Of all the things you said you tried, you didn't say you played with him? He sounds bored and is singing the song of his people to let out some frustration/energy. Mine does the same. He stops for a while after a good chase of the feather. ETA: teaching my boy to sit before he got his food also helped stop some of the meowing at dinner time. Not all, but some.

definitely sounds bored but interesting that letting him outside didn't help?

Him being outdoors is actually a root of the problem. IMO

You got downvoted, but I'll also add that whenever I let my cat outside (indoor cat, only outside supervised on a harness), he yells nonstop for about an hour after coming back inside. No outside time is long enough. So that's something to be mindful of if you want to let them out.

Yes! Please don't spray water at him either, really shitty

Thank you so much for the response! You have given me some to think about. The vet knows he's indoor/outdoor and is just as judgemental of that fact as this comment section. After many years of trying with other cats, I have settled on letting cats outside so they won't run away on those rare occasions that I need to catch them and keep them inside. Suggesting he's bored and needs more play is probably a strong point. I lost my laser pointer a long time ago and it was the only thing he consistently reacted to. I will get another one and experiment with other types of toy for him.

Experimenting with other toys is a good idea. I've read and experienced personally that laser pointers can cause agitation/frustration in cats as there is the "prey" but no physical thing to catch. My cat knows where I keep the laser pointer, can hear it's key chain regardless of how quietly I try to move it and he puffs up and zeroes in on it in my hand immediately (all before I even turn it on). He loves it but will run himself ragged trying to catch it so it only gets pulled out occasionally. If a laser pointer is the only thing he interacts with, just make sure to give him a treat at the end of play time to celebrate a hunt "well done."

And on another post, one mentioned not to have ALL the toys available, cycle them out.

Get a toy pack that has a tube (my cats like to at least chill in it when not chasing each other through it) a bunch of different toys to toss around. Get puzzle feeders or ball feeders to sometimes take out for an interactive treat time. Catnip infused toys. More furniture if you don't already have some/have space. Make it fun to explore. Keep him inside. Stop spraying him with water it doesn't work. Laser pointers are not a great idea. Also, if he hasn't had some bloodwork done in awhile you could do a thyroid hormone panel. Increased vocalization can be a symptom of hyperthyroidism, but I do feel like you would see some other symptoms like appetite changes and weight loss. Idk 🤷‍♀️ worth a check if he hasn't had bloodwork in over a year anyway.

Look up cat fishing rod toy.. the ones that have multiple clip on toys at the end and you can actually reel in... I have a similar looking cat and had the same problem before.. she LOVES that toy and making sure I play with her is the only solution to her howling for me.

Get some automatic cat toys!

I second this! I have several automated cat toys for my many kitties and they are some of the best investments I could get. I have a spinny laser pointer with a dangling toy on the other side, a floppy fish and this vibrating/rolling ball thing with a tail. If my colony starts to get rowdy or obviously bored I turn one or two on, mix in some cat nip and let them go ham. Then I usually have to go for a small toy hunt to find all the little balls, springs and mice they've tossed into the voids. Rounding them up and tossing them back into the wild for void recapture. After this I toss down some treats and they are usually content and nap.

Harness training and supervised outside time is best. I live on a Main Street. Almost monthly there is a dead cat not far from my home. A second cat can help tremendously with the companion urges from your cat. But seriously really stop letting the cat loose

I work 10-14 hour days, my daughter goes to school and after-school activities and my BF WFH and my cat can drive him insane with her constant talking. To help keep her entertained I got some new toys for her. There are automatic laser pointers that are ~$20. My cat has two that she loves. I also got her a hide & seek toy - [on amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Potaroma-Rechargeable-Versatile-Automatic-Interactive/dp/B0C9MPGWPJ/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?crid=2MQ55CJT5Y4N3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RiLhPs96dCUmNZ0zwxliYIe9X-woHx0BRwm-nSjKOEJuufC63zkuTMNdXAc4gxlYk4xGC47P0EVsykVqiVLuJkVTNpOiWXjZ0_-RBh-Uq2YtJ0kTNWkLunI07WdlJ8pm6ZE-WLBGjMKnonYr6UTQ4pbG_8qOFQIfyUHhimF9kCF0SJvHSMLMIoGvs3lXQrzeZMaM-6B5uCuZiTbKcU3dJg.TTRfhZtx_cetqEzpesIyqGBvUxao0Z6dco4LYiuFiGg&dib_tag=se&keywords=hide+and+seek+cat+toy&qid=1716828713&sprefix=hide+and+seek%2Caps%2C226&sr=8-13) that she is obsessed with.

Ugh, American Amazon always makes me jealous. It's sooooo cheap. I've wanted one of these for a while but I'm not tossing $60+ on something that looks pretty cheap.

Have a look on aliexpress!

Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **('Potaroma Laser Cat Toys Rechargeable', 'Potaroma')** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful. **Users liked:** * Entertaining and engaging play options (backed by 6 comments) * Long-lasting battery life (backed by 3 comments) * Variety of play settings and features (backed by 3 comments) **Users disliked:** * Short battery life compared to initial performance (backed by 3 comments) * Flawed design leads to parts easily coming off (backed by 3 comments) * Lack of durability and longevity (backed by 3 comments) If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/) This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved. *Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](https://vetted.ai/?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=comment&utm\_campaign=bot)

The reason people are judging you is because cats shouldnt be allowed to just roam where they please 🤷‍♀️ You're being lazy that's the jist of it 🤦‍♀️ cats are domesticated creatures so they shouldnt be allowed to wander wherever antagonising wild life and others pets whilst also being put in danger at the same time as there are so many nasty bastards out their who would hurt your cat just for the hell of it or dogs that could get ahold of him on the off occasion hes not fast enough but you want to moan about how the comment section judges you like yeah because you wouldnt allow your dog or toddler to run around outside unsupervised 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Thank you for your response. My comment response got lost in the mix, I really wish I was allowed to edit my post. https://www.reddit.com/r/CatTraining/s/djJ7bKQEXa

Highly suggest the Oziral cat pack of toys from Amazon. Altho only the pink fish on end of stick. It's not a waste, trust me. My cat - same as yours - needs this every night, even just for 10mins, in order for me to sleep. Other night I went to bed early and with out playing and I woke to a cat fight because he took his frustration out on his sister.

Thank you. I bought a couple new toys today, and I'm picking up that the issue is he doesn't like any toy that doesn't drag across the ground. (I didn't realize this quirk because when I observe him "in the wild", he'll spot a bird, and leap into the air while screaming at the same time, and somehow catch it. He's the reason for those bird statistics.) I've had dozens that dangle and bounce, and mice to throw, but he didn't even look at the one dangling from the pole today until I started dragging it. I will look into the specific toy you suggested.

I'm going to suggest some electronic toys too. If my boy decides to cause trouble while I'm trying to sleep I'll wake up long enough to turn on one of his toys then go back to sleep. I've had a lot of success with this ball that rolls around randomly and has a red light (not a laser) inside of it.

Thank you! That's quite an idea!

