Plaintive Meowing from our Cat

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#2576014 29-Sep-2020 18:30

We got Felliway refills online as it was significantly cheaper - it certainly helped one of our cats with stress (excessive grooming brought on by another cat encroaching on her territory). Then later, when we moved to an apartment they all seemed to benefit from it, as transitioning to 'inside only' cats was a bit of a step for two of them.

They're all very happy now and we no longer have to employ Felliway.

mattwnz

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#2576015 29-Sep-2020 18:32

We also had this problem. The solution was another kitten. It should already come toilet trained if you get it from a breeder.

We have also just recently lost the cat that had the problem, but the newer cat doesn't seem to miss him at all and doesn't pine for him. So it seems to affect some cats and not others.

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#2576024 29-Sep-2020 18:35

SaltyNZ:

We once had two Tonkinese cats, Max & Tilly. Tilly was hit by a car and Max was the same - constantly meowing and calling to her to come back. We ended up having to buy another (Tonkinese) kitten so he had a new friend.

In other news, don't buy Tonkinese cats if there are any cars within a 50km radius of your house. Max got hit by a car about a year later, and we bought another Tonkinese to replace him. Then the first replacement got hit by a car, and then finally the second replacement got hit by a car. And then we didn't have any cats for a couple of years till we got a Scottish Fold who can't be arsed walking more than 5m from the house, and a rescue moggy who just hangs out underneath it (the house, not the Scottish Fold) when she isn't in the mood for cuddles.

Mine was also a tonkinese, so it is likely one of their traits.. When we got our new cat, a Burmese, we were told that they don't sell them to people unless they are going to be inside cats, or not live near roads.

mattwnz

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#2576025 29-Sep-2020 18:38

Rikkitic:

Slightly different issue here but maybe fits somewhere. I rescued a kitten who lives in one part of the house and is doing well. Male, neutered, now about six months old. We also have an adult neutered male, eight years, who I keep in the other part of the house. I let him outside during the day.

I have tried introducing the cats to each other. The older one was okay but the kitten would not leave him alone, constantly launching into him. The two of them would wrestle without let-up across the floor and down the hall until I got sick of it and separated them. They didn't hurt each other and it seemed to be play, though I could see the older one getting fed up. Then they started spraying on the walls so I have been keeping them separate again. Today the older one accidentally got into the younger one's area. The younger one wanted to play and launched into the older again, as before. This time the older one wasn't having any and hissed an angry warning at the young one. This happened twice. The young one seemed surprised and slunk away, looking confused.

What the hell do I do?

That is the problem with two males. They are very territorial. A male and a female is best I have found, or two female. But two males can get into a lot of fights. We were forever taking one to the vets with abscesses from cat bites, torn ears etc.

sleemanj

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#2576097 29-Sep-2020 19:16

networkn:
I have heard animals sometimes can't get over the loss of a sibling and need to be put to sleep as well,

I would hope that any vet would strongly discourage if not refuse euthanasia in such a case and suggest alternatives including rehoming.

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gbwelly

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#2576098 29-Sep-2020 19:17

Rikkitic:
Slightly different issue here but maybe fits somewhere. I rescued a kitten who lives in one part of the house and is doing well. Male, neutered, now about six months old. We also have an adult neutered male, eight years, who I keep in the other part of the house. I let him outside during the day.

I have tried introducing the cats to each other. The older one was okay but the kitten would not leave him alone, constantly launching into him. The two of them would wrestle without let-up across the floor and down the hall until I got sick of it and separated them. They didn't hurt each other and it seemed to be play, though I could see the older one getting fed up. Then they started spraying on the walls so I have been keeping them separate again. Today the older one accidentally got into the younger one's area. The younger one wanted to play and launched into the older again, as before. This time the older one wasn't having any and hissed an angry warning at the young one. This happened twice. The young one seemed surprised and slunk away, looking confused.

What the hell do I do?

You're just going to have to socialise them until they sort things out. I have 4 males, added 1->2->4. There is quite different information in this thread from what I have been told by the cat rescue organisation I got the last two from -they told me adding males would be fine and I would only have problems adding a female. I was informed that a female would fight to be top of the hierarchy and that males would not. This seems to have held true for me. I have no issues with spraying or defecation, all have 24/7 access outside, all neutered.

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geekiegeek

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#2576107 29-Sep-2020 19:35

networkn:

We have a LOT going on right now, and whilst our kids would probably be over the moon with a kitten in the house, I am not sure we have the spare "capacity" to toilet train and help manage another cat. I'd also worry that Sweep would "bully" the kitten.

I'll have a chat with my wife perhaps Feliway might be a reasonable idea.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Doesn't have to be a kitten, I've had two cats from cats protection (I actually volunteer at the Wellington branch) that were around 18month to 2 years old and they were a lot less trouble (fun??) than a kitten. We got a kitten just after lockdown when one of our older cats passed away and they are definitely more work than an older cat.

