Are there times when it seems like your cat’s meowing all the time? There might be a reason for that! We’ll take a look at why some cats meow constantly and steps you can take to help curb meowing in your cat.
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Why are cats meowing?
Just what is a meow? If you have experience with kittens and cats, then you’re quite familiar with “kitty language,” which is meowing. Meowing is common in all cat breeds, though some breeds do like to “talk” more than others.
Cats and kittens use meows to communicate with their humans. You may have heard your cat use several different vocalizations or a combination of vocalizations to get her message across. Meows can be attention-getting, friendly, plaintive, bold, demanding or even complaining. This is how your cat “talks” to you!
Here are some of the most common reasons cats meow:
- To say hi: your kitty may be waiting at the door when you come home, or hears you enter and comes running meowing all the way! Your cat’s saying hi and welcome back!
- Attention: cats will meow when they’d like your attention, with some cats being quite loud and demanding about their needs and wants met. Your cat may want to be petted, talked to or she just wants to play. This type of meowing is most common in cats who are alone all-day long.
- Food: most cats will let you know when they’re hungry—in some cats, that’s an understatement! Your cat may have learned to meow when someone’s in the kitchen, begging for a snack. Or they may meow to let you know they’re ready to eat right now—any time of day.
- To go in or out: meowing is also a helpful way your cat communicates that she needs to be let in or out. Many cats will sit by the door meowing when they’re ready to go out, and do the same (from the outside) when they’re ready to come in. Or your cat may even sit outside a window and meow to be let in.
- Finding a mate: another common reason cats meow is to find a mate. Actually, when cats are in heat, you may hear something that sounds more like a yowl from your female cat. Yowling is sometimes also known as “caterwauling,” because the sound is quite jarring and loud.
Meowing can be so endearing, but what about a cat meowing non stop?
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Cat Meowing Non Stop
Non-stop meowing in a cat can mean many things. We’ll take a look at some of the most common causes for non-stop meowing, and then take a look at ways you can solve this issue in your cat.
1. Cat breed: there are several breeds of cats like to talk more than others. This is true for Siamese, Abyssinians, Burmese, Bengals and others.
2. Stress: cats, just like humans, need to release stress. Have you ever had a friend who talked non-stop when they were stressed? Cats do something very similar when stressed, or they may even begin to bite. Stress can be caused by the addition of a new pet or another cat, changes in the home, new people, etc. Your kitty may be letting you know she’s annoyed, mad or even scared.
3. Cat in heat: as noted earlier, female cats will yowl and meow more when in heat. This alerts male cats in the area that your kitty’s ready to mate. Males can also be noisy and plaintively yowl outside your home—waiting to see your cat who may be in heat.
4. Old age, vision and hearing loss: cats must deal with changes in their bodies as they age, just as we do. An older cat may be confused and anxious, meowing as a result. There’s also a condition known as feline cognitive dysfunction, which is similar to dementia in elderly humans. Cats who have this condition may walk around and meow constantly. Excessive meowing may also be due to a cat whose vision is getting worse or who has become deaf.
Cats who are losing their hearing may meow louder than they used to and may meow non-stop
5. Boredom: cats who are bored and often left alone for long periods may become prone to non-stop meowing. In this case, it might be helpful to adopt a new kitty to keep your cat company while you’re away. A pal to snuggle and play with can help relieve loneliness and boredom. Another option to relieve boredom is to set up a “kitty play zone” in some area of your home. You can include toys, perches, paper bags (without handles), scratching posts and more to keep your kitty entertained. One of the best things you can do is spend time playing with your cat every day, especially if kitty’s been home alone all day.
6. Attention: some cats learn how to gain their human’s attention in ways that may be annoying. Owners often, sometimes unknowingly, encourage and “train” their cats to meow. However, overtime, the cat can begin meowing too much, such as in the late night or early morning hours. Cats use this type of behavior because they get results—in fact, you could say they’ve “trained” you in how to respond to their non-stop meowing.
