Should I ignore kitten meowing

Meowing and Yowling

The cats meow is her way of communicating with people. Cats meow for many reasonsto say hello, to ask for things, and to tell us when somethings wrong. Meowing is an interesting vocalization in that adult cats dont actually meow at each other, just at people. Kittens meow to let their mother know theyre cold or hungry, but once they get a bit older, cats no longer meow to other cats. But they continue to meow to people throughout their lives, probably because meowing gets people to do what they want. Cats also yowla sound similar to the meow but more drawn out and melodic. Unlike meowing, adult cats do yowl at one another, specifically during breeding season.

When does meowing become excessive? Thats a tough call to make, as its really a personal issue. All cats are going to meow to some extentthis is normal communication behavior. But some cats meow more than their pet parents would like. Bear in mind that some breeds of cats, notably the Siamese, are prone to excessive meowing and yowling.

Why Cats Meow

These are the most common reasons why cats meow:

• To greet people. Your cat can be expected to meow in greeting when you come home, when she meets up with you in the house and when you speak to her.
• To solicit attention. Cats enjoy social contact with people, and some will be quite vocal in their requests for attention. The cat may want to be stroked, played with or simply talked to. Cats who are left alone for long periods of time each day may be more likely to meow for attention.
• To ask for food. Most cats like to eat, and they can be quite demanding around mealtimes. Some cats learn to meow whenever anyone enters the kitchen, just in case food might be forthcoming. Others meow to wake you up to serve them breakfast. Cats also learn to beg for human food by meowing.
• To ask to be let in or out. Meowing is the cats primary way to let you know what she wants. If she wants to go outside, shell likely learn to meow at the door. Likewise, if shes outdoors and wants in, shell meow to get you to let her back inside. If youre trying to transition a cat from being indoor-outdoor to living exclusively indoors, you may be in for a period of incessant meowing at doors and windows. This is a difficult change for a cat to make, and it will very likely take weeks or even months for the meowing to stop.
• Elderly cats suffering from mental confusion, or cognitive dysfunction, may meow if they become disorienteda frequent symptom of this feline version of Alzheimers Disease. For more information, please read our article on Behavior Problems in Older Cats.
• To find a mate. Reproductively intact cats are more likely to yowl. Females yowl to advertise their receptivity to males, and males yowl to gain access to females.

Take Your Cat to the Veterinarian

A cat who meows a lot should be checked thoroughly by a veterinarian to ensure a medical condition is not the cause of the cats distress. Numerous diseases can cause cats to feel unusually hungry, thirsty, restless or irritableany of which is likely to prompt meowing. Even if your cat has a history of meowing for food, you should still have her checked by your veterinarian. As cats age, theyre prone to developing an overactive thyroid and kidney disease, and either one may result in excessive meowing.

Helping Your Cat Be Less Vocal

Before you try to curb your cats excessive vocalizing, you need to determine the cause. Look at the circumstances around her meowing and make note of what seems to get her to stop. It may help to keep a log book so you can look for any patterns in when she becomes especially vocal. Once you identify when shes likely to meow excessively, try these suggestions to help her control her vocalizations:

