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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cat shouting at me at night - any advice?

35 replies

JonahB · 26/11/2013 20:42

I have a lovely 16yr old cat. Recently she's taken to crying and miaowing really loudly when we're all in bed, waking us up. She doesn't do it every night but when she does do it, it can be up to 3 times a night. The only way to get her to stop is getting out of bed and calling her. Some of the time she'll then come to our bed. She's basically in good health despite her age.
Does anyone have any experience of this or know why she does it? More importantly how do I get the old girl to stop? For the sake of my sleep advice really appreciated!!!

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 26/11/2013 20:50

I'd probably be thinking that, as with some older cats, she's getting lonesome and needy and wants closeness with her people and love. It takes some of then that way when they get older.

Would you be OK with taking her to bed right from the start? (When you go to sleep.)

AngiBolen · 26/11/2013 20:53

My 16yo cat does this. Mostly in the morning, when he hasn't seen us for a while. I think it's a lonelyness thing.

Heaven help is if we go to bed when he is out in the garden, and he comes in to find the house diserted and dark!

Original poster
JonahB · 26/11/2013 20:55

I think you are right on the neediness she has got a lot more needy and wanting company over the past couple of years. I work from home so that's not usually an issue. She does sometimes come to bed with me but only stays about 20 mins. If she shouts and comes to me in the night, again it's only for about 20 mins. Is it common for cats to get more needy when they get old?

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Original poster
JonahB · 26/11/2013 20:57

It also is a bit worrying that she might do that when we 're all out Sad

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TheGirlOnTheLanding · 26/11/2013 21:04

Our sixteen year old boy is a lot more vocal now too, thankfully he generally starts up about half an hour before we're due to get up so we think of him as an extra alarm clock. He'll settle if allowed into the bed for a fuss. I don't have an answer I'm afraid, just reassurance that it seems to be quite common. I wondered about senility, as he is definitely getting dafter as he ages - along with the loud telling off early in the morning he runs out the front door every time it's opened, only to appear at the back window complaining loudly about ten seconds later. DD2 thinks he's 'getting more like Mog' [the forgetful cat] and forgets he chose to go out on his own volition.

cozietoesie · 26/11/2013 21:04

Some cats definitely do get needy as they get older - but I wouldn't worry too much about when you're out. Without the stimulation of your general presence in the house, she'll likely go for a nice long snooze.

Maybe take her to bed and see if she'll settle - or make her up a warm cardboard box with insert that she can use as an alternate in the bedroom. You could also try to up the evening attention generally - eg groom daily and lots more lap sitting if she likes that.

patienceisvirtuous · 26/11/2013 21:10

Mine is only two and cries if she can't be with us at night. So we basically give her free reign

I had to invest in a timer feeder too as she demanded feeding at 430am Blush

Cats!

It probably is a loneliness thing as said.

Original poster
JonahB · 26/11/2013 21:11

Girlonthanding - your cat sounds lovely!

Cozie - thx for the box tip. Ill try that. She gets a huge amount of attention. Whenever she's awake (admittedly not that much) she always seeks out company so usually sits with me when I work or on my lap in the evening. Looks like it'll also be at night too now Smile. Glad it's not just my cat though....

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Original poster
JonahB · 26/11/2013 21:12

She has com

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Original poster
JonahB · 26/11/2013 21:12

Sorry. She has completely got me wrapped round her furry paws

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OhYouBadBadKitten · 26/11/2013 21:13

We've reduced it a lot with our elderly cat by leaving a lamp on for her. I didn't think it would make a difference but it did.

cozietoesie · 26/11/2013 21:14

They're great to sleep with as you'll know. Once she gets used to it, she'll hopefully settle down quickly and be the best type of hot water bottle/cuddle through the cold months.

cozietoesie · 26/11/2013 21:15

Good tip, BadBadKitten. Might also be worth trying a low volume radio if you can put up with the murmur.

Original poster
JonahB · 26/11/2013 21:17

Wow. Great tips. Thanks!

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TheGirlOnTheLanding · 26/11/2013 21:19

He's a sweetheart Jonah - but doesn't feel like it at 6.15 on a Sat morning so I feel your pain! Hope new sleeping arrangements solve the problem. They do definitely own us, not the other way around. Smile

patienceisvirtuous · 26/11/2013 21:28

Could it be that she wants something to eat? Mine used to be happy to wait til morning then just took it upon herself to change her feeding routine!

You could also put a blanket, hot water bottle and teddy in her bed for company before you go to bed. We do this Blush

TheNunsOfGavarone · 26/11/2013 21:37

My dear old boy became vocal in the last few years of his life. How I miss his "grumpy old man" miaow. It was usually in the early evening when I came in from work. No tips as such, just wanted to share.

nooka · 26/11/2013 21:38

Our cat started doing this at a similar sort of age. The vet thought he was probably going senile. Then he started to poo in the middle of rooms, including once or twice under my bed! So he got confined to our utility room at night, where he actually seemed much happier (smaller space, less confusing perhaps?)

AnneElliott · 26/11/2013 21:44

My cat cries pretty much all the time! What stops it is calling her to come to me and cuddling her in the bed. Once she's comfortable then she falls asleep.

Original poster
JonahB · 26/11/2013 21:58

This sounds quite common then. She's purring next to me now. I'll try your tips tonight

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cozietoesie · 26/11/2013 22:02

Best of luck - and let us know how you get on.

CJMommy · 26/11/2013 22:06

I have 3 cats aged 15/16. The two girls howl at night and drives me mad Confusedbut I was told it was a sign if dementia. I have put out some old pillows in our room by the radiator and they snuggle up in them at night. Howling at 6am hasn't stopped though!!

TamzinGrey · 26/11/2013 22:59

OhYouBadBadKitten's solution of leaving a light on has worked with us too. We've got night lights that plug into sockets near to our old girl's food dish and litter tray and she very rarely cries at night now.

TheSontaranPussycat · 27/11/2013 00:17

Dcat (who is not Sontaran btw Blush ) is 17, and fairly deaf. She does yowl quite a lot these days, I suspect part of it is because of the deafness.

sporktacular · 27/11/2013 00:38

Aw thanks for posting this, mine is an old lady cat and has started doing a "distressed" meow in the night occasionally when nothing bad seems to have actually happened to her.

The curtain rail fell down in the other room once, and once a small table sort of fell on her, which explained a sort of "ARG HELP!" meow (and she got picked up and taken to bed with me).

But I've also seen her curled up asleep a few times more recently and she's just woken up with an "ARG!" meow for no apparent reason. I had wondered if arthritis pain might be waking her up.

I'll try leaving a light on for her. I take her to bed with me every night but then she wants to get up and then she wants to get in again and then she wants to get up and then she wants to get in again.....

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