Cats meow as a means of interacting with us, telling us they want something or getting our attention. In this article, we will be taking a more in-depth look at some of the reasons your cat meows frequently and aid you in pinpointing the actual cause.
In many situations, paying attention to our pets and making an effort to understand them may be crucial to point out illnesses. It may also be useful in pointing out inappropriate care on your end or pathology.
Continue reading and find out why your cat meows so much, so you can begin executing a solution for a healthy and happy pet.
The reason a Kitten may be meowing
The following are some of the most common reasons your furry feline may be meowing continuously. Take a look at them below and narrow down just why your cat may be meowing.
Separation
When you separate a kitten from his/her siblings and mother, he is probably going to meow during the initial few days in your home. They do not do this because of inadequate care. There is no complicated reason for this behavior.
Right from when they are born, a Kitten gets used to meowing when they leave their mother’s side. It helps her to locate them quickly and easily. When you bring a new kitten into your home, it deals with the same feeling of separation and meows to call out to his mother.
For the separation to be as seamless as it can and for the kitten to properly develop, it’s best to let them remain with their mother till they are around two months of age.
It is normal for a kitten to meow during the first few days it stays in your home. In this situation, all you can do is make efforts to help the new kitten adjust to his new home as fast as possible.
Offer them the core care they require alongside loads of love. It is not advisable to spoil or pamper them excessively. It is not appropriate to give in to all the requests of your cat if you want them to be healthy and happy. You need to teach them acceptable behavior from bad.
Your Cat may be in Pain
If your kitten meows during various periods of the day after adoption, this is normal. But, if you have an adult cat doing the same, you must take time to listen, observe and figure out the reason.
If you observe that your cat began meowing very suddenly, the first thing you should do is see if he is feeling some form of pain. To do this, you will need to gently palpate all parts of their body and watch how they react. If your cat moans when you touch a specific area, you will have found the solution, and you should instantly head to the Vet.
But in some other aspects, whenever we witness a fall or blow, even if we don’t see physical damage at first glance, there may be internal consequences. They can be very serious or mild. Therefore, it is crucial that you get your pet to the vet immediately after the fall or blow happens.
Internal damage usually manifests days after the incident in most cases. If you have examined your pet gently and they show no reaction but keep meowing, you must begin watching all their movements and behaviors.
You will probably observe other symptoms like:
- Diarrhea
- Lack of appetite
- Loss of hair
- Vomiting
If they show any other symptoms, there is a possibility that your furry one is battling a disease that only a professional can diagnose and treat him.
Your cat could be Meowing in Stress
Similar to how dogs have various forms of barking depending on what they tell you, cats also have different meows. Have you made efforts to get your cat to the vet and it begins to create a powerful, long, and stern meow?
This is a typical reaction of a cat dealing with stress. Whenever you notice this sort of meow, it means that your feline is coping with stress for some reason and you must immediately treat them. To do this, you need to first point out what is making your cat stressed. Once you have pointed it out, you may then proceed to provide a solution.
You need to note that cats are animals that need their personal space to feel safe and protected when they feel afraid or threatened. It is also the case when they want to relax and disconnect.
If your cat does not have this, it will be essential that you begin to search for one. Also, observe if it has a location it loves to stay in as this would be a better option.
You Cat is Anxious
One of the significant symptoms of a cat suffering from anxiety is meowing. If your cat stays alone at home for long hours, loneliness, boredom, and a feeling of anxiety can crop up, and you must treat it instantly.
Meowing excessively also comes alongside other behavioral issues. These could include hyperactivity or scratching furniture. Most people believe that because cats are more independent than most animals, they do not need as much care and attention.
Asides from food, water, and a clean litterbox, they also require exercise and fun. Cats battle with anxiety when they stay alone for long periods because they are bored and need entertainment. That is why some cats may portray lousy behavior and start biting.
What to do if your cat is Meowing from Anxiety
If your cat is meowing from anxiety, you must make sure that you have adequate space in your home. It will give them the opportunity to move freely when they are alone.
