One of two cats is keeping us up at night
Hi there! Me and my gf have two cats and one of them is starting to get on our nerves and is keeping us up at night for almost a year.
Some background info about the cats first. The oldest one is Wolf, a medium sized grey tabby, he is about 5 years old. He is calm, never been really playful, but really likes to cuddle. The other one is Raaf (dutch for raven). He is a very large black tabby of about 2 years old. He is wild and playful, likes to run around and make noise. He is also slightly overweight. We live in an apartment about 60m2 with a balcony of about 5m2 wich they can enter freely when the door is open. But due to constructions, we where sharing al the balconies with our neighbours, until recently when we build an improvised privacy screen. And Wolf is making life very hard, to the point of making me think of giving him away. So i’m seeking help and advice.
Things that are happening
- Fights. Since Raaf is overweight he is put on a diet. But Raaf and Wolf have a different eating pattern. Wolf used to eat little bits whenever he wants and still wants to eat like this. Raaf is from a big family and used to eat for his life. This made it so that Wolf ate a bit, and Raaf ate for two cats. Now we give little bits through the day. Or when there is no food in the tray and Wolf starts attacking Raaf. This happens somewhere in the morning, during dinner time, before bed time and randomly in the middle of the night. The big problem is Raaf doesn’t like this, runs away eventually and hides behind the tv to use as a shield, which is very triggering as i am a bit of a cinephile and gamer. Wolf also becomes very vocal, not the sound of an angry cat. Its more a loud meow while he’s purring. He also doesn’t blow up his tail or back. We have thought about a automatic foodbowl, but the time Wolf is hungry isn’t the same all the time so we are afraid Raaf will eat everything again.
- Screaming. The door isn’t always open, especially while the improvised privacy screen is there. So when he wants to go outside he starts to meow very loudly, which becomes louder and louder the longer it takes. He also does this at the privacy screen when he wants past it. Or inside at the closet next to the door. He also does this at night.
- Squeaking. Wolf used to like to cuddle and getting picked up. But this is becoming less and less. Now he squeaks like a dog toy when you pick him up. Especially when you pickle him up while he’s screaming at the door or outside when he’s eating a plant he’s not supposed to. Sometimes he starts before picking him up.
Thanks for the help!
Posted Jul 8, 2025, 4:49 PM UTC