• If your cat meows to say hello, its unlikely that youll be able to do much to change thingsyou have an especially vocal cat who is telling you how glad she is to see you!
• If your cat is meowing for attention, teach her that youll only pay attention to her when shes quiet. Resist the urge to shout at her or give her any form of attention, even angry attention. Instead, be patient and wait for a brief moment of silence. Immediately give her the attention she craves. If she starts to meow again, walk away, and only return to her when shes quiet. If youre consistent, she will catch on.
• If you believe your cat cries out of loneliness because you spend too much time out of the house, consider having a pet sitter come partway through the day to visit and play with her.
• If your cat meows at you for food, stop feeding her when she cries! Feed her at prescribed times so she learns that its futile to ask for food at other times. If that doesnt work, buy an automatic feeder that you can schedule to open at specific times. At least then shes more likely to meow at the feeder than at you! This is especially useful if your cat wakes you up in the morning to be fedshell switch from bothering you to sitting and watching the feeder, waiting for it to open.
• If youve recently placed your cat on a diet, consult with your veterinarian about high-fiber diet foods or supplements that can help your cat feel satisfied with her reduced intake.
• If your cat isnt prone to gaining weight, consider leaving dry food out for her all the time so she never has to feel hungry. If you feed a high-fiber diet food, your cat can feel full without taking in too many calories. Check with your veterinarian before trying this.
• If your cat is meowing to get you to let her inside/outside, consider installing a cat door so you dont have to serve as her butler. The ASPCA recommends that cats be kept exclusively indoors to protect them from danger and disease. If you have a cat whos accustomed to going outside and you want to keep her in, shes likely to go through a period of meowing at doors and windows. Theres no easy way to get through this, but as long as she never gets outside again, she will eventually adjust to her life indoors and stop meowing so much. Another option is to build an outdoor cat enclosure so she can spend time outside but remain safe.
• If your female cat isnt spayed and she periodically meows excessively, she may be in heat at those times. Female cats in heat typically become increasingly affectionate, rub against you more, purr, roll around on the floorand meow a lot. This lasts four to ten days. An unspayed female cat who isnt bred by (doesnt have sex with) a male cat will continue to come into heat every 18 to 24 days throughout the breeding season (roughly February through September in the Northern Hemisphere). Indoor cats may continue to come into heat all year round. The best way to reduce excessive meowing caused by the heat cycle is to have your cat spayed.
• If your male cat isnt neutered and he periodically meows excessively, he may be hearing or smelling a female cat in heat. He is likely to pace and meow relentlessly throughout the time the female stays in heat. Unless you can completely prevent him from being able to detect females in heat, the best way to reduce excessive meowing in an intact male cat is to have him neutered.
• If your cat is elderly and has just started meowing excessively, make sure to have her evaluated by your veterinarian for medical conditions, sensory deficits and cognitive dysfunction. Medication may alleviate her discomfort.

What NOT to Do

• Do not ignore your cat when she meows. The one exception is if you know for certain that shes meowing to get you to do something she wants. In every other instance, its safest to assume that somethings wrongshe may not have access to her litter box, or her water bowl may be empty, or she may be locked in a closet. Always make sure that her needs are met before assuming that shes just being demanding by meowing at you.
• Do not scold or hit your cat for meowing too much. While these punishments may send her scurrying at first, they are unlikely to have a lasting effect on her meowing behavior. They may, however, cause her to become fearful of you.

Cat Wont Stop Meowing In Cage: What Should I Do?

Does your kitty hate the idea of being caged?

You are not alone. Theres a long list of cat parents whose fur babies cannot stand any kind of enclosure.

When placed in one, they will meow and yowl until they are let out.

But there are good reasons we put our cats in cages sometimes. From vet trips to family vacations and litter box training, crates can be beneficial to felines.

But what if your cat cries non-stop when you box her in?

For one, seeing your little furball in agony is quite heartbreaking. The meowing is bound to get to you.

Secondly, loud vocalization can be very inconvenient. If you are trying to sleep at night, it can interrupt your sleep and upset you in the process. The same happens when taking a trip.

So what can you do?

We have a few suggestions below.

Why Do Cats Meow When Put In Cages?

Knowing what to do to alleviate cat meowing starts with understanding what is causing the behavior in the first place.

There are several reasons your kitty cries when placed in a cage. Some of them are listed below:

I. To Ask To Be Freed

According to the ASPCA, cats meow when they want to be let out of a specific place.

For instance, when your kitty needs to eliminate outside in the morning, she will meow outside your door.

Once shes done, she will use the same form of communication to be let back in.

If your kitty is one of those that loathe caging, she will certainly meow when shes put in one.

If nothing is done, the noise will go to another level. The cage prevents her from exploring her vast environment and she doesnt like it one bit.

II. Attention-Seeking Behavior

Although cats are more independent than our canine buddies, they also enjoy the company of people and other animals.

When left alone for too long, they can easily get bored and desperately seek attention.

Some have this feeling in a crate or cage far away from the sight of their human parents.

They will meow to ask you to come over and hang out, play, and pet them.

III. To Signal Hunger

Food is a big deal in the feline world. When a cat is hungry, do not expect her to be quiet about it.

