Have you ever encountered a “chatty” kitty? One who meowed at every chance (and then some more). Or maybe you’ve had the experience of a kitty who was mostly quiet, but then something happened and he became extremely “meowy.”
Some cats are more vocal than others, just like people. They may meow to let you know they’re there. They meow because they want something to eat, or they want to say “hello.” Whatever the reason, a chatty kitty is nothing to worry about unless it’s due to a behavior change.
“Changes in your cat’s vocalization patterns can mean medical or health problems, so it’s important you know what’s normal for your cat and what’s out of character. If your cat suddenly stops being a conversationalist or becomes loud and insistent, it may be trying to tell that he is in pain or is uncomfortable. Take him to the vet and have him thoroughly checked out.”
5 Reasons Your Cat may suddenly become hypervocal
- Heat Do you know if your cat has been spayed/neutered? If they are not, they may be looking for love. These cries will go far beyond, “feed me, I’m hungry” meows, and instead will sound more like the howls. The answer to this is to adhere to your veterinarian’s recommended spay/neuter schedule prior to these raging hormones.
- Boredom — If your cat is bored, he’ll let you know by meowing all the time. You should rotate toys around and give your cat time to play and exercise every day.
- Old AgeAs cats age, there are many health issues that may arise. Pay attention to your cat. Is he bouncing on things? Do you notice him becoming more cautious about jumping? If so, it’s time to get him checked out with your veterinarian to see what’s wrong.
- SicknessOlder cats can have kidney problems. We recommend that your cat be examined twice a year if they are getting older. This will allow you to keep an eye on their health. You certainly don’t want your cat to be sick!
- PainIf you notice a lot of meowing from cats, it could be that they are trying to tell your about something. Pain. Since they can’t tell you exactly where it hurts, you’ll have to watch for clues. Is your cat having trouble using the litter box? A urinary tract infection can be characterized by excessive litter box use.
When cats are healthy, and they’ve always been vocal, they may be saying “hello” or asking for affection.
According to the ASPCA, “Cats enjoy social contact with people, and some will be quite vocal in their requests for attention. The cat may desire to be petted, played with, or just talked to. Cats who are left alone for long periods of time each day may be more likely to meow for attention.”
If you have your cat checked out and he seems healthy but still more “meowy” than you would like, you can try these cat training tips from cat behavioral specialist Pam Johnson-Bennett.
“How do you do this? It’s actually very simple but it takes patience. Wait out the meowing and don’t acknowledge your cat until he stops. When he’s quiet, immediately reward him. At first, the time that he’s quiet will be very brief but if you only reward him when he isn’t meowing, he’ll eventually realize that silence offers a better consequence than vocalization. Gradually, you can increase the time you’re asking him to be quiet before offering the reward.
