Cat Meowing: What Does It Mean?

Every animal and person communicate in a certain way – dogs bark, cats meow, and humans talk. As pet owners, it’s not the most straightforward task to understand what your cat may be saying when they meow. As time goes on, if you listen closely, you will surely get the hang of it.

Understanding why cats meow, is a great way to develop a personal relationship with them and understand their needs. Read on to learn more. 

What is a Cat Meow?

Whether you are a cat owner or not, almost everyone has heard a cat meow once or twice. It’s perhaps the most commonly heard sound a cat makes. A meow is a cat vocalization that comes out in different pitches, indicating what they want. It could be screamed, murmured, and whispered, depending on the needs to be satisfied.

Kittens often meow so they can communicate with their mother, while adult cats meow to communicate with human beings. In all of this, it would help if you paid a lot of attention to the difference in pitch of every meow sound your cat makes. The frequency of every meow is enough to tell your cat’s mood.

What is the Meaning of my Cat’s Excessive Meows?

There are many different reasons why cats meow, but it’s important to go through all the different factors when the meowing becomes extreme. 

Listed below are the main reasons why your cat is meowing excessively:

Your Cat is Hungry

The first reason your cat is meowing excessively is that they want food. When a cat is hungry, they have a high-pitch meow that they do in a demanding tone, leading to crying. They will meet you wherever you are to lead you to their food bowl. The best thing to do in a situation like this is to wait for your cat to stop crying before giving it food. It’s advisable to get an automatic feeder which will open up when it is mealtime. The constant high-pitched meows will reduce as the food bowl will automatically open at the right time.

Your Cat May be Sick

Another reason your cat is meowing is that they feel sick or have an injury. As written above, high-pitched meows could indicate that your cat is ill. In cases like this, you should consider a trip to the veterinarian near Ruston, LA to have them checked out.

Cats meow as a way to communicate with their owner. Your cat could be trying to tell you that they are sick, especially when the meows are consistent, and they are showing zero interest in food. Cats can also develop kidney disease, and this leads to excessive vocalizations. The first thing a cat requires in situations like this is immediate medical attention.

Cats usually vocalize loudly when the condition they find themselves in is too painful to bear. You can relate a cat’s meow to different medical conditions such as urinary tract blockage, laryngeal, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, etc. If an older cat is meowing too much, it is probably a sign of distress related to neurologic function such as brain disorders.

Your Cat is Seeking Attention

Most cats enjoy social contact with people. They do not like to be alone as much as you think. When cats want attention or want to be in close contact with their owners, they will become excessively vocal to get what they want. This meow is not the usual one when your cat is greeting you or welcoming you home; it is more excessive.

Greetings 

A dog barks at its owner when they come back home after a long day is comparable to how a cat will meow at its owner to greet them. They usually let out a short high-pitch meow which serves as an “oh, you are back, welcome home.” The meow is an excellent way of showing how happy they are to see you.

Stress

Excessive meowing is a general sign that your cat is stressed. In most cases, cats meow to communicate with their owner, but they do this because they are stressed in other cases. There are different reasons why your cat could be stressed, but a significant reason is that they are going through a substantial change in their lives.

In cases like this, you need to figure out what is causing your cat’s stress and help it to adjust. This change could be a baby, or maybe you got a new pet. It would be best to give them extra care and attention to relieve their stress. It would be best to give them extra care and attention to achieve this.

Your Cat is Aging

Old cats tend to meow a lot, especially all through the night, because they may be suffering from something serious. Cats tend to suffer from cognitive dysfunction as they age. Hence, their meows could be a result of disorientation.

There are many reasons why your aging cat is meowing, but most of them relate to pain, grief, distress, and health conditions such as sensory decline, hypertension, etc. Due to this, they become excessively vocal, especially at night. The best thing to do is schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to get a checkup on your cat.

Contact Lagniappe Animal Health if You Have Questions About Cat Meowing 

Now you are aware of the different reasons why your cat is meowing; it is always important to pay close attention to your cat’s needs to figure out what they want. Remember, your cat’s meows are a way of communicating with you and other cats.

If you have any additional questions or if you would like to schedule an appointment, contact Lagniappe Animal Health in Ruston, LA by calling (318) 255-3303 or schedule an appointment online. Our team will treat your pet like family and always give them the highest level of care.