[mandr]

I am in desperate need of some advice. My husband and I adopted a 2 year old neutered male almost three months ago as a companion for our three year old spayed female. Despite her attitude, we are pleasantly surprised by how well they are getting along. The problem is he is a meower. A constant loud meower. You'd think he was a female in heat, not a neutered male. I'd almost hoped the meowing was tied to some bowel issues, but we've sorted that out and the vet doesn't see any medical problems.

He meows at different times and always at a loud volume and never at a door, but likely the worst is in the morning despite getting attention and food (and someone to watch him eat as is his preference????) We've tried spray bottles, petting when he is quiet, we recently started the pet ease calming diffuser, and also the good old 'tire him out' trick (he ends up holding toys in his mouth while still meowing).

Since December, the poor guy was in a shelter, then went to a family that kept him a month, before landing with us three months ago. We really want to provide him a loving home and not rehome him, but the meowing is making us mental! Advice please and thanks!!!

 

[littlejackipaper]

He may be a talkative cat by nature, but also, attention seeking could be causing him to meow even more. He's been rehomed several times, so he probably gets very lonely easily. Keep rewarding him when he's not meowing his head off, and try to give him lots of love and attention when he's being quiet not when he's meowing. It's hard, but if nothing is medically wrong, you might be able to slowly get him to be less talkative.

 

[Milky's Mammy]

the worst is in the morning despite getting attention and food (and someone to watch him eat as is his preference????)

Must agree with you on this one! I don't really understand why he meows so loudly and almost like begging me for food in the mornings... He knows he gets food after I get ready for work, and at the exact same time every morning. The strange thing is he eats more if we watch him eat, and if we don't watch him, he chooses to starve himself until he gets an audience!! I just don't get it?!?!

 

[catloverami]

Do you have a photo of him? What's his coloring? It's possible that he may have some Siamese genes there, as they can be loud and constant meowers.

 

[littlejackipaper]

Do you have a photo of him? What's his coloring? It's possible that he may have some Siamese genes there, as they can be loud and constant meowers.

I will never forget my half siamese cat. Every single night, he would wake up the house with his loud yowling, that eventually turned to this really weird gargling noise. It took years of trial and error, but we did figure out how to get him to not do it as long. We took construction paper and taped it to the windows at night, so even if he moved the curtains, he couldn't see outside. I still will never, ever forget the strange noises he would make. RIP to the little guy.

 

[sandyrivers]

Hi,

Just wondering, does he have any toys he likes to play with?

Maybe he is bored? Even if he has toys that we humans think are fun, maybe he dosn'tfind them very entertaining...

Sometimes just a plain old box with holes cut in it does the trick... A paper bag is also a classic at my place.

My cats really like the "Senses Play Circuit", made by Cat-it, they really go at it with this, and it only costed about 25$.
Another fun one is the "Tickle Pickle", you can buy it on-line for about 10$, not many cats can resist this one!
Some of my cats are really, but I mean really entertained by the cat water fountain...hours of fun, but gets a bit messy, as they paw at the water...
Perhaps you can experiment with a variety of toys, both home-made and store baught for you boy.

There are also some very good music CD's for cats, aimed at relaxing them and calming them. It could be worth a try...

Other than that, since he is a shelter cat, and has experienced stress and abandonment, picking him up in your arms and walking around the house with him, showing him "very interesting things", such as inside the food pantry, taking out cans and other items and telling him what they are, letting him smell the items while he is in your arms...a quick look inside the freezer is also a novelty for cats! Holding him in your arms and looking outside the window, especially if you have a bird feeder out there can also be interesting. All these moments with him helps him bond with you and reassure him of your love and commitment to him, which is surely something he is in great need of...
Another thing that worked good with some of my rescued cats was the heating pad, set at "low", covered with a shirt of mine on which they would lay and rest...I guess the heat and smell comforted them.

Maybe he is just in real need of attention, and the more you give him, the more he will realise the attention will always be there whenever he needs it, and will eventually calm down...

Hope this helps.

sandyrivers

 

[Straysmommy]

One of the strays here used to meow/cry all the time, driving us crazy, and her feeder told me it'd been like that forever. Then this stray changed feeding stations and has been eating at mine for a few months. She hardly ever meouws like that anymore. I attribute it to the fact that I linger for a long time while they eat and after, give treats now and then, and there are a lot of cats all together just lounging around, kind of a community, so she's not as scared or lonely and doesn't feel like she has to meow desperately for attention. Just a thought: maybe your cat will unlearn the need to constantly meouw for his life... I also play with her a lot with Da Bird (it's the interaction with us they love when playing with wand toys, that's what calms them down).

 

[mandr]

Thanks so much for all the tips. I don't have a pic handy, but there is no siamese in him. He's a big 15 pound black cat, sort of like the bombay panther type, with widely spaced ears but he has the odd white fur and a big white patch on his belly.

I will definitely try increasing the attention he gets. He's not much of a cuddler but I have noticed that if our first cat comes over to me after he's been getting lots of attention, he goes after her. There are definitely some abandonment issues there and I hope if he starts to feel more secure the meowing will stop before he drives us completely crazy!

 

[Straysmommy]

I find with my cats that reassurance goes a long way, even more than attention. What makes a stray or former stray feel reassured is very individual. Just one example - my most recent adoption has improved her behavior enormeously and I see that one of the things that cause the advancement is sessions where I just lie on the floor next to her doing nothing.

 

[mandr]

Thanks Straysmommy! I will definitely ensure hubby and I devote extra attention to him - without upsetting the other cat. I will also try some of sandyrivers suggestions with toys. He at first wasn't very playful but has since become obsessed with those little foam balls - we're finding them in bed in the morning as he is always carrying one around. Thanks again!

 

[maggie23]

Lying next to them

I find with my cats that reassurance goes a long way, even more than attention. What makes a stray or former stray feel reassured is very individual. Just one example - my most recent adoption has improved her behavior enormeously and I see that one of the things that cause the advancement is sessions where I just lie on the floor next to her doing nothing.

I couldn't agree more. I LOVE just being next to them and I'm sure it does make them feel secure. When Angel lies down for a nap, I lie down right beside her and she inevitably shifts just enough so that we're touching. If I put my arm around her protectively she coos like a pigeon. She's never been a vocal cat, tho. We have yet to hear a meow from her and it's been 2 months.

 

[Straysmommy]

Be careful what you wish for, my 3 former strays were totally speechless for the first couple months, now I wish they'd shut up sometimes!

 

[maggie23]

meow : )

Be careful what you wish for, my 3 former strays were totally speechless for the first couple months, now I wish they'd shut up sometimes!

ha ha! i am actually very happy with how quiet she is. i think it's extremely cute. she's the most patient and dignified kitty. every morning when i get up at 6 am, she's just waiting there at the bedroom door for me. no meowing or pawing at me or anything. she's the best.

oh, and as we speak, i am sitting right next to her on the floor as she takes her after dinner nap, snoring occasionally. i love these moments.

 

[Heidioo]

Martin isn't a super talkative, but when he's hungry (which seems to be any time I am remotely near the kitchen) he goes crazy. I like to meow back at him.

Good luck!