Housecat Troubles!

The cat is probably hungry. I have two house cats and the only time that they meow are when they are hungry. They will sleep until they hear my oldest get up for school and then they start and we feed them and it they shut up. Give her a little bit of food the first time and she will probably be fine.

If you are feeding the cat can food then switch to dry food. Any cat I have ever had on can food has driven me nuts begging for it all day and night. Leave dry food out 24/7 if possible. That way they don't have to beg to be fed. The cat will drive you crazy while it goes through "withdrawl" from can food, but will get over it in a few days. If that's not the problem, then lock the cat up before you go to bed. As far as getting another cat...the only time my two cats have anything to do with each other is if they are fighting. That wakes us up.

Do you have another area that you could move her litter box to? Kittens/young cats are somewhat nocturnal. They're also a lot like babies-sleep for a little while and want to play. Maybe try some catnip-laced toys during the day while you're away to encourage her to play a little more while you're gone. I've also heard that cats don't like citrus scents-maybe some citrus scented air freshener or furniture polish around your doors? I've never had much luck with this, but maybe it depends on the cat. Maybe also try a special bed for her. Doesn't have to be anything fancy. Just a small box with a blanket for her to cuddle up in. Cats seem to have very distinct personalities, and again, like babies, you just have to keep trying until you find what works for them. Good luck! I feel your pain on the sleep issues! We have 6 dogs, 1 cat, 2 teenagers, and my parents in the house. We've finally gotten all of our pups and cat grown and sleeping through the night. Now if we could only train the teenagers and my parents' bladders into a normal sleep pattern!!!

R.

My experience as a vet tech at an all feline veterinary clinic tells me this isn't going to stop until you either get another cat to keep yours company, let it sleep with you and/or your daughter (absolutely nothing wrong with that - my cats sleep with my girls), or find a new home for kitty.

Also, get her spayed (or neutered if it's a male) as soon as she's old enough (about 5 or 6 months of age). Cats can be very annoying when they are in heat or want to breed, especially when they smell another cat outside.

Having two cats is not much harder than having one and they get into a lot less trouble. Cats are VERY social creatures and crave companionship. Having a friend will help your cat feel more secure and will most likely stop the early morning crying.

I have several cats and two of them go outdoors. The one that stays in will wake us at 4:30 or 5:00 am on the nights that my others are outside because he's lonely.

I urge you not to punish your cat for feeling alone. Spraying with water for scratching on furniture and other unwanted behaviors can help stop them but it won't help your cat feel less lonely...in fact, it may make it worse if she feels unwanted.

I hope you find a solution that works for everyone. Good luck!

M. :)
www.enidmg.com

I don't really know what to tell you because our cats sleep with us or our daughter. We have two, and they entertain each other during the day and night, which I must say helps considerably. You might try getting a couple new cat toys that suction cup to the window and hand from door frames or door knobs so that there's always easy entertainment. Also, if you've recently gotten a cold snap, that will make all cats more hyper, they are like any other animal and the seasons affect them even if they are indoors. If they aren't spayed or neutered, get that done and it should calm them some. Otherwise, good luck to you and feel free to send a personal message if you like...I've owned cats since 1982, so I've been around the block a few times on the cat thing.

M.

ETA: Cats hate closed doors...it's just in their inquisitive nature to want to know what's back there that's causing them to not be allowed in.

Hey K., yes cats are very nocturnal....as Rachael pointed out and they do like to sleep then play and then repeat the process. The suggestion of cat nit toys not only while you are there but left out at night may help. You may have to lock her in the bathroom all night. i understand not wanting to do that but you may have to for a while. then try leaving the door open and see what she does. My cat will come into our bedroom during the night and sleep with us but it's not an issue in our house. give her a bed, some toys, a blanket, etc and leave her in the bathroom at night....for a while, see what happens. but again, like Rachael said they each have their own personalities and you have to keep trying things till you find what works for that cat....it's like having another child until you get them trained...or until they get you trained...LOL..enjoy her....R.

I agree that the cat will NOT stop unless you let her in the room, or get her some companionship. Cats are nocturnal. Our cat used to tap me on the nose with her nose in the middle of the night until she got to be about 3yrs old -very annoying! But once she got older and lazy, she just sleeps most of the time. She will still wake us up if we forget to open our oldest's ("her girl") door when we go to bed. I suggest you let her try sleeping with your daughter, if there is too much cat hair for you to tolerate, or if your daughter starts sniffling, then it might have to be out with the cat.

