Going to turn them into a lovely hat and scarf soon...

[StormyBrid]

Yowling. Any advice on preventing it? Both cats are fine when I go to bed, but as soon as I get up for any reason, they start yowling. As I always need a pee at some point, and have a baby who's currently not sleeping, I'm spending more time swearing under my breath than sleeping. Have been awake since 2.15. Please tell me there's something I can do to shut the little sods up?

What do you currently do when they yowl? (I'm feeling a suspicion that you currently reward their bad behaviour with attention or food or something.)

(Laughing here at the hat and scarf notion.)

They mostly just get expletives hurled at them. If they're trying to dig through DD's door I get out of bed to stop them, but they leg it before I get chance to throw a ball of socks at them.

Attention, then. (Even expletives are something to them.) I would completely ignore them for a night or two and see how that goes - and maybe even bring the baby in with you for a couple of nights if you can.

It might also be worth checking that they have a really cozy and comfy place to sleep in. It's less attractive to leave a lovely warm scratcher to go into a cold nighttime house.

PS - and lots of loving attention and yummy nosh at regular breakfast time of course.

Have just put the baby down for a nap and got back into bed myself. The neurotic one immediately started yowling. I am ignoring. She's pausing on each step of the stairs for a meow, each louder than the last. If ignoring doesn't work, am I allowed to duct tape their mouths shut? (That one's tempting for the baby too.)

Tempting.

Keep on with that ignoring. She's waiting for some reaction.

As it's morning, I would guess that they're both housecats? If so, maybe also have a look at what you can do with regard to play activities for them - eg if they have dry food, maybe try some kibble toys to put their breakfast/other food in. (It's apparently possible to make toys of wet food also but I would draw the line at little parcels of fish flavoured wet nosh under the sofa, I'm afraid.)

\link{http://www.icatcare.org/advice/keeping-your-cat-happy/making-your-home-cat-friendly\This} may be a useful read for you.

They're not technically housecats, which I think is half the problem - the neighbours have a cat that they're trying to rehome because it keeps fighting with their other cats around their baby, and that cat's always outside. Mine daren't go out for fear of getting beaten up, and I think they have too much pent up energy.

Weirdly, ignoring worked this morning. They just curled up on the end of my bed and we all had a two hour nap.

Good for you all! (But do also try some enrichment behaviour with them - eg foraging toys. If they're stuck inside, whether because of the mean other cat or because of weather, they'll have all this energy built up which they'll need to dissipate.)

Yabu. A furry hand muff is better. Practical with a touch of whimsy.

We have had two nights of minimal yowling! One incident of the little cat trying to dig into DD's room, but as DD wad awake (standing in her cot, not able to lie back down) I had an excuse to get up and shoo her away. This ignoring trick is awesome!

at your thread title. I always thought mine would make an attractive bicycle seat cover.

Excellent. Keep it up - and Happy Sleeping.