Discussion
About a month ago we adopted a cat from our local Cats Protection. He's driving the neighbours mad as he is meowing repeatedly throughout the night.
The meows are awful - they sound like he's in pain. The only way I can describe it is that he 'winds up' starting with one meow and then getting louder and louder and louder (he'll meow 5-10 times in a row). If you watch him, you'll see that he puts his entire body into the meowing and he strains to get the last couple of meows out. It sounds like someone is garrotting him (they aren't...but they well might if he continues).
He used to do it all the time in the house however he's now stopped. The problem is that he only now meows like this when he is in other people's gardens so we can't spray him with water to make him stop. If we keep him in at night, it's a constant noise; if we let him out, it's only 3 or 4 times but it wakes our next door neighbours up.
He's about 13 and we think he's also partially deaf, which probably doesn't help. I've got a Feliway (?) diffuser on and this has meant he meows less but doesn't stop him completely. Other than his hyperthyroidism, there is nothing wrong with him. Is there anything else we can try to stop him being such a noisy sod?
The meows are awful - they sound like he's in pain. The only way I can describe it is that he 'winds up' starting with one meow and then getting louder and louder and louder (he'll meow 5-10 times in a row). If you watch him, you'll see that he puts his entire body into the meowing and he strains to get the last couple of meows out. It sounds like someone is garrotting him (they aren't...but they well might if he continues).
He used to do it all the time in the house however he's now stopped. The problem is that he only now meows like this when he is in other people's gardens so we can't spray him with water to make him stop. If we keep him in at night, it's a constant noise; if we let him out, it's only 3 or 4 times but it wakes our next door neighbours up.
He's about 13 and we think he's also partially deaf, which probably doesn't help. I've got a Feliway (?) diffuser on and this has meant he meows less but doesn't stop him completely. Other than his hyperthyroidism, there is nothing wrong with him. Is there anything else we can try to stop him being such a noisy sod?
Our cat is about the same age and does the same (he is also deaf). He doesn't affect the neighbours as he sits at our front door and just goes 'MEEOOWWW, MEEOOWWW..etc' all night long. I've tried throwing old boots out of the window and everything... I think he may have to have to go 'missing' so we can get some peace.
Is his hyperthyroidism under good control?
This disease affects a cats behaviour by making them hyper and increasing their metabolic rate (hence the increased appetite, fast heart rate and weight loss in untreated cats) etc so if under poor control it could be a contributing factor.
Also older cats do go senile and this is a classic senility behaviour though I admit his seems quite excessive.
It may be worth trying Zylkene, it's a natural product given by mouth, it'll have no affect on his thyroid treatment but can help calm a cat. I honestly don't know if it'd work in his case but it's worth a go, along woth the feliway.
This disease affects a cats behaviour by making them hyper and increasing their metabolic rate (hence the increased appetite, fast heart rate and weight loss in untreated cats) etc so if under poor control it could be a contributing factor.
Also older cats do go senile and this is a classic senility behaviour though I admit his seems quite excessive.
It may be worth trying Zylkene, it's a natural product given by mouth, it'll have no affect on his thyroid treatment but can help calm a cat. I honestly don't know if it'd work in his case but it's worth a go, along woth the feliway.
bexVN said:
Is his hyperthyroidism under good control?
Yes. He's eating & drinking well, has put on weight, takes his pills (most of the time anyway...!) and generally seems like a happy boy.bexVN said:
It may be worth trying Zylkene, it's a natural product given by mouth, it'll have no affect on his thyroid treatment but can help calm a cat. I honestly don't know if it'd work in his case but it's worth a go, along woth the feliway.
Thanks, I'll give it a go. Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff