Cats make different sounds: squeaks, meows, hisses, purrs. With their vocalizations, they communicate with congeners, other animals, and humans. A purring cat curled up on the lap is liked by everyone, but no one likes it if the cat can stop meowing for hours.
In our article you will find out the reasons why cats can meow, tell you how to calm the pet, and talk about ways to get them rid of this habit.
When people say the cat yowls
When a cat meows excessively, too loudly and for too long, it is said to be yowling. Meowing, even very loudly, is normal feline communication behavior. But some pets scream loudly, often, at inappropriate times. That’s why owners want to stop a cat from yowling.
Some cat breeds, such as Siamese, are genetically predisposed to excessive meowing. You should take this into account when choosing a pet.
Why cats excessively meow
To find the reason for this behavior, you have to:
- analyze when the cat meows loudly most of the time;
- what preceded this;
- evaluate the physiological and mental state of the animal.
A pet’s loud meowing usually annoys its owners, but it can be a sign that the animal is sick and needs emergency help.
To find out why the cat keeps meowing, keep a diary. Write down in it the times and circumstances when the cat meows loudly: before or after eating, before going to bed, when going to the toilet, etc.
The main reasons for a loud meow
By meowing in the presence of a human, the cat is trying to convey some kind of information to its owner. Here is a list of the most common reasons why cats meow loudly.
- Greetings.
- Attraction of attention. Calling to play, asking for affection.
- Hunger or thirst.
- Ask to open the door.
- Sickness, discomfort, pain.
- Stress.
- Loneliness.
- Cognitive impairment ( for aging cats).
- Sexual attraction, the call of a partner.
- Deafness.
- Nightlife.
Some causes of feline crying require serious attention and a quick response from owners.
How to stop a cat from constant meowing – causes and ways to get rid
Call for a trip to the vet
The first thing an attentive and caring owner should do is to make sure that the animal is healthy and not in pain. Many illnesses cause pain, thirst, restlessness, hunger and irritability. Show your pet to the vet to allay any doubts about the cat’s cries. A visit to the vet is the first step in finding the cause of the cat’s yelling.
Secondly, don’t ignore cat meows until you are sure there is no problem. Often there are good reasons behind the cat’s loud, urgent cries: he ran out of water in his bowl, his litter box is blocked, he’s locked up, stuck, or can’t get out. Always make sure the cat is doing well and doesn’t need your help.
Only by understanding the cause of the crying, you will be able to stop your cat from meowing loudly, often and unintentionally. The way to wean your cat will depend on the cause of the excessive vocalization.
Greeting
Many pets meow loudly to express their joy at seeing their owners. Cats greet people on the doorstep when they return home. They say “meow” every time they meet their owner in the house.
How to deal with it:
No way!
If you have a pet who can’t keep quiet when greeting you after work, greeting you every time with loud noises, take it for granted. Be glad you have a pet who is always happy to see you. Why wean your cat from showing his feelings?
Attracting attention
Not all cats like solitude. Pets need to be played with, talked to, and petted. If an animal senses the lack of human attention, it will seek it out and call the owner for contact with loud, agitated noises.
How to deal with it:
Pay attention to the cat only when he is silent.
Consistently teach your pet that he will get his portion of attention when he is quiet. Don’t lose your temper, don’t scold the animal. If the cat keeps meowing, step aside and stop playing. Only return to contact with your pet when he is quiet. It is important not to ignore the cat during the silence acclimation process. Take time every day to play, talk to him gently, pet him.
Hunger or thirst
Hungry meowing happens:
- from hunger when the cat hasn’t been fed for a long time;
- habitual.
In both cases it is usually accompanied by strong excitement of the animal.
An animal whose “hungry meow” has become a bad habit becomes overly noisy when it’s feeding time. Some cats scurry and scream, demanding food every time: someone walks through the kitchen; hears the rustling of a food bag; sees that the owners are about to sit down at the table. Others wake their owners in the morning to serve them breakfast.
How to deal with it:
In the first case, don’t disrupt the feeding schedule.
Second, do not feed while the cat is yowling. Consistently and gradually train your pet that you only give food when it is silent. Don’t give food when the cat meows. Wait until the pet calms down, then give the food. Feed at strictly defined times so it is clear that it is useless to ask for food at other times.
Make sure cats have 24-hour access to clean, fresh drinking water.
Request to open the door
Many cats meow under the door when they want to go outside or return home. This is their way of letting their owners know their intentions. Similarly, pets who want to enter or leave a room inside the house behave in a similar way. There is nothing wrong with this.
The real problems with “feline concerts” under the door can arise if owners decide to transfer the pet to an exclusively domestic lifestyle. Cats that have been outdoors will have a hard time readjusting. Owners are doomed to weeks or months of cat cries under the door.
