cat is meowing and panting at dawn

by erika
(mi)

Hello,


My cat is 5 years old and has just started meowing loudly around 5:30-6:00 a.m. I have also observed him panting along with the meowing during this time period. He appears to me to be scared about something because he will sit and stare down the hall, as if someone is in our home. We typically ignore it and he eventually stops, but starts up again a little bit once we do finally get out of bed later. I am concerned because this is a new thing for him. We did just move to a new home about 2 months ago, but he seemed to adjust fine to the move. He actually seems happier due to now having stairs that he loves to run up and down and high places to hide out in.

Thanks.

Reply
Hi
Well this time of the morning does seem to be the time cats like to get up and start to meow etc. I know my two do.

Also night time is the natural time for cats to hunt etc as they have better eyesight than we do and so find it easier to spot their prey in the dark.

I assume your cat is neutered and this is not normal caterwauling for a mate.

I am wondering if and I don’t want to alarm you if you may have mice or something under the floor and your cat is getting excited about this. It may also explain the breathing as if they get over excited this can cause them to pant. Or alternatively if he can hear something and is not used to it he may be fearful and again this would cause him to pant and call.

I don’t know what to say other than, if this is a new behaviour it may be worth getting him to see a vet just for a check-up to rule out any possible physical problems that may be going on. Once this can be eliminated then you will have to do some more investigating in your home in there is something which is causing your cat to respond like this.

I have two male cats and they spend most of the night prowling around the house and looking out of the window and calling sometimes too if they see something.

Best wishes Kate

Comments for cat is meowing and panting at dawn

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my cat is the same
by: kirby

this literally just happened. my kitty sleeps with me. i woke up 1 hour earlier 630am ish? to the sound of something clattering to the floor and my boy landing on my bed i assume he fell from the shelves and knocked something over in the process. all was quiet for about 5 mins before the craziest inccessant meowing started he's clawing at the door and panting. i can't get him to calm down. so i let him out. 15 mins later i try to get him back in with treats. he comes in. eats the treat. and moments later he's back to meowing non stop (he never does this except for when he's in the car so i think he's stressed) and he's even panting in between meows. i think he's stressed but i hope it doesn't start happening every morning im worried
Cat panting
by: Anonymous

Cats do not pant. If yours has an open mouth breathing fast it is a good indication of illness. I wish I would have known this because we used to laugh at ours when we thought he was "panting". He died at age 3 from Saddle Thrombus which was caused by an enlarged heart he was born with. The only reason we found out he had an enlarged heart was because I called the vet when he had a urine blockage and said he was laying in the bathroom with his mouth open. They said to bring him right in and he was diagnosed! He died 3 weeks later but did that open mouth breathing since day one. If only I knew.

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