Traveling with cats can be a challenge, especially when it comes to trying to keep your cat from meowing in a hotel room. The last thing you want is to receive complaints from other guests or hotel staff about your feline friend’s constant meowing. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to keep your cat calm and quiet during your stay.
We’ve been traveling around the country with multiple cats on the cat show circuit for the past couple years. That means a lot of nights spent in hotels. And a lot of trying to keep your cat from meowing in hotel rooms all night or getting kicked out. We’ve mastered the art of the cat friendly hotel but the noise situation has been one of the more challenging aspects of it. Especially since we’ve added an ocicat kitten to our travel cats.
One of the most effective ways to prevent excessive meowing is to tire your cat out before settling down for the night. Respect the fact that while you are tired from driving all day, Kitty has been sleeping. Now he’s ready to expend some energy. Take your cat for a walk or play with them for a while to help them release any pent-up energy.
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Understanding Your Cat’s Behavior
Meowing is one of the ways cats communicate with their owners. However, excessive meowing can be a problem, especially in a hotel room where you don’t want to disturb other guests. Understanding Kitty’s behavior can help you keep your cat from meowing in a hotel room.
Why is Kitty Crying?
Sort out the reasons Kitty isn’t happy. Is she hot or cold? Hungry or thirsty? Bored? These are all things that we can solve. It might mean we have to wait to unpack until after we’ve had a play session with Kitty. Make sure your cat has everything he needs, such as food, water, toys, and a clean litter box.
It’s more of a challenge if your cat is meowing excessively to get your attention. Bringing interactive toys can help him feel more secure and sure of himself in the hotel room.
Related Post: Staying in a Cat-Friendly Hotel
Some Cats are More Territorial than Others.
Staying in a pet-friendly hotel can be a challenge if your Kitty is one of those more territorial cats. They may smell, see, or hear other animals. Sometimes we’ve had dogs in the room next door. Sometimes the cats will sit in the windows and see birds or squirrels in the parking lot. People walking around talking on the way to their rooms stresses out our Sunspot.
Other cats can be a big problem. We’ve definitely seen this at cat show hotels. One of our cats likes to patrol the door. Dogs, cats, humans, she is suspicious of it all. The kitten tries to talk to the cats next door. Try to keep your cat away from other cats to keep your cat from meowing.
Overall, understanding your cat’s behavior is essential to prevent excessive meowing. Make sure your cat has everything she needs, try to identify the cause of Kitty’s stress, and keep your cat away from other cats. With these tips, you can keep your cat from meowing in a hotel room.
Choosing the Right Hotel Room
The room you select – or are assigned – can really make a difference to keeping Kitty comfortable and secure and quiet in a hotel. Again, you might need to choose Kitty’s comfort over your own. Here are a few tips to help you select the best room for you and your feline friend:
- Choose a room on a higher floor: Personally, I want a first floor room as close to my car as possible because of my bad knee. But, rooms on higher floors are generally quieter and away from street noise. It makes sense to pick a room away from the sources of Kitty’s stress even if it means I have to walk further. The quieter space can help reduce the amount of meowing does to express her anxiety about other people in the area.
- Request a room away from elevators and ice machines: These areas tend to be high traffic and noisy, which can be stressful for a territorial and fearful cats.
- Look for a room with a separate sitting area if it is in your budget: Having a separate space for your cat to relax and play can help them feel more comfortable and less likely to meow. I almost never do this just for financial reasons, but the few times we have been able to spring for a larger room or a suite it has definitely made for a quieter and more relaxing visit.
By following these tips, you can help ensure that your cat stays calm and quiet during your hotel stay.
Creating a Comfortable Environment
The luxury spaces are great, but with a little work you can make even the smallest hotel room a comfortable environment for Kitty. Here are a few tips to help you create a comfortable environment for your furry travel partners:
Bringing Familiar Items
One of the easiest ways to make your cat feel more comfortable in a hotel room is to bring along some of their favorite items from home. This could include their bed, toys, dishes, or even a favorite blanket. Bring things you think will make Kitty feel at home in the unfamiliar surroundings. We bring plush blankets, scratching pads, and bags of their special travel toys. We use the same litter as we use at home. This all helps the cats feel more comfortable. Turning your space into a home away from home will help keep your cats from meowing in the hotel room.
Maintaining Kitty’s Regular Feeding Schedule
Cats thrive on routine. It’s important to maintain Kitty’s regular feeding schedule as much as possible when traveling. Make sure to bring along their regular food and feeding dishes, and try to feed them at the same time of day as you do at home.
Providing Adequate Play Time
It’s important to provide them with opportunities to play even when traveling. Bring along some of their favorite toys and set aside time each day to play with your cats. This will help them burn off excess energy so they sleep instead of making noise all night and driving your neighbors crazy.
By following these tips, you can help make your hotel room a comfortable environment for your cat and keep him from nuisance meowing.
Using Calming Products
If your cat is prone to meowing excessively in hotel rooms, calming products may be a helpful solution. Here are a few options to consider:
Feliway Diffusers
Feliway diffusers emit a synthetic version of the pheromone that cats release when they rub their faces against objects. This pheromone helps cats feel calm and secure in their environment. By using a Feliway diffuser in your hotel room, you may be able to help your cat feel more relaxed and less likely to meow excessively.
Calming Collars
Calming collars are another option to consider. These collars contain pheromones or other natural ingredients that are designed to help cats feel calm and relaxed. Simply put the collar on your cat before you leave for your hotel room, and it may help reduce meowing. We don’t use these because it messes up the fur of my long haired cats and we travel to show.
Calming Treats
Calming treats are a third option to consider. These treats contain natural ingredients that are designed to help reduce anxiety in cats. They can be a good choice if your cat is particularly anxious or prone to meowing.
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Rescue Remedy
Rescue Remedy is a homeopathic calming remedy. You can add it to Kitty’s water, food, treats or dose directly. It won’t sedate Kitty excessively but it can take the edge off his stress if it works for him.
When using any calming product, it’s important to follow the instructions carefully and monitor your cat’s behavior.
Ask your vet about medications if your cat is exceptionally stressed by staying in a hotel. A mild dose of something like Gabapentin can help a severely anxious cat. Be sure you test this at home before you hit the road for that hotel stay.
Summary
By following these tips and techniques, cat guardians can enjoy a peaceful, stress-free hotel stay with their furry friends, without disturbing others or risking any penalties. With some patience, understanding, and creativity, a stay in a pet-friendly hotel room can become a manageable and enjoyable experience for everyone, even Kitty.
Overall, keeping your cat from meowing in a hotel room can be a challenging task, but it is possible with some effort and preparation. By understanding the reasons behind the meowing, such as boredom, anxiety, or hunger, and taking the necessary steps to address them, such as providing familiar items and consistent feeding schedules, you can help keep your cat from meowing in hotel rooms.
And then there are Treeno’s playing rampages at 2 am! Does he do that every trip or just some of them?
Usually it’s ride night because he’s been sleeping all day in the car. But to him a new space isn’t scary or stressful, it’s fun. So he makes the most of it. And loves jumping back and forth between the two beds.