"Justsomebody"

Maybe a male cat is spraying the corner of your house several nights a week,
and Boz smells it, so, try a little nuetralizer at door bottoms and possibly
windows, (if yours are older and drafty)...then I would experiment and find
out which closed door helps the best, I don't think confinement in itself is
deterring Boz, I'm thinking it's something he hears or smells.

I record a lot of music, and it is very common to add a constant noise to a
track in order to mask an inconsistent noise. I say that to suggest one of
them lulling machines, you know, they sound like the ocean, or birds, rain,
things like that...
You can also download these kinds of sounds if you just want to experiment
with the white noise idea.

Has he climbed up any curtains yet?...lol

I have a very vocal cat, too, and it's a very *loud* vocalization.  It
can drive one to distraction.  Mine isn't howling to get out, though,
he just likes to jabber incessantly.  It's always a relief when he's
sleeping (like now, yay!).

Anyway, for your kitty, have you tried Feliway diffusers and spray to
calm him dow?  Maybe Rescue Remedy in his water?  I haven't found RR to
be helpful, personally, but others have.  Was he a chatty cat prior to
your keeping him inside all the time?  If so, that may just be him.
Some cats are just chatty, like mine.

I take my chatty cat outside with a walking jacket.  In his case, I
think it makes him howl to go outside sometimes when, before, he was
used to being inside all the time.  Still howling, just not howling to
go out.  Now he howls to go out or howls in general about whatever.
But maybe your cat would like to go outside in this manner also.  You
just don't really know if that will either satisfy his desire to go out
or make him want to go out even more.  With Marbles, I only take him
out on weekends usually and then on Mon. and Tues. he will go to the
door and howl to go out but by Wed., he is over it.  However, it
doesn't matter, because he will be howling for something else anyway.
It's just the location that is different.

A loud, vocal cat is annoying, I'll agree, but I don't think a vet will
prescribe downers for that.  Actually, my cat, Marbles, is also on
elavil for aggression and that doesn't stop him from excessive
vocalizing.  It's just his personality.

Candace

That's good. What I was thinking of, is do you have enough room
to put him far, far away from your bedroom at night, so you don't
hear him. You could shut him in a room at the other side of the house
with his food, box, toys and some catnip, and at least get your
sleep at night. Another thing that might help you wait him out
is a large HEPA filter or fan by your bed. It helps drown out
sound and the "white noise" really helps you sleep.

We have two

It's great that they like him!

Oh, I see. So he has experienced the "call of the wild!" I'm really glad
you got him back unhurt.

I think this is a good idea. Everything you're doing  sounds great. One
neat thing you might try to entertain him while he is confined or just
distract him so he won't howl is a turbo scratcher, have you seen these?
They are a round scratch pad with a groove all around and a ball that
goes round and round but the cat cannot get it out. Some cats get
addicted to the things!

Because I have a hyperthyroid cat and she used to howl like this,
I have to suggest that you have his thyroid levels checked. This
disease is easy to treat, if he has it. Usually older cats get it, but
not always. Also, some cats that are getting hard of hearing
howl. I'm not sure the water is a good idea, but I do
understand that it gets on your nerves.

Ok, I'm convinced, Felway is worth a try. Thanks everyone for
suggestions.  Yes, Boz is neutered, although, I hear he may not realize
that.

A cattery may be in store down the road, but right now, we want to get
him focused on home and us!  Again, thanks for the help.  I guess we
won't drug the little guy..lol.

Phillip sexual congress  is not the answer for most things, lol

--
Barry

... Women and cats are both black at night. - Bosnia ...