How to stop my cat meowing at night

Have you ever noticed that just as you settle down in the evenings to get a peaceful night’s sleep, your cat has other ideas? 

Meowing at night can have a variety of causes, which is why it’s important to understand your cat’s needs when you’re deciding how best to help them. For example, when you first bring a kitten home, you may have to shift their sleeping pattern slightly as they grow, to create a more manageable schedule. 

Whatever your cat’s age, discover why they might be more chatty after dark, and explore our top tips for helping to stop your feline friend from meowing at night…

Why do cats meow?

Before we can explore the ways to stop our feline friends from meowing at night, it’s helpful to understand why cats meow in the first place. While this isn’t an exhaustive list, here are a few of the reasons your cat meows at you:

• As a greeting – your feline friend could simply be saying “hi” if they haven’t seen you in a while (e.g. you’ve been out at work all day).
• To ask for food – since they’re so clever, cats learn quickly that they can ask for food whenever they’re hungry (or they’d just like a treat).
• In response to illness or stress – if they’re feeling unwell, in pain, or stressed, meowing is one of the most effective ways for your cat to let you know.

Did you know? Cats rarely meow at each other, yet they’ve learned that meowing is an effective way to communicate with humans. So, your own feline friend might have developed special types of meows just for you! 

Why does my cat meow at night?

While each cat’s level of ‘talkativeness’ will differ, meowing at you is a way for them to communicate. Whether your feline friend just wants a late-night snack or they’re alerting you that they’re not feeling well, it’s always important to listen to what they’re trying to say.

So you should never ignore your cat’s meows at night, nor at any other time.

Ways to help your cat stop meowing at night

Ruling out any potential health concerns is a vital step towards dealing with your cat’s meowing during the night. The first step should be getting your cat checked by a vet, to confirm whether they’re suffering from a condition or illness that’s causing them to meow after dark. 

Fun fact: Domestic cats aren’t nocturnal, they’re ‘crepuscular’. Being crepuscular means our feline friends are usually most active at dawn and dusk (for some, resting during the day allows plenty of energy for ‘singing’ the night away)!

As long as your vet has confirmed that your feline friend is in good health, and there’s no medical cause for their nightly meowing, you could try the following steps:

1 – Don’t ignore playtime before bed

If your cat wants to play with you just as it’s time to sleep, don’t ignore them. Throwing a ball or playing with their favourite toy should help to tire them out, supporting their mind and body to feel relaxed before bedtime.

Whenever possible, you could also try to increase their playtime throughout the day, so all their pent-up energy (hopefully) disappears before the evening comes around. 

Should your cat be older, or have a medical condition that restricts their movement, ask your vet for advice before increasing their playtime, to avoid extra strain on their joints.

2 – Condition your cat

Condition your cat to sleep in their own designated area of the house. Plus, it’s helpful to keep your bedroom door shut, to prevent them from giving you an unexpected furry tap on the head in the middle of the night. 

Once your cat is used to sleeping in their own space, you’re less likely to get any scratching at your bedroom door when it’s time for bed. 

Positive reinforcement training techniques can be effective for kittens as well as senior cats. Although, it’s worth remembering that the process of conditioning your fully-grown cat to stay in their own space overnight may take longer than for a kitten, so, patience is key.

3 – Don’t assume your cat wants food

Over time, your cat has probably realised that when they meow, this can make food appear! So, when your cat is meowing at 2am, don’t assume they’re hungry – it’s best to keep to their routine mealtimes.

However, for felines who enjoy nibbling on dry cat biscuits throughout the day, it could be worth leaving some of their daily allowance out for them in case they feel ‘snacky’ during the night. 

Important: Your cat should have constant access to fresh, clean drinking water at all times to help them stay hydrated (and rule out thirst as a reason for their meowing).

4 – Don’t automatically respond to every meow

You might be woken by a paw to the cheek or light headbutt to accompany your cat’s meowing, which means they know exactly how to get what they want. 

For most cats (i.e. those who aren’t ill, stressed, or in pain), you should react to this behaviour by gently taking them out of your bedroom and closing the door. By acting calmly, and in silence, you’re helping to break the habit your cat might have developed because you’re not giving them attention in response to their meowing.

Please note, however, that if your cat has been diagnosed with a medical condition, they may be trying to tell you something’s wrong and mustn’t be ignored.

5 – Cat-proof your home

If your cat has free roam of the house at night, consider moving any ‘tempting to knock down’ objects high up, out of reach. Once they find an object or toy to play with, it can be hard to ignore your cat’s noisy antics at night.

Top tip: As part of cat-proofing each night, it’s also worth cleaning your feline friend’s litter tray before bedtime, so they don’t ‘voice their complaints’ when nature calls in the early hours!

By routinely following the above steps, your cat should eventually learn to develop a healthy bedtime routine that doesn’t involve an evening sing-song to wake you up.  

Don’t forget! The experts over at Joii Pet Care are available 24/7 to answer questions about your cat’s nightly meowing, if you need a little extra support.