Is Meowing So Much Good For My Cat
At the same time, excessive vocalization could indicate the presence of a medical or serious behavioral problem. In an article written by veterinarian Karen Sueda, she suggests that a cat might meow while its in pain, as a way of seeking comfort. They could also be experiencing neurological or sensory problems like hearing or vision loss. If the meowing is coupled with anxiety, frustration, aggression, or other strange behaviors, it might be time to see a vet.
Reasons Your Cat Wont Stop Meowing At You November 16 2020 17 Comments
Do you find yourself asking, Why does my cat meow so much? Does your cat carry on entire conversations with you? Cats communicate through a variety of sounds and vocalizations, from meows to growls to hisses. As kittens, theyll meow to their moms when theyre cold, hungry, or scared. But as they age, cats mostly rely on body language and other more subtle vocalizations. But did you know that adult cats reserve their meows for communicating with their humans?
Most cat owners can agree that after a while, deciphering our cats meows becomes almost second nature. Theres the ever infamous Im hungry meow and the Cmon, lets play! trills. But besides the obvious meows were able to easily recognize as cat parents, there are more than a few reasons your cat keeps meowing at you.
Learn How To Speak Their Language
Decoding your catâs nonstop meowing is no easy task â and clearly they canât understand you when you kindly ask them to stop. Veterinarian and pet health advocate Dr. Aliya McCullough breaks down different kinds of cat vocalizations to help you better understand what your cat is trying to say. â
Don’t Miss: What’s The Cat’s Name In Alice In Wonderland
What If Shes Meowing When Youre Training Sit
If your cat was meowing while your were working on sit, there are two options. You can wait until shes quiet to reward her for sit or you can just reward her while shes meowing now and then work in the rewarding quiet later. Generally its easiest to train one behavior at a time and shell learn to sit pretty quickly anywayusually in a couple of 5 minutes sessions if shes hungry, so if she doesnt get quiet pretty quickly on her own just wait for the next step.
Your Cat Is Happy To See You
When cats want to greet you, they do so by kneading, licking and in most situations meowing. Although it is difficult to believe, cats can become quite affectionate and show us they are happy to see us. For this reason, they may be pleased when you get home after being away for a while and start meowing excessively.
Also Check: Blue Wilderness Mature Cat Dry Food
What Is Excessive Vocalization
Excessive vocalization does not have a strict definition. What is considered excessive depends on the tolerance level of the individual listener, which may be influenced by many factors, including prior experience with cats, the type of vocalization, the time of day, and the perceived reason for the vocalization. For example, a cat meowing loudly for breakfast may be more tolerable than the same cat repeatedly meowing for no apparent reason in the middle of the night.
Cats Are Naturally More Active At Night
Your cats meowing at night may have much to do with the fact that they are naturally more active at certain hours of the night. Although its popularly thought that cats are nocturnal, this is not strictly true. However, they are crepuscular meaning that they are naturally most active at dusk and dawn. Although many cats do adapt to the routine of their owners, this crepuscular tendency means that your cat may be especially active in the early hours of the morning, when the rest of the house is asleep.
Younger cats have an increased tendency to be active at night, as their instincts tell them that this is a great time to hunt. As they mature, though, it is likely that their rhythm will adapt to that of the rest of the household, which may hopefully mean less cat meowing at night.
Don’t Miss: Is Blue Buffalo Good Cat Food
Recovery Of Excessive Vocalization In Cats
No matter the cause of your cat’s excessive vocalization, follow-up appointments with your veterinary care provider will be required. If the cause is physical, follow-up appointments ensure your cat is fully recovered. If the cause was determined to be behavioral or environmental, helpful information may surface at a follow-up appointment.
The prognosis of a cat who is exhibiting excessive vocalization will depend on the cause. Often, lifestyle and behavioral interventions will resolve excessive vocalization of environmental origin. Excess vocalization as an expression of pain or discomfort, on the other hand, might not be resolved until the underlying cause is adequately addressed. Stay in regular contact with your veterinarian to receive updates on your cat’s prognosis and recovery timeline.
