My Cat Meows So Loud

[Anonymous]

I love my cat -- he's a rescue Siamese that we've had for 2 years, but he meows every single night around 4 AM. He obviously wants to go outside in the middle of the night. It is driving us crazy. It's been going on forever -- basically at 4 AM, we have to sit and calm down the cat for an hour and then at 5 AM, we let him take a little walk and let him back indoors at 5:30. He has a litter box so there is no reason for him to need to go outside at all except for whatever weird craving he has (and not that one -- he is fixed). If he had his way, he would probably be outside all night long but obviously that is not safe and not an option. We've tried everything -- giving him full roam of the house, having him sleep with us, buying every cat bed on the market, letting him go out late at night the night before. But it is like "4 AM" alarm clock. Please help me with my loud Siamese cat so we can sleep. It's like a newborn who never grows up.

[Anonymous]

Why don’t you just let him stay out all night? I know that is not the answer you are looking for, but if he’s happier outside at that time then I’d just let him do it. Normally our indoor/outdoor cat is in and out a few times/day for meals and comes home in the evening, but occasionally stays out overnight. Always shows up for breakfast the next morning. It worried me SICK at first but she is clearly happier this way so I just learned to go with it.

[Anonymous]

If you don't live in an apartment or townhouse with neighbors who'd be disturbed, can you let him "cry it out"? Like what if you just ignore him--don't calm him down, don't let him out, just stay in bed until your normal wakeup time. Of course this will take several days/weeks til he realizes it's not working but maybe you could try it.

Of course I am a total hypocrite about this because I get out of bed every morning around 5:30 to feed my cat and then go back to sleep. But for me, that's easier than trying to train her out of the behavior. So I'd say either just get used to letting the cat out at 4 am, get a cat door he can use without you, or try to extinguish the behavior.

[Anonymous]

Cat needs an overnight room where they have a bed, water and litter and the door needs to be shut. They learn "nights" from "days" but only if you teach them.

[Anonymous]

Ha Ha! I saw your thread title and wondered if this was going to be about a Siamese cat. Gosh they are loud!

We used to have one. One day while trying to talk on the phone while the cat was caterwalling, I turned on the TV for him. I actually worked! It worked quite well for about four months, then he figured that it was the TV doing all that talking and not "his" humans. After that it didn't work as well, but it still helped some.

So my suggestion is to turn on the TV for him. Try a show where people are mostly just talking, like the news.

[Anonymous]

Is he fixed? Sounds like he needs a girlfriend.

[Anonymous]

Is she deaf? My cat is and is very loud.

[Anonymous]

The cat has trained you to get up at 4 am. You are going to have to stop cold turkey and try to distract her for a few nights, but do not take her out. Then gradually wait longer and longer to respond to her meowing. She trained you; you have to train her back.

[Anonymous]

get a cat door so it can come and go when it wants

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The cat has trained you to get up at 4 am. You are going to have to stop cold turkey and try to distract her for a few nights, but do not take her out. Then gradually wait longer and longer to respond to her meowing. She trained you; you have to train her back.

+1. Do a catio setup or put them on a leash if you take them out. Try tiring them out before bedtime, prevent day naps. And give it puzzle toys. It is bored.