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Delaney Donelson | 7 years ago
The Cat I Recently Adopted Has Started Meowing In The Middle Of The Night And…

The cat i recently adopted has started meowing in the middle of the night and wandering around my room. I always check that he has both food and water as well as accessibility to his litter box. I also make sure to leave my door open so that he has freedom to come and go. Ive had him for 3 weeks and he has just started doing this. Anyone have any ideas? I read that it might be because he is bored through out the day but.. ive bought him every type of toy imaginable and he has free roam of the house.. so im not sure what more i can do to tire him out for bedtime. The meow isnt normal is a low bellowy noise. Reminds me of the meow my previous cat did when our other cat died..

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  1. Sarah

    He may still be going through an adjustment period… this might be part of it. Our cat meows very loudly (like a call) right after we all get settled into bed for the night for only a few minutes. Then she gets settled herself. You could try redirecting your cat when this behavior starts. Maybe call to him and see if he will come and settle back down? Another thing to try- you mentioned that you had lots of cat toys- perhaps a good play session with your cat right before bed time will help to get him tired enough to sleep longer into the night. Hope these suggestions are helpful?

  2. Delaney Donelson Post author

    Dr.Magnifico, we adopted him in hopes he would get along with and be a companion to our cat Mia… but they dont seem to like each other too much. He refuses to leave the room if he knows shes in the hallway

  3. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Cats are nocturnal creatures. Maybe he is bored or lonely? Maybe a companion for him to play with while you sleep will help.?

  4. Delaney Donelson Post author

    They seem to be doing okay right now, both laying on my bed relatively close to one another. Which never happens, at least not without growling.

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Delaney Donelson | 7 years ago
My New Cat (have Had For 3 Weeks) And Resident Cat Refuse To Tolerate Each…

My new cat (have had for 3 weeks) and resident cat refuse to tolerate each other. I brought Louie home with the knowledge that they might never like each other but they would at least learn to tolerate. The first week seemed to go pretty well because when we let Louie roam and get a feel for the house Mia avoided him… but now… things seem to be getting aggressive. It doesnt matter where Louie goes or what hes doing (even just sleeping) Mia wants to attack him. Granted, as soon as he sees her he starts growling… but he only started doing that after she batted at him the first time. The episodes seem to be getting more and more aggressive. I would keep him in my room but its clear he wants to roam. And i find it unfair to lock her in a room after 6 years of letting her roam around the whole house. Before we got mia 6 years ago we had an older male cat, they got along well but he passed about 2 years ago. And according to the shelter Louie was surrendered with a sister but she was adopted without him. I need help on this one

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  1. Delaney Donelson Post author

    Thank you Sarah, the baby gate didnt work… i had one up and then a door screen up but no wwy to secure the screen so he found a way to get out of his own space. For the most part, he does confine himself to his own space still but now its more so the residemt cat that is ckming to him. I have thoe litter trays and food/ water areas still seperate so theres really no reason for him to HAVE to leave his room or for her to come in to his room but they still do. I just dont want this to be a stressful situation for either of them. Mia has never been a fan of any large cat toys (trees or posts) both of my cats are declawed (adopted that way) so they dont tend to “scratch” other than the occasional carpet scratching after a stretch. Shes afraid of the tree we have for her and hes too heavy for it, he knocked it over. (Hes 22 lbs) Any other ideas are welcome

  2. Sarah

    3 weeks in is still a fairly new situation. This will take more time than that. Having said that, keeping them together but separate may help. For instance, a baby gate or two could possibly help you confine them and keep them separated when not supervised, but still allow them to see each other and continue getting used to each other. It also gives them their own space which may help with the adjustment period. Just make sure each has access to their own litter tray and food and water. A few kitty “distractions” might also be helpful- for instance a cat tree and some scratch posts. If they have an outlet for some pent up energy, they may not use it on each other. Don’t give up? There are lots of people on this website that have lots of helpful ideas to share. Hopefully they will add more. Best of luck!!

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Kari White | 7 years ago
One Of Our 6 Month Old Kittens Will Suck On The Blanket A Portion Of…

One of our 6 month old kittens will suck on the blanket a portion of the night. Will he outgrow this behavior? Are there any concerns if he doesn’t?

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  1. Sarah

    That’s adorable! We had one cat, many years ago that sucked on the ear of one of my stuffed animals her entire life… she was fine and never had any issues related to it that I can recall.