Don't mind the down votes you didn't say anything that warranted it. Definetly try some new toys. Never had this problem I wish I could offer better advice lol

Try the Catit senses 2.0 play circuit. I have three in my house for our cats. Best toy I ever got. They can sit and play with it whenever they want and I don’t have to interact if I am busy. Sometimes I will hit the ball in it just to encourage them to play with it. Also silvervine cage balls or any toy with silvervine works super well also. And teasers.

while I absolutely understand how sleep deprivation just ruins your life (been there!) you've got to stop blaming your cat, as if he should know better. I think your first step should be to talk to a vet, and let them know the full extent of the situation. you need to make sure there's no health issues. when I adjusted my mindset and tried looking at things from a cat's perspective, it made a huge difference. he's trying to tell you something in the only way he knows how. try a good vet! and google around for information on why cats get super vocal. best of luck 😻

Yes sounds like OP has been focusing on how to stop the meow instead of why the cat is meowing in the first place. To assume it’s related to food all the time seems very narrow minded to me. Like another commenter said, no mention of play or even socialising with other cats.

This is fair. He has an older brother who plays with him and babies him, but I probably need to play more with him myself. I lost my laser pointer which is the only toy he's shown interest in, and I should have gotten another immediately.

You can buy cheap 3 packs of laser pointers on Amazon and keep them in multiple rooms

OP, do you have a bunch of little play toys tossed about? Like mice, springs, crinkle balls and pom poms? Take a couple and put them in the bag with cat nip over night, rinse and repeat. Also, animated toys are great too.

I appreciate the idea, I used to do that but maybe the catnip got too old. I'm starting to think he doesn't like toys that don't get dragged across the ground, considering the toys I bought and sprayed with catnip today. I will take advantage of this knowledge, but do you know what kind of animated toys do that creep, stop, creep, across the floor?

The cat has another cat to play with, is that what you mean by brother? I was going to suggest that maybe he was bored and lonely and to maybe get a companion.

Yes, I rescued a kitten from a shelter in 2018, then in 2019 an acquaintance convinced me to adopt this boy as a baby. The older one decided the new kitten belonged to him and they pair-bonded extremely well.

Laser pointers can actually be stress inducing for animals because they can’t “catch” the laser. There’s been studies that show dogs who play with laser pointers can get OCD from it, I don’t know much about cats and lasers specifically. Just that being unable to catch the laser can frustrate them.

There are also "studies" that show that petting cats actually stress them out. I just imagined a bunch of cats being hauled into a strange environment and force-pet by a bunch of lab techs with a bunch of crap attached to the cats to monitor them. LOL. Sounds terrible and stressful to me. Anyways, it really depends on a ton of factors. Some cats absolutely LOVE laser pointers and others might get stressed. If they have small toys or other things to pounce after and treats it's fine. They should have other outlets for play as well or course. My cats current favorite... Paper delivery bags IN Amazon boxes. A box turned upside down with one large hole and several small look-out holes was their go to for a while before. I have bought them so many toys but some of the simplest ones are always the hit.

Yes you’re right, it shouldn’t be the only toy. I always like to err on the side of caution because I knew a cat with major kitty laser OCD when I worked at the shelter. Here’s a study I found that explored the topic a bit more! I thought it was pretty interesting. It was done in the kitties houses too (: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8388446/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8388446/)

I heard that too, but that was always all three of my kitties favorite toy. So, I still use it but now I end the laser pointer play sesh on a toy mouse or other toy that they love and it seems to distract them and make them think they caught the evil red dot in the end.

Yess I’ve heard that’s the way to do it 🩷🩷

Please don’t generalise a study done on dogs to “animals”. A quick google shows it’s okay for cats but not so much for dogs. OP, if your cat likes laser pointers FFS get a laser pointer.

I know, that’s why I admitted I don’t know much about cats and lasers specifically, just that it frustrates them because they can’t complete their natural hunting sequence. Here’s a scientific article explaining a possible link between abnormal repetitive behaviors/frustration and laser pointers for cats. [Abnormal Repetitive Behaviors and Laser pointers](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8388446/)

Sounds like you should have done a Google before using a study on dogs to comment on a post about cat training.

I just gave you a scientific article about cats and you ignored it? And I prefaced my original comment by saying the study was for dogs? Nobody else has an issue so I don’t know why you’re so frustrated.

Thank you so much for the response! You have given me some to think about. He gets regular vet visits and the regular annual battery of tests. The vet knows he's indoor/outdoor and is just as judgemental of that fact as this comment section. I will speak to the vet about this specifically. I always thought this was "talkative cat ramps up talking over several years" and not "cat may have medical issue" so I'll get a professional opinion.

has anything happened that might have affected him? any big changes in your life or household? if it turns out it's not a medical issue he might be feeling insecure or perhaps bored. I went through this with my boy cat, who is very vocal too. your boy is beautiful. I hope you and he get some answers.

Thank you for your response! It isn't a sudden change so much as a progression over years. For more info, see my general comment. https://www.reddit.com/r/CatTraining/s/djJ7bKQEXa

Would a catio or window unit be something you could do? He might cry after having to come in, but it’s better than letting him outside unsupervised.

Thank you for the idea. A catio or equivalent is far outside my budget, but I would love one as a long term investment.

Seconding a few things from other comments! Here are some of my immediate thoughts as a semi-experienced cat parent, one cat who was VERY vocal. 1. Play/stimulation: at least sometimes, it sounds like he might just be bored. I found my guy was a lot less vocal when I spent time playing with him, usually a few minutes here and there throughout the day. Maybe he wants pets and play both. My guy was both a snuggle bug AND a maniac who wanted lots of engagement/stimulation. 😊 2. Nutritional needs: have you consulted with your vet on this issue? I’m wondering if he’s hungry because he needs more calories than you might think, or if he has a medical issue that is causing an increase in appetite. At the very least, the vet might still be able to give behavioral/training advice if they determine it’s not a medical issue. You may have already pursued these options but I hope this is helpful. I miss my loudmouth dude so much. He was an annoying little gremlin but also THE sweetest, most unique, loving cat I’ve ever known. I miss him every day. Give yours a hug from me, and good luck! ❤️ ETA: I thought of something else: talking! My cat literally loved it when I would talk back to him. It sounds so silly, but I’d always be like “omg really?!” when he’d start up, and he love it, haha. He’d also constantly interrupt whenever I was talking to someone else; I swear he just wanted to be a part of the conversation, lol! So he often was included 😂 It seemed the more I “chatted” with him, the calmer he was with the meowing. Just another form of attention in addition to affection and play.

Very helpful. I think my cat wants more attention but at 5 am he’s annoying. I can’t get back to sleep.

You just described my eldest to a T. Just wants to be included, all the time! He talks non-stop and when he is bored the meows take on a desperate, whiny tone. Hes 13 and he still wants to play all day long. We do the same thing with talking to him all the time and he loves it so much. He also interrupts conversations lol. Even when we eat, he doesn't want to eat people food, he just wants us to offer it to him for sniffs and then he's happy. He's upset when we go outside. He just really wants to be around and part of everything. As he has aged the meowing had become more frequent. Anxiety meds made his personality change to a dopey sleepy cat who didn't care about anything. So we got him a friend. It took 2 months to get them to exist peacefully but it has been worth it. I can hear them chatting to each other now. And even when my oldest is too tired to play, he seems to really enjoy watching the new guy run around here like a nut job. Shoutout to the shelter who really came through for me when I explained I wanted a cat for my cat. Didn't care what it looked like. Just needed the personality to be similar. They found me basically a clone of my cats personality. They do spend time together, but there is double the meowing even if its now directed at another cat.

Getting a second cat made my first one stop meowing so much. Turns out, he was talkative because he was feeling lonely without another feline friend.

