If you can sense any desperation in this post, it’s because I’m quite desperate. My cat Toby (16, male, ginger) has lately been DEMANDING water from my sink between 2-5am every single morning and will scream nonstop until I turn the sink on for him. I have tried to ignore him as to not reward the behavior but it drives me so insane that last night I just ended up crying out of frustration. I also can’t do earbuds as a simple solution because my girlfriend is often awoken by Toby’s yowling even through two closed doors and she can’t wear earbuds to sleep.

Toby has two water fountains, wide enough where his whiskers don’t touch, that he uses regularly. In the middle of the night, it’s almost as though they don’t exist; he will scream his heart out in the bathroom until I get up.

Important context: he has hyperthyroidism and we manage it with medication and diet. He drinks a lot of water because of this. But like I said, he has TWO water fountains he uses regularly and for some reason refuses them in the middle of the night. Is it age-related? Otherwise he is a very playful, active, and mentally sharp cat.

I love Toby more than life itself and my lack of sleep has made me angry with him in a way that I detest. He doesn’t deserve it and I am desperate to find whatever it is that he needs. Please, please help with any advice or questions you have and thank you so much in advance.