whining cat

Question
hi i got a new cat recently from a rescue place. it's a boy and i think he's been neutered and everything. he just crys and whines all the time though and it's driving me nuts. i called them and they said he might be part siamese and that siamese cats ''talk'' a lot. is this true in your experience? anything i can do to shut him up?!

Answer
How recently did you adopt your cat? You have to put yoruself in your cat's place - he is in a new environment, new smells new food and no companions. Cats don't sleep all night like humans do, so sometimes they get bored or lonely at night. Although Siamese tend to "talk" more than other cats, they don't necessarily whine, and I don't think it's his breed causing your current problem.

One solution is to adopt a second cat (that is known to get along well with other cats) to keep him company. He will have someone to play with while you're sleeping or away, and get more exercise. Some cats are loners but others are very social. I have one cat who panics is she's in the house alone, or thinks she is - she likes having the other 2 cats around.

If you can't adopt another cat, it will take you some adjustment. First, try to make your cat's routine regular and predictable to help him settle in. Feed him at the same time each day (I recommend 3x a day) and allow him to feel like his life is ordered.

Play with him right before bed. Get him chasing a laser pointer or feather on a stick. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise in the evening and he's more likely to sleep through the night.

You may also want to get the Feliway plug-in diffuser sold in most pet stores, or the spray (spray needs to be applied every few days to furniture and doorways). Feliway mimicks the facial pheremones cats exude when they rub their face on things such as table legs or doorways. These pheremones are territorial markers but also are very soothing and calming to cats. When someone adopts a cat who has a hard time making the adjustment to a new home, I highly recommend they use Feliway to help kitty settle in.

Good luck!