Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Crying Kitty


Photo from cats.lovetoknow.com
 
One of my favorite sayings is “You learn something new every day”.  Well…maybe not every day…but I did learn something new today, and this surprises me because I used to be a ‘crazy cat lady’.  J  I came across this article from andmycat.com about cats crying throughout the night for attention.  None of my cats ever did this.  According to this article, cats cry throughout the night for various reasons.  Usually as kittens or seniors.  Kittens especially when in a new home because they are missing momma and siblings.  Seniors because they don’t’ want to go looking for you and want you to come to them.

 

Photo from www.sevacall.com


Getting up and giving them attention reinforces the behavior so it is recommended that you do not check on them.  I never had this problem but I think it was because I always brought my cats to bed with me.  They give some tips for dealing with the issue like having a play session before bed or feeding the main meal before bed.  You could also find ways to keep your cat awake during the day so they will sleep through the night.

 

Photo from www.222animals.com


Of course you know your cat better than anyone else, so if this is a new behavior, take your cat to the vet to make sure there is no medical reason for this behavior.  This is how I first noticed my Merlin had some medical issues.  The ASPCA site also gives some suggestions for cats that keep you awake.

 

Photo from CatChat.org


In researching this issue I guess it is more common that I thought.  I must have been lucky with my babies.  CatChat.org agrees that this behavior is usually a cat wanting attention.  Their last bit of advice is don’t give in.  Cats need to learn that the nocturnal crying is not going to get them the attention they want.  Even yelling at your cat is giving it attention, so if you are sure it is not a medical concern, ignore kitty.  They will get the message…eventually.  J

 



Be Well & Be Happy,
Pet~Pourri

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