human exhaustion = feline invigoration!

[Helena]

don't think I would be bothering to look for scars in that case - I would be off to the vets for the big cut asap. I think you may be right it does sound like a girl in heat to me...

She's booked in for Friday anyhow. Vet couldnt find a scar when she had a feel.

She is doing this then 

VERY DEFINITELY!!

IF she is unneutered, you mustn' have any unneutered males about as she has outdoor access - but females normally wander to find one.

She's being confined to quarters till after her op - much easier to cope with her wailing than going on a hunt for her and the worry that she's met someone! On one side of me is a neutered female and on t'other a neutered male so yesterday sshe was away for 4 hours till she chose to grace me with her presence again. Silly girl........

[Desley (booktigger)]

IF she is unneutered, you mustn' have any unneutered males about as she has outdoor access - but females normally wander to find one.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

She is doing this then 

[blackcat]

don't think I would be bothering to look for scars in that case - I would be off to the vets for the big cut asap. I think you may be right it does sound like a girl in heat to me...

[Helena]

<snip>
I dont know what experienced peeps with cats not nuetered think but it sounds slightly suspicious to me that she has become very noisy after a couple of weeks. Does she roll about on the floor and sticke her tail end up or show signs of wanting to mate?
<snip>

<chuckles with giggles> Oh yes she flaunts her rear end and does 'doggie paddle' with her back legs while resting on her front end and bum and tail raising ever upward! And she's rolling over onto her back (and off the settee more than once) demanding tummy rubs. She's got the most cute soppy grin when she's on her back too. My niece came over at weekend and Bubz luxuriated in over 30mins of near orgasmic attention as Meg tickled Bubz's tum.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I think that she has been with you such a short time, she needs time to settle and trust you.

I dont know what experienced peeps with cats not nuetered think but it sounds slightly suspicious to me that she has become very noisy after a couple of weeks. Does she roll about on the floor and sticke her tail end up or show signs of wanting to mate?

I can understand how frustrating it must be for you not to be able to get up and go see if she is Ok or cuddle her and of course you PA is there to look after you and not cat sit 

I hope that this gets resolved and that she settles but suspect that at least part of this is only being with you such a short time.

[Helena]

How long have you had Bubz?

I have had her a month Gill and this is the second period when she has been really noisy! Last time was 2.5 weeks ago and I put it down to the settling in period.

I wouldnt be booking her in for an op, this really doesn't sound like hormonal. If she was yowling due to wanting a mate, she would be escaping as soon as you let her out, and not coming back till she was 'satisfied', and would then be quiet. As you've only had her a month, it is still very early days in the settling in period. I have found a way to get my fosters to get through the night without crying, they just have access to all rooms apart from mine (purely cos George wants to go on the bed, and then Molly growls at him), but they do cry during the day when they are left, i either ignore them, or if they have done it so long I can't ignore them anymore, get told to shut up. Is there anyway you can shut her in a downstairs room with a nightlight and the radio playing? I would also be tempted to try feliway.

Bubz isnt on her own in the daytime Des, and she does have the run of the bungalow (except my PAs* room). I have tried to ignore her at night and shouting at her but nothing works at all.

The nightlight helped (or she is just calming down again) but I need the certainty that she is actually spayed. You have no idea how frustrating it is to have to lie in bed and try to call her back to my room without the ability to go to her to caress her and try to calm her that way.

Helen

[Desley (booktigger)]

I wouldnt be booking her in for an op, this really doesn't sound like hormonal. If she was yowling due to wanting a mate, she would be escaping as soon as you let her out, and not coming back till she was 'satisfied', and would then be quiet. As you've only had her a month, it is still very early days in the settling in period. I have found a way to get my fosters to get through the night without crying, they just have access to all rooms apart from mine (purely cos George wants to go on the bed, and then Molly growls at him), but they do cry during the day when they are left, i either ignore them, or if they have done it so long I can't ignore them anymore, get told to shut up. Is there anyway you can shut her in a downstairs room with a nightlight and the radio playing? I would also be tempted to try feliway.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

How long have you had Bubz?

[Helena]

I've tried that, but still the yowling!

I've booked her in for an op on Friday ....... only 3 more nights from hell! Bought a night-light which may reasure her a little in the meanwhile.

[Maddiesmum]

What about letting her have loads and loads of exercise and then a supper before bed (Da Bird???) hopefully then she will be very tired and sleep through?

