Have you ever wondered why your cat meows?
The reasons for this behavior are actually many and vary as cats grow. For example, kittens meow to their mother when they are hungry, cold or afraid.
Older cats use other vocalizations like hissing to communicate with each other.
The classic mewing as we hear it is, meanwhile, exclusively reserved for their communications with humans.
Of course, the amount of meowing varies between breeds and individuals. Oriental breeds, especially Siamese cats, are known for example to be “talkative”.
What are the different types of meows? What are the causes of excessive meowing? What are the good gestures and the bad gestures in the face of meowing? Does your meowing pet need treatment? We tell you everything!
Meowing: a mode of communication used by humans
Adult cats have very clear communication with each other. The language of the cat is expressed, in fact, mainly by smells, then by facial expression, body language and touch.
The sounds made by cats, reserved for vocal communication, involve howling, squealing and hissing for mating, to ward off an intruder, or when injured or terrified.
Meowing is therefore not part of a cat’s natural language – these sounds were developed almost exclusively for humans. The only meow between cats is between a mother and her kittens.
The tiny “meow” of a kitten is indeed a sound used to solicit the attention and care of its mother.
Once the kitten has grown, the meowing stops except to communicate with humans. Animals do not have language. They have therefore learned to adapt in order to make themselves understood by humans.
Meowing actually allows you to get a response to a request. Your cat is dependent on you and quickly learns that you don’t understand the messages he’s trying to get across to you, or the body language he’s trying to use.
He finds, however, that his meows make you react, which is why he uses them. Thus, the meow develops as a second language to communicate with you .
Some scientists even go so far as to say that cats have tweaked their meows to manipulate people.
And we have to admit that it works!
Meowing Cat: The Dictionary
Cats can use dozens of meows: their pitch, length and volume vary depending on their meaning. Here are some common types of meows:
- A small, high-pitched meow is, for example, a standard “ hello ”. It is also called the communication meow . Several high-pitched meows show excitement as if to say “So cool you’re back! »
- A meow accompanied by a purr conveys satisfaction and well-being .
- The soft, long and insistent meow is also used to ask you to eat, to change the litter box, to go out or simply to attract attention.
- Finally, cats use low, jerky, and louder meows for requests, reprimands , or to express annoyance . These meows have a lower pitch.
Even though there is a specific meow for each request, your cat may show variations depending on their level of craving…or impatience.
You should also know that over time, your cat learns which “meow” will get the desired results!
Why does my cat meow a lot?
It happens that cats meow a little more often or intensely. They then try to send you a message .
Try to understand the meaning to reduce his meows and to know if he needs something in particular or if he has a health problem.
Different causes can explain the excessive meowing.
1. Your cat is sick
When a cat meows excessively, the first step is to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for a thorough examination.
Many illnesses can cause a cat to experience pain, which can lead to excessive meowing, day or night.
Cats of all ages can also develop an overactive thyroid or kidney damage , which can lead to excessive vocalizations. Dr. Jean-Philippe Corlouer , veterinarian, explains in pictures how to know if the cat is in pain.
2. Your cat is asking for attention
Despite their independent nature, cats do not like to be alone, especially when you leave for the day.
They often meow to play, to be petted, or for you to talk to them.
If you want to reduce the attention-grabbing meow, stop reacting when your cat uses it to ask you for something.
Only give him your attention when he is quiet. If your cat starts meowing again, don’t look at it or move away.
Still, don’t ignore your pet.
Spend time each day with your feline to occupy it. A tired animal is a calmer animal.
3. Your cat is asking for food
Some cats meow every time someone enters the kitchen, hoping to get a little snack.
And many cats get very vocal when mealtime approaches.
If this is your problem, don’t feed your cat when it cries.
Wait until he calms down to drop food and don’t give him treats when he meows.
If that doesn’t work, get a vending machine that opens at set times to appease him.
4. Your cat wants to say “hello” to you.
Many cats meow when their owner comes home, or even when they meet.
It’s a hard habit to break. Simply consider this behavior as an expression of the joy of reuniting.
5. Your cat feels lonely
A cat that meows often can be a sign of feeling lonely. If your pet spends too many hours a day alone, consider bringing in a pet sitter or someone else to enrich your feline’s life.
Try to occupy it during your absences.
For example, put a bird feeder in front of a window so he can watch or leave toys with food lying around.
6. Your cat is stressed
Cats that are under stress often become more vocal. A new pet or baby, a move or home modifications, illness or the loss of a loved one can upset your cat.
Try to find out what’s stressing your pet and help it adapt to the change. If this is not possible, give your cat special attention and rest time to calm him down.
7. Your cat is getting old
Cats, just like people, can suffer from some form of mental confusion or cognitive dysfunction as they age.
They can be disoriented and often cry plaintively for no apparent reason, especially at night. They can, indeed, suffer from an inversion of the day/night rhythm and present nocturnal agitations.
A nightlight can sometimes help if your cat is disoriented at night, and vets can often prescribe medications that accompany these symptoms.
8. Your cat wants to breed
A cat that meows loudly can finally be a cat in heat.
If your cat is not neutered, you will hear a lot more noise. Females howl when in heat and males howl when they smell a female in heat. It’s nature !
Cat that meows all the time: What to do?
Sandrine Arcizet , host of the show “Les Animaux de la 8”, talks to us about the characteristics of meows in cats, and what to do if your cat meows all the time .
My cat meows a lot: Not to do!
1. Ignore your chat
Before ignoring your cat, you must first check that he is well and that he does not need anything.
While you don’t want to reward meows, cats sometimes meow for a good reason – they can’t reach their litter box, they’re stuck in a room, the water bowl is empty.
Check all of this when they meow to determine if it’s a problem you can safely ignore or one that needs to be fixed right away.
2. Punish a meowing cat
Hitting, yelling and spraying cats with water is rarely effective in calming an animal! All of these actions will make your cat distrust you or even dislike you.
3. Give in
If your cat is used to getting what it wants by meowing, it will meow louder and louder when it realizes you are ignoring it.
In other words, the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. Just keep rewarding quiet behavior and ignoring meowing and he’ll get the hang of it. Ignoring these tips risks making you a slave to your feline king!
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