a cat demands something, the most important thing is to attract attention. This is exactly what the animal does
Only in this case does it clearly indicate that it wants something. And this is far from the attention of the owner.
Try closing the door in front of the cat, leaving him on the other side of the room. Most likely, the animal will begin to express its displeasure. Moreover, demand to open the door. How is this expressed? Meowing. Moreover, loud, clear and intrusive. And also scratching.
This is also quite normal. Everyone somehow expresses their dissatisfaction and asks for something, right? Cats have a wonderful tool for this: meowing. How to determine exactly what is wrong? Listen to the tone of the sounds your pet makes. If he is indignant, the animal demands something.
Folk remedies
Some cat owners advise feeding their pet in such cases. Because after a heavy meal the cat will become lethargic and sleepy. But, firstly, feeding at night can have a negative impact on digestion - there is a high risk that the animal will become very fat and will continue to wake the owner at night to get food. And secondly, this method does not work on all cats - there are individuals known that, having had enough, begin to scream with triple force, falling silent only closer to dawn.
As you know, cats do not like water and try to avoid contact with it, and some owners take advantage of this. So, against a screaming pet they use a regular flower sprayer. This “weapon” can reach your pet at a distance of up to 5 meters. But the animal, not lacking in intelligence, quickly understands where it is simply impossible to reach it with a stream of water, and continues its concerts from there. If, every time the cat starts yelling at night, you take it to the shower, then the animal can catch a cold.
Many cat owners are discovering their own ways to deal with cat shows. For example, smear sour cream on your pet's face - the animal will immediately stop yelling and start washing itself until it eats every drop. Then he might just get tired of washing his face and go to bed. The method, of course, is quite unique, and there is no guarantee that it will work with every cat. There will definitely be those on whom it will not work. But this once again confirms that you can find an approach to every animal.
Can a cat yell for no reason?
In nature, stray cats do not use meowing to communicate with each other. Meowing is a cat's way of communicating with its owner. Cats of some breeds, for example, Siamese-Oriental Croup, Cornish Rex, Turkish Angora, have a habit of talking to their owners: when asked “How are you?” may respond with a loud “Meow.”
But these sounds cannot be compared with the loud screams that cats of these breeds, as well as those of the eastern group (Burmese, Bombay, Bengal, Ocicat, Egyptian Mau) emit during sexual heat. But this is only one, although the most common cause of screaming, and there are many of them, many of which are age-related.
Adviсe
The main thing is to try to make sure that the cat spends as much energy as possible in a day. Even if she waited all day for her owner to get home from work, bored at home. Usually in such cases the pet sleeps all day, and when the person returns, the animal begins to frolic. This means that while no one is at home, the cat should be provided with activity in the form of various toys, scratching posts, stairs and houses that it can climb.
It’s also a good idea to use videos from the Internet made specifically for animals - a fly or mouse moves across the screen in them, and the cat enthusiastically catches them.
It is advisable to set up a place for your pet on the windowsill so that he can observe everything that is happening on the street. Well, pay attention to it in the morning and evening - talk to the cat, whenever possible, allow it to participate in household chores, do not forget about caring for the pet. In general, demonstrate an emotional connection with him in every possible way so as not to wonder why the cat meows at night.
You shouldn’t lock your cat in the bathroom or kitchen at night if she could freely walk around these rooms during the day. It will logically strive to regain control over the territory that has become inaccessible.
When nothing helps, and medical causes are excluded, it is better to consult a zoopsychologist. He will determine whether the cat's behavior is the result of severe stress, illness, excess or lack of nutrition.
How is the treatment carried out?
Treatment for a pet depends on the factor that provoked the disorder. Therapeutic measures are selected individually for each cat, depending on the reasons for which he began to pee under himself. If the problem is provoked by stress and other external factors, then after they are eliminated, the animal’s condition will stabilize and it will soon begin to go to the litter box again. When a cat’s urination in the wrong place is caused by pathologies, it is possible to eliminate the disease with the help of medications. Therapy involves performing the following actions:
- correction of an anatomical defect if it is present;
- removal of a neurological disorder;
- relief of partial blockage of the urinary tract;
- treatment of disease caused by bacteria.
Why does the kitten meow
If a kitten that has recently been separated from a nursing cat constantly meows, this indicates that it is looking for protection and misses its mother. It is important for a person to help him adapt to independent life, but this does not mean that the baby should be abandoned and not paid attention to him.
Loneliness causes a lot of stress. A person shouldn't do that. He needs:
- Provide a soft and warm corner for the kitten;
- Purchase a feeding bottle and a pack of formula from a veterinary pharmacy (costs about 100 rubles);
- Wrap a ticking clock in a terry towel, which will remind the kitten of its mother's heartbeat and calm it down.
After a couple of weeks, the baby will grow up and become independent. He will not need his mother and will stop meowing.