I disagree that your daughter will forget, so be prepared to explain why someone else makes a better friend to the cat than she does, why someone else is more loveable or loving. You may find yourself starting over with a new cat!

Good luck, K.

I would put her in a room before going to bed with her litter box and a comfy pillow to lay on. This will prevent her from roaming during the night. You need to get her spayed and use the low cost program. I don't know where you live .. In Birmingham, AL call ###-###-#### and get a certificate. Nearly every vet you can think of participates. If you are not in Bham, call your local humane society and ask them for the local information. Cats by nature want to prowl, you just have to work around it until they get older and settle down. Spaying will help but she's young and active - she wants to play. Put her out of hearing range alone in a room and protect anything that you don't want her to use as a sharpening post with her claws. If you must get rid of her, go to the store and buy a fish as your new pet! Betas are great - one fish per bowl and they love to sit on the kitchen table and watch you. They'll sometimes follow you around the room and they get mad and puff up at you if you sit things too close to their bowl. Our daughter loves her fish! Good luck!

I have 2 cats and they sleep with us every night. Just lay beside us. They won't hurt you. Or all i can say is put her in the bathroom before you go to bed at night. Cats are very loving and won't hurt you while you sleep.

First of all, cats are nocturnal animals. Their natural tendency is to be less active during the day and more active at night. If you're gone all day, she's snoozing and getting ready to play all night. Your daughter's bedtime is prime play time for the cat. If you let her in your daughter's room when your daughter goes to bed, the cat will most likely be happy to cuddle with her and chill out.
Second, she doesn't understand why she is able to play with your daughter and then suddenly she is all alone and cut off form the family. Locking her on the bathroom will only make it worse.
Is there any particular reason you don't let her sleep with your daughter? Our cats and dogs have always slept in the beds with us, and it has never caused a problem.

do you know how old the cat is? believe it or not, cats pick you, and you pick dogs. she maybe hyper and it maybe good to talk to a vet. pets do go through some things that humans do but in a differant way. dont get the cat any toys that have cat nip in it. also the cat may need another cat to have a companion. some pets are like that. who knows but God where the cat was before she came onto your porch. and only God knows, what she went through in her little life before she came to you. C.

okay, it is a cat, not a person. they do not understand "weekend" vs. "weekday" you might want to try going ahead and putting her in the bathroom at bedtime; then, she is already there.
i don't think getting another cat would solve the issue...they will probably run around playing all night!! You might want to take your daughter to the shelter and have her pick out an older cat, and find a home for your younger cat.

well I know of several people who are a live to because of their CAT the house caught fire and the cat woke them up and saved their lives and you can get a cat house which is a tower with several cubby holes and the cat might chose to sleep their good luck cause I have two cats one of them will sleep on the foot of my bed once in a while but the other one is in to be up high off the ground and my bed isn't high enough what kind of cat is it? that makes a difference other than that you can just put the cat in the bath room all night is this cat fixed? that could make some difference if she is female also you give it toys to play with that way it will be tired at night like a hanging toy it can swat at for long periods of time good luck

Why don't you just put the cat in the bathroom before you go to sleep and then you won't have to get up and do it at 3?

It sounds like the cat may be lonely and wanting company. You could try getting a second, perhaps older cat that will serve as company and a behavioral example. The risk here is that you may end up with TWO crazy cats and have to find homes for both of them. It should be all right to let the cat sleep with your daughter, since she's old enough to be able to change positions in her sleep and push a cat off her. (Though my in-laws let cats sleep with their kids at any age, and had no troubles with suffocation. But we don't let our cats sleep in our son's room because one tends to get curious and knock things over.)

Additionally, the cat may need more exercise to work off her energy. We have a 2.5 year old cat that drove us nuts for the first couple years, and we tried to find a new home for him, but no takers. I didn't want to put him in a shelter where he'd be likely euthanized; we ended up keeping him and now we're in a new home with a cat door and a fenced back yard that he and our 17-year-old cat can run around in. Our younger cat started yowling at 2 and 3am when we first moved, because of the new situation, and after a few nights of this I shoved him through the cat door (which he was still afraid of) in frustration, and he didn't yowl anymore after that. Now he meows in the morning around the time my husband and I generally wake up, and our toddler often meows back from his bedroom.

