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Published: Dec 27, 2011

Owners understand cats often express how they feel by vocalization. VCA Animal Hospitals reports most owners don't appreciate the behavior, as it tends to occur at night when they are trying to sleep.

This undesired behavior may stem from a variety of issues, such as a want of attention, sexual desires, play behavior, underlying medical conditions, discomfort or aggression. Cats tend to be more active at night, as they typically sleep during the day when owners are at work, which is why vocalization occurs at the most unpleasant times.

Before trying to combat the problem, owners who can no longer stand the vocalization should first bring their felines to a veterinarian clinic to rule out a sick cat as the culprit. If a cat is older, it may start this vocalization as cognitive functions begin to decline, while pain or even an over-active thyroid (hyperthyroidism) could also be the cause.

Once medical problems are ruled out, owners can make certain changes to the cat's daily routine to lessen the behavior. Giving the cat enough excitement to keep it entertained may help deter the problem. This means playing with a cat for at least a half hour when you get home from work, as well as leaving out numerous toys and scratching posts to help it have fun and get out pent up energy during the day. Owners may also want to keep the cat out of the bedroom at night.