Why Does My Cat Meow At Night?

Cat Meowing at Night

Hearing your cat meowing at night isn’t uncommon. However, if your cat keeps on meowing at night, the situation can get too noisy. The continuous meowing can disturb your neighbors, prevent you from sleeping comfortably, or make your other pets anxious.

So, why does my cat meow at night? Keep on reading to learn what triggers your feline to meow and call at night. We’ll also suggest a few tips to help you cope with this behavior.

Cat Attitudes is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why Does My Cat Meow at Night?

You’re trying to sleep, and everything seems quiet and peaceful, but your cat thinks otherwise. All of a sudden, it starts meowing, crying, and calling and might wake up everyone in the family; even your neighbors will be disturbed.

As a responsible pet parent, you need to understand the reason behind this behavior, so you can come up with the best plan to deal with it. Here are a few reasons why your cat might be meowing at night.

  • Cats are naturally active by night, so it’s normal for them to be more vocal at bedtime. Because there are no TVs on, and your house is quiet, the cat’s meows will sound too loud and disturbing.

Cats are crepuscular, so they’ll be more active at dusk and dawn, so it’s quite common for your cat to meow in the early hours of the morning when the rest of the family is still sleeping.

  • Domesticated cats follow the routines set up by their owners, but this takes time and patience. In its natural habitat, cats meow and call, but they don’t disturb anyone, which is different when you have a cat in your household. If you have an untrained cat or a young kitten, it might not yet be used to your routine, which involves sleeping at night and being active by day.
  • Your kitty might be crying and meowing because it’s bored and sad. If you leave your cat alone for long hours, it feels neglected and hurt, and it will meow to express its sadness. When you go to bed, your cat knows that there’s no chance of playing with you, so it will try to wake you up by meowing.
  • Your cat might be spending too much time inside. If you have suddenly stopped taking your cat outside, it might not cope well with this sudden change.

Some felines enjoy being indoor cats without much access to outdoor space, but they will need more play and stimulation to stay entertained. If you have an outdoor cat, it might feel trapped, so it will meow and cry at night.

  • Your kitty might be meowing at night because it’s hungry. If you haven’t fed your cat properly, it will likely get hungry at night, so it will meow and cry when everyone is asleep.
  • Your cat might be trying to attract your attention. Cats can get jealous because you’ve shifted your focus to someone or something else. A sudden change can cause the cat to meow uncontrollably at night.
  • This can be related to your cat’s aging. Senior cats become too anxious at night and will start to meow and cry more because the aging process affects the brain. Some advanced age-related conditions like dementia will leave your cat disoriented and uncomfortable, so it will cry at night.
  • Your feline might be meowing because it wants to mate. It feels uncomfortable because it needs to satisfy this physical need, and it wants to make you understand what is going on with it.
  • A change in the household might stress the cat, so it starts to meow. If someone has left the household, the cat will miss them and cry at night.
  • This can be a sign of a health problem. Having thyroid or kidney problems can cause a lot of pain and discomfort, so your cat will cry and meow at night.

Should I Worry if My Cat is Meowing?

If your cat meows once or twice, this shouldn’t be a problem. Some circumstances are temporary, and the cat can become too vocal. However, after a while, your cat will cope with the change and become quieter at night.

Some cats will also come into heat, and they will meow at night because they want to breed. This is a natural behavior and shouldn’t be alarming.

You should feel alarmed if your cat started to meow continuously all of a sudden. This can be a sign that it’s hurt, stressed, or anxious because someone or something is bothering it. In this case, you should take action.

How Can You Deal With Your Cat Meowing at Night?

Meowing at night can be disturbing but not alarming. Your cat might be trying to attract your attention, but this doesn’t mean there’s a serious problem. Here are a few things that you can do.

  • Understand that meowing is natural and acceptable. A little and infrequent meowing can be tolerated and shouldn’t represent a problem. If your neighbors are complaining, explain that you will try to deal with the problem.
  • Have your cat checked by the vet. The doctor will run the necessary tests to rule out any health problems that might be keeping the cat awake at night. They will also examine the cat’s body for any signs of physical abuse if someone is mistreating your cat when you’re away.
  • You can stop your cat’s meowing by adjusting its behavior. Although cats are crepuscular and are naturally active at night, you can set a schedule to make sure that it sleeps when you sleep. Encourage your feline to play between naps and make sure that it has access to suitable and fun toys all the time, so it feels entertained.
  • Give your cat a delicious meal and schedule a fun play session before it’s time for bed. This will help the feline channel its energy so it doesn’t meow and cry at night when everyone is asleep.
  • Set up the cat’s bed in a place that allows for easy access to food, water, and the litter box. This way, the cat won’t be tempted to wake you up or meow in the middle of the night.
  • Clean the litter box before sleep time. Cats prefer clean and fresh litter, so they will make you know that you haven’t done your job if the litter box isn’t clean.
  • Don’t neglect your cat’s emotional needs. Your feline needs to feel loved and cared for, so make sure that you cuddle, hug, and hold it during the day, so it doesn’t feel anxious at night.
  • Make sure that your outdoor cat has access to the backyard if it prefers to roam at night. If you have an indoor cat, make sure that it leaves the house regularly.
  • Install nightlights around the house, especially if you have a senior cat with vision problems. When cats age, they can become emotionally unstable, so they will meow and cry to show their discomfort.
  • If your cat is trying to breed, see if you want to deal with kittens. It’s a good idea to find your cat a mate and fill your household with furry kittens that bring a lot of love and fun. However, if you don’t feel that you’re able to deal with this responsibility, you can have your cat neutered. This will reduce the amount of night meowing.
  • Remember that you’re the one who sets the rules. You shouldn’t respond every time your cat tries to grab your attention, as this will only make the problem worse. It’s always easier said than done, but being a little strict with your cat actually works.

Final Thoughts

Cats meow, and their meowing shouldn’t be alarming. But if your cat is meowing and crying all night, you need to do something about it.

Your cat might be meowing because it’s sick, bored, or scared. It might also be trying to grab your attention because you haven’t fed it or played with it.

Rule out any health problems, and establish a healthy routine to help your cat sleep comfortably at night. However, you shouldn’t respond every time your cat is trying to grab your attention because it will make the problem worse.