We adopted a Maine Coon cat, whom we love dearly. When he first came home, he was rather quiet, although he talked when he had something to say. Now, he's made himself right at home and his talking begins early in the day -- 5:30 a.m. And it's not just quiet little meows now and then. It's demanding, loud meows that wake the whole house. Has anyone else experienced this sort of behavior?

-- Anonymous, March 31, 1999

Answers

Our MC - "PJ" - a 1-1/2 yr old female - talks when she is disturbed from her "beauty sleep" - especially first thing in the AM. It's usually short muff-moew repeated serveral times.

The only time she really gets pervasive is when she is on one floor of the house and wants to know where we are - she really gets loud and continues until one of us calls her name - then she breaks the sound barrier in her rush to get where we are!

Maybe your kitty is hungry in the early AM - have you tried a self- feeder - or lonesome, if he's not in the room with you?

-- Anonymous, April 21, 1999

My MC type, Grendel wakes us about 6:00 or so every morning. I don't think this behavior is restricted to this breed. All the cats I've had in my life will usually wake their people early. What do you expect from someone who sleeps all day? The way we got Grendel to stop doing this (We're college students and desperately need our sleep) is to wake him whenever we see him napping during the day or early evening. That way he sleeps thru the night and doesn't wake in the morning until we get up. Then its a mad dash to the food bowl!

-- Anonymous, April 24, 1999

Does the cat have access to your bedroom? He might feel lonely and probably wants to sleep in the same room as you. Try leaving the bedroom door open for him at night.

Also, you might want to feed the cat at night to prevent him from being hungry in the morning.

Ed

-- Anonymous, July 20, 1999

We have two 1 1/2 year old MC brothers, Sherman and Peabody. P is much larger and much louder, especially in the morning. He is definately calling to us and sometimes continues until we call back and tell him to come upstairs and SHUT-UP. Another neat trick they both have is walking across the alarm radio until the find the button that sets off the alarm! They make us crazy sometimes but we love them....enjoy your boy.

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2000