Is your cat always meowing at four in the morning? Does your cat end up going quiet as soon as you get up to check on them chilling in the hallway? If you’re curious or even worried as to why your cat is constantly crying at night, The Refined Feline has some answers.
Your Cat May Be Bored
One reason that’s commonly seen as to why your cat is meowing at night is simply from boredom. Cats are very playful, typically around dusk and dawn when they’d be hunting in the wild. They may wander around to find something interesting if they didn’t get all that playful energy out during the day. They may start meowing in order to gain the attention of other animals or people in the house so they have someone to play with.
To avoid this from happening, set aside plenty of time to play with your cat throughout the day. Cats require about half an hour to an hour’s worth of playtime every day, divided into smaller intervals. Make sure your cat has a large cat tower to climb on or leave some fun toys out for them to play with on their own. Ensuring your cat is exercising enough during the day will ensure they stay sleeping during the night.
Your Cat May Be Hungry
No matter what time it is, your cat won’t be too shy when it comes to asking for more food. If your cat doesn’t have free-feed access, they may potentially feel hungry during the night, and will have something to say about that. In addition to yowling or meowing because they are “starving”, your cat may turn to pawing at your face to get your attention. Try splitting up your cat’s last meal of the day if they are trying to get more food out of the situation. If you feed them once or twice a day, try splitting the food further to keep their bellies full for longer. This “extra” portion of their dinner that’s split will (hopefully) tide them over until the morning. This will ensure they don’t gain any weight while also satiating your feline.
Your Cat Is Seeking Attention
A cat may not be bored, per se, but wants to get your attention for a variety of reasons. They may have already tried scratching at the door or pawing at your face or body without any success. Most cats won’t care if it’s positive or negative, it’s still attention to a cat, so they will keep trying to wake you up. Generally not the norm, there are rare occurrences when cats are alerting you to some danger within the house. Your cat may not be playful, but simply wanting your affection or contact in some way. If this is the case, they may be feeling ignored during the daytime instead of boredom. Spending extra time snuggling with them, especially before bed, may help them feel more relaxed during the night.
Your Cat Is In Pain Or Stress
If you hear your cat yowling or near screaming it may incite you to panic, but it doesn’t automatically mean it’s pain or stress related. But what you should be doing is taking note of any sudden changes in your cat, like unexpectedly meowing at night. If the behavior includes mood changes or eating less, it may be more of a sign of pain rather than boredom. If a cat’s living environment or schedule changes, a cat can also experience stress. They may emote this stress by meowing, and sometimes while wandering around the house. If you have any concerns over your cat’s behavior or their meowing, it’s best to have them seen by your vet.
Your Cat May Be Older
Added vocalization in your cat can come from old age, besides stress or pain. It can be a byproduct of their eyesight or hearing starting to fail them. Becoming disoriented or confused, they are meowing for guidance on finding out where they are or where you went. Medical conditions like hyperthyroidism and others, can also increase your cat’s vocalization. Extra vocalization can be a sign of this condition in addition to eating and drinking more yet losing weight.
You should take your cat to the vet if it seems like your cat’s health is changing at all. Even if it looks like it’s a behavioral change, there could always be a medical reason behind it. A cat’s behavior can sometimes suddenly change because of an underlying medical condition.
Cats Meow For A Variety Of Reasons
Ultimately, your cat’s personality can help you decide why they’re meowing when they do, so pay close attention. The meowing can be from something as simple as extra food or attention. It could also be the beginning of your cat aging and needing extra help. Either way, you are now better equipped to determine your cat’s meowing so that you can both enjoy a good night’s sleep.