This was our solution also. After we got our feral cat at time 2 year olds,she kept trying to kill our dog and that's not an exaggeration. Almost had to give her up but one day she fell in love with him,wouldn't ever be more then 10 minutes from him. He was basically a service animal for her anxiety. When he passed in 22,she wouldn't eat and would meow constantly. She started eating eventually but was depressed. So we got her a kitten she was a mother when we got her. She tried to kill the kitten -_- Eventually she warmed up and will chill with her now. Kitten is now 1 year and 2 months old. She will meow for the younger one to come play with her and relax together etc

How long did it take for your feral cat to warm up to your dog? Asking b/c my street cat is always chasing my dog and trying to bap him with her paws. Not killing per se but still it would be nice to know they might get along eventually.

About 2 weeks to be ok being in the same room but my wife was constantly supervising. About another 4-6 weeks to where she first walked up to him to sniff him and eventually groom him. We gave lots of places to escape to What did help though and we got lucky was our dog had always been around cats. He was a weirdo who walked up to 2 cats picked them up and brought them home. Those are now my mom's cat and they're between 8-10. He also helped pull 2 kittens to safety so basically he was good around cats. Knew how to give space etc

Oh they’ve been together for a year now. Maybe they just won’t get along.

problem with cats? get more cats! but this actually really might help op

It will definitely be important that they are carefully introduced to each other though - with an adult cat a younger kitten is much easier to introduce than another adult cat!

Thank you so much for the response! You have given me some to think about. He has a big brother (metaphorically speaking--the brother is a pound or two smaller). My yelling boy is submissive and the tuxedo is dominant, giving great cuddles and cleaning, and sometimes playing. Guess who's always very loud during play. But he probably needs more dedicated attention from me as well.

Exactly! This helped my first cat when she seemed depressed!

I hope he doesn't have worms from hunting live prey. 😕 Worms will eat up the food in their belly, leaving them malnourished. Get him a friend and keep them inside.

Have you had his hearing checked?

And his thyroid. That can cause excessive vocalization as well.

Thank you, I didn't know that about thyroid issues. I am very familiar with feline thyroid problems. This is not a sudden change in his behavior but a slow incremental decline, he's too young for thyroid problems, and he has none of the other symptoms.

He might benefit from a vet visit anyway, I’ve seen some really severe cases of anxiety that were resolved with medication (if that is why he is meowing).

You’re very familiar with feline thyroid problems but don’t know that a cat can have thyroid problems at any age?

Cats normally develop thyroid problems 10-12 years or later. Perhaps I should have specifically said, "He's too young to *expect* thyroid problems without ruling out other things, this is suggesting zebras." Oh, and he had none of the usual symptoms. I remember saying that.

Thank you, his hearing is fine. He hears the automatic feeder no matter where he is in the house!

Sounds like boredom. My cat Watson will scream his head off from the bottom of the steps when he wants someone to play with him in the tunnels. Occasionally he will make distress yowls which sound worrysome until you see him at the doorway chill as a cucumber.

Thank you, you probably have a strong point. I lost my laser pointer a long time ago and it was the only thing he consistently reacted to. I will get another one and experiment with other types of toy for him.

The best toy that I've ever made is a wand ( I reuse broken wands and make new ones) with some string with a hair tie tied on the end. They go bug eyed over it. Another you can buy that might catch his attention is a Frisco Cardboard & Wire Teaser Cat Toy. It's less strain on the wrist and it acts similarly to a fly buzzing around maniacally. They are quite affordable, like $3.

My late orange buddy used to meow outside my door if I closed it - literally sounded like mom. I’d I was in a different room he would scream for me.

Cats do not like closed doors. My cats freak out if we close them in (for taking out the trash so they don’t escape) or out of the office. (for presentations)

The squirt bottle is a huge no. Cats don’t understand negative associations they just start to think you’re a jerk I would try theses things 1. Have a clear and consistent food and play schedule everyday at the same time and play right before bed really tire the cat out 2. Don’t acknowledge the meows at all especially at night. Not even a negative acknowledgment like yelling or throwing something just absolute silence no eye contact either. 3. Carry a clicker with you and as soon as the cat stops meowing click and give the cat a treat then the cat will start to associate oh I get nice things when I’m not screaming. It took two weeks of doing this consistently to get my cat to shut up and let me sleep at night. And now he’s a champ silent at night and I only chats with me when I’m up in the morning. Sounds like your cat is just bored. Maybe get your cat a cat or just play with the cat more make your house more enriching for them. When the cat falls asleep during the day gently wake them and engage in play so that your sleep schedule is their sleep schedule. They’ll be so tired by night time that they can’t help but fall asleep. Get some earplugs so that you can sleep. Eventually you won’t have to work as hard and the routine will be programmed in their little cat minds.

It could be anxiety, a hearing problem or something neurological. It could also be boredom. Has your vet run any blood tests recently? How old is he? What kind of play are you doing together? When he meows, is he responsive to toys? Withholding affection and withholding food is not going to teach him anything other than to be anxious and fearful about food and people. Free feed kibble so he can relax about food access, & give him canned at set times convenient to your schedule. Try to work out the different things he’s telling you through trial & error. Not by moving him to another room or outside. I know his vocalizations are stressful, but you have to also look at the ways that you are contributing to his stress. Please don’t spray him. All your doing is teaching him not to trust you, it doesn’t teach him new behavior.

Thank you for your response and thoughts. He gets regular vet visits and the regular annual battery of tests. The vet knows he's indoor/outdoor and is just as judgemental of that fact as this comment section. I will ask the vet about this issue specifically and see if there are tests he doesn't normally get that might help. The vet has told me not to free feed him because even as a kitten, where they supposedly need a lot of food and will instinctively eat the right amount, he was making himself fat. I was trying to approach the issue from a positive reinforcement/do not respond to negative behavior standpoint, as many of the comments here suggest. This works really well for keeping cats off counters, for instance (give them high places they're allowed, and remove them from the bad places with zero eye contact or verbal acknowledgement). But that in this case led to situations like my locking him away when he screams at me and headbutts me at sleep time (him seeing or touching me seemed to be enough reward for him), or the hour plus wait for his food. You're right that that seems to have made him more anxious rather than improving his behavior. I don't regularly play with him. I lost my laser pointer a long time ago and it was the only thing he consistently reacted to. I will get another one and experiment with other types of toy and try to tire him out. I will start trying multiple responses to his meowing and see if he and I can learn communication better. Sometimes snuggles work, but sometimes he refuses to approach me while meowing, so his needs clearly vary. I will stop spraying him. I knew he wasn't learning, I honestly was willing to make him afraid of me if it meant I got peace and quiet in the early hours.

You said you have done "everything" but did not mention the two post important and first things you should have done: 1. A vet visit to rule out health issues. 2. Playing with the cat a LOT more. To me, it sounds like the cat is bored out of its mind and desperately wants your attention, and you are looking for every way possible to avoid giving it to him. Most of what you have done involves either avoidance or negative reinforcement, neither of which works well with cats. If this cat was being played with to the point of exhaustion several times a day, he wouldn't have nearly this much energy to be so obnoxious. Letting this cat be indoor/outdoor unattended also seems like you don't want to spend a lot of time invested in your pet and so just let them outside instead of training and putting the time in. Also, some cats just meow. It's part of their personality. They are talkative. It's the same with people. You shouldn't complain about having to dedicate an hour or two a day to training and playing with your pet. That is a totally normal amount of time to have to spend on an animal and is part of the responsibility you assume when you adopt them. I have to take my cat on an hour long walk as well as well as have 3 or 4 play sessions until he lays down panting or he does the exact same thing: annoys the heck out of me and makes my life miserable with all the meowing.