*Wag! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Items are sold by the retailer, not Wag!.
Excessive Vocalization Average Cost
Top 6 Reasons An Old Cat Meows All The Time
Below are the top reasons we think cats vocalize for no obvious reason. Usually there is a reason, though finding it may not be easy.
Also Check: How Old Is My 16 Year Old Cat In Human Years
Common Causes Of Excessive Non
This excessive or increasing yowling or meowing could also come from psychological stress. If you have ever become more talkative in a stressful situation through nerves, or tried to get others to help you out of it, you can empathise.
Cats dont like change or new experiences. They can become stressed by trips away from home and car rides. They dont like strange new things in their territory like new appliances, human toys, or new pets.
A common cause of stress and anxious meowing is a house move. It takes them a long time to settle and need reassurance that you are still with them.
There are also times when cats just dont seem to want to stop talking. If this is a recent behaviour change then there could be a medical issue. Unspayed cats in heat will meow incessantly and loudly. It can also be a sign of hyperthyroidism, problems with their senses, or senility.
Feline Cognitive dysfunction can make cats confused and concerned, causing them to call out more often. Add in any sight or hearing loss and they are more reliant on you to know where they are and to come to help them.
Vocal Cat Or Quiet Cat
This article is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
You May Like: How To Train A Kitten Not To Bite
How Can I Make Caterwauling Stop
Since the reasons for caterwauling vary, you may have to try different tactics to alleviate the behavior. Here are a few suggestions:
- Visit your veterinarian to rule out medical problems. Even if your cat sees her veterinarian regularly, take her in as soon as you note behavior changes. She may have developed a new medical problem. Early diagnosis of thyroid disease, kidney malfunction, arthritis, or other ailments may mean more effective treatment. The right medical remedy may also remedy the caterwauling.
- If your cats caterwauling is hormonal in nature, fix the problem. Get him or her fixed. Female cats should be spayed before their first heat cycle. Male cats should be neutered at an early age, too. Talk to your veterinarian about the optimum time for the procedure that will benefit both your cat and you. In addition to the elimination of hormonal caterwauling, you will help the cat overpopulation dilemma.
- Reassure territorial cats. Cats that resist having anyone enter their domain may need reassurance. Comfort your cat with physical attention while gradually introducing the newcomer. If your cat howls at people or animals or birds that are outside, restrict his view temporarily by closing the shades or drapes. Of course, if your cat likes to look outdoors for entertainment, he may become bored and howl for another reason! Moderation here is key!
Quieting Your Vocal Cat
When your cat may be meowing too much, it is important to find the cause of the meowing in order to encourage quiet. This is especially critical if the cat could be sick, injured, or in distress. Correcting other issues, such as hunger, can also help quiet your cat. When you are trying to keep your cat from excessive meowing and yowling, considerâ¦
- Spaying or neutering an intact cat to minimize the hormone fluctuations from heat cycles and mating urges that can cause more meowing.
- Installing a cat door or providing more litter boxes if the cat is meowing to go outside for potty business, so the cat can meet its own needs without your assistance.
- Avoiding rewarding excessive meows with treats or more food, and instead stick to mealtimes so the cat will learn that begging behavior is not successful.
- Hiring a pet sitter or using entertainment such as a bird feeder or cat-friendly videos to calm an anxious cat when you may be away and the cat needs companionship.
- Reducing the catâs anxiety by returning to a familiar routine, regular food options, litter box placement, and other daily features that can calm a cat that doesnât like change.
If you canât find the cause of your catâs excessive meowing, consult your veterinarian in case health conditions or other factors may be the problem. It is important never to ignore your catâs communication, but also do not resort to negative punishments that will only instill fear in your pet and increase the catâs anxiety.
