Calling all cat people.......

I have a very sweet natured male cat who is 19 years of age in August as he has gotten older he has become more and more vocal, I don't think he was best pleased that I moved him to Wales a year ago although he seems OK, he cannot get out of the perimeter of the garden as he cannot jump the high fence which is just as well as I think he would get lost!! so he isn't getting as much exercise now as he did when I lived in Surrey which is probably much of the problem, but I can't change that. At bedtime I always make sure his bowl is filled, he has water and his litter tray is clean but................he wakes up at approx. 5.30 am and makes the most horrendous wailing sounds really LOUD and he keeps this up for about an hour when he finally goes back to sleep. So, I am being woken up at this time every morning and I am thinking now of sedating him at bedtime!!!!!
I cannot get a good nights sleep. so does anyone have any ideas? I am willing to try anything!!!!!

Val

 

Who for John the cat or Val?

 

A cat Flap fitted to your door ?

Jack McH

 

Is he a neuter or entire? Male cats like to have a territory and to patrol it. It's their nature and you are depriving him of being able to do what's natural. He's frustrated and letting you know it!

And I really wouldn't worry about him getting lost. I've moved cats numerous times and always let them out within hours of arriving at the new place. So far as they are concerned, where I am is home so they come back to me. I am sure your cat would be just the same.

My sister had a cat who was the of the same mind. She used to be matron and cook and boys public schools (my sister, not the cat!!) so she could have the same holidays as her young son and he could get a good education. But Tiddles always came too. In school holidays she had to get temp work as a housekeeper because she had no home and Tiddles always went too. She worked for a Royal once and when she left, when the lady of the house wrote out her reference, she included a paragraph for her son and another for Tiddles!

One year we hired a boat on the Norfolk Broads and Tiddles naturally came too! She loved to sit up the sharp end as we chugged along! Each night when we moored up, she would jump off the boat and be gone for about an hour or two then back she would come as if we'd always lived there. You see, home to her was where my sister was!

 

My 18-year old in September gets slightly vocal around 6am but only a few whitterings ... nothing to do with the light as we have shutters ... wondering if it's an 'age' thing? After his loud mutterings and a drink of water he comes back to bed, climbs under the duvet and promptly falls asleep curled up to me. I wonder if he is up alone (the other two still asleep) and making his presence known.

 

There could be a chance the old fellow may be a tad deaf..so for all he's making the racket he doesn't realise he is...bit like my old dad

 

I'm no cat expert, but at 19 I wouldn't have thought he'd need a vast area to exercise. My friend's cat (an RSPCA rescued waif) had to have his tail and one hind leg amputated so he can't climb or jump fences, but he's perfectly fit and healthy just doing 'cat things' in the garden.

I suppose your cat could want to go out, he could just be after a bit of attention, or it could just be a 'habit' he's recently developed.

If you think he might want to go out, you could try a cat-flap, assuming you don't already have one - and you can get them with a timer control (although they don't come cheap .... about £66 even on Amazon ), or if you think he just wants some company, and don't mind a cat in your bedroom, you could try letting him have the run of the house so that he can sleep near you.

'Habits', I've noticed, are something cats suddenly develop for no good reason. Mine for example has recently decided not to lap the first few mouthfuls of her drink, but to insert her paw into the water, lick the water off that and then lap straight from the container - .

The only thing I can suggest is that you perhaps have a word with your Vet., and discuss something like a 'Feliwell' plug-in or something similar. When my cat gets ultra-stressed - as she does when she has to go in the cat-carrier - my Vet suggested and gave (well .. sold!) me a pheromone spray to use which, although odourless to humans, does help to calm the cat down. At least it might be better than sedating him!!

 

Loving reading all your cat stories, sorry can't help with your problem though Val, our cats always been very vocal but luckily not in the middle of the night, thats when he stampedes across the landing, usually when hubbies on night shift and I'm alone , making me think we've got burglers.
They do seem to like their little routines though don't they ours likes to have his lunch at 12ish then likes a knee to sit on for half an hour before turfing you out the spot you've just warmed up for him!!!!!!!!!! then sleeps all afternoon, yesterday we were out at lunch time and daughter texted to say he was being very vocal and she'd done everything fed him etc, I told her he likes a cuddle but he wouldn't go on her knee, waited for us to come home instead because he's just not used her being here at that time of day, funny little creatures

 

Here's a link to the Feliway. It's meant to help with a number of kitty problems.
http://www.feliway.com/gb

 

I had never heard of this product, it certainly seems to help some cats so thank you for that!!
No he doesn't want to go out, I have tried coming downstairs and opening the door for him. He probably would like to sleep on my bed but I have also tried that and he keeps clawing at the bedclothes purring loudly and wakes me up like that!! I am thinking that he just doesn't like me being asleep!!!!

Val

 

Cat Flap and the Feliway both good suggestions. We do have a cat flap, smart husband wanted it taken out it is only put in when we vacation. So our three wake me up at 5:30Am to be let out also. (have a litter box) Even if I get them out at 6p to 9p the night before they want to get outside at 5:30Am. For me it is ok, as I get up then anyway.