New cat yowls loudly at night. Is something wrong? What to do?

If at-home treatments haven't been helping you may want to talk to your vet about a short-term sedative or anxiety medication that may help Watson during the transition and is a little more powerful than calming treats or pheromone diffusers. Once he seems settled in, you may then be able to gradually back off the medication and return to normal. Ruling out any health issues while you are there such as pain, blindness, hearing issues, etc may also be helpful as these can cause confusion and yowling in cats as well. Adding in a few nightlights, especially if Watson is an older cat that may have trouble seeing may help him calm down, especially if the yowling happens at night. Providing plenty of places for him to hide, perch, or explore safely may also help him to settle in.

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.

If the sudden behavioral change is recent, have Ricochet examined by your veterinarian to rule out injury or illness. Frequently, either can be the cause of such changes. If he has been an outdoor cat, consider letting him out earlier in the evening or day. Melatonin may help regulate his sleep patterns at night. You can discuss use with your veterinarian. https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/cat/melatonin/

Nighttime vocalization in older cats is often due to an underlying medical problem such as hyperthyroidism, chronic kidney disease, or high blood pressure. I would recommend taking Samson to the vet for an exam and lab work to check for these problems. If a problem is found, starting on appropriate treatment will often resolve the vocalization issues.

That’s a tough one! I don’t think the vet would think you are wasting their time as it’s always beneficial to have a physical exam and I think in Stinky Pete’s case, it would be beneficial. Hyperthyroidism can cause increased activity and increased vocalizing and is common in older cats. Older cats can also get dementia which presents the same way. Lastly, older pets can be more prone to anxiety, just like older humans. The vet may test the thyroid and go from there based upon the results. Many of these cats will get sedatives at night if anxiety is suspected. You could also try a pheromone diffuser called Feliway. There is also a prescription diet called Calm which some cats respond well to. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

If only Cas could talk! It’s hard to know why this is happening. It’s possible he is seeing another cat or an animal outside or that perhaps a cat is spraying by the door and he can smell it. He may also be restless and need stimulation. Cats can become more vocal when they are in discomfort. Monitor him very closely for any changes in behavior (eating, drinking, urinating, defecating....etc) as this could indicate a medical cause. You may also just play it safe and have him examined by the veterinarian. The doctor may wish to check his urine as crystals in the urine can be a source of discomfort that may not show many clinical signs. At home you can try a daily vigorous play session for 30 minutes, offering him climbing opportunities such as shelving units or a tall cat tree, a pheromone diffuser and wiping it down the doorway with a cleaning solution. Next time he is yowling, look out the window to see look for the source of his focus. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.