Help w/ Rescue Cat Behaviour

[AnnieOnAMapleLeaf]

Hello,

We were adopted by a gorgeous rescue kitty a few weeks ago and, for the most part, she has settled in beautifully. She is approximately a year old and was taken in to her foster family when she was heavily pregnant.

She does this weird thing with her toys (mice, balls etc) where she picks it up, carries it to us meowing the entire way. But her meow sounds like howling and it wakes us all up virtually every night.

I've read that this is common in cats who have lived their lives outdoors (ie rescue cats) but nothing I have read gives me any ideas as to how to stop it.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

It sounds as though she is missing her kittens. How old were the kittens when they were taken from her? It's a pity she couldn't have been homed with one of them. All I can say is that she will get over it eventually.

We have a neutered male who does this when he's caught prey and wants us to admire his prowess. He usually does it at 2am so I understand how you feel about the noise!

We haven't found a cure. He lives with three other cats so he isn't short of company.

Sorry to post and then disappear. In my exhaustion, I forgot that I had posted. 😁🤦‍♀️

@thecatneuterer - the foster home said that she had our girl and her kittens for 12 weeks before rehoming the kittens. But yes, I guess she could be missing them. I believe they were only rehomed a few weeks before we adopted mama.

@TheLongRider - it totally feels like that is exactly what she's doing. "Ha! Look at this fluffy, orange ball that I have murdered and brought to you!" Thanks sweetie, but I only appreciate your offerings between 7am and 11pm. 😉

We have tried exhausting her before bed in the hopes that she'll just sleep like we do but she seems to be on an opposite schedule to us - she sleeps all day and the hunts small fluffy things while we sleep. It's a good thing she's adorable! 🐈❤️

Fancy adopting a kitten? Two cats aren't much more trouble than one.😁

@TheLongRider - I would adopt a dozen cats! Unfortunately, it took me a month to convince DH that we should adopt this lovely girl. I doubt he would agree to another.