You can also purchase toys and scratchers so they can enjoy themselves even when you are not there. Offer them access to windows so they will be able to stay outside and minimize their feelings of being locked inside.
Also, ensure you dedicate some time to play with them too. It’s best to head to a specialist so they can check out your cat extensively and determine the best route.
Your Cat is Hungry
There is a possibility that your cat will be suffering from hunger with the doses of food you offer them. This, in turn, results in them meowing more.
Depending on their size and weight, you must offer them a precise amount of feed. If you are uncertain of the amount, you can reach out to your vet. If you already provide the amount of feed they require and they are still upset, then you should check the kind of food you are offering them.
You should utilize a combination of wet and dry feed when feeding a cat. When possible, you should also use homemade meals. If your cat does not fancy the food you offer or is bored always getting the same, they will most likely stop eating and ask for other meals via meowing.
In these situations, cats may meow close to the refrigerator, bowl, or location you keep their goodies and treats.
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.
What can you do?
In this situation, return your cat’s greeting with a sign of affection. It could be by caressing it slightly or touching him affectionately. It’s best you do not let them believe it’s okay to meow, and they can do it when they want.
You need to let them know that you are equally happy to see them. Therefore, it is not necessary to offer an exaggerated greeting.
They Desire Your Attention
If you are confident your cat is not suffering and is getting an appropriate diet and is not anxious, they may merely desire your attention. This is probably because you are not spending adequate time with them.
Cats also require that we pay attention to them. They also need some playtime to burn off the energy that they have gathered during the day. Asides from minimizing meows, you will have a healthy, happy, and balanced cat. It will also help you strengthen their bond.
Your cat may be in heat
When your cat is in heat, it let our very high, long, and loud meows. This helps them call on male cats to come to help them reproduce. Basically, during this period, they tend to show more affection than usual, rubbing themselves on the floor and sometimes crying.
To keep her calm during this period, it is essential you pay extra attention to her, play more with her and show her more love than usual. If you do not want her to litter, it is best you take measures and close all home exits. This will prevent stray cats from getting into your home to mate. It will also prevent her from exiting the house.
Your cat is getting older
When cats get to a specific age, they are likely to meow for no cause, making severe and long noises. They can do it at any time and anywhere without warning. But to make sure your cat is in excellent condition, you can head to an expert.
Also, note that older cats don’t require similar care as younger cats. But if you are not giving them adequate care, they will likely increase their meows which will, in turn, impede their health.
Have you adopted a stray cat?
If you adopted a stray cat recently, and you observe that they get upset any time you head in, or visitors do, they may be feeling threatened.
It’s ideal to understand that for an extended period, they have been dealing with all forms of hazards. They may have been hurt by people or battled other cats. In cases like these, meows that cats let out when they think they are not safe tend to be similar to a sharp, long, and loud cry.
What not to do
As you must have seen, there are a lot of reasons your cat may be meowing a lot. Some of them have to do with critical health issues that may need the assistance of a vet. He will aid you in diagnosing the problem and beginning the best treatment.
- Irrespective of the reason, ignorance should never be the best answer. Paying attention to what your cat is trying to tell you can be crucial to pointing out the disease quickly or dealing with a mental disorder that can only worsen. Also, observing the way your cat behaves will let you know if you are offering them the diet and care they need.
- Additionally, resorting to violence when trying to deal with this behavior should never be an option. If you do this, you will only have a cat that fears you and will enhance their meowing intensity.
- Don’t Give in. If your cat always gets what he wants when he meows, he is only going to keep meowing more and more loudly when it stops working. In essence, it is just going to worsen before getting better.
Just continue to reward great behavior and ignore meowing, and with time, he will understand what you want.
Conclusion
Your cat may meow for lots of reasons. These points above will be able to help you narrow down the possible reasons to help you with the next step. However, irrespective of the reason, the best course of action is to locate the cause and carry out treatment accordingly.