“Meow” There are few among us that don’t know which animal makes that sound.
Of course, it’s a cat, but we don’t always know what he’s trying to say, especially
when he won’t stop.
Cats use other vocalizations -- such as yowling, hissing, and growling -- to communicate with
each other.
Meowing is reserved for their communications with people.
From “Hello!”
to hunger, here are some possible explanations for meowing.
Let’s get started.
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HI
Sometimes your cat just wants to say, “Hello”
[Hello, is it me your looking for?]
It’s just that simple.
He’s a companion and he likes to see you, so naturally, especially if you are just returning
home from work, he just wants to say “Hi”.
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ATTENTION
Secondly, it may just be because he wants attention.
Other than hunger, this is one of the most common “causes” of excessive meowing.
Cats are easily bored and they like to play.
This doesn’t mean you should drop everything you’re doing and pay him attention every
time.
If you’d like to change this behavior, wait until he quiets to give him the attention.
Rewarding your cat for his calmness can help reduce the meowing.
But, it can take some time.
Be sure to spend time with your kitty every day (he’s part of your family, after all).
Playing with your cat also provides a proper amount of exercise, essential for his well-being,
especially if he’s the only cat in the household.
“I’M HUNGRY!”
Our cat Rusty meows for two reasons: attention and FOOD.
If Rusty’s food bowl is empty, he becomes quite vocal.
And over time he’s become quite accustomed to a ritual of being fed at certain times.
He makes sure you’re aware of this schedule, especially for dinner when he gets canned
food.
ILLNESS
If your cat is constantly meowing, but showing no interest in food, medical attention may
be necessary.
Cats are good at hiding illnesses, but he may be trying to communicate that he doesn’t
feel well.
If this behavior is something new in your cat, it’s worth a trip to the veterinarian.
STRESS
Cats don’t respond particularly well to change and can cause them quite a bit of stress.
Changes in the home, new people, and new animals can be just a few of the stress causing changes
made in a cat’s life.
Obviously, he can’t tell you directly what’s stressing him out, so keep an eye on changes
to his behavior if you’ve made changes in his lifestyle.
Don’t over coddle him though.
Interact with him and give him space to get accustomed to the changes.
IN HEAT
If your cat is female and not spayed, well there is a high probability that she is in
heat.
Cats are "seasonally polyestrus", which means that they have multiple estrus cycles during
the breeding season.
Female cats in heat can become very vocal suddenly.
Most estrus cats become very affectionate, even demanding; they persistently rub against
people or objects such as furniture, rubbing against their owners and constantly demanding
attention.
They roll on the floor.
These behavior changes often become annoying to owners, and sometimes owners think their
cat has some unusual illness.
Do yourself and your kitty a favor, have her spayed for hers and your sanity.
Males are also noisy if they detect a cat in heat nearby.
OLD AGE
The last is old age and dementia.
Just like people, your cat can become forgetful or confused in old age.
Disorientation is not uncommon, and your cat may meow out of frustration or confusion.
If your cat is getting older and has become more vocal in his old age, consult your vet
to see what kind of help you can get.
Meowing is a way that your cat communicates.
Since his vocabulary is more limited than yours, it’s your job to determine what he’s
trying to tell you.
Interact with your cat and pay attention to him.
He is after all part of your family.
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And as always catch ya next time.