Eva888

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#2576227 29-Sep-2020 23:35

Rikkitic:

Slightly different issue here but maybe fits somewhere. I rescued a kitten who lives in one part of the house and is doing well. Male, neutered, now about six months old. We also have an adult neutered male, eight years, who I keep in the other part of the house. I let him outside during the day.

I have tried introducing the cats to each other. The older one was okay but the kitten would not leave him alone, constantly launching into him. The two of them would wrestle without let-up across the floor and down the hall until I got sick of it and separated them. They didn't hurt each other and it seemed to be play, though I could see the older one getting fed up. Then they started spraying on the walls so I have been keeping them separate again. Today the older one accidentally got into the younger one's area. The younger one wanted to play and launched into the older again, as before. This time the older one wasn't having any and hissed an angry warning at the young one. This happened twice. The young one seemed surprised and slunk away, looking confused.

What the hell do I do?

That is so frustrating and hard to get rid of the smell. Ive heard from a vet that 2 cats need 3 litter boxes. Might be worth a try. It’s definitely territorial issues and I imagine when the little energetic one irritates and exhausts the older one, he sprays to tell kitty enough and to back off. Try bringing the old cat into the kitty's area rather than kitty encroaching on his space, so he doesn’t lose dominance over what’s his.

Some of the comments in the below article referred to other products and reading.

https://moderncat.com/articles/how-stop-your-cat-urine-spray-marking/

Argh! Why can’t I post links here properly. I have no problem in other sites when I copy paste a link. What’s the trick.

SaltyNZ

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#2576264 30-Sep-2020 08:04

mattwnz:

Mine was also a tonkinese, so it is likely one of their traits.. When we got our new cat, a Burmese, we were told that they don't sell them to people unless they are going to be inside cats, or not live near roads.

Yep, Tonkinese like to roam. One day in the future, when these cats are gone and what is now SH1 has been a local backroad for 10 years, only then would we consider another Tonkinese.

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networkn

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#2576553 30-Sep-2020 15:25

So, we bought from Feliway spray and put it down low near the laundry/garage where he eats and near the stairs he has to climb to get upstairs. Hard to tell if it was significantly better, sometimes it seemed like it, but the meowing throughout the night was still present.

I am not sure how much more of this I can cope with. We will spray upstairs as well tonight and hope that helps.

Our last kittens were taken very early as we wanted to be involved with them as early as possible, I am not sure what age breeders toilet train kittens, but there is inevitably accidents and kitten pee is about the worst thing going.

mattwnz

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#2576567 30-Sep-2020 16:05

Our cats always sleep on the bed, so the meowing was never a problem at night, as the cat always had company. It is when they go off search the house that it meowed, but that was mainly in the day.

I think 3 months is what breeders often keep kittens for. Never really had any problem with accidents with kittens either. Throwing up is the bigger problem with cats I have found.

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#2576648 30-Sep-2020 18:09

SaltyNZ:

And then we didn't have any cats for a couple of years till we got a Scottish Fold who can't be arsed walking more than 5m from the house, and a rescue moggy who just hangs out underneath it (the house, not the Scottish Fold) when she isn't in the mood for cuddles.

I had a Scottish Fold - like yours, a very lazy cat. Didnt roam, even though we were then living on a lifestyle block. When we moved to suburbia recently, just loafs around in the deck. When he does sneak out the door, roams for about 5 minutes, and then wants to come back in.

Unfortunately, had to give him the big sleep a month ago - had a tumour in his jaw.

Lasted 18 years, but also had mild arthritis, and prone to urinary tract blockages. Mild pain meds ( Loxicom), and Cystaid for the urinary issues + vet-only food ( or high grade non-grains supermarket food), + raw meats ( offal, veal).

Each time we moved, a week or two of the Feliway helped him settle.

Awesome cat, shed fur like crazy, always greeted me when I got home, and an occasional lapcat when it was cold.

Miss the grumpy ol bugger ...

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#2576691 30-Sep-2020 18:43

@networkn You really need to run one or two of the diffusers - these work better than the spray from experience.

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#2576701 30-Sep-2020 19:18

Cheapest here $95: https://www.trademe.co.nz/pets-animals/cats/other/listing-2797785406.htm?rsqid=af3ff2e5c95d40beaaa46ae235b2370c-002

Second $109.59: https://www.animates.co.nz/feliway-cat-anxiety-diffuser-with-48ml-refill.html

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#2576713 30-Sep-2020 19:25

networkn:

Hard to tell if it was significantly better, sometimes it seemed like it, but the meowing throughout the night was still present.

Is your cat free to roam at night? If yes, maybe try constraining it in a smaller area overnight. We had this problem with an older cat with dementia. Constraining him to a 3 x 2 metre space at night helped quiet him down.

Your cat is possibly suffering from grief along with your family. Love and patience.

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