How to deal with it:
If you are fed up with pet’s constant requests, you can make life easier by installing cat doors. And prior to transferring the pet to an indoor lifestyle, you should consult a veterinarian. The doctor will prescribe sedatives to help the pet survive the stress.
Sickness, discomfort, pain
Won’t stop meowing in response to painful or unpleasant sensations that can be loud, prolonged, or pitiful, whimpering. A cat may cry all the time or when it does something that causes it pain. For example, if a cat develops urolithiasis or cystitis, it will cry while using the litter box.
How to deal with it:
Take your cat to the vet at the slightest suspicion of feline illness.
Stress
A frightened animal and a stressed cat cries loudly, invitingly. When cats are stressed, they become more talkative. Stress can occur because of any change in a pet’s routine. Moving, having a new pet in the house, having a baby, losing a loved one can all cause unwanted “cat concerts.”
How to deal with it:
Find and eliminate the cause of stress.
It is important to pay attention to the cat, determine what has caused the distress, help the cat to survive the situation and adjust to the changes. Attention to the cat, and extra time devoted to it, will help solve the problem of excessive vocalization.
Do not give stress medication yourself, the prescription should be made by a vet.
Loneliness
Contrary to popular stereotypes, not all cats like solitude. There are breeds that constantly need the attention of their owner. If a pet spends a lot of time at home alone, it rocks. Boredom translates into excessive vocalization.
How to deal with it:
Don’t leave your cat alone for a long time.
Try to have someone with your pet at home all times. Get a companion to play with and spend time with. Provide the cat with a variety of toys so he won’t get bored while you’re away.
Cognitive impairment ( for aging cats)
With age, cats, like humans, may exhibit brain disorders: confusion, cognitive dysfunction, loss of spatial orientation. All this leads to cats crying pitifully for no reason, especially often at night.
How to deal with it:
To help cats navigate in the dark, turn on a night light. Tell your veterinarian about the problem and the doctor will prescribe medications to help get rid of these symptoms.
Sexual attraction, the call of a partner
Cats’ cries during the “sex hunt” are especially loud and urgent. Sexually mature males and females give such gigs that only owners with an exceptionally stable psyche can endure. Males howl when they call for females, and females scream when they sense a boy cat in heat. Most cat owners want to get rid of these screams forever.
How to deal with it:
Spaying a pet is an effective method of solving the problem!
A neutered boy cat and a spayed girl cat do not scream because of the sex drive. Part of the stress can be alleviated with sedatives that your veterinarian can prescribe for your cat.
Deafness
Some cats are born deaf, others lose their hearing over time. Some animals develop temporary deafness as a complication of other pathologies (ear infections, otitis media). Both usually scream very loudly. They cannot hear themselves, so they are unable to regulate the volume of their voice. This makes it difficult for the owner and the animal to communicate.
How to deal with it:
As soon as you suspect hearing loss or complete deafness in your cat, take him to the vet.
Nightlife
Many domestic cats lead a nocturnal lifestyle. When their owners go to bed, they begin to wander around the apartment, play with toys, and hunt. This is the way nature intended. Cats are carnivores; in the wild, they hunt rodents when it gets dark.
How to deal with night meows:
- Reset your pet’s biological clock. Keep your cat awake all day. Play with him. Leave toys for him to play with when you are at work. The pet has to exercise its energy during the day to be tired by nightfall.
- Provide everything the cat needs for the night. Change the litter box, fill bowls with clean water, and feed the cat before bedtime.
- Share your time and attention with your pet before you go to bed. Play with the cat, pet it, talk to it. Pets need attention, especially if you’ve been away all day. If he gets some love and affection before you go to bed, he won’t wake you up in the middle of the night.
- Do not leave elderly cats in complete darkness. Older animals often develop disorientation in space, and it is especially difficult for them to navigate at night. Turn on a night light before going to bed to make it easier for your cat to move around the apartment.
- Ignore the nocturnal screams. If you are sure that all the cat’s needs are met, it only screams to get your attention, steadfastly ignore it. It’s not easy. It will take time for your cat to realize that no amount of yelling will get you out of bed. But only complete ignoring can stop the nocturnal meowing.
Wrong ways to stop cat from meowing
Now you know what to do so that the cat doesn’t meow in one case or another.
Let’s talk about wrong ways stopping an cat from meowing.
- Don’t ignore your pet until you are sure it is not sick, and has no problems. Always make sure all of its needs are met.
- Never punish a cat for meowing. Shouting, slapping, or splashing your cat with water is unacceptable. This may stop the animal once, but it will not calm it in the long run. All you will achieve is that the animal will stop trusting you, and will be afraid.
- Don’t give up, be consistent. If the animal tries to get your attention by vocalizing, show him that you are adamant. Do not let him get to you. If the cat senses weakness on your part, the cries will become louder and more frequent. Encourage your cat’s calm behavior until he understands.