What can I do to keep an un-neutered, loud cat, quiet at night?

Question

This week I am taking care of a friends cat while my friend is out of town. I'm staying the night at my friends place, (its closer to my work) but last night the cat kept me up most of the night howling and meowing. He isn't neutered - and yes I know how bad this is, but he isn't MY cat so I can't take him to the vet and I've lectured my friend plenty..... what can I during at night to keep him calm and hopefully quiet?

Cat nip? cat treats? keep window blindes open? Its too hard to be up most of the night when I get up for work at 5am... I know the cat is probably uncomfortable but I'm hoping I can do something to help keep him quiet at night.... ?

Answer 1

What can you do...... Nothing

Take him to the vet get him fixed your friend will never know, you doing the cat a favour, and the neighbours

Answer 2

If you are looking after your friend's cat in your own home, there will be new and strange smells and him being un-neutered, this will affect him more due to his hormonalness. He could also be smelling entire females and males who are outside your home and this could be stimulating him. But, I think he's missing his owner more than anything.

So, keep him in one room for a day and get him plenty of good quality catnip toys, along with his bed, litter tray/box, wet and dry food and water.

Since he is not your kitty, obviously, getting him neutered isn't an option and buying a couple of products called Feliway and Bach's Rescue Remedy would be a bit costly for you too since the kitty will be gone in a few days. But, here's a link with info about it, that you can pass on to your friend for her to get for her kitty that can be a great help in future stressful situations and if you end up having to look after her kitty again.

http://www.parkvets.com/pet_info/cats/mi...

http://www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm

The easiest option for now is, rub the catnip toy all over his bed and blankets and rub onto your flooring in some places. This will stimulate and soothe the cat. Sit and play with him in this room, where he can get used to you and make friends. When he's got used to the one room he's in, allow him access to one or two other rooms which have a window he could sit and enjoy the view from.

Then, at night, put him back in his room, where his bed etc is.

Having the cat share your bedroom isn't such a good idea for you as you do need your sleep for work.

Try this and see if it helps a bit. If nothing else, just try to keep the thought that your friend will be back soon and sit tight till then...

I think you've been a fantastic friend for volunteering to look after her kitty, and especially since he's not neutered. Unneutered cats do tend to be more vocal, twitchy and territorial and aren't as easy to babysit as neutered cats. Also, your friend wouldn't be able to leave her kitty with a pet sitter who houses cats in their own home or in boarding catteries as they only accept neutered toms. I am one of those cat sitters who will house a cat known to me while the owner is away, but only if they are neutered!! This is something you may want to bring to her attention if she needed to go away again and couldn't find a friend like yourself, to kitty sit her cat.

All the best and good luck!

Answer 3

give him benadryl like 0.5-2mg/pound by mouth that should put him to sleep and it's safe  

Answer 4

doozer how rude ! :P

uhm maybe unique toyss ? my friends cat like paper scrunched into a ball !

Answer 5

go to homedepot and buy a shovel. hit cat with shovel ( dont hit shovel with cat... this does not work) then dig hole with said shovel and put cat in hole. There you have it.

Answer 6

Nothing.  The cat wants out.  The only way to stop this is getting the cat fixed, so you are in a quandry right now.  I hope your friend gets home soon.  

Answer 7

cat nip might help a little... He's probably upset cuz its a new place and his owner's gone. Just give him plenty of love and attention during the day. Make him comfortable.

Answer mine?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 8

I second avatar.  We had a cat who yowled all night before she was fixed, and there are only two solutions to quiet a cat in heat, and your friend would probably appreciate neither.

Answer 9

Buy some cat treats and cat nip and let him explore the house a little bit.

Answer 10

I have this problem often. I have two cats, a male and a female. Only the male meows in the early morning (as early as 4:00 a.m.) and when I try to sleep in, forget it. He is hungry. That's why he is making noise. I haven't found a good solution. The only thing I've been able to do is put him in the basement and close the door. I feel guilty, but during the week when I get up at 6:00, I have no choice. He has about 3 cat beds down there, and I leave water and some hard food. (He is 20 pounds and on a diet.)