How to stop my cat meowing at night

As we settle down in the evenings to get a peaceful night’s sleep… you’ve probably noticed by now that your cat has other ideas!

Cats are nocturnal animals, and as such they can sleep for hours throughout the day and come alive at night. When you first get your cat, you may find that you need to shift their sleeping pattern slightly as they grow, to create a manageable environment for both you and your meowing companion. From younger to older cats, here’s some tips and tricks to help stop your feline friend from meowing at night.

Don’t ignore playtime before bed

If your cat wants to play with you before bedtime, don’t ignore them. Throwing a ball or playing with their favourite toy will help to tire them out, and make their mind and body feel relaxed before bedtime.

If possible, you can also try to increase their playtime throughout the day, so all their pent-up energy (hopefully) disappears before the evening comes around. If your cat is on the older side or has a medical condition that restricts their movement, consult your local vet for advice before increasing their playtime to ensure you don’t cause any strain on their joints and bones.

Condition your cat

Condition your cat to sleep in its own designated area of the house and always shut your bedroom door to avoid them coming in to give you a furry tap on the head. This way, you won’t get any scratching at your bedroom door when you shut the door on them to go to sleep. Cat-based training techniques can be used for kittens as well as senior cats, although the process will take a lot longer if your cat is fully grown, so patience is key.

Don’t assume they want food

Over time, your cat may have learnt that when it meows this can make food appear! So, when they are meowing at 2am do not assume they are hungry and keep to their routine eating times.

Don’t automatically respond every time

You might feel a paw on the cheek or a light headbutt when you’re in bed. This often means that your cat knows how to get what it wants. In most cats, you should ignore this behaviour and only get up to gently take them out of your bedroom and shut the bedroom door. However, if you aware of a medical condition in your cat then be aware that they may be trying to tell you something important.

Cat-proof the house

If your cat has free roam of the house at night, consider moving any ‘tempting to knock down’ objects and keep their toys 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.

By routinely following the above steps, your cat should learn over time that their meows fall on deaf ears, which may help to get them into a bedtime routine that doesn’t involve an evening sing-song or scratching at the door that wakes you up. Remember to consult your local vet for advice if your cat has a medical condition or if they are older (typically over ten years of age) before trying some of the above steps.