Hi everyone. I need some advice... I got back to town late last night from a 12-day trip during which my two 10 month old raggies, Winston and Oliver (Ollie), stayed in my apartment and were visited twice a day by a friend of mine who gave them food and water and also played and cuddled with them. Ever since I got back, they've both been even more attached to me than usual, which I don't mind at all because I missed them so much while I was away. What I am concerned about is that Ollie, who's always been moderately vocal mostly when he's hungry, has been meowing at me non-stop and very insistently (and loudly) if he's not in physical contact with me. I usually sleep with the cats shut out of my bedroom, and usually if they meow at all it's only for a few seconds and then stop when they realize that I'm not going to respond. Last night, Ollie meowed non-stop for about half an hour when I went to bed, and then for a full hour starting at around 5am before I capitulated because I am in an apartment building with not-so-great soundproofing and he was very loud! (I know it was Ollie because his meows sound different than Winston's) But even when I let them into the bedroom, he sat on my bed and kept meowing at me unless I was petting or holding him, even after I fed him and Winston. This behavior continued all day. He's eating, drinking, playing, and using the litterbox like normal. Also, the catsitter didn't experience this behavior while I was away, even last night just a few hours before I got home when he (the catsitter) was here last night during the early evening to feed and play with the cats. If it continues I'll of course get Ollie checked out by the vet but for now I'm assuming it's emotional because it was the first time I'd left them alone overnight at all and this first trip was almost 2 weeks long! Does anyone know what tactic I should take to get him over this? Has anyone experienced anything like this? Any advice would be such a huge help! ... sigh... he just started meowing again...
(PS- I've been planning to post in the Intro section and I will as soon as I get a chance to upload some cat photos off of my camera)
Hi welcome to the forum, basically I would say that I think Ollie is telling you off for being away, he is trying to talk to you, I am almost sure he will settle once he realises that your back for good, and that things are back to normal. They have both missed you incredibly (just think how much you missed them)I honestly don't think he's ill he's just giving you a good old telling off!!
Look forward to seeing the pics of Ollie and Winston
If he does not talk when in physical contact, then keep him with you and he will soon calm down. He just needs reassurance. (The key is to figure out what he is talking about and what causes him to stop. Those will tell you what he is "telling" you.)
I can't wait to see pics of your boys. I agree that it sounds like an emotional crying to you - as Anita says - telling you off for leaving them so long, LOL!!
Wow! You are definitely getting a good 'telling off' - either that or Ollie is giving you a minute by minute replay of everything that happened while you were gone!
Either way, he (and Winston, too) needs lots of reassurance and extra loving.
I, too, am looking forward to seeing photos, and Welcome to the Forum!
Valerie
Ollie sounds a proper character. Like the others, I think he is just moaning at having been left alone for so long. I hope to see the photos of Ollie and Winston soon.
Thanks everyone! It turned out that Winston was the one who meowed from the other side of my bedroom door, as I discovered this morning when I had another chance to listen (also, when I capitulated and opened the door at 6am Winston was right there and Ollie was lounging on the cat tree at the other end of the living room). So Winston is meowing when he's in a different room, and Ollie is meowing when in the same room as me... I guess they're both telling me off for going away for so long! Hopefully they'll settle down soon!
Despite you are not getting much sleep, I have had to smile about these cheeky pair of yours. They are really letting you know they disliked you leaving them.
WinstonsandOlliesMom Wrote:Hi everyone. I need some advice... I got back to town late last I have the same problem with Huggy only all I have to do is go out for a few hours. In the dog world that is separation anxiety. I think it is the same for cats. I asked on this site about it and apparently it is common with Raggies and Huggy is worse than most. Two hours gets me about 12 hours of the howling. He is nearly 5 now.night from a 12-day trip during which my two 10 month old raggies, Winston and Oliver (Ollie), stayed in my apartment and were visited twice a day by a friend of mine who gave them food and water and also played and cuddled with them. Ever since I got back, they've both been even more attached to me than usual, which I don't mind at all because I missed them so much while I was away. What I am concerned about is that Ollie, who's always been moderately vocal mostly when he's hungry, has been meowing at me non-stop and very insistently (and loudly) if he's not in physical contact with me. I usually sleep with the cats shut out of my bedroom, and usually if they meow at all it's only for a few seconds and then stop when they realize that I'm not going to respond. Last night, Ollie meowed non-stop for about half an hour when I went to bed, and then for a full hour starting at around 5am before I capitulated because I am in an apartment building with not-so-great soundproofing and he was very loud! (I know it was Ollie because his meows sound different than Winston's) But even when I let them into the bedroom, he sat on my bed and kept meowing at me unless I was petting or holding him, even after I fed him and Winston. This behavior continued all day. He's eating, drinking, playing, and using the litterbox like normal. Also, the catsitter didn't experience this behavior while I was away, even last night just a few hours before I got home when he (the catsitter) was here last night during the early evening to feed and play with the cats. If it continues I'll of course get Ollie checked out by the vet but for now I'm assuming it's emotional because it was the first time I'd left them alone overnight at all and this first trip was almost 2 weeks long! Does anyone know what tactic I should take to get him over this? Has anyone experienced anything like this? Any advice would be such a huge help! ... sigh... he just started meowing again...
(PS- I've been planning to post in the Intro section and I will as soon as I get a chance to upload some cat photos off of my camera)