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

New rescue cat howling - please help

13 replies

thatcountrylife · 21/11/2020 10:26

We adopted an 18 month old cat from a local shelter last weekend. She is adorable and loves to cuddle but she wowls, cries and howls the whole time she isn't asleep.
I don't want her in our bedroom at night so she's left downstairs with the door shut but she cries all night and has destroyed the carpet by the door. She has a cat tree, toys, food, water and litter tray, and we've had a feliway on for the last three nights. During the day she wowls walking around the house.
We're both exhausted from the crying and she doesn't seem happy either. What can we do?

OP posts:
thatcountrylife · 21/11/2020 10:29

Adding that while she's my first cat of my own I had cats growing up. I've just never known such a vocal, unsettled cat :(

OP posts:
tortoiseshell1985 · 21/11/2020 10:29

She may settle if you let her in bedroom / upstairs at night could you do that? I put a cover on to protect duvet

userxx · 21/11/2020 10:31

I think you are going to have to let her into the bedroom until she's more settled.

Balaur · 21/11/2020 10:33

Is she going outside yet? Hopefully she's been spayed as it sounds a bit like "on heat" behaviour Shock!

madcatladyforever · 21/11/2020 10:36

It sounds like she is confused and lonely, cats can be quite neurotic. i would let her out until she becomes settled, she'll probably be fine with a cuddle and then when she is used to you, you can gradually start kee ping her downstairs again at night.
I dread to think of the wailing my 19 year old girl would do if she didn't have access to me at all times.
Some cats are needier and more insecure than others.

thatcountrylife · 21/11/2020 10:41

No not going outside yet. She has been spayed.

We did try one night with her upstairs with the run of the house apart from the bedroom, but she ran around howling. My partner was happy to get a cat on the condition that she didn't sleep overnight in the bedroom, which was ok with me as none of my childhood cats did.

OP posts:
slipperywhensparticus · 21/11/2020 10:45

Have you talked back? I have a vocal cat he chats when he watches the neighbours out the window if I talk back he stops faster if he loses me in the house he just shouts till he "finds" me talking back obviously helps

Other thing has she been checked for deafness

slipperywhensparticus · 21/11/2020 10:46

Its just been a week settling takes time you can also get spot on calm drops or chill drops from herbal health at home

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/11/2020 11:33

A weeks very early days for a cat.

tortoiseshell1985 · 21/11/2020 11:42

I think honestly she would settle if allowed in with you
Mine would be a nightmare if shut out

userxx · 21/11/2020 11:51

You need to let her in the bedroom.

thecatneuterer · 21/11/2020 11:51

Yep, I agree with everyone else. You need to allow her into the bedroom.

Prestel · 21/11/2020 14:19

You could try setting up a bedtime routine for her. Putting out some dry food and maybe some cat milk just before you go to bed will help create a positive routine associated with when you go to sleep. Try to be consistent time wise for the first few weeks. There's some more tips here:

www.wikihow.com/Help-Cats-to-Sleep-at-Bedtime

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