According to experts, cats are capable of making 30 different sounds, including 19 variations of the humble meow. Do you know what your kitty is trying to communicate to you through his or her meowing and yowling? Check out the most likely translations
“I’m hungry”
Some cats meow every time you step foot in the kitchen in the hope of convincing you to share a morsel with them. Others get very vocal around feeding time every day. If your cat’s demanding vocalisations start to annoy you, don’t feed her when she meows as she’ll likely see this as a reward for her harassment. Wait until she is quiet before putting the food down.
“Gimme attention!”
Sometimes it’s as simple as your cat demanding your attention. Meowing can be a way to encourage you to pet or play with your cat – and chances are it’s worked in the past! As in other scenarios, if your cat’s attention seeking mews are getting on your nerves, don’t reward them. Wait until she is quiet before interacting with her.
“I’m lonely”
If your cat spends a lot of time on her own, she could be vocalising to let you (and anyone in the surrounding area) know she’s lonely! Book a Mad Paws pet sitter to pop in during the day or try an interactive toy to keep her busy and entertained whilst you’re away.
“Just saying hello”
Some cats are more vocal than others and will meow just to say hey. Most common when you’re reunited after some time apart, your cat may make a racket purely because they’re pleased to see you and want to say hello! A hard one to break but just look at it as your feline friend being super pleased to see you – who could be annoyed about that?!
“I’m in heat!”
A female cat in heat can yowl and meow incessantly. Males who can smell females nearby will also make a racket! The best way to prevent this is to have your cat desexed.
“I’m hurt”
If your cat starts to meow at new, out-of-character levels, head straight to your vet. Your cat could be trying to tell you she is in pain and the only way to rule this out is with a once-over from your trusty veterinarian.
If you’ve got a kitty who needs some extra attention, book a Mad Paws pet sitter for pet sitting or house visits!
