My Persian cat is about 4 years old and for the past few months he's been meowing really loudly, especially between 2 and 4 at night. He's not in heat (he's neutered), eats well and seems to be in good health. I've tried ignoring him but it doesn't work, and my neighbors are complaining. What can I do to get him to sleep peacefully like he used to?
The most important thing is to take him to the vet to rule out health issues - sometimes cats yowl at night because of pain, hyperthyroidism, or other problems you might not notice during the day. I know you say he seems fine, but certain issues aren't that easy to spot. Once you've ruled everything out, the behavior could be stress, boredom, or simply that your Persian has decided nighttime is the right moment to socialize (cats are funny that way).
In the meantime, try to tire him out more during the day - active play sessions before evening, especially around 7-8 PM, so maybe he sleeps when night comes. Persians are lazy by nature, but they still need stimulation. Then check if he has access to windows where he can hear other animals or nighttime noises - he might be excited by that. Some cats also yowl to seek attention, so if you ignore him but your neighbors complain and you're stressed anyway, he picks up on it and keeps going.
One last thing: if the vet rules out medical issues and play isn't enough, try giving him a more structured routine with food and play at the same times, maybe an evening snack that calms him down. There's also people who use pheromone diffusers (like Feliway), which sometimes helps. But really, the vet is the first step - don't risk spending months trying solutions when it could be something that's easily fixed.
Don't assume it's just a behavioral thing: a cat that suddenly changes habits at 4 years old could have physical discomfort, maybe a urinary tract infection or dental problems that show up more when he's calm (and at night he notices it). The vet needs to rule out these scenarios first.
If the medical check comes back okay, try to figure out if there's a trigger: maybe he's hearing noises you don't notice, or his evening routine has changed (you turn the light on differently, moved his bowls, something?). Often older cats become more vocal if they're bored or if their night has become less predictable.
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