How To Stop My Cat From Meowing For Attention
If all else fails you can as a last resort use a squirt of water.
How to stop my cat from meowing for attention. Eventually the cat will learn that meowing no longer works as a way to get your attention. If it s approaching mealtime and the cat starts to meow move to another room and shut the door. You may need to divide your cats last meal of the deal into two servings so you could feed your cat at 5pm then give the last portion at 10pm this will help your cat feel satiated throughout the night and into the morning. Change in schedule yours or his.
First it s important to address the need for attention when the cat is not demanding attention with play sessions treasure hunts clicker training and other activities says krieger. Cats often meow to initiate play petting or to get you to talk to them. The only way to extinguish this behavior is to totally ignore the cat. Giving in to cat meowing demands tells sheba that pestering works to get her way and any response such as putting the pillow over your head yelling at her or pushing her off the bed still gives her the attention she craves.
Schedule three or four small meals of canned food picking up the remainder after 20 to 30 minutes. Cats are crepuscular active at dawn and dusk and nocturnal active at night. If you want to cut down on attention seeking meows stop responding when it happens. Come out when the cat stops meowing to fill the food bowl.
Some cats meow in the morning because they associate you getting up with their morning meal. Only give her attention when she s. It sometimes work but your cat will resent you for a while until the next meal time. Health issues may be at play especially if the behaviour has suddenly surfaced with no changes in the cat s environment.
Fill a spray bottle with water and give the cat a short mist. You ve reinforced the meowing at night behaviour by giving your cat attention which can prolong the meowing behaviour once it starts. Pawing your arm or leg. If you need to feed dry food due to your cat s preference or your schedule give one small meal of dry food in the evening which you can leave down for the night.
It might shut up for a while as you play with it but will then know that meowing works.