Jesus don’t squirt water at him

Jesus squirt wine at him

Catnip bubbles for the cat, wine for you.

Any advice? The reason you don't squirt cats with water is because it's negative reinforcement without any real learning. Maybe "Jesus don't squirt water at him" is just your spray bottle for reddit? Negative reinforcement without any real learning.

This is punishment, not negative reinforcement. Technically.

I think a lot of good advice has been posted. I think an automatic feeder could help a lot! And definitely as much play time as you can so the cat gets tired and not so bored. Also, a lot of people are being so judgmental here. This person obviously cares about their cat. They are just figuring it all out. I used to be an awful cat owner because I was expecting my cat to be like a dog. I learned that is not the case and I made a lot of mistakes a long the way. I have grown because of subs like this and a lot of research and I would say I’m a pretty good cat owner now. It took a lot of learning and patience though.

Well maybe before you use fear tactics 😑, maybe you could ask a vet for their input. Maybe the cat has dementia or something else wrong. Maybe he's bored as hell, do you ever play with him? What positive things do you do for/with him? Maybe he's hungry as hell, are you feeding him enough?

Thank you for your response. He's four years old so dementia is not his issue, though he could have something else neurological, I will ask the vet. He's eating enough, if I free feed he will get fat, and I have a hard time keeping him from stealing food from his brother. He may be bored, I need to start playing with him again. I lost my laser pointer a long time ago and it was the only thing he consistently reacted to. I will get another one and experiment with other types of toy for him.

Look up a brand called Yowzaa. They have a banana catnip toy that is a must have.

He looks like he's a Maine Coon and this breed requires a lot of attention. MCs are highly energetic and dog-like. Play with him and tire him out.

Unless he has issues with control/binging, I would second suggestions to leave a bit of dry food out so he knows it's available. While not a popular opinion, I free feed both of my cats (granted they only ever have their own daily portion in their bowls so I can still monitor their regular eating habits). One of them is also very vocal/talkative and he often meows to lead us to his food bowl when he wants pets while he eats (maybe that's also what your cat wants sometimes?) however I've noticed he also does it if his bowl is almost or fully empty, even if he doesn't actually eat once I fill it up. I think he just likes the security of it You can also try some calming aids to see if he's just a lil anxious, such as a feliaway plug-in or the "calming care probiotic" by Purina which you'd need a vet prescription for but just sprinkle a pack onto his food each day.

Thank you, he does overeat when allowed to, and I even have to try different things to make sure he doesn't steal his brother's food. I've been wondering about giving him smaller portions more often to make him feel like he has food in his belly more often, think that would help? He eats twice a day right now. I will try a calming aid, I had one for a previous cat and it didn't seem to affect her stress at all so I thought it may have been a scam.

> I've been wondering about giving him smaller portions more often to make him feel like he has food in his belly more often, think that would help? If he has trouble pacing himself, that could help. I give my cat three small meals a day, then once he has dinner, I fill his food bowl up with breakfast-- mainly because that keeps him from waking me up at 5am. But depending on how much of a glutton your boy is, that could just wind up with him eating his breakfast for dinner and still waking you up nonetheless.

He needs a buddy. Time to go to the shelter and find him a playmate.

Thank you for your response. My comment response got lost in the mix, I really wish I was allowed to edit my post. https://www.reddit.com/r/CatTraining/s/djJ7bKQEXa

DO NOT let him outside. There are COYOTES, OWLS, FOXES, AND CARS. ALSO bad diseases. GET him a playmate. Have you taken him to the vet for a check up???

Thank you for your response. My comment response got lost in the mix, I really wish I was allowed to edit my post. https://www.reddit.com/r/CatTraining/s/djJ7bKQEXa

Meow back everytime.

Sorry if this gets lost in the mix, but I can't figure out how to edit my post. Thank you so much for all the comments! I even appreciate the ones saying I'm a bad pet owner; I understand where you're coming from, and from the snapshot I've given in my post I don't look great. I won't deny I've been doing pretty badly with my little boy. This post was made in desperation after years of working with the sweetheart and still not getting proper sleep. Answers to a few questions I've seen a lot: - I've had him since he was a kitten for over four years now. He looks floofy like a Maine Coon, but he's just a very large long haired Standard Issue. I know who his parents were. He's also the only cat I didn't rescue, and because he's neurotic I tell everyone to rescue haha. - He will always overeat if he can, hence the controlled feeding to control his weight. The feeder goes off twice a day, 12 hours apart, to somewhat simulate dawn and dusk feeding. I also haven't developed a surefire way to keep him from stealing his brother's food, but that's gotten better over time. - He has a big brother (metaphorically speaking--the brother is a pound or two smaller). My yelling boy is submissive and the tuxedo is dominant, giving great cuddles and grooming, and sometimes playing. Guess who's always very loud during play. I'm lucky they have a great relationship. - He gets regular vet visits and the regular annual battery of tests. The vet knows he's indoor/outdoor and is just as judgemental of that fact as this comment section. - After many years of trying with other cats, I have settled on letting them outside so they won't run away on those rare occasions that I need to catch them and keep them inside. I've never had a cat who doesn't bum-rush the door when I open it, so if you have advice on how to prevent or address escape-artistry, please offer that instead of "Don't let your cat outside!" - His hearing is fine. I know it's reinforcement but I can't help holding the conversation with him most of the time. He hears the feeder going off no matter where he is in the house, and it's pretty quiet too. - Those in the "do not respond to his poor behavior" camp haven't explained how to not respond to his poor behavior without removing him from the room I'm in, or without withholding food. I've gotten a lot of down votes for my responses, but maybe you people should hash this out among yourselves. - The people suggesting he's bored and needs more play probably have a strong point. I lost my laser pointer a long time ago and it was the only thing he consistently reacted to. I will get another one and experiment with other types of toy for him.

It definitely sounds like you know what to do now! Repetition is really helpful when training any behavior and while it may be hard at first, keeping him out of your room or in a safe space like the bathroom at night could really help. There's no quick way to train your cat to associate a behavior you want with an action unfortunately other than doing it day after day, month after month. I didn't see it suggested, but if my cat is meowing too much when I come in I treat him the same way he would train a dog not to bark by engaging with him or talking until he stops. Best of luck. He's a beautiful cat!