Um... so - you can either give the cat up to another owner who is willing to take on the challenge, or you can try getting another cat so she will not be so alone during the day, or if your yard is fenced you could let the cat outside for exercise and more things to do. Older cats found at shelters often have a lot of years left in them, and their personalities are set so you can have an idea of whether they'll fit into your home better, and they can serve as a check on the more rambunctious behavior of other cats. An idea would be to take the current cat along to the shelter to see if the cats might get along.

Not being a "cat person" myself, I would get rid of the cat, your daughter is only 3 and will forget about it in a matter of a few weeks, she may still talk about it from time to time (as my daughter talks about her Grandma's dog, who is "in heaven".) Giving a cat away is easier for her to understand, that the kitty needs to go to another home where she can be played with all day or whatever to help her understand why kitty has to move out. Have you tried having her sleep in the bathroom with the litterbox-maybe put a little bed in there for her? Good Luck!

We have 3 cats and they all sleep in the laundry room at night where their catbox and food and water are kept. They even have them trained to when we say "bedtime" in a high pitched voice, they all start heading to their room. Most of the time that is!!! I have kitty beds in their too! Now, on occasion, one of them has that desire to scratch on the door to be let out in the middle of the night but we either ignore her or we go in and give her a little swat on the behind and she usually stops! Anyway, hopefully this will give you an idea for making any room the kitty's room! Good luck!

There's a reason she was a stray...Hope that other good home is prepared. We've taken in many strays in the past, too, but none like that one. Perhaps your daughter can get a cat, of her choice, from the Humane Society. Is your daughter old enough to understand why you want to find a new home for the cat? Letting her participate in the process and maybe meet the new family, pointing out that the cat would have all of its needs met and be happier, could help.

I'm praying the best for you and your family and the cat.

We had a problem cat and eventually had to find another home for the cat even though my kids loved the cat...I wouldn't recommend getting another cat because that could be cat trouble times two. Your daughter may be sad for a little while, but she is at the age where she will get over it. My daughter was the same way and she was fine a few days later. For the sake of order and peace in your family, I would recommend giving the cat to the prospective new owners, especially if your husband took the time to inquire about a new home. Besides, with your full schedule between you and your husband work and school, and full time parenthood, it doesn't sound like there is much time to give the cat the regular attention that she needs. Your little girl will be okay...maybe you can even have her "help" you take the cat to the new home and can visit every now and then.

I have had cats all of my life and you have received some good advice. I never had to do this, but a friend would close her cat up in the bathroom everynight and that worked for them. Mine were free to come in the bedroom.
And having a second cat is a great idea. Two are no more trouble than one and they do enjoy the companionship...and they keep each other company - especially if you have to go out of town for a few days.
By all means have them spayed or neutered as soon as possible.
!!!

Ok. I have 2 cats inside. Honestly, if the cat will be quiet in the bedroom with you, let the cat in. The cat will likely sleep at the foot of the bed or even under the bed to hide! My 2 will wake me up sometimes in the wee hours of the night if they are out of food - try feeding a scoop of dry food at bedtime so the cat has food throughout the night...but honestly, shutting the cat in the bathroom is not going to do anything except make it more upset and prone to meow even louder! Hope these suggestions help!

hhmmmmmmmmm........ok, I've owned cats my whole life..try this before you give up on her..if her litter box is in the bathroom then lock her in the bathroom and get a pet bed for her, or make one. If she likes to sleep on beds, then she probably isn't comfy on the bathmat. If you feed her on a schedule then make sure she has a bowl of water in there, if not and you leave her food out, move it in there along with her water. Also get her some little kitty toys, quiet ones i recommend, little mice with catnip or something. Then she wont get bored and she'll have everything she needs. It may take a few days but she should adjust so long as all of her needs are met. Depending on her age it could be anything form boredom, to just pure hyperness of a kitten..keep it dark..and she should soon adjust..may take a few days to a week, maybe a little more. But give it a realistic time frame :). Hope this helps :).

~C.