  2. Anonymous

    As long as he isn’t chewing holes in the blanket and eating the material he chews out of it, I would say this is a minor issue.

  3. Kari White Post author

    Thanks it has been a little less frequent and so odd it’s only a plush type blanket at night. It must be soft like like his mom’s fur. No chewing just leaves a wet spot haha

  4. Anonymous

    He’s suckling. Happens when mammals are removed from their mothers too soon, and can happen as a self-soothing behavior, particularly at bedtime.

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
I’ve Just Brought Indigo, My 3.5-year-old Male Cat, From My Father’s Acreage To My One-bedroom…

I’ve just brought Indigo, my 3.5-year-old male cat, from my father’s acreage to my one-bedroom city apartment which I share with two cats already. I knew it would be a handful going in, but Indigo is very, very important to me and I desperately want him to have the longest, healthiest and most love-filled life possible; he was primarily outside, even during cold Canadian winters, and unless I was home to visit, and my father is a way very often which causes me to worry about my pets that get left behind. Indigo’s an extremely confident and friendly cat and I think things have gone quite well considering how huge of a change it’s been. He does not hide, he’s eating and drinking, playing, etc., and is getting less freaked out by traffic noise and neighbors with each passing day. All three cats are getting along very well, although it’s very crowded and I do realize I may need to rehome one of my cats to improve the quality of life for all of them, as well as myself. I also intend to take him out to a park across the street on a harness once it is warmer out so that he still gets to enjoy the outdoors like at home.
My concern is that Indigo’s personality seems to have changed a bit, especially towards me. It’s like he hasn’t forgiven me for bringing him here. He and I have had a special bond and it’s heartbreaking for me to think he’s not happy here, or that I may have harmed our bond. He is usually the sweetest, happiest and most loving cat, but he hasn’t been very cuddly with me, or really responding/purring when I pet him. I’ve had friends over and he seems to much friendlier with them, even literally walking over me to go sit with someone else. He still sleeps next to me at night, but he just lays down instead of cuddling/kneading first. I’m doing everything I can to make him happy, and I know its still very early on in the new situation to tell (been here less than a week), but I just can’t help but feel that I’ve ruined our bond by bringing him here to keep him safe. How best can I maximize his quality of life and win back my cat’s love?

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    First of all I applaud your devotion to your cats. As you mention he seems to be acclimating amazingly well. Please understand that this is in my opinion the most important part of this situation. Secondly, I do not believe that cats are capable of punishing or holding grudges. So I don’t think that this should be a reason to explain his change in behavior.
    Cats are very intuitive and intelligent creatures. He is doing the best he can and he sounds like he is excelling in his ability to adapt and overcome big (really big) changes. Please don’t take anything personally. He doesn’t love you less he just has had to learn to survive differently. Be proud of him for this and be patient. It is the most important part of being a parent. Loving unconditionally and staying devoted through thick and thin. Best of luck.

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
Hi Everyone! One Of My Pups Is Acting Very Strange. We Took Him On A…

Hi everyone! One of my pups is acting very strange. We took him on a car ride today and on the way home he started acting weird. It’s almost like he’s dizzy and can’t keep his balance. He had a tiny (not even half) of piece of bacon this morning and later hit his head off of the coffee table. I’m not sure if it’s something to be concerned about but I’m just worried!

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  1. Anonymous

    Head trauma would lead to dizziness. Please get that pup to the vet today.

  2. Emilie Duval

    I’d definitely get to a vet ASAP.

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
Are Puppy’s Hard To Potty Train?

Are puppy’s hard to potty train?

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  1. Sarah

    Potty training is fairl6 straight forward, so long as you put in the effort. Don’t allow time for accidents- in other words, puppy is with you and supervised at all possible times during training. When you see puppy posture to “go” then swiftly take puppy outside and then praise them they will learn quickly.

  2. Anonymous

    I like umbilical training – puppy is leashed TO a person when supervised and crated when not supervised. Go out every 20 minutes, at first. As puppy ages you can slowly increase the time between visits outside. This is a pain in the butt, so be prepared – puppies are a full time job for the first year, and the majority of that time is spent doing potty runs outside.

  3. Emilie Duval

    If possible get a pup from a breeder who used the misty method. I’ve used it for all my litters and my boy has been fully house trained since 6 weeks old. It makes life a lot easier.