[Helena]

I would try leaving a very low voltage light on for her, the light of the numbers on my alram clock are like bloomin beacons!......yellow.
I suspect at night its the quietness she is scared of would a radio talking at min volume keep you awake in the bedroom?
I think it would be sad to leave her all by herself.
I woould definately leave the bedroom door open and have some biscuits in the bedroom, with maybe a litter tray just outside the door for her.
I think she is likeley to be neutered cos like Des says if this only happens at night.
I think if you shut her inanother room she will get worse, she needs time to learn that night is for sleeping and there is nothing scary cos she is free to move around if she wants. She just has to get used to the lay of the house and be able to find her way back to bed.

I have problems sleeping with radio/sound in my room Gill, and she just guzzles dry food as soon as it goes down! I've tried giving her full reign of the house, i've tried keeping her with me - the result is exactly the same, yowling under every 2 hrs for anything from 15 45 mins.

[Helena]

Then what do I DO? Des? I cant have my PAs exhausted every day!

How long do cats normally stay in season if unmated, and what times of year do they come into season more often?

[Desley (booktigger)]

Ah right, it came across as just night time in your post. If it is an every day thing, then again, I wouldnt be thinking hormonal, cats come into season for around 5-7 days, and then stop (although at certain times of year, can come into season every couple of weeks). And if it was due to being in heat, she wouldnt be coming back home so quickly, she would be out looking for a mate. It sounds like she needs a lot of reassurance.

[Helena]

<snip> If she is only doing it at night, I wouldn't be thinking it is hormonal personally.

No Des its 24/7! last night it was every 2 hrs!  Night is infinitely worse tho'

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I would try leaving a very low voltage light on for her, the light of the numbers on my alram clock are like bloomin beacons!......yellow.

I suspect at night its the quietness she is scared of would a radio talking at min volume keep you awake in the bedroom?

I think it would be sad to leave her all by herself.

I woould definately leave the bedroom door open and have some biscuits in the bedroom, with maybe a litter tray just outside the door for her.

I think she is likeley to be neutered cos like Des says if this only happens at night.

I think if you shut her inanother room she will get worse, she needs time to learn that night is for sleeping and there is nothing scary cos she is free to move around if she wants. She just has to get used to the lay of the house and be able to find her way back to bed.

[blackcat]

we use tattoos in Oz also - it does make life easier. But if you are planning to show them after they are neutered, you can elect not to have them tattooed ...

[Desley (booktigger)]

Sadly there is no easy way to tell if a female is spayed, I wish they would do some kind of tattoo like some parts of the US, that way if they ever came into rescue, it would be easy to tell. If she is only doing it at night, I wouldn't be thinking it is hormonal personally.

[Helena]

Apart from trying Feliway, I would also take her to the vet. It could be she wasn't spayed properly. 

I'm seriously considering getting them to check surgically as vet said she cant feel any scars: last time they relied on scarring it turned out to have been another injury that happened to be in the area of any surgical scar!!!!!!!! 

[Helena]

If she doesn't like the dark and quiet maybe you could try putting her in another room with a little plug-in night light and  a radio on very quiet (cats have excellent hearing so it can be  quiet enough not to disturb you but will give her a bit of comfort), litter tray and a warm snuggly bed.
It's worth a go.

I have to have the radio on in daytime simply because she hates silence and the noise of me typing isnt enough for her!!!! LOL

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

Apart from trying Feliway, I would also take her to the vet. It could be she wasn't spayed properly. 

[blackcat]

I think I would be trying a nightlight - low down near the floor so it does not disract your eyes. handy for you if you need to get out during the night also ...

It would be sufficient for her to find her way back to you if she leaves the room also ..

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

If she doesn't like the dark and quiet maybe you could try putting her in another room with a little plug-in night light and  a radio on very quiet (cats have excellent hearing so it can be  quiet enough not to disturb you but will give her a bit of comfort), litter tray and a warm snuggly bed.

It's worth a go.

[Desley (booktigger)]

Ah right.

[Helena]

I've tried that but she still shrieks when she cant find her way back to bed! ;(

[Desley (booktigger)]

Do you have to have your bedroom door shut? If it could be left partly open, that might help, as she would be able to come and go as she pleases.

[Helena]

I've had Bubz for a month now and she is yowling at night with tedious monotony. I could maybe cope if I was able to get up to let my girl out of my room but it needs my disturbing my PA* to do it.

Bubz is over a year old and a small cat. I got her from Cats Protection who took her into their care after she was found in a shed/garage and she hates the dark and silence which is why she sleeps in my room. I'm feeding with wet and dry at the vets suggestion, and as far as we know she was spayed by her previous owner when she was microchipped, but there is conflicting info on this matter. She is going outside now but keeps popping back to the house, so she's relaxed about being home with me.

Any ideas about how I can get more sleep would be very appreciated by me and my PAs.

Helen