Crating a Cat?

[Too_Old_for_Pony_Club]

My cat has always been a pretty unique dude. His quirkiness doesn’t usually bother me, but recently, he’s started a habit that is making me NUTS.

When I turn off the lights to go to bed, he wanders around the apartment howling. In the past, he would do this for a couple of minutes and then curl up on my bed. A couple months ago, I left him with a friend while I was on vacation, and apparently he would regularly wander around howling FOR HOURS. Now he’s doing this at my place too.

My apartment is very small, and there isn’t another room I can shut him in except the bathroom (which echoes!). I’ve gotten so frustrated that I’ve sprayed him with water when he does this, but it only lasts for minutes. I can’t sleep, and I’m really surprised the neighbours haven’t complained.

I’m thinking about shutting him in his cage at night. He hangs out in there regularly (as long as the door is open), but I have no experience locking him in there for anything other than transport.

Anyone with experience in this situation? Did crating upset your cat? Is there something else I can try to get him to stop howling at bedtime?

[threedogpack]

crating does not upset my cats. But if I had a howler, I’m not sure that would solve it either.

you might have to experiment to find a solution that does work

[alto]

Vet check to make sure there are no physical issues, if all seems well (run bloodwork), try anti-anxiety/stress pheromones & meds.

[lilitiger2]

Your kitty might be a great candidate for the Feliway plugin pheromone things. some people have good luck with the pheromone collars as well, as they can help with anxiety. I wonder if putting a little BAch’s rescue remedy in his water would help? I also try to play a lot with mine before we go to bed so I can tired their raggedy butts out and they get sleepy!! I do have a large dog crate on wheels for traveling that I could put a kitty in in the house, but as someone said, I am not sure that would calm your guy, although worth a try.

goodluck with your kitty! I had one that did that at hotels, just up all night yowling. Iwish I had the feliway then!

[Too_Old_for_Pony_Club]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will probably try tiring him out, then crating him before some of the other things listed.

I didn’t mention it in the OP, but I’m living in Asia right now. It’s certainly possible to take the cat to the vet, though the language barrier can be tricky for things outside the norm (I’ve had him vaccinated and neutered here; not sure how I’ll explain the yelling as a medical condition!). People here don’t really keep cats, so the collars and things mentioned would probably have to be shipped to my parents’ place and then sent over to me. Links to places that ship internationally (or at least to Canada?)?

[JWB]

My cat sleeps and eats in this crate every night:
http://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Homes-Pets-inches-Playpen/dp/B000I1M76Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338725389&sr=8-1

Otherwise he scratches the bedroom door wanting to be in the bed.

The crate is where he eats all of his meals and I started out just shutting the doors while he was eating. Now he’s quite content to hang out in there.

[Windsor1]

Another option might be to a leave the – or a – light on and you sleep in a sleep mask? Not ideal, obviously, but still better than a cat who won’t shut up.

Good luck with him!

[SquishTheBunny]

Crating cats is great. You will love it, and your kitty will get used to it rather quickly.

Saying that…I have no idea why, but this “howling” and aimless wandering is common in hyperthyroid cats. Maybe worth pulling the T4 with wellness bloodwork?

The feliway diffusers also work well for some cats, but do nothing for others.

[SonnysMom]

I house sit a dog that wanders the house in the middle of the night and cries if she does not get her nightly melatonin pill. I think it took a week of pills before it started to help. She gets dinner at about 5:30 pm.
She is about 20 lbs and gets 1 pill.

[JER]

My cat, Chairman Mao (who is discussed in detail on the ‘work ethic’ thread) has slept in a cage like JWB’s for the past decade. If he isn’t in his cage, no one in the household will get any sleep.

At my old house, Mao taught himself to unlock and open my sliding windows. Then he would go up on the roof over my bedroom and make an unholy racket. From below, it sounded like serious tap-dancing. But rather than encouraging Mao to become the next Nicholas Brothers, I bought him the cage.

He’s always liked the cage. He eats in it and will also sleep in it during the day. However, due to his considerable weight, I had to make him special, supersized, reinforced shelves. He didn’t fit on the little plastic ones it comes with.

[Too_Old_for_Pony_Club]

Quick update: I tried crating him on Sunday night, and gave up after AN HOUR AND A HALF of howling and scratching at the door. Going to try again on the weekend when I’m home with more time.

Wandered down to the local supermarket and picked up some catnip (SEVEN DOLLARS for a tiny container!). It might not be a permanent solution, but after a pinch rubbed onto one of his toys, the cat was purring and drooling in a pile on the floor. Slept like a log. Might help me maintain my sanity while we work on crating .