Is your cat fixed? Not only will getting your cat fixed (spayed or neutered) stop him/her from wailing in the middle of the night, you will also be doing your part as a responsible pet-owner to humanely control the world's stray cat population.

I shut my cat in the kitchen at night, which I think she sees as her bedroom. She sleeps on a chair under the table and doesn't make any noise until she hears me coming down the stairs. I think if there's a barrier between you and them (like a couple of doors!), they're less likely to be tormented by the fact that they can't get at you. Sitting outside your bedroom door must be torture for them - so near and yet so far!