As a creature of habit, she knows when her feeding times are almost.

If no food comes by, the cat will alert you by meowing endlessly.

If the meowing happens at night, chances are that the kitty is hungry and wants a snack or food.

IV. Injury or Sickness

Cats rarely let you know when they are in pain but sometimes, it becomes too much to hide. Here, the meowing is bound to kick in.

Before you dismiss your cats cry as nothing to be worried about, you might want to find out if shes in pain or not.

Perhaps she injured her foot while playing outside or is suffering from an illness of sorts.

What to Do?

Now that you are aware of some of the causes of a cat meowing in a cage, what can you do to ease the behavior?

1. Get The Cat Used To The Cage

Big changes dont sit well with most cats. In case you are using a cage for the first time, take the process of caging slowly.

You want the kitty to associate the cage with something nice like food or treats.

Long before you throw her in, take a few days to get the kitty used to the carrier or box.

Place it somewhere near her sleeping area and invite the kitty to climb on it. Let her go in on her own terms.

2. Use An Incentive

In a perfect world, your cat will get used to the idea of a cage during the first attempt.

However, we live in the real world where most cats need a push to do what we want them to do.

To get your cat accustomed to caging, bring out your best guns. Using catnip is a great idea if your kitty is a fan. Add it inside the carrier and let her find it for herself.

You can also use food to your advantage. During mealtimes, place the cats food bowl inside the cage and leave the door open.

Again, let her go in and discover the treat without you forcing her.

Once the kitty is comfortable in the cage, close the door for a time and see her reaction.

3. Make The Cage Cozy

A cold and uncomfortable carrier is not very inviting to a cat.

You want to make it a paradise of sorts so that she can tolerate if not enjoy being in there.

Keep it as clean as you can and line it with soft bedding. Additionally, place the cage on top of a soft pillow for extra comfort.

Even if the cat doesnt like being kept in there, the plushness of the cage will keep her calm.

4. Offer Entertainment

As mentioned before, a bored cat is notorious for meowing non-stop.

You can help things by creating entertainment options for the pet.

Get creative and tie a string with a ball at the top of the carrier. Let it float near the cat so he can play with it when hes bored.

You can also bring in a Ping-Pong ball or stuffed animal that is safe for her. These can reduce her boredom and alleviate meowing to a great extent.

5. Cover the cage

Sometimes placing a cover over the cage can help calm a stressed caged cat.

Cats, in general, enjoy being placed in dark quiet places when they are anxious.

They feel a sense of calmness as they are not too exposed.

As long as there are air holes for breathing, you can throw a cover or two over the cats carrier.

6. Give The Cat Some Food

Even if you think that your cat is full, it wont hurt to confirm if she needs a top-up or not.

This is especially essential if she keeps making noise in the middle of the night or during a long trip.

Cats love to bite on something several times during the day. While you are at it, check if her litter box needs changing.

7. Offer Attention Wisely

Before you go to bed (for cat owners who put their cats in cages at night), create time to play with your kitty. Groom her, play with her, and pet her soft coat.

This assures her that shes not abandoned. Do the same before a long trip and during any breaks.

8. Ignore the meowing

This sounds counterproductive but it actually is a solution to excessive cat meowing.

The goal of your kittys vocalization is to get you to do what she wants.

If you respond to her cry for help, you are sending the message that shes the boss. This reinforces the behavior even more.

Instead, ignore the meowing and act only when the cat is quite calm. That will tell her that making noise isnt the solution.

Parting Thoughts

Meowing is a cats way of communicating. Cat parents appreciate it as it gives them clues on what is going on with their pets.

However, when it happens too much, it can be overbearing.

If your kitty wont stop crying in her cage, try the strategies mentioned here.

If nothing works, contact the experts.

Hi! I am Eleanor Price. I started this website after my cat, Louie, almost died from a case of botulism (a type of food poisoning often caused by bacteria that grow on food items). Turned out that my cats diet was the problem. I have made it my duty to provide the best information and recommendations about everything cat lovers need to know about their felines health and wellbeing. My goal is to find the most informative content on anything feline-related and share it with fellow hardworking kitty lovers.