Why does my cat keep pacing

Another way to stimulate your cat and encourage restful nights is to alter your feeding schedule. Try feeding your cat their main meal within one hour of your bedtime. If your cat has a full belly, they may be more likely to rest well during the night. Method 2. Encourage physical activity. The best way to alleviate such distress is to foster both regular physical activity and mental stimulation.

Fortunately, these activities often go hand-in-hand. Play with your cat for 30 minutes per day. Provide cat trees, paper bags, or cardboard boxes for your cat to explore. Introduce a companion. Sometimes cats just need a friend. Bringing a new, younger dog or cat into your household could provide the stimulation your cat needs to end their pacing at night. The opposite gender.

Note that depending upon the temperament of the second cat, getting a companion can potentially exacerbate your problem. Provide visual stimulation. Give your cat something fun to watch. Method 3. Begin with easy puzzles. To get your cat started with food puzzles, it is important for them to have success right away.

Begin by using simple, see-through food puzzles, which are more than half full making it easier to get the food out. You can also sprinkle some cat food or treats around the puzzle to encourage an association between the puzzle and food. Your cat may keep you awake by calling, pacing in your room, purring by your head and by pawing at you for attention. FCD anxiety can improve with drug therapy.

Please see our article, Finding Professional Behavior Help , to locate a professional behaviorist in your area. Older cats may vocalize excessively for a number of reasons, including disorientation, loss of hearing and pain due to one or more medical conditions. Please see our article, Meowing and Yowling , for more information about excessive vocalizing and how to resolve it. As with other symptoms of FCD, your first step should be to take your cat to her veterinarian for a thorough examination to rule out or treat any medical problems.

FCD generally increases vocalizations related to anxiety, disorientation and separation distress. Anxious vocalizing is usually a plaintive meow. Showing your own frustration or punishing your cat for vocalizing can increase her anxiety and aggravate the problem. Pheromone or drug therapy may help your cat feel less anxious.

If your cat suddenly begins pacing, perhaps even meowing, at night, one of the following might be the culprit:. If your cat suddenly begins pacing or meowing at night, the first thing to do is take her to the veterinarian. A thorough physical exam should reveal any sources of pain.

The doctor will also take a thorough history from you and use it, as well as your cat's age and any other medical conditions, to determine the most likely cause of the pacing. Blood work might be recommended to check for hyperthyroidism and to evaluate general health.

The treatment for a cat's night-time pacing will depend on its cause. The most important thing you can do for your cat is to monitor his or her behavior. As your cat ages, behaviors will change. It is very important to have your cat checked out by a veterinarian. If your cat is diagnosed with cognitive dysfunction syndrome, love and attention is the best thing you can give your cat. Olive Street Newport, Oregon Skip to content Categories: Cat Health Care Tags: by Grove Veterinary Clinic , cat , dementia , feline If you own an older cat, you may notice changes in his or her behavior.

Signs of dementia : Felines with dementia may seem disoriented or confused, especially at night. Loud meowing or increased talkativeness may occur.