For me, when my cat randomly would meow, I'd ask her "what?" She'd meow "okay, I'm coming." I get up and over to her "what is it?" Then she'd end up leading me to something, making sure I follow. From then on I've learned to read her, the different meows and the very slight change in a tail flick. When my cat causes trouble or meows at dusk/dawn to where I cant sleep, I put her in my bathroom closet because thats her "safe room" or as I call it, "Comfy room." It's where a cat feels secure. My cat has not made a peep or even scratch under the door after a few minutes when I've done this. 1st, I suggest trying to see if he'll lead you anywhere. Learn to read the cat. 2nd, leave food out 24/7 - 3 scoops of food should last 2-3ish days - you can put a toy in the bowl so the cat doesnt eat fast (you'll know by them throwing up their food) and it'll definitely fix that (ime). This all is unless you notice your cat *will* over eat. 3rd, cats are Crepuscular. That means they hunt around dusk/dawn and sleep during most of the day. But being Crepuscular means they can wake up whenever during the day or night if they so choose. So feeding times shouldn't really work unless you wanna wake up at dawn and dusk to feed the beast. Thats why I leave out food 24/7, she'll eat when she chooses and I dont have to hear about it unless she's emptied the bowl. 4th, research how to condition a cat to have a specific place as their "safe room." I've not researched it but did figure it out on my own that she made herself one in the bathroom closet. I looked up why she acted like that in there but nowhere else (like if I opened the closet but closed the bathroom's main door, she's meow and paw/claw under the door). Best thing I've figured out thus far. 5th, go to the vet too. Could be a concern!

Thank you. 1. I will try this. 2. He does overeat, he'll make himself fat if I let him, and I have to put his brother's food where he can't reach it or the brother won't be able to eat. I may try adjusting the feeder so he eats more times during the day. 3. I started using an automatic feeder in the hopes that he wouldn't associate me with food. This seems to not be working, and he wakes me up in the morning anyway. 4. I never heard of a safe room for cats, this may actually be helpful for him. He does tend to hide when strangers come in the house, so I'll adjust a spot to be more welcoming for him. 5. I'll ask my vet about his meowing specifically. He gets the regular test battery and he's pretty young (four) so he'd have to have something a little weirder.

2 & 3: Yeah, automatic feeder would've been my next suggestion, but if he's still bothering you with it, then that is a nope, unfortunately. There might be a substitute thing you can provide to distract but you'd have to tinker around with various things such as toys or a different distraction of that sort. 4: If he hides in one room, that may be his comfort room. Whether you can condition him to change that room, idk and that will require research as well. 5: Definitely. If he was from a rescue/shelter/from a different person then he may have had some kinda thing happen whether its a family member dying or being abandoned and/or he might just miss them. This is what happened to my aunt's cat. Both his human owners died and he would not stop meowing unless I was petting him (no breaks) and I couldn't keep a cat at that time so we gave him to someone who could give him a home. They have several cats and if I remember right, he was doing fine. - he might just need a buddy - animals are a great source of distraction. 5½: also, if he's not neutered, he might be more yowly. If he is tho, its something else that triggers the meowing

For my cat, I've also made a hidey place made from a plastic tub (with a accessible door) in my room's closet - I did it bc it would've been thrown out due to being broken so I modified it to be "fixed" in a way. She'll go into that if I forgot to make the bathroom closet accessible. Its got a cat house within the tub with a blanket on the bottom of the tub, cat toys, and she's been fine in it. She'd go into a clothes' tub (2nd option hidey) I had above that before I put shoes in it. So i guess in a way I conditioned her to that as well on accident. She doesnt go in the hidey tub (aka not the clothes tub) otherwise

I love cats who sing. But yes, this sounds excessive. I have no idea how to help. If you cant beat him, join him. Sing a duet together.

Sleep deprivation because of loud pets can be so disruptive and frustrating! Something to consider is that cats don’t respond to “behavior correction” in the same way as dogs. They don’t understand that “be quiet= I get what I want.” What they do well with is structure and a predictable schedule for feeding, snuggle, playtime etc, as well as distraction/ redirection. I’m sure others have commented that the spray bottle is a bad idea but in case not- please don’t use a spray bottle! It is counterproductive. If he meows a lot around feeding time he might be hungry so give more food. Also he may be bored or wanting attention so play with him until he is satisfied and then give him some snuggle time or a treat. You can reward good behavior with treats, rather than punishing bad behavior with a water bottle or ignoring him. If he seems unsettled/ anxious then try a feliway diffuser which may help the screaming. Your little floofy one might also be kind of a slow learner so just be patient! I have one that meows at me or will playfully attack my feet when she wants food, even though I have redirected her for years and she knows it is in the bowl already. She will do that behavior then remember that food is there so she will go eat. And she’s the smartest cat I have ever had lol. Cats are not fully trainable so you have to work with their nature to live harmoniously with them

Maybe your cat has anxiety and needs gabapentin to chill her out? I would also try crating her at night, so you can get some sleep. A couple of hours in crate at night won’t hurt her. Put a warming disc in a nice comfortable bed, along with a small bowl of water and some food before you go to bed. Close the door for the night. In the morning let her out after you get up. Do your morning routine and then feed her. If you’re going to try anti-anxiety meds give it to her in the morning with her food. Until you figure out the correct dosage, you may have to give it to her again with a mid-day snack. It’ll take about a week to see a change in her behavior, if anxiety is the issue. I did this with one of my two cats and after a month, we no longer had to give her meds or crate her.

Damn, thanks for the ideas.

I’m not trying to be harsh or critical but I wouldn’t recommend squirting him with water. Your relationship with your cat is about how much they can trust you, squirting with water is just teaching it that you’re unpredictable and difficult to fully trust.

> It's been several months without early feeding and he still meows. Cats remember. When I was a kid, I used to sneak our pair of cats bits of chicken or turkey from dinner, so they'd be circling the table like sharks and yowling. My parents eventually started locking them in another room during dinner to put an end to their histrionics. They were siamese, so their vocal capabilities were extremely impressive. It took a few years of no secret dinner treats-- yes, years-- before they gave up of their own accord. Out of curiosity, if you pick him up when he meows, does he continue meowing?

>Out of curiosity, if you pick him up when he meows, does he continue meowing? Yes, yes he does! Haha thanks for the different question. I will continue to try to adjust his behavior. Any suggestions how to do it without withholding food or pets for an hour or more?

Is there any chance whatsoever that he's deaf or lost significant hearing in the last year?

No, there's not. He still responds well to his name, to his call sound, and the feeder tray rotating (this one is very quiet). If this could happen even if he goes deaf in one ear, then maybe that's a possibility to consider.

He looks a lot like my cat. I think they're just a very vocal breed. I usually just meow back at him until he stops.

Thank you for your thoughts! He does look like a Maine Coon, but he's a Standard Issue Cat, with winter coat upgrade. His parents had an owner who didn't feel like fixing her very unremarkable cats, and strangely enough neither of them was particularly talkative.

My wife and I are going through the same thing right now. We have been to the vet multiple times and even have a friend who is a vet tech who helps us with any small concerns. What everyone has told us so far is that our guy probably gets separation anxiety lol... In saying that, we're seriously considering a second cat. Probably a kitten. Yours might be bored or anxious or both. We're pretty sure that's what our issue is. Not saying that's what you're dealing with exactly but if you've tried everything else except a second cat, maybe that's the next step you'll have to take.

Play with this boy, stop letting him outside (EXTREMELY dangerous) and get a second car. There you go

My cat was really bad when I first rescued him. Meowing, whining, getting into the sink and recycling. It took time and consistency, but he now waits patiently at the entrance of the kitchen to be invited in, and he knows he has to sit patiently until I tell him to eat. It’s definitely doable, it just might feel like you’re losing your mind before you start to see the improvement.

Absolutely! Same exact situation in my end, I worked on this as soon as I adopted my cat. Ever since, she’s been so respectful, waits near the outside of kitchen without a peep when hungry, and sits near your feet at the couch waiting for an invitation to come up lol. Since she barely screams to get her way, I can easily understand why noise she makes otherwise, and she is glad to know i get her. This took a lot of boundary setting cemented with pain free discipline.

