A deep, distressing cry breaks through the night at 2 a.m. from somewhere within your home as your cat emits the sound. Your sudden awakening happens at night with a rapid heartbeat while you search for the cause of the disturbance. Those who have heard cats produce their otherworldly howls have heard the disturbing sound of caterwauling, which results from various innocent or serious situations.
So, what exactly is caterwauling? And why does your cat do it?
This article examines the haunting sound made by cats through caterwauling by explaining what causes this vocalization and its meanings, along with strategies for helping your cat.
The Sound of Caterwauling: What It Is and How to Recognize It
Caterwauling stands apart from both meowing and purring sounds. The drawn-out, high-pitched sound resembles an amalgamation of wails with howls added to its vocalization phase, which usually transitions into tears or cries. The noise has been characterized as a humanlike noise by certain listeners while it occurs during darkness.
Your cat uses caterwauling as a means to communicate an essential message.
Common Reasons Why Cats Caterwaul
Understanding the caterwauling cat starts with figuring out the “why.” Here are the most common reasons behind this vocal mystery:
1. Mating Behavior
This is perhaps the most classic reason cats caterwaul. Unspayed females in heat will yowl to attract a mate, and intact males might caterwaul when they sense a female in heat nearby.
If your cat isn’t spayed or neutered and you’re hearing nighttime serenades, it might be love—feline style.
Tip: Spaying or neutering your cat usually stops this kind of caterwauling.
2. Territorial Disputes or Outdoor Cats Nearby
A caterwauling cat responds to their natural territory behavior because of the presence of another feline, which they can physically spot or discern through scent. They use loud vocalizations to both display their superiority and to threaten the presence of other cats, distantly or near them.
Check the outside areas of your home when your indoor cat sits near the window and starts making loud vocalizations, because a neighboring cat could be present.
3. Discomfort or Pain
Cats excel at concealing their illness, and the opposites of this behavior emerge when they experience discomfort or pain. Cats who abruptly start caterwauling intensely might show these indications among elderly individuals:
- Arthritis
- Kidney disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Urinary tract infections
- Dental pain
A vet should evaluate your cat if its caterwauling behavior seems different from normal or additional symptoms of hiding behavior and altered food interest, and modified bathroom habits emerge.
4. Cognitive Dysfunction in Senior Cats
Senior cats sometimes experience neurodegenerative conditions known as feline cognitive dysfunction, which corresponds to human dementia. The crying becomes linked to confusion along with disorientation and anxiety, particularly when night falls.
Older cats may cry out because of anxiety and loss, even inside a familiar environment.
Signs of feline cognitive dysfunction include:
- Pacing
- Nighttime vocalization
- Staring into space
- Seeming confused
Medication and environmental enrichment can help reduce these symptoms. Your vet can provide guidance.
5. Loneliness or Attention-Seeking
Cats are independent—but not emotionless. Cats tend to caterwaul when they experience loneliness or boredom, particularly when they spend extensive periods of isolation or lack sufficient mental engagement.
Your cat begins vocalizing when you exit the space or after you depart for the day because it requests your presence.
Solutions:
- Spend quality time with your cat.
- Offer interactive toys or puzzle feeders.
- Consider adopting a second pet if you’re often away from home.
6. Stress or Anxiety
Changes in a cat’s environment can trigger anxiety, and vocalizing is one way they express stress. Triggers might include:
- Moving to a new home
- New people or pets
- Loud noises
- Changes in routine
A caterwauling cat in these situations may be trying to cope with a world that suddenly feels unfamiliar or scary.
7. Confusion or Desire to Go Outside
Cats who used to live outdoors will meow persistently at doors or windows apart from other forms of vocalizing. The feline vocalization functions as an assertive declaration rather than a petition-type of communication.
Some felines develop an excessive interest in particular doors and regular schedules that they express through intense vocalizations when their expectations are not fulfilled.
How to Respond to a Caterwauling Cat
Once you understand the root cause, you can take action. Here’s how to help:
- Rule out medical issues first. If your cat suddenly starts caterwauling and it’s out of the ordinary, always consult your vet.
- Spay or neuter your cat. If your cat is intact, this is a likely cause and an easy solution.
- Provide comfort and companionship. Lonely cats need love, attention, and sometimes more social interaction.
- Keep routines consistent. Cats thrive on routine. Sudden changes can trigger stress-related caterwauling.
- Offer nighttime enrichment. Cats tend to caterwaul during nighttime due to feeling unstimulated. Utilize puzzle toys together with automated feeders as stimulating devices for your cat.
- Block visual access to outdoor animals. You should reduce your cat's outdoor viewing position while employing automatic sprinklers with motion sensors to repel trespassing cats.
When to Be Concerned About Caterwauling
Caterwauling isn't always a sign of something serious, but it can be. Call your vet if you notice:
- A sudden change in your cat’s behavior
- Increased frequency or intensity of vocalizing
- Accompanying symptoms like vomiting, limping, or hiding
- Changes in appetite, litter box habits, or energy levels
It’s always better to err on the side of caution. A medical issue caught early is often much easier (and cheaper) to treat.
How to Prevent Caterwauling Before It Starts
While some caterwauling may be unavoidable, especially due to aging or medical conditions, many causes can be addressed preventatively:
- Enrich your cat’s environment. Boredom reduction can be achieved by providing scratching posts alongside vertical climbing spaces and toys, and puzzle feeders.
- A set schedule for feeding time, along with play sessions, should become a habit. The establishment of regular schedules serves two effects: it reduces stress levels and creates feelings of security for your cat.
- Keep your cat healthy. The combination of proper veterinary check-ups alongside appropriate nutrition and regular hydration prevents many conditions that cause caterwauling in cats.
Use pheromone diffusers. The product Feliway works through scents to decrease behavior triggered by stress.
Should You Ever Ignore Caterwauling?
If your vet confirms your cat is healthy and it’s determined the caterwauling is behavioral or attention-seeking, ignoring it may be part of the solution. Giving in to every yowl can reinforce the behavior.
But don’t start by ignoring your cat—first, rule out physical or emotional distress.
Through vocalization, your cat expresses itself to you. A caterwauling cat expresses its message either to gain attention or request assistance because something is wrong. By listening to their messages, you create both their sense of safety and deepen your bond with them through their repeated meows.
