My cat is 10 months old, has a very sweet temperament and is really playful – no issues to report until now! We had him neutered two months ago, even though he's strictly an indoor cat.
BUT for the last 10 days it’s been a nightmare; he sits in front of the front door, scratches at the door frames and meows non-stop, mainly at night (though for the last few days he’s started doing it during the day too...).
What surprises me most is that we went to my parents' house last weekend and he was as good as gold... But as soon as we got back to the flat, he started up again.
We’ve already bought an essential oil diffuser (which was supposed to calm him down) but nothing’s working. Letting him out isn't an option as we live in the Paris area. If anyone could give me some advice or point me in the right direction...
Thanks in advance for your replies..
Translated from French
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Some cats just have a really strong instinctual drive deep-rooted in their genetics and personality...
Hunting, roaming, exploring, and so on.
I reckon their lineage plays a huge part in it...
For instance, if I adopt a kitten whose ancestors going back 20 generations were moggies living on the streets or with outdoor access, that kitten is going to have an unconscious longing for the outdoors. Even if they don't know exactly what they're missing, they'll still feel that void...
They’ll have a sense of frustration that they don’t even understand themselves...
And that translates into a cat developing behavioural issues—the classic aggressive cat that’s constantly scratching, being overexcited, and all that...
On the flip side, a pedigree kitten descended from show cats living in a flat will have had that "free-roaming" instinct far more diluted in their genetic makeup than a kitten whose mum was an outdoor cat...
I’m not saying it’s an exact science, but I think the first one is much more likely to struggle with being kept indoors than the second...
When you think about it, it’s only logical; a lion born in captivity whose mother was wild in Africa will have much sharper instincts than one born in captivity whose parents and grandparents were also in captivity...
I fostered a rather difficult cat for eight months. I'd been warned to be really careful when opening my front door because he tried to bolt every single time.
It turned out to be true: he would try to push his way past as soon as I got home, and I'd have to block his path...
Then one day I thought, after all, if he wants out, why not: I let him out because I live in a flat and it just leads onto a communal corridor. Every time I came home, I just let him go for it and explore the hallway.
It didn't take long for him to lose interest. Once he realised the door only led to an enclosed corridor, he wasn't bothered about going out anymore, and I could come home without him trying to make a run for it.
All this is to say that cats hate closed doors, and your cat might just be unsettled by this door he can't get through.
If I've understood correctly, there’s no way he can actually escape? If that’s the case, try what I did: give him free access to this "outside" area, and he might not be so desperate to go there (classic cat reverse psychology! ;) )
Hi there,
The exact same thing happened with my little puss... Last Sunday we took him to a friend’s place just to let the cats meet. It was a massive mistake... He was terrified and stayed hidden in a corner all afternoon, though he didn't have any physical contact with the other cat.
We got home in the late afternoon and there were no issues; he seemed happy to be back. But since then, he’s been meowing non-stop every night, usually right by the front door. I’ve gone through all the possibilities, even wondering if he was looking for a mate, though that’s unlikely since he’s been neutered. But after watching him for a few days, it’s clear he just wants to get out! Sometimes when I’m heading out, he tries to bolt for it.
Unfortunately, I can’t let him out as we live on the ground floor. He’s usually such a gentle cat and hardly ever meows. It breaks my heart to hear him yowling, and it’s really messing with my sleep... So I was wondering, how did you guys handle this? Thanks!
Thanks a lot for your replies! :)
@Cloclo360, he’s a real clingy one haha, we give him loads of cuddles and, truth be told, he even sleeps with us... But that’s just it, he’s so obsessed with this door that he’s starting to act distant.
Regarding the idea that our neighbour might have adopted a cat, we’ve already sent a message but haven’t heard back yet. But I think that’s definitely the most likely reason (especially as he mostly heads upstairs the second we open the door). Mind you, our downstairs neighbour has had a cat for a few months now and it’s never bothered him!
I’m going to go and see our upstairs neighbour directly; that should shed a bit more light on things :)
THANKS SCHTROMPHY! It's so rare to get friendly feedback on this forum...
I'm going a bit off-topic, but from reading quite a bit on the cat board, I think you guys give loads of great advice. :) Not that other advice isn't good, but I feel like you're often spot on. ^^
Anyway, sorry for the off-topic post. I hope you get to the bottom of it, Pferry. ;)
One possibility: a new pet at a nearby neighbour’s and he’s picked up the scent. It’s making him really curious, or even a bit anxious, which is why he feels the need to go and ‘investigate’ for himself.
As per usual, that’s some great advice from Blue Cat. If you’re on good terms with the neighbours, there’s no harm in asking them. :) If that’s the case, you won’t need to look any further for the cause. ^^
Just a theory: maybe a nearby neighbour has a new pet and he’s caught the scent. It’s clearly making him very curious, or even a bit anxious, which is why he feels the need to go and ‘check it out’ for himself.