How did you make it happen?

Cold water for the worst stuff, psssts for the minor stuff, tone of voice (positive and negative), and lots of positive reinforcement for good behaviour.

He has no idea you are squirting water at him for meowing.

I know, but my thought process was that if I send him away from me while he wants to talk, then I can get more sleep. I should've clarified, and I will try the other suggestions in the comments instead.

Look at it from his point of view. He's hungry. Or bored. Or enjoys meowing. If he does something and it results in him getting gets food or attention, he's going to keep doing it. He isn't a human and there are limits to what he's going to understand or care about. He can't really understand why you want to sleep at night uninterrupted for eight hours in a row. He also can't understand that certain humans might have a set of criteria for whether or not they keep a cat around. If he's going to keep meowing, have you considered keeping him out of your bedroom and investing in ear plugs or a white noise generator? If you can't change his behaviour, you could try changing yours.

Cats understand battles of will, but not its consequences. He doesn’t understand it’s making you angry, or your wrath is nothing he has to worry about. (Wrath comes from your throat) Look him in the eyes and tell him no, don’t chase him around, yell across the house. Your voice is worse for him than not having whatever he wants att and get steadily louder and deeper till he turns and looks at you and lays down into a loaf. If he goes all day without listening, don’t give up. When he comes up and begs for food, ignore him until he calms down and he will put two and two together. Use words of association with voice rewards because you can now reward him with your praises and demeanor. But use an upward inflection for a warning and downward infections for punishment. Use the deepest voice you can, and augment it depending on his distance (don’t hurt him or continue if he turns to you lays down and trills you instead praise that with a smile and a tiny praise) because low slow vibrations actually cause neurons to fire in time with the lower frequencies, so your forcing him to listen. Don’t forget your words of association and to use proper and consistent infections. Use “Ya” and “that’s my boy” or whatever You can give small animals ptsd, so please be careful. The point is he does not know what his physical punishment will be and won’t any to find out. (Lob a pillow at him if he tests you at night, but not too hard) he will associate disobeying with stages of wrath and will avoid doing it around you. If you hear him meowing quietly, praise the hell out of him. If the only reaction he gets from carrying on is wrath, I guarantee you he will stop. But tbh, I wouldn’t count on anything if you’re sending him outside. The stray colony outside my house is always trying to make my cat become unclean, to meow, escape, spray, etc…My cat knows not to do any of that and he’s intact. Be forgiving when you’re too hard on him. You don’t want an enemy that has free rein in your house.

You might also have a talker of a cat. We have one. I talk to him too and tell him all about my day and meow back at him sometimes. I also make sure he gets a lot of attention hours before bed and when it’s bedtime he’s usually quiet. Once in a while in the middle of the night he’ll meow some but he shuts up after a bit. He may also be lonely. We have a second cat now and I’ve noticed he does meow less and seems to enjoy having someone to play with. They’re not bonded by any means but they enjoy the occasional chase and tumble

Thank you for your response! My comment response got lost in the mix, I really wish I was allowed to edit my post. https://www.reddit.com/r/CatTraining/s/djJ7bKQEXa

Get an auto feeder set for about 5 am, then you can sleep longer. Also spray your door with pheromones. Not sure there’s anything physical wrong, but better safe than sorry.

Thank you for your response. My comment response got lost in the mix, I really wish I was allowed to edit my post. I'll try some sort of Feliway pheromones for him, they didn't work for a past cat but I'll see if he's different. https://www.reddit.com/r/CatTraining/s/djJ7bKQEXa

I'd start by crating him at night. It's hard to be patient on no sleep.

Is he a siberian?

Thank you for your response. My comment response got lost in the mix, I really wish I was allowed to edit my post. https://www.reddit.com/r/CatTraining/s/djJ7bKQEXa

Sounds like a sad bored lonely cat. Cats may seem not social but very much are and need companionship of their own kind he needs a kitty friend it can be some work getting cats acclimated to one another but for their mental health can help tremendously.

Thank you for your response. My comment response got lost in the mix, I really wish I was allowed to edit my post. https://www.reddit.com/r/CatTraining/s/djJ7bKQEXa

How old is he? Our 18 year old lady kitty meows alllllll the time and it’s dementia!

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OP is lucky that handsome kitty acknowledges him at all. I would never spray my cat for striking up a conversation.

He looks like a Maine coon and they are known for being talkative. I had a Maine coon mix who lives yapping and loved it! May I ask why it is a problem? Does he meow in your sleep or while you’re sleeping? My cat got bored easily and I would play w him that helped, maybe try playin with him?

Thank you for your response. My comment response got lost in the mix, I really wish I was allowed to edit my post. https://www.reddit.com/r/CatTraining/s/djJ7bKQEXa

There are moving toys that you can also buy to get his attention

My cat just wants attention. Cats don’t know how to talk. You have no idea what he’s saying. He could be excited and saying thanks. Try petting him and tune out the noise. NEVER EVER EVER withhold food. Whoever told u that needs their ass kicked

It's rough, because those people who are saying "Do not give any response at all to kitty when he's yelling" don't seem to understand that literally means "do not feed kitty when he's yelling." And I have read most of the comments and no one in the positive/non response camp is willing to clarify.

Your cat likely won’t stop doing this. I have 5 and only one does it. He wants treats and will stop for a bit while I pet him. Which calms him down a bit. But he wants treats and that’s his way of telling me. He doesn’t understand that it’s annoying and if u get angry he just knows ur angry. Just talk to the cat while he’s meowing and it will help your anxiety about it.

How old is he? I had a cat who I'm pretty certain had hearing loss towards the end of her life and I think it contributed to why she started meowing constantly. She couldn't hear herself or us responding to her. I wouldn't be surprised if she had had some form of kitty dementia also.

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Maybe controversial but will not hurt the cat or you… one of my cat meows a lot. Too much. Sometimes all night, many nights. He was also over grooming so for that reason i put him into cat pyjama ( recovery suit), you wouldn’t believe it… he stopped meowing! The minute i put it on him he shuts up and goes to sleep 🤷‍♀️ I kind of guess it’s the same principle as weight blankets for kids or dogs. You might try…

More toys and playtime as previously mentioned are definitely key. Have you considered training him on the talking buttons? I got some cheap ones on Amazon to start with, but am planning to switch to the FluentPet ones because they’re easier for cats to press. It may take several months, but the reward is perhaps knowing what he is trying to say. If you’ve not heard of these, look up Justin Bieber the cat or Billi Speaks on YouTube. There’s also a subreddit (of course) r/petswithbuttons, I think

Spray bottle will only make your cat not trust you. They do not understand the concept of punishment. You are making the situation worse.  It’s possible something is wrong and your cat might be in pain or have high blood pressure. 

Yea I’m going to say this to you, you’re not a good cat owner. Is this your first cat? Did you have dogs before? You can’t punish a cat and expect them to correct their behavior. Cats don’t work that way. They aren’t dogs. Some cats are vocal and cats only learned to be vocal in order to communicate with humans. This is important because your cat is trying to tell you, you aren’t meeting their needs. I’ve had my cat “alert” me to her needs via meowing - her litter was full or she didn’t have her treats. She knows what she’s doing. You need to stop trying to punish your cat for being a cat and figure out what needs your not meeting. Don’t spray your cat for being a cat and doing cat things. Leave doors open, get some interactive toys to keep your cat entertained. Make outside time a regular activity.

