Why does my cat cry at night, and how do I fix nighttime yowling?

Quick answer

Nighttime vocalizing can come from boredom (not enough hunting-style play), hunger, litter box dissatisfaction, or heat cycles in unneutered/unspayed cats. Play vigorously with a hunting-style toy for 20–30 minutes right before bed until your cat works up a sweat to burn off energy, then offer a late-night snack — recreating the natural wild sleep pattern of 'hunt → eat → sleep' will help them sleep soundly through the night.