YOWLING AT BEDTIME

Hi, my 3 yr old cat has started a weird thing about 6 mo ago. As soon as I get in bed and start to drift off she goes in search of one of her favorite small fury toys and carries it around the house YOWLING with it in her mouth. She eventually makes it into my bedroom and gets really loud. Most of the time I can calmly call her name and she'll come on up and settle down to sleep. But other times I have to get loud with her. She's never had kittens (she is spade) But I wonder if she is trying to wake a baby kitten or something. Any body out there having any issues like this?

Usually cats who yowl at night are bored- if she is carrying around a toy it is a sure sign she is looking to play. I would try getting her some new interactive toys or even consider adopting a playmate for her.

She could be trying to teach you how to hunt. It's something cats do for their kittens, and a behavior you sometimes see with spayed cats as well. Consider this a nice gift from her.

If she seems to seek your company a lot and is alone for part of the day, you could think about getting another cat, or a kitten, to keep her company. Obviously, adopting another cat is a major decision. If this is something that could work for you financially and otherwise, it's worth considering. If you do go that way, make sure you go through the proper introductions and don't assume she'll be thrilled to have a new cat, or even a kitten, just dropped in front of her 

That said, any change in behavior could be an indication for a health issue, so keep an eye for other changes. An increase or decrease in appetite, a change in litterbox habits, or anything else that may be different. 

My Phoebe does this.  She is just announcing her victory.  Acknowledge it.  If you want another kitty, then you can sure get one but this is not a sign that she wants one.  People always think this "Oh my kitty is bored and wants a friend."  Then, they are shocked if the cats don't get along.  You will still have to do the proper introductions and that does not mean they will be friends.  Cats do not like change.  And though they can be "social" animals, they do fine (and some even prefer to be) an only kitty. 

Before jumping into getting another kitty, access you kitties personality.  Is she an alpha (a dominant personality)?  Is she laid back?  Is she social at all?  Is she more skittish and prefers only your company?  Is she an easily stressed kitty?  Does she make herself prey or paint a target on her back with her actions? 

Alpha personality cats are often better with being only cats.  Not to say they can't have other cats around but they will make themselves known as boss, often aggressively.  Laid back and social cats are the more easily multi cat cat's.  Find cats similar to her personality.  It can take a month or more for them to accept each other, too.  So, don't rush it.  It is thought kittens are more easily accepted.  However, if she's not overly playful or energetic, she may find a kittens energy to be too much and very annoying. 

And last but not least, if she is more of a loner and only liking your company (she hides when others come over) or she is easily stressed, she could be the type of kitty that paints a prey target on her back and another kitty is ill advised.  It will more than likely create problems you do not foresee but read many threads on here.  Many people have this problem. 

If YOU want another kitty, this if fine.  But, people often blame their cat for getting another kitty.  The fact is, YOU want another kitty, not your cat.  Your current cat is blameless and you will be responsible for both cats and the consequences of it.  I am just trying to warn you that it can be work and there are unforeseen consequences that many do not think about. 

If you are not sure.... Don't do it.  There are so many cats out there with no home to go to.  If you bring one in and it doesn't work and you have to rehome it... Think of it as another shelter cat or feral out there that will have one less home to go to.  One more death warrant signed. 

Try playing with your cat.  See if she just wants more interaction with YOU.  But this is NOT a request for a new kitty. 

Thanks for the feed back.  Yes she has a little brother (not related, I just call him her little bro)   I agree, she was lonely so I adopted Loco as a "live toy" for her.  They get along awesomely !!  Getting Loco for her really helped.  But she didn't start the yowling until 6 mo ago and Loco been with us for about 1-1/2 yr.

P3 and King...  Stealth does seem to be the one who turns the other cheek, and defers to Loco when he wants the toy, or he can easily get her food.  She just lets him take what ever he wants.  At feeding time (I don't free feed)  I always have and will continue to put her bowl down first, then Locos.  I kind of thought this will help to instil in Loco that Stealth is top dog, er cat in this case.   But maybe her "turn the other cheek"  personality is why they get along so well.  they sleep together, groom each other run, chase... all those fun things cats do together.

Stealth is not much into playing.  She's always looking over her shoulder to see where Loco will attack, not attack her, but attack the toy we are playing together with.  Stealth n I cuddle all evening every evening.  she's my cuddle bug.  Loco does not cuddle, or very rarely cuddles (boy cats aren't the cuddlers, so I've been told - maybe just him) 

Maybe she is trying to show me her hunted prize.  She just sounds so pitiful when she is doing it.  Maybe she misses me, but I'm right there in bed, she knows where I am lol! 

As I said, my Phoebe does this, too.  It does sound awful.  But, it's just a victory chant.  Nothing more.  I acknowledge it and tell her how brave and awesome she is and she seems satisfied and will drop the toy and stop. 

She does this when she catches a moth or kills a spider or some random insect, as well. 

I think so too in Stealths case. Nice to know I'm not the only one going thru this. I'm gonna try some before bed hearty play time too. And I've started giving them a bedtime small meal too. Maybe hearty play, then small meal before bed might help her settle down.

Maybe a stupid question but is she fixed?

Debl58 said:

I think so too in Stealths case. Nice to know I'm not the only one going thru this. I'm gonna try some before bed hearty play time too. And I've started giving them a bedtime small meal too. Maybe hearty play, then small meal before bed might help her settle down.

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yes! that's what i was thinking i'd suggest to try while i was reading through this thread. cats tired from a rousing play session and with a full tummy are much more likely to settle down for a nice long nap at your bedtime. make sure the play session is about 20 minutes long, followed by a small meal, then it would be best for you to be ready to hop into bed immediately.

aww...to hear that howl again. We always knew when Minnie was carrying one of her hairbands around... always had to stop and think a second if she was hurt or in pain then realized...nope, she has her hairband. Sometimes I would find it in my shoe or on my pillow... she treasured it We lost her Saturday, but if that howl isn't too annoying....I would just smile and know your kitty is taking pride in something special

Hi Frieda, yes Stealth Spayed, Loco neutered.

MnM, very sorry for your loss. I try to be understanding of this yowling thing, but it's like she knows the exact second I start to doze off and then she starts. Like I said usually I can call her name and she runs up into the bed and settles down. Not always tho. Sometimes I have to sound a little stern.

you know what your kitty needs...and yes, maybe it is a lil discipline.. kinda got caught up there in a "moment" of reflection. Our other kitty, Mikki let's herself be known in the middle of the night sometimes. We call out to her and she usually comes and jumps in bed and that's it. I swear she likes the echo of her voice in the quiet of the night sometimes!

Right on MnM. Plus I have only TILE in house, so it's REALLY loud lol. Love her no matter what tho.

tile here too! Echo city!

My 8 year old male cat, Malibu does this EVERY NIGHT! It drives me crazy! Exactly like what you described.

We will be lying on the sofa together watching TV and when I'm ready to go to bed, I turn off TV and go into my room. I always call him to follow me to come to bed but he goes in search for his favorite toy and starts YOWLING non-stop. Even when I call him to come into the room so I can play with him, he just walks around with his "mousie" and yowls like crazy until he gets tired and hops in bed with me. I cannot understand it for the life of me. He is neutered and does have a "little sister" (3 year old Kali) but he hardly ever wants to play with her.

I truly feel like I know a lot about cats (behaviorally, nutritionally and medically) but I do not understand this night-time yowling. 

definitely have 2 kinds of howls at our house. One is when they have a prized possession and the other is for attention after we go to bed