7. Pain: your cat may be meowing incessantly due to pain. This is a disturbing thought, for who wants to see their feline companion in any type of discomfort? While cats try to hide the fact they’re in pain, you may notice they wince or meow/growl when you try to comfort them with petting. Pain can be caused by many health conditions, including arthritis, cancer, diabetes, thyroid problems and others.
8. Other health issues: other health issues that can cause your cat to meow non-stop include kidney disease, urinary problems and many more.
9. Why is my kitten meowing non stop: kittens can meow non stop for the same reasons as adult cats—stress, change in home, missing their mother and litter, hunger, etc. Try holding your kitten close and soothing it with stroking and soft words. If your kitten’s constant meowing continues, it might be time to visit your vet to determine why my kitten is meowing non stop.
10. Cat wants food: some cats can be quite insistent when they think it’s time to be fed! For this reason, they may sit by your feet or by their bowl meowing constantly.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSteps You Can Take to Curb Non-Stop Meowing
Here are some steps you can take to curb excessive meowing in your cat:
Saying hello: this one you probably don’t want to stop! When you get home, let your cat know you love and missed her; be sure to spend some time playing with her.
Meowing for attention: if your cat’s meowing for attention, then it’s best to pay attention to her only when she’s quiet. It’s hard not to give her attention, but be patient and kind with her. She’ll eventually learn she gets attention, and maybe even a treat, when she’s quiet. It may take time to curb this type of behavior, but if you stay with it, your kitty will learn. You’ll both be happy for it.
Loneliness: if your cat’s meowing constantly because you’ve been away for extended times, it might be a good idea to invest in a pet sitter who visits your cat during the day. You might consider having the pet sitter come by at meal time or another time, and spend time playing and giving attention to your cat. This can be a great help.
Hunger: is your cat always “asking” for food or begging when you’re eating something? If so, then the best thing you can do is don’t feed her at those times. Only feed your cat at her normal meal times. You might consider leaving dry food out all the time, so she can eat when she wants (only good for cats that aren’t obese or have other health issues). Another option might be to invest in an automatic cat feeder. You schedule the feeder to dispense food at certain times.
Cat keeps meowing at door: one option to consider is buying and installing a cat door, then your kitty can come and go as she wants or needs. It’s usually recommended that all cats be indoor cats, but some of them are used to going out and roving. Another option might be an outdoor cat enclosure, which allows your cat to spend time outdoors. Again, you can install a cat door that allows your cat to go in and out as desired. This will solve the issue of cat keeps meowing at door—you’ll both be happier with your kitty’s freedom to come and go!
Mating behavior: female and male cats both use vocalization when the female’s in heat and ready to mate. One of the best things you can do to curb excessive meowing in both female and male cats is to have them spayed or neutered. This way, your kitty won’t go into heat and you won’t have to deal with love-sick males waiting outside your door. In addition, spaying and neutering prevent the birth of unwanted kittens.
How to stop a cat meowing all night: some cats like to meow all night long, which leaves you with no sleep, feeling annoyed and tired in the morning! How to stop a cat from meowing all night? First, try to determine the cause. Maybe your cat’s natural time to hunt is at night and in the early morning hours. Could your cat be hungry? Is she alone too much or have a health issue? Some cats don’t get enough activity during the day, which can cause rough housing all night long.
To fix these issues, try keeping your cat awake during the day
Make sure she’s fed and doesn’t have to wait many hours in between feedings. Another option is to ignore the behavior, though this can be trying. If your cat receives no attention (positive or negative) for her nighttime meowing, she may finally give up. It will take time, so patience is a must!
Stop cat meowing collar: cat shock collars are another option some owners use to curb incessant meowing. These collars work on the theory of positive and negative reinforcement. Shock collars have a small device that delivers a small electrical shock to your cat—when you see an unwanted behavior, click a button and shock your cat. A stop cat meowing collar is not a good way to train your cat to stop meowing and may even cause more stress for both you and your cat.
Non-stop meowing can be a problem, but with a little detective work may help you get to the bottom of your kitty’s meowing. If the methods shared here don’t work, be sure to make a veterinary appointment for your cat—she may have a health issue that causes her discomfort and anxiety.
Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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