Even though they normally don’t make as much noise as dogs do, cats nevertheless have vocalizations. Cats meow, scream, yowl, and weep among other sounds.
Due to varied stimuli, you might occasionally hear these noises throughout the day, but they usually happen at night when you’re trying to sleep.
Why Does Your Cat Stay Up All Night?
Cats are by nature lively and awake at night, when you’re trying to sleep. They might be attempting to play, discover, eat, scratch an itch, or get your attention. These actions can occasionally be quite loud, and they wake us up. Some cats are moreover exceptionally lazy during the day. These cats will have lots of energy to burn off at night because they didn’t expend much of it while you were up.
Meowing in the dark to get attention
If your cat is vivacious, inquisitive, and enjoys playing, it may be waking you up at night with their meows. Cats will perform a variety of things to get your attention, including meowing, pawing, racing into you, laying down in front of you, and scratching at the door to your bedroom. If your cat is whining for your attention while you try to go asleep, the best thing to do right now is to ignore it. As a result, your cat will have a regular feeding schedule and are less likely to associate you with food. Even if you scream at your cat, you are still giving it attention, whether it is good or bad. Earplugs may be your only choice until you can put an end to the nighttime meowing.
The next day, make sure to provide your cat with toys to play with so that it is active all day. Puzzle games, feather wands, laser pointers, and battery-operated chase toys are all excellent substitutes. Some pet cameras even come with laser tips you can use while at work to play with your cat while you’re away from home. If you exhaust your cat and give it all the attention it need during the day, it will be less likely to want to meow at night.
Meowing for Food in the Dark
Did you forget to feed your cat? Cats regularly plead for food or treats, and a cat that is starving will not sleep soundly at night. Make sure to feed your cat before bed if it’s hungry because it won’t let you sleep properly. If you get up in response to the cat’s cries at night, it will learn that you will feed it when it meows at you. If you have a busy work schedule or worry that you won’t remember to feed your cat, take into account an automatic cat feeder that controls the mealtime and amount of food your cat receives. Even while doing this could be challenging for some, if you give in to your cat’s screams for attention, you will just be promoting the unwanted behavior. For your cat to stop making noise and acting up at night, make sure they always have access to fresh water.
I’m Meowing Because of Cognitive Dysfunction
Similar to people with dementia, cats can develop cognitive impairment, which limits their ability to understand what is happening around them. Despite the fact that the cat phenomenon is not fully understood, we do know that it frequently gets worse at night for senior cats that act disoriented and meow for no apparent reason. If you think your cat might be suffering from cognitive dysfunction, talk to your vet about treatment options. It could be advised to give your cat specific food and nutritional supplements to maintain the best possible brain function.
Stress, anxiety, pain, and discomfort cause meowing
Any medical condition or situation that produces anxiety, stress, discomfort, or pain might lead pets to become restless and vocalize more frequently than usual. Consult your veterinarian if your cat exhibits abnormal behavior or physical illness symptoms that appear day or night.
Meowing due to diminished hearing or vision
If a cat has limited vision or hearing, they could experience fear or confusion. If your cat is deaf and unable to hear you or if their eyesight is failing, they may meow to catch your attention or to find comfort because your home is likely to be darker and quieter at night than it is during the day. Your cat might not be aware that they are meowing loudly since they have poor hearing. Have your cat’s senses checked by your veterinarian if it appears that your once-clear-sighted and hearing cat is losing them. With aging and illness, both eye sight and hearing can deteriorate.
If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your family pet, know the pet’s health history, and may make the best recommendations for your pet.
