High Energy Cat keeps meowing

[ClumsyBear]

I have a 3yo neutered male. We moved about a month ago and this apartment has less climbing/hiding spots. He's definitely more bored. He used to entertain himself more before.
Now, there's just constant meowing. It's annoying during the day but then he's also keeping us up at night.
He's biting me more frequently as an attempt to get attention/play/get energy out.

We got a big cat tree but he's not that interested in it.. he's got toys. We play fetch a lot but he can just keep going for hours and hours.

We tried ignoring him but he just does not stop meowing.

We've shown him the hallway to show there's nothing out there... but he still keeps meowing at the door.

I don't know what to do..

 

[Kris107]

Do you have a picture of him you can post?
He sounds frustrated or maybe over-stimulated. A month isn't a very long time to settle into a new place. Is playing his "love language" or motivation to do things? More than food or cuddles or other?

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. What kind of places did he use to hide in at your previous place? Anything you can mimic? Can you place cat shelving on the walls for him to climb? How about automated, interactive toys?

There could have been pets in your apartment from the previous owners, and he can smell scents from them. He might also be responding to other pets that are passing your door, if there is a public walkway/hallway outside.

Bored Cat? What Cat Owners Need To Know (Including 10 Actionable Tips) - TheCatSite
How To Make Your Home Bigger (at Least For Your Cats) - TheCatSite

 

[ClumsyBear]

Do you have a picture of him you can post?
He sounds frustrated or maybe over-stimulated. A month isn't a very long time to settle into a new place. Is playing his "love language" or motivation to do things? More than food or cuddles or other?

Of course I have pictures!

That does sound right.. he does seem frustrated or bored or maybe overstimulated.
Play is 100% his love language. I love that about him. We have a lot of fun together but usually he tires out eventually. Recently there's just no stopping.

 

[ClumsyBear]

Hi. What kind of places did he use to hide in at your previous place? Anything you can mimic? Can you place cat shelving on the walls for him to climb? How about automated, interactive toys?

There could have been pets in your apartment from the previous owners, and he can smell scents from them. He might also be responding to other pets that are passing your door, if there is a public walkway/hallway outside.

Thank you - I'll definitely have a look at those links.

He loves sleeping in the closet, or would climb above our kitchen cabinet and this tall bookshelf we had. I thought a cat tree might help with the need for climbing but doesn't seem to quite satisfy him.

We just had more stuff and he could hide in corners. Maybe I need to move things around a bit here and make it more interesting.

No other pets lived here before, it's a new building. But possibly some on our floor for sure.

 

[Kris107]

Have any moving boxes still? Any new toys you can try out? Or even non-toys? A ping pong ball? A shoelace? In your se ind picture he looks pretty relaxed. Keep ignoring (not acknowledging) the meowing and I'd bet he'll quiet down.

 

[ClumsyBear]

Have any moving boxes still? Any new toys you can try out? Or even non-toys? A ping pong ball? A shoelace? In your se ind picture he looks pretty relaxed. Keep ignoring (not acknowledging) the meowing and I'd bet he'll quiet down.

We did get a few new toys. But, I think maybe taking out a moving box might be pretty fun.. we had a smaller one out but maybe a big one would be different.

Yeah, I think we just need to push through and ignore him till he quiets down..

 

[Kris107]

Has your daily rhythm and schedule normalized too or is that still a bit off with the move? Some cats really get thrown off when a lot of changes happen at once.

 

[ClumsyBear]

Has your daily rhythm and schedule normalized too or is that still a bit off with the move? Some cats really get thrown off when a lot of changes happen at once.

My boyfriend did start a new program at the university so he's out in the afternoons. He used to work from home.

But my schedule is the exact same and I'm the first one up and the one who feeds him and all that.

The meowing happens even if my boyfriend is home though.

Our routine is pretty stable too.

 

[Alldara]

Of course I have pictures!

That does sound right.. he does seem frustrated or bored or maybe overstimulated.
Play is 100% his love language. I love that about him. We have a lot of fun together but usually he tires out eventually. Recently there's just no stopping.

View attachment 485948View attachment 485949

If he's not stopping, rather than going to tire him out, it's likely he's having trouble settling in the new space! Magnus gets really grumpy when tired. And when he gets over stimulated he gets hyper and can't settle on his own.

Is there a TV show or music he likes to relax to?
Does catnip help him relax?
You can try closing rhe curtains or blinds and moving to some low light. Sometimes if we are still doing something, we toss on some cat calming music as well. Most streaming platforms have a variety. Magnus likes the purring one.


**note music is not a medication and you should not expect your cat to calm down as if they are a human who has taken gravol

 

[ClumsyBear]

Is there a TV show or music he likes to relax to?
Does catnip help him relax?
You can try closing rhe curtains or blinds and moving to some low light. Sometimes if we are still doing something, we toss on some cat calming music as well. Most streaming platforms have a variety. Magnus likes the purring one.

That's a great idea! I've definitely focusing on getting energy out and it's possible he needs the opposite and relax. I didn't think of that. He loves listening to some lofi and usually sits with me when I watch tv. I'll try putting something calming on for him.