If your cat is meowing, he or she is speaking to you. When cats communicate with each other they will usually hiss, growl, or perhaps yowl, so the meowing is aimed at you.
Why Does My Cat Meow Excessively?
Meowing, like any other acoustic expression, is a means of communication. Felines meow to express something. The question will be why your favorite feline is so loquacious all of a sudden, and what is he or she trying to tell you. Is it serious? Should you be worried? And most importantly, will it stop?
Possible Causes of Excessive Meowing
The main reasons cats meow a lot are because of aging, hunger, thirst, illness, mating, pain, attention seeking, and stress.
Aging
Just like us, your beloved cat isn’t getting any younger. Elderly cats can suffer from motor problems and dysfunction as well as mental confusion. In a case of mental confusion, your cat may actually be crying or meowing without a specific reason.
Excessive meowing in senior cats is uncommon due to a predilection for inactivity and rest, nonetheless, a visit to your vet won’t hurt.
Hunger and Thirst
A hungry feline may talk or even yell when they want food or water. This kind of meowing will be accompanied by the cat remaining near you, rubbing up against you, and meowing continuously. This behavior may be more evident if you are in your kitchen preparing food or perhaps eating.
If you think your cat has already eaten, then he or she might be thirsty. If, on the other hand, you have a feeding schedule for your cat and that time is nearing, meowing may simply be a reminder.
Illness
If the way your cat meows has changed significantly, consider that your kitty may not be well. In this case, the best thing you can do is schedule a visit to your veterinarian.
There are feline health conditions that are associated with excessive vocalization, and these include hyperthyroidism, hypertension, and even a disease of the larynx or vocal cords. If the source of the problem is health, it’s better not to lose time as some can be serious and even irreversible.
Mating
If your cat has not been neutered and it’s mating season, you’re out of luck. Female cats will call for a mate, male cats will call if they pick up a scent. If you have both male and female, expect days and nights to be filled with boisterous vocalization from both.
The situation can become noisier if neighborhood cats heed the call. You might very well find yourself with daily catfights or an entire chorus on your doorstep or in your backyard.
Pain
If your cat is in pain, he or she may meow excessively to externalize. If your cat has been injured or has a pre-existing health condition, this may increase meowing. Your kitty may have pain that you are unaware of like urinary obstructions or stones and may meow during urination.
Feline cystitis may be another reason. By observing your cat closely, you may be able to identify the source of the pain and contact your veterinarian.
Seeking Attention
Let’s face it, no one likes being lonely and your cat is no exception. A cat may meow excessively because you’ve been gone and he or she wants attention, or simply because your cat is bored. This can also lead to unwanted behavior like spraying.
Kittens and younger felines may use meowing as an invitation to play or because they want to be held and petted. New arrivals, especially very young kittens may be meowing for their missing mom. Mother cats may meow in search of their kittens if they have been removed for adoption too early.
The best means for calling for attention is by meowing excessively. Responsible cat breeders should wean kittens off their mothers starting from 8 to 12 weeks of age, when they are ready to be away from their mother.
Stress
If your cat is stressed for whatever reason, this can result in a behavior change. Cats become stressed when necessary resources like food, water, environmental temperature, and even affection are lacking.
They also stress when there is a major change to their home environment. This can include moving to a new home, the adoption of a new dog or cat, the arrival of a new baby or person within the home, or anything that constitutes an interruption of the status quo.
If your cat has a yard to roam in, he or she may be stressed by the arrival of neighborhood cats that invade his or her territory. While each cat breed is a story unto itself with differing reactions, most cats will meow excessively.
What Can I Do About Excessive Meowing?
In the event of an aging cat or an ill cat or a feline in pain, the best thing you can do is get to your veterinarian for help. Your vet will be able to prescribe medication to help and to schedule regular checkups.
For the attention-seeking feline, the best thing you can do is to make time for your cat, even scheduling playtime during your day. Avoid doing playtime every day at the same hour, because your vocal cat will begin reminding you.
Meowing for food or water is the easiest situation to resolve by making fresh water always available. Leaving kibble out can result in an obese feline, so check with your vet to place the kitty on a healthy eating schedule. Felines prefer a larger number of smaller meals throughout the day.
As to mating season meowing, the solution is to spay your female cat or castrate your male cat and leave the difficult process of mating cats to cat breeders. In this way, you will avoid breeding and having kittens to find homes for, as well as the noisy mating ritual.
Eliminating meowing due to stress may be challenging. Reserve times when you interact or play with your cat. Devise ways to gradually introduce new pets into the household although for the first days, expect complaints. Protect your cat from external stress such as neighborhood cats and dogs.
What to Avoid
Your cat is expressing something that he or she finds disturbing. Things that you should avoid doing so as not to increase discomfort include:
- Don’t ignore your cat. He or she may be meowing for a serious reason.
- Do not punish your cat. Yelling, hitting, spraying water, or locking it in a room will not silence a feline. Cats are not dogs and do not respond to negative reinforcement.
A Final Thought
There are lots of reasons for a vocal feline. Usually, your cat will have a good reason for meowing excessively, so it’s better to find out why. Once you’ve identified the cause you can work to resolve it. A call to your vet can help and by working for a solution, you can further solidify the bond between you and your favorite feline.
