Cat won’t stop meowing

[acquiescence]

Our cat is 8. Since his sister died 2 years ago he has become really quite annoying. He meows for food so much of the time, even when he has just been fed. He meows to go out and when we open the door he runs away. He meows at cupboards and at things I don’t even understand.

He is a big neutered Tom but still a fairly tough and active one- he hunts a lot in the warmer months and fights a bit, and warns off other local cats. He will very actively play with toys like a kitten would. He has dry food and is fed morning and evening. He is a bit overweight so we try not to give extra in between. He has the run of the house, no cat flap. He isn’t keen on going out in the cold. I have tried feliway. I have tried giving more attention- he is lower on the pecking order than he once was due to small children and busy lives.

He has been seen at least annually by the vet and is healthy.

Any suggestions? He drives us mad and sometimes we have to shut him away when not be in he room with us which feels so mean.

It seems like you've taken care of all the obvious things that could be wrong. He might be stressed about something in the house that he doesn't like. It could be hunger as well. Maybe leave some dry food out for him during the day? When he meows constantly, don't acknowledge it - very difficult, I know. Wait until he's quiet, then pay him some attention.

I take it you've had his thyroid checked. Constant meowing can be associated with thyroid problems.

Is he lonely for another companion?

Thyroid?

It took several years before Annoying Cat lost all her weight and we finally took her to the vet for weight loss and she was diagnosed as hyperthyroid - once treated it was embarrasing that she actually wasn't Annoying Cat but Hyperthyroid Cat and clearly had been for years and we had just thought it was her personality

A transformed cat who no longer shouted at us, ate all the time and marched up and down resulted with two ashamed owners.