Read Also: Blue Wilderness Indoor Cat Food
Your Cat Is Depressed
Is your cat always hungry? As in humans, overeating can be a self-soothing behavior for cats who are depressed or grieving. Ive seen this happen: I once met a couple who had a cat theyd exiled to the basement after their baby was born. In response, the cat started eating to self-soothe, and the result was incredibly sad.
If your cat is depressed, try drawing him out of his shell with gentle interactive play. Give him love blinks close your eyes slowly, leave them closed for a second, and then open them slowly, while thinking I love you.
Was Your Pet Food Recalled
Disorientation is not uncommon, and your cat may meow out of frustration or confusion. Leave a light on at night if your cat vocalizes then or if they are bumping into things.
Especially if your older cat isnt just talking to you but is yowling very loudly, then please see the vet.
Finding and treating the underlying cause can do a lot more than give you back a good nights sleep it can add happy years to your cats life, as Dr. Debora Lichtenberg, VMD, explains in her article Why Does My Older Cat Yowl All the Time?
Why does my cat meow so much? Check out the range of noises this little meow-machine makes:
6. Your cat is in heat.
Female cats in heat can become very vocal suddenly. They do this to attract males. Males are also noisy if they detect a cat in heat nearby.
Do yourself and the feline overpopulation problem a favor have your girl spayed.
7. Your cat just wants to tell you hello.
Sometimes your cat may be meowing to say hi. Its as simple as that.
Recommended Reading: Is Dried Lavender Safe For Cats
Learn To Listen To Your Cat
Whatever your cat is trying to say, the important thing is for you to listen. If you have questions about your kittys chatter or if you have any health concerns, a visit to All About Cats Veterinary Hospital in Kirkland, WA, will help put your worries to rest. We are here to offer your furry friend purr-fectly compassionate care!
How Much Meowing Is Too Much
All cats meow to some extent, though the amount of meowing will depend on the catâs overall personality and if their vocalizing accomplishes what they want . Some cat breeds are especially known for louder, more insistent, more frequent meowing, includingâ¦
- American bobtail
- Sphynx
- Turkish van
Younger cats will often meow more than adults, though senior cats may also start to vocalize more, especially if they have more physical complaints or feel confused more often.
If the meowing gets to be too loud or too insistent for you, your family, or your neighbors, it is time to take steps to curb your catâs communication. Furthermore, if your catâs meowing suddenly changes or you notice any other signs of distress associated with different meows, it is important to consult a veterinarian right away in case more serious issues may be causing your catâs meowing.
You May Like: Can Cats Have Baking Soda
What Causes Cats To Meow A Lot
A house cat might meow more if there are changes to their environment, like a move, or if a new arrival is present. This could be another cat, another pet, or a new baby. In most cases, the cats increased meowing may indicate that they want attention. They want you to feed them, let them out, or pet them. They might just need comfort. Unfortunately, the more you enable them by giving in to the behavior, the more theyll probably meow.
Ways To Reduce Meowing
A Bengal cats meow can mean a lot of different things, but there are ways to reduce the chance that the cat continues to meow too often. Below are a few things you can do to try to stop, or at least minimize, the meow of a Bengal cat.
Also Check: How Old Is A 12 Year Old Cat
Should Constant Cat Meowing Be Discouraged
Probably not. Check with your vet to identify if itâs because of an underlying health condition and to ensure theyâre not in pain. If the meowing still bothers you, work with a behavioral therapist to help your cat better express themselves, especially if the meowing seems to be caused by attention-seeking or only happens around mealtimes or while playing.
Your cat is just trying to communicate with you. As their best friend, use these tips to decode their language â itâll bring you so much closer.
Why Does My Cat Have No Voice
When vets explain laryngitis to cat owners, they tell them that the cats larynx or voice box has become inflamed as the result of illness, irritation, a blockage in the throat, or a sudden paralysis of the nerve controlling the laryngeal folds. When a cat develops laryngitis, it loses its meow for a few days.
You May Like: Why Do Male Cats Run Away
Also Check: How To Train A Kitten Not To Bite