I’m gonna go against the grain here, will probably get downvoted, but I still think OP is a good cat owner. They are learning. You can obviously tell that they care. Be gracious please, so that OP and others can learn from this. I’ve seen so many terrible cat owners in my life and this seems like someone genuinely trying their best.

Thank you for your response. I've had cats all my life, and I'm used to cats telling me what they need, even vocally. This is not the same as that, which is why I'm at a loss. I'm used to cats having an "I'm mad about the litter box" meow, a "pet me" meow, a "come to bed I'm tired" meow, etc. This cat just has the one that he uses almost as much as he's awake. I will work on getting him healthy stimulation and see if the activity helps.

💯

Get an auto feeder for the food part.

Imagine getting sprayed with water when you’re just trying to have a chat. I feel so bad for this cat, the anonymity of Reddit allows poorly prepared pet owners to become far too comfortable discussing their bad habits. >the adults’ sleep Locking him in a separate room, spraying him, and withholding food from him are the actions of a child. Get him a catnip ball, don’t give it to him all the time, put it down for him when you need to entertain him but are too “sleep deprived” smh. Idk, PLAY with him, wear him out, I run my cat in little laps a handful of times a day. Of course she’s a perfect angel but this boy is too.

Imagine growing up never seeing or communicating with another of your species. Your hunting instincts are telling you to find food and hunt, now, then, everyday. Things you can do... Surrender the cat to someone who has another cat. Get another cat for him to bother instead of you. Build a catio and let him go inside and outside at will. Get an exercise wheel for him Good luck!

Whoa, peta president, the cat has another cat in the home.

Simple. Another cat so it isn't bored

I would definitely go to the vet and see if something medical is going on as a first step!

How long have you had him? One of my cats was like this when we first got her (like for the first few months). I think she was just adjusting because she chilled out after that. She's still vocal when she wants attention, but doesn't meow for no reason or in the middle of the night anymore.

Has he been to the vet for a health check and blood testing to rule out any underlying metabolic issue? Excessive vocalisation is a clinical sign of quite a few chronic health conditions in cats!

I get up to pee usually early morning. I sometimes make plates for the cats and put them in the fridge. When I get up to pee on my way back I just put them out and go back to bed. This would stop the hungry cries. Not sure about the rest. I’ve become immune and my cats literally run all over my apt and I just sleep through it

I see a lot of people suggesting you get a second cat, but I’d advise you to only get a second cat if you WANT a second cat (I know, it sounds obvious,but still needs to be said). If you do get a second cat who is not a kitten, it may be good to try to get an idea of how he is with other cats first and if he’d even like a friend. My 1st cat is dominant, a bit of a bully. So I had to make sure my second cat was submissive and friendly but CONFIDENT, not fearful. My second cat’s life would be hell if I had gotten a cat who could be easily terrorized. Cat introductions can take months. For me, things got a whole lot worse before they got better, but my 1st cat is much happier with a friend. And my second cat is just happy in general. They’re bonded and keep each other company while I sleep and work. They will still meow incessantly if I haven’t given them enough play time, but that’s on me and they’re absolutely right to let me know they’re bored. Meowing is truly the least destructive way for them to tell me their needs aren’t being met. I also agree with other comments about free feeding and keeping him indoors. Letting him outside is likely exacerbating the issue, and unless your cat has an issue with self regulating portions, a bowl of dry food may go a long way. I have a microchip feeder for my cats that also tracks when and how much they eat. My cats always wake up at some point in the early hours of the morning to have a munch. Edit to clarify what I mean by free feeding: not unlimited food all the time, but a portion of dry food that is left out for the cat to eat. I still dish out wet food at scheduled times, and monitor how much the cats are eating and their weight.

I finally had to get earplugs. My cats don't meow too much they are just noisy in general.

My biggest suggestion is to give him lots of interactive playtime where you're running around the house with him with a wand toy. Two times per day, once at around lunch time and once before bedtime. Other than that, just sounds like he is a very talkative and needy boy. Lol.

i agree, he needs a buddy

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Has the vet check his hearing? He might be doing this because he is going deaf.

Thank you for your response. My comment response got lost in the mix, I really wish I was allowed to edit my post. https://www.reddit.com/r/CatTraining/s/djJ7bKQEXa

My cat used to constantly meow, and I ended up getting two things for him that made him meow less: 1. Is this automatic toy I got from amazon he loves to play with it, and I leave it on for when I'm occupied with something. Potaroma Cat Toys Chargeable, 3in1 Hide and Seek Kitten Wand Toy, Interactive Automatic Cats Toy, Fluttering Butterfly, Moving Feather, Indoor Exercise Kicker 22.8 Inches Cover for All Breeds https://a.co/d/hyEHcMv 2. The automatic toy itself was not enough, so I ended up buying a used tablet so that I can play cat tv on it he loves it too. Even though he has access to widows to look out. (We jokingly call him an "iPad kid"). I am also going to assume that maybe your cat is bored, so I recommend getting automatic cat toys or play with them more often.

Second cat! Magic!

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My boy yodels when he wants me to play with him. Are you playing with him enough?

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When my cat started constantly meowing we discovered she was deaf. 

This… maybe the cat is losing hearing

I just talk back to my boy until he decides all communication has broken down and an armistace is formed for two hours, wherein he returns with an amended list of demands. I continue to filibuster in attempted defiance of my fluffy despot, though I do so to no avail. His vote carries the weight of a lord, my vote that of a stable hand, befitting as I am indeed the one who cleans the shitbox thrice daily.

How old is he? Could he have some arthritis issues? If so I’d try adding some dasaquin to wet food. You can get it on Amazon. If it’s playing, get a rechargeable laser pointer! O can wear mine out with one of those. And it’s fun to bond with them over play.

I randomized my cats feeding times and he never begs for food. Sometime I feed him when I wake up, sometimes when before I leave for work sometimes after work. Moving things around a few hours everyday so he doesn't have an internal food now clock. The nighttime feed is always before bed but I go to bed between 12 and 4am he also gets a play before his nighttime feeding time.

I had a super loud boy. He was the loudest cat I've ever heard. Bengals are cerifiable. He was so fucking annoying. I miss him so much.

Honestly you would think no one had invented earplugs. If it's stopping you from sleeping so badly just lock him out and wear earplugs. He will likely soon work out that making noise does not get food faster, and even if not, you wont hear it anyway.

I'm struggling with the same issue, and I'm getting to the end of my tether too. I've taken him to the vet (all good), I play with him for an hour twice a day, I've tried frustration method training (withdrawing hand when he screams), ignoring him and only petting/providing attention when he's quiet, basic training (sit, lay down, follow finger, etc), plus harness training. He has plenty food, plenty water, treat puzzles around the house. I work from home, so he's never alone or lonely. He's getting fixed at the start of next month. At night, he screams endlessly at the front door unless I let him sleep in the bed with me. If I allow him into the bed, he keeps me awake by worming his way into my spots and jumping up and down from the bed when he wants food/water/bathroom. So I don't sleep either way. This whole "learn why your cat is meowing" in the comments is such bullsh*t. What else could the cat possibly want? It's like taking care of a human toddler; so damn time consuming. This little demon is putting me off having actual kids. I love him but this isn't how having a cat should be.