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
How To Train A Bichon Frise

How to train a Bichon Frise

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  1. Sarah

    Good morning! All dogs are trainable, so long as their owners are willing to put in the work. I suggest a basic obedience class to start with. It’s good for both owner and dogs.

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Delaney Donelson | 7 years ago
I Just Adopted An 8 Year Old Cat About 2 Weeks Ago, He Seemed To…

I just adopted an 8 year old cat about 2 weeks ago, he seemed to be doing well at first and he seemed very comfortable. I moved the temporary litter box that i had for him in my room near the litter box that my other cat uses. He knew where i put it as he had followed me down there and sniffed both. However, this morning i woke up to find that he pooped in the cat bed that i had in my room. As i left for work i decided i would bring the litter box up to prevent any further accidents. As soon as i sat it down he used it. Im not sure i understand where the disconnect is since he knew where i put it to begin with. I cant keep this litter box in my room forever, so im wondering if anyone has any ideas for transitioning the litter box to the normal space

4 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I think the disconnect is in teaching him to go in your room then assuming he would understand he wasn’t supposed to. I recommend not confusing your pet by starting with one direction (ex here is a litter box for you but it will be in a different place tomorrow) and then being upset he is confused. Why can’t you keep it in your room? If he is your cat and stays with you it will probably be the best way to insure he is going where you want him to (in the box). If you refuse to have it in your room you will have to wait until he is acclimated to the house and using the other one. And then you will have to start very (like very!) gradually moving the box in your room to the place you want it to be. Also. Lots of cats don’t want to share litter box spaces or areas. It is a place they feel threatened or anxious so they prefer to be in a quiet private place. I hope this helps.

  2. Anonymous

    Better to have boxes on both floors anyway. 🙂

  3. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m sorry if you thought the answer was condescending. It wasn’t intended to be. It was intended to be my perception of what your new cat might be thinking and why he might be confused with the litter box moving and your expectation of his response and confusion. If it upset you I apologize. It wasn’t my intention.

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
My Dog Is 1 Year Old And He Is Trained To Go On His Pee…

My dog is 1 year old and he is trained to go on his pee pad (my boyfriend and I live in an apartment). We’ve recently got another dog a few months ago and we have already expected our older dog to be territorial and mark in places around the apartment. That has stopped for a while then all of a sudden he is peeing in places he knows are bad. For example, he peed on our couch while my boyfriend was sleeping on it! I’ve already taken him to the vet and he is fine heath wise. We’ve been keeping a better eye on him to make sure he doesn’t pee where he’s not suppose to and so we can also reward him for when he does go in the right spot. It’s been good for a couple of days. Then today when I came home from work, I took him into the bathroom with me (where we keep his pad) and I waited for him to use the bathroom. I even tried to tell him to “go potty”. Nothing happened for about 10 minutes so I opened the door and we headed to the living room….I see him peeing on our comforter that’s hanging off the couch with his ears down and that “oh no I’m in trouble” look on his face. I don’t know what to do because I feel he knows better than this.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Is everyone neutered?
    And no I vehemently argue that they “know better”. They may know you are not happy but they do not know spite or anger. I don’t recommend training on pee pads because it gets too confusing for pets. As I think is the case for your dogs. How are they supposed to understand “pee in the house, BUT only right in this little spot on this little thing?” How confusing must that be?
    You could also try a belly band while you figure out how to manage the bathroom issues.

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Delaney Donelson | 7 years ago
How Will I Know When My Adult Cats Are Ready To Be Unsupervised? I Recently…

How will i know when my adult cats are ready to be unsupervised? I recently adopted an 8 year old male who was previously bonded with another female (they adopted her and i couldnt let him stay in the shelter alone), and i already had a 6 year old female. Louie seems pretty easy going about the whole thing but Mia still seems skiddish. They only hiss every once and awhile and its usually started by her, im doing all i can to keep him in his own quarters but its very obvious he wants the freedom. It has been 5 days since i adopted him and i am allowing him to roam under supervision. How will i know when its okay to let him out permanently?
I just had to share pictures of my cute babies, 1st is Fat Louie(weighing in at a hefty 22lbs) and 2nd is my beautiful Mia.

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  1. Cheyenne M

    I’ve had this happen with lots of cats before, we always took in strays. Cats are a bit different then dogs so honestly the two will work it out. They’ll either learn to get along or just avoid each other on their own. You could leave them unsupervised anytime and it’ll be fine.