Cat "Cooing" & Meowing at Night

[willbrazill]

I have two 1 year old male cats (brothers). One of them will not stop meowing and "cooing" loudly at 4am every morning. I haven't had a decent night's sleep in the last year because of it. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment. The other is completely silent and sleeps through the night. Help?!

 

[di and bob]

You will have to find out why.....is he hungry? Maybe leave out a small amount of kibble for him to eat during the night. Is he used to getting up at that time for some reason? Keep him up a little later the night before, play hard with him with a cat wand or some toy. Hunger and routine are the two main reasons for cats waking too early. Is there something waking him up at that time? I can almost guarantee he will adjust and sleep through the night as he gets older, but unfortunately, that won't be until he is at least two. He is still technically a kitten. Maybe you will have to shut him out of your room for a few nights when he wakes early and see how that goes. He obviously has a different time schedule/temperament than his brother. I would first start with the food. Then with a firm NO, put him off the bed, then progress to shutting him out if that doesn't work. I'm sorry you are having this problem, I still get up at 4 AM naturally, since when I was a nurse and had to be at work at 5. My three cats are ALL up now at that time, right in my face, wanting to be fed.

 

[ArtNJ]

Apartments and young cats are a non uncommon difficulty. The real wonder is that your second cat doesn't get up and chase the other around with all the racket. I'm sorry that I don't have any great suggestions beyond what di and bob mentioned. Age will take care of this; I'm not sure what else will.

Certainly don't ever get up and do a 4 am feeding or play session, which would reinforce the behavior. Doesn't sound like thats an issue, but I just mention it as something to be careful of.

 

[LTS3]

Try the tips here: How To Stop My Cat From Waking Me Up At Night (step-by-step Plan) – TheCatSite Articles

You may want to wear ear plugs to sleep. Do you leave some food out overnight?