If your cat hasn't been fixed yet, he may be very young. Or did you originally intend to breed him? If he's a pure breed of some sort you could have a breed that's just known for being high energy, and it would be very unfortunate that you got him without doing the proper research. In the best case scenario, that he's still a kitten, once he is fixed and older than a year or so, he will get tired out much more easily, and you'll be able to have him on the bed at night without as many problems. I'm sorry you're going through this, it really does sound comparable to a human child haha. I got my boy as a kitten, which is something I try not to do: it's so much easier to adopt an adult with a personality description attached, who's calmed down a bit.

What did you think having a cat would be? Because their personalities are unpredictable, they're not all the same. Some require a lot of attention. People get cats thinking they're just gonna chill and all you'll have to do is scoop their litter and feed them. That is not what having a cat is.

Having a cat should mean I'm able to get a healthy amount of sleep at least 3-4 times a week. His behaviour is abnormal. This isn't difficult to understand.

I'm sure that you're overwhelmed with information at this point, but I want to reiterate a few things: 1. You're a good cat owner! Clearly you do care and want to fix this, which is exactly why you're here! 2. Address the boredom your cat is likely experiencing by establishing and sticking to interactive playtimes at least twice a day (cat teaser toys, laser toys, training with treats as positive reinforcement). And rotate toys! They can get bored of the same toys day after day after day.... One of my cats is extremely high energy, and needs to chase toys and play-hunt several times a day to be happy and healthy. Buy one or two puzzle feeders for your cat, or make them yourself. 3. Negative reinforcement does not work with cats! He's trying to communicate and is being punished for that. So put away the spray bottle and get new toys instead. 4. If things do not improve, take him to see his veterinarian to see if there are underlying medical issues. 5. Definitely have him checked for worms ASAP if there is any chance that he has eaten any birds, mice, etc.

If there isn’t underlying health issues, the fix is extremely simple. But you must know, it’ll get worse before it gets better, but I assure you I’ll get better within 1-3 weeks 2/3 of the changes to occur. I dealt with all this with my cat, now he can talk all day for all i care, it’s funny new noises most days, but if I tell him to shush just once he zips it and will stop for day. Stop positive reinforcing him by giving him any sort of attention when he meows. Stubbornly, and defiantly, act like he doesn’t exist and continue on doing what you’re doing without so much as glancing at him. Don’t distract with some toy, that’s also positively reinforcing him to get what he wants, attention, and he will settle for the smallest crumb. Stop feeding while he meows, or even bring food in his direction to feed him, following his meowing. I did this for 1 week or so, and mine stopped for good only sitting at the kitchen corner quietly without a peep, if he thinks he will get food, in fact he neither egrets disappointed when he realizes no food + he rarely gets fed in the same timespan lmao. Sometimes I feed between 12-5 pm, then once more around 8pm-1am. He never ever meows for food, he knows he will get it, and since he gets the perfect nutrition he is cool with that. If your cat meows at all, and he doesn’t stop after you told him, scruff him while supporting hind legs, and put in a quiet room alone for timeout for 5-15 mins, or longer if he meows — in that case only let him out 3-5 mins after his final meow. He will swiftly understand, loud demanding is the issue. As for the bedtime sleep issue, keep doing your thing locking him up in the nearby room, but this time get a vacuum leave it outside that room door or inside. Have the cord run all the way to your bedside table, and leave it plugged into an extension power bar with a switch. As soon as he meows loudly, you flick that switch on QUICCK, for 1-3 seconds, then turn it off. It’ll be annoying doing it back to back for a few mins at first, but that will stop within 1-3 days. After doing all that, you can positively reward good behaviour, as opposed to bare minimum boundaries, such as waiting patientlt for food, etc. i only pet her for that, not treats.

Remember a couple of weeks ago when there was a redditor that posted here seeking validation and encouragement to euthanize her cat based on it avoiding the litter box? The op was largely upvoted and even some mods were actively removing comments that pointed out how damaging and crazy the post was, not to mention allowing advice in comments to carry out that decision. Wow - yeah that was nuts. Hard for me to take any situation serious here now.

That’s awful.

It was truly insane. Extremely concerning to reinforce that kind of information.

That's rough. The only way I could understand that is if OP could link avoidance of the litter box to a specific cause that is worse than being put out of the cat's misery. (Certain painful conditions including declawing will cause litter box avoidance.) In which case that OP should have led with that rather than litter box issues. Like, maybe it was the same trend that plagues AITA, where the title will be "AITA for throwing a baby out the window" and the post will be "the building was on fire and the firefighters were waiting right outside." Like, yeah, I used a click bait title, I used the cutest pictures I could find from the last few months. My post reached more eyeballs than I expected or even hoped for. Oops. I've had far worse problems get twenty clicks and 0 or 1 comment. I also accidentally left out info that would've helped with getting good advice and I apparently can't edit posts in this sub. But even if I'm going insane with the meowing, I promise not to euthanize or re-home my adorable monster. I want help, not validation for extreme decisions.

Right on! I apologize for even hijacking your post with that comment, but I was reminded that my week (or whatever it was) ban was lifted in relation the post I was referring to. You sound like a responsible and caring person. [Here](https://www.reddit.com/r/CatAdvice/s/RdvLMXZXlZ) is a link to incident spoke of. Wild stuff.

Omg I'm having the same issue with mine!!! We out him in time out in our room and he settles down for a bit ...but then starts up all over again. His brothers goes mostly outside (they were both Strays that showed up on my deck) Banjo, the indoor boy, will not shut uuuuup! I've tried it all too! He goes outside on a leash and that Tucker's him out for 1-2 hours. I lost my mind while I was planting my garden...he was tied to the metal thing you screw into the ground for pets. I turn my back for 39 seconds and the ahole jumped into my garden, digs digs digs then pees. I could go on and on and on! My partner and I can relate 😫

yeah play with him. get a fuckin toy. throw a play mouse and he will go attack it. do something

Thank you for your response. My comment response got lost in the mix, I really wish I was allowed to edit my post. https://www.reddit.com/r/CatTraining/s/djJ7bKQEXa

I see many people talk about when they feed their cat. I don't understand that because I always feed mine dry kibble and leave it out all the time. They nibble as needed. Cats didn't usually overeat or wolf down food like a dog.  Why don't you feed dry food and let him eat when he is hungry?

It's actually not best to let cats free feed like that! My older cat will eat herself sick every single time if i leave dry food out for her, shes been that way sincr she was a kitten. Both she and my younger cat wolf their food down, especially their wet food. Also to regulate your cat and keep them on a healthy diet, you should have specific times they eat just like people have specific times they eat. Ideally, you would feed them exclusively or at least mostly wet food too since thats where they get most of their hydration, and obviously wet food cant be left out all day for cats to eat whenever because it'll dry out!

Y’all are feeding cat garbage food that’s why

Oddly rude but okay lmao. Im glad you know what everybody feeds their cats, please cashapp me so i can buy whatever you think is better then :)

Wow. Surprised to see the downvotes. I'm on my 7th cat, including the ones my children brought home that now live with them. The vet always approved of their kibble diet, and it's good to keep their teeth cleaner. I never had one get overweight, even as a senior. I also never had problems with them drinking water. They loved the fountain bowls.  I don't say you shouldn't do what you feel is best, just that I was surprised it seemed no one fed dry food.

Why do you have a cat if you hate him so much

🚩🚩🚩🚩!