Hello,
I love cats, but for most of my life I have not been in a position to be a cat owner. But in my late 20's I finally got myself into a stable job and an apartment that allowed cats. I started with a Russian Blue from the Humane Society. They told me he'd be loud, but I didn't mind at the time. And he was vocal, but he didn't wake me up, and the talking kept me company. A year and a half later I got a longhaired kitten. She was much quieter, and for a long time, I didn't think she could really meow. The two got along great.
Years passed, and I started a family, and my Russian Blue was not happy. He was meowing me awake several times a night. I thought it might be the new apartment. He did seem happier when we bought a house. But there were other cats in the neighborhood and they were not nice. He got louder and louder, at all hours of the night. It was really frustrating, being short of sleep from raising children, to have the cat wake me up, too.
Anyhow, this question is not about him. After he crossed the bridge, my other cat became loud. She had always been so quiet. It's been two years now, and it's getting worse. She picks several times a day, usually either a stressful time of day, or when I'm asleep, to either follow me around meowing insistently (litter box is clean, food and water full, coat brushed), or howl if I'm asleep. As soon as I give her attention she's fine. At night all I have to do most times is call her name, and she'll come to bed and quiet down. But then I'm awake again. The vet said it was probably hyperthyroidism, but once that was detected and solved with medication, her behavior hasn't changed.
She's almost 14, dislikes my wife and children, and generally seems unhappy most of the time; and I resent her for waking me up and whining all the time. I've been wondering, is this the end of my life as a cat owner? Does it have to be this way?
When I got my Russian Blue, they said he was a "vocal breed." Are there "quiet breeds"?
I love cats, but for most of my life I have not been in a position to be a cat owner. But in my late 20's I finally got myself into a stable job and an apartment that allowed cats. I started with a Russian Blue from the Humane Society. They told me he'd be loud, but I didn't mind at the time. And he was vocal, but he didn't wake me up, and the talking kept me company. A year and a half later I got a longhaired kitten. She was much quieter, and for a long time, I didn't think she could really meow. The two got along great.
Years passed, and I started a family, and my Russian Blue was not happy. He was meowing me awake several times a night. I thought it might be the new apartment. He did seem happier when we bought a house. But there were other cats in the neighborhood and they were not nice. He got louder and louder, at all hours of the night. It was really frustrating, being short of sleep from raising children, to have the cat wake me up, too.
Anyhow, this question is not about him. After he crossed the bridge, my other cat became loud. She had always been so quiet. It's been two years now, and it's getting worse. She picks several times a day, usually either a stressful time of day, or when I'm asleep, to either follow me around meowing insistently (litter box is clean, food and water full, coat brushed), or howl if I'm asleep. As soon as I give her attention she's fine. At night all I have to do most times is call her name, and she'll come to bed and quiet down. But then I'm awake again. The vet said it was probably hyperthyroidism, but once that was detected and solved with medication, her behavior hasn't changed.
She's almost 14, dislikes my wife and children, and generally seems unhappy most of the time; and I resent her for waking me up and whining all the time. I've been wondering, is this the end of my life as a cat owner? Does it have to be this way?
When I got my Russian Blue, they said he was a "vocal breed." Are there "quiet breeds"?
