Persian cat howling

Question
I have read over previous answers but some do not relate exactly to this case! Our cat was found by a family friend in her garden eating bird food and very skinny. The family friend rang all rescue centres but could not find owner anywhere. We took the cat in. He is a male persian about 4 years old. He meows constanty if you are in the same room as him, and as soon as you leave him in a room on his own he starts howling and rolling his tongue sound... he sounds like a baby. This is the worst at night when we leave him in the rest of house. He will do it onstantly and will not be quiet. It sounds like he is screaming. We tried having him in our room at night, which he is significanty quieter... but he plays with the bed quilt frantically and will meow randomly throughout the night waking us up. I just need some help to make him quieter we have considered giving him away because of it. He is really infuriating!! We give him food biscuits water bed duvets pillows warm rooms toys brush him stroke him ... what else can we do? Help!!

Answer
Emma,

It's difficult to know what his previous experiences have been that may be causing that behavior. Or he may be in pain.

Or he may be missing his owners. I would put an ad in the paper and flyers on the windows at the local market. He may have run off when his owners were moving, he may have gotten out when new neighbors moved in and was trying to find his old home and got lost. Or someone may have moved and just left him.

The best suggestion I have is to take the the cat to the vet to be examined to make sure it's not a medical issue causing him to howl like that. The vet can also prescribe a 'kitty Prozac' as a temporary medication to calm him. I would speak to the vet about that.

Also play with him before bedtime, like with a pet laserlight (you can get them at PetSmart, etc.), to tire him out. After you play with him, before you go to bed, give him a cat of wet food (canned cat food). That way his tummy is full, he is tired, and you have more of a chance of him sleeping through the night.

Tabbi