My cat howls at night. Will she stop when I'm away? Should I leave TV on?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Athena. Sometimes increased vocalizations especially at night can be a sign of disease known as hyperthyroidism. Other signs include increased thirst and urination, increased appetite, hyperactivity, weight loss and intermittent vomiting and diarrhea. If any of these other signs sound familiar, I recommend have her tested by her veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

An adult feral cat may have a difficult transition to being an indoor cat. If she is intact, the vocalizations and nighttime behaviors could indeed be heat related. Having her spayed may decrease those behaviors but may not completely eliminate them. Try a pheromone collar, spray or plug in diffuser to decrease any anxiety she may be experiencing. If that doesn't help, an exam with your veterinarian to diagnose any underlying cause would be recommended. If you think she would be happier back at the barn, have her spayed (if she isn't already) to prevent accidental or unwanted litters. Some cats prefer living outdoors and that's may be the case here.

While it is possible that a UTI has recurred (or never fully resolved the first time), Misty's vocalization every few weeks sounds more consistent with signs of being in heat. If Misty has not yet been spayed, recurrent vocalization (particularly through the spring/early summer) is likely to continue. However, if Misty has been spayed, I recommend taking her back to the vet because she may need further urine testing and a different antibiotic if a UTI is still present. If all medical reasons for vocalization have been ruled out, a behavioral cause is more suspected. For some cats, calming pheromone collars or diffusers (Feliway is one brand) can be helpful. I hope that all goes well for Misty!

Miss Sassy may be suffering from Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome, or in other words, be a bit senile. This causes her to all of a sudden not knowing where she is , feeling all alone or left behind. You can leave on a radio over night or a light or both and this may help. If not , there are medications that can be given such as selegiline (Anipryl, off license for cats) which will help . Here is some good information: https://www2.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/cognitive-dysfunction You may want to discuss this with your vet.

The most common reason that a male cat will howl throughout the night is that there is a female cat in heat, and he wants to get outside. From the information that you posted, you did not list Winston as being neutered. If that is the case, then neutering him may solve the problem. If Winston is already neutered, then I would recommend having your veterinarian examine him to make sure there isn't anything abnormal on examination. Sometimes we will see howling at night associated with high blood pressure in cats. And finally, if Winston was previously an outdoor cat, he may be used to being allowed to go outside and roam at night (which is certainly not safe). So, you may need to find ways to keep him occupied at night. One option may be to have him "hunt" his food at night using a product like Doc & Phoebe ( https://docandphoebe.com/ ) or a feeding ball. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Tempest probably is lonely, and she wants you to keep her company in the middle of the night when she wants to be active! I think the easiest thing to do in a situation like this is to keep her out of the room at night - she may yowl outside the door or scratch to get in but if you ignore her she'll learn that she's not going to entice you to get up. It would also be helpful to put some interactive toys out at night to keep her occupied. I'm also guessing that she's a young adult cat based on your picture, but if she is over 8 years old I would also recommend taking her to see your vet - some diseases like hyperthyroidism can cause cats to become more vocal and irritable.

Your kitty is likely senile. She will howl because all of a sudden she thinks she is all alone, or forgets where she is. This is why she stops when you talk to her,...she realizes you are there and she was not left somewhere. You may want to consult with your vet about prescribing Selegiline (Anipryl) for her, which is a medicine for senile cats (and people also) and works very well.