My new cat won't stop crying.

[Quinton O'Connor]

I love her to pieces, and she loves me to pieces right on back. You see, the girlfriend and I rented out a room with a nice woman last year for several months, and said woman had four cats; all but one of them grew to absolutely adore us, and we quickly felt the same to them.

Now, she's moving soon, and she'll be going around in an RV for quite some time. Three of her four cats don't mind these sorts of adventures, but the fourth one -- the one we just received -- hates them, so she gave her to us.

We've had her a few days, and while she soon remembered who we were and is quite affectionate, she runs around the house crying all the time, too. I theorize she's looking for her former owner, or the other three cats, but even deducing why she's doing it doesn't break my heart any less.

Any suggestions, or should I just let it slowly diminish in frequency... hopefully?

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Love her as much as you can. She's missing her former playmates. It should diminish in time. If she senses that you're annoyed or angry, it'll be worse for her. Just be as affectionate as she'll allow. Do the fingertips on top of her head like the momma cat thing to help her feel the love. Maybe get a cat toy with some catnip. My kittycat loved having a catnip laced toy.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Love her as much as you can. She's missing her former playmates. It should diminish in time. If she senses that you're annoyed or angry, it'll be worse for her. Just be as affectionate as she'll allow. Do the fingertips on top of her head like the momma cat thing to help her feel the love. Maybe get a cat toy with some catnip. My kittycat loved having a catnip laced toy.

Thanks for the seriously fast reply!

I've been doing the fingertips-on-the-head thing and she loves it. She's one of those cats who will purr up a storm and then flop over, exposing her belly... then she'll cling to whatever she's on top of and move around like a flopping fish, purring so loudly it could wake me from my slumber.

I hadn't considered the catnip route, though. I'll have to do so! Maybe as she runs around crying for her playmates, she'll bump into the toy and get happily distracted.

 

[RoJoHen]

I think you might need to get 3 more cats.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

I think you might need to get 3 more cats.

Oh boy.

 

[SPOCKED]

Don't worry, she'll be acclimated and happy before you know it

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Thanks, SPOCKED. What strikes me as funny is, since I posted that earlier, she hasn't cried.

 

[SPOCKED]

Thanks, SPOCKED. What strikes me as funny is, since I posted that earlier, she hasn't cried.

Our little dude was about 4 years old when we got him - the first few nights were rough as he was just totally out of his familiar world. So there were some sleepless nights with him crying. But that ended - hard to believe that's about 3 years ago now. He's the king of the neighborhood now; a real happy sweetheart. Best wishes

 

[Kestra]

Thanks, SPOCKED. What strikes me as funny is, since I posted that earlier, she hasn't cried.

You've exposed her to new trekkie friends, which are so much better than cats!

 

[exodus]

Love her as much as you can. She's missing her former playmates. It should diminish in time. If she senses that you're annoyed or angry, it'll be worse for her. Just be as affectionate as she'll allow. Do the fingertips on top of her head like the momma cat thing to help her feel the love. Maybe get a cat toy with some catnip. My kittycat loved having a catnip laced toy.

This is great advice.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Our little dude was about 4 years old when we got him - the first few nights were rough as he was just totally out of his familiar world. So there were some sleepless nights with him crying. But that ended - hard to believe that's about 3 years ago now. He's the king of the neighborhood now; a real happy sweetheart. Best wishes

Oh my goodness, your cat looks really, really similar to my ex-girlfriend's amazing kitty! So adorable... the both of them.

You've exposed her to new trekkie friends, which are so much better than cats!

I think you're on to something!

 

[Spot's Meow]

It will subside in time, probably only a few days. When we transported our kitty to his new home when he was 2 years old, he cried for the first few nights but now he is very happy. He still cries every so often, but that's his personality. If you leave him alone in a room too long he starts to whine. He enjoys company. Luckily our apartment is small enough that someone is always around him anyway.

 

[JohnChod]

Thanks, SPOCKED. What strikes me as funny is, since I posted that earlier, she hasn't cried.

Our little dude was about 4 years old when we got him - the first few nights were rough as he was just totally out of his familiar world. So there were some sleepless nights with him crying. But that ended - hard to believe that's about 3 years ago now. He's the king of the neighborhood now; a real happy sweetheart. Best wishes

I see you are a disciple of basement cat.

 

[Kira's Mom]

Give her time, and lots of affection. When my lovely Kira passed away last fall, my other cat Eddie missed her terribly. He'd cry and look for her. He adopted one of my Beanie Babies, and after a while, he got used to being the only cat. Cats do miss former companions, but they also get used to new situations and people.

 

[KimMH]

that's sad and sweet. we now have two kitties who are still getting to know each other - it's been fun to watch them trying to both be in charge of the house simultaneously!

we had oodles of dogs over the years and I was always puzzled and a little mad that when we lost one the remaining dogs seemed nearly oblivious to the loss. By the time we got to the one remaining dog he seemed positively blissful to finally be an only dog.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Showing her as much attention and affection as possible is definitely the best thing to do. Getting her a companion kitty is another possibility-- but that can go either way. If you want to do that, I would do it quickly, before she is too acclimated to the new status quo.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Y'all are great, thanks for all the tips!

 

[OmahaStar]

Cats cry? Seriously? I must be doing something y'all aren't. My cat is 17 years old, and she's never cried. She's loving, affectionate, and loves to be rubbed, petted, and have her head scratched. Even after getting baths, she's never been the least bit unhappy.

 

[RoJoHen]

Cats cry? Seriously? I must be doing something y'all aren't. My cat is 17 years old, and she's never cried. She's loving, affectionate, and loves to be rubbed, petted, and have her head scratched. Even after getting baths, she's never been the least bit unhappy.

Well, it's really more like a loud whine than a cry. My cat doesn't do it often, but it happens every once in a while for various reasons...usually if I accidentally lock her in the bathroom.

 

[SPOCKED]

Cats cry? Seriously? I must be doing something y'all aren't. My cat is 17 years old, and she's never cried. She's loving, affectionate, and loves to be rubbed, petted, and have her head scratched. Even after getting baths, she's never been the least bit unhappy.

Well, it's really more like a loud whine than a cry. My cat doesn't do it often, but it happens every once in a while for various reasons...usually if I accidentally lock her in the bathroom.

Then there's the volumic "yowl" - which usually occurs when I'm... indisposed... and behind a closed bathroom door