Catty Behavior No. 5: Constant Meowing
Your cat might be a born talker or be trying to tell you it doesn't feel well.

Have your cat examined by your veterinarian to see if the cause is medical. If not, pay closer attention to the times when your cat turns up the meow volume. It may be telling you its litter box is disgusting, or it hears or smells a cat outside, or its food bowl is empty, Dr. Wright says.

For cats talking out of loneliness, leave the radio or television on while you're gone to keep them company. You can also set the radio or television on timers to go off in the late morning, Dr. Valentine says.

Catty Behavior No. 6: Morning Wake-Up Calls
It's difficult to be alert and clear-headed during the pre-dawn hours. Unfortunately, your cat may be clever enough to take advantage of your sleepiness by jumping on you, pushing up your pillow, pawing the window blinds or systematically knocking books off your shelf to wake you.

Before you get angry at the cat, blame yourself. Most owners trigger these early morning wakeups by feeding their cats first thing in the morning. It only takes a few times for this to become a habit for the cats.

"Your cat is looking for any signs of you reacting. By getting up and feeding the cat, even simply sitting up in bed and yelling at it, you are reinforcing the behavior," Dr. Wright says.

So, if you want a good night's sleep, change the habit. Give your cat its favorite food before heading to bed so it will sleep. Ban the cat from the bedroom by shutting your door. Distract the nocturnal feline by placing timer devices that shoot out cat treats or toys in the opposite end of the house, where your cat can play while you snooze.

Catty Behavior No. 7: Begging for Table Scraps
How can you say no to a pair of emerald eyes and a soft tapping of a friendly paw on your knee as you prepare to take your first bite of food at dinner time? Try feeding your cat its favorite treat in a different room at the same time. Or, confine your begging cat to an enclosed room far from the dining room until the dishes are cleared from the table, Dr. Milani says.

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