Find Out What Your Cat Meowing Means.

There are thought to be over 30 different cat meowing sounds and the amount of sounds your cat may make will depend on how often they communicate with other cats and with non cats i.e. humans and dogs. Yes! your cat will talk to your dog as well.

As humans we are used to using vocabulary to communicate with each other and over the years cats have learnt that we respond to vocal sounds much better than via body language and scent, which in their world are the main sources of cat communication.

Why Do Domestic cats “talk”?

Cats who spend a lot of time around other cats will use a different vocabulary made up of body language, scent, and other forms of cat communication. They mainly vocalise with each other at time of mating ie caterwauling and between mother and kitten.

What are the different sounds and what do they mean?

• Murmurs: made with the mouth closed.
• Vowel patterns: made as the mouth is closing ie meow.
• Loud intense sounds: made with the mouth open.

There are general sounds that most cat owners will recognise and broadly speaking their meanings are the same, these are:

• The general Meow - attention seeking used to communicate with owners or with kittens.
• The Chatter – excitement or frustration, often seen when they are looking at birds through a window and can’t get at them. (involves rapid jaw movements).
• The Growl - warns others to stay away.
• The Mew (of kittens) – used to attract mothers attention usually when they are hungry or cold.
• The Hiss – is used as a threat to other cats usually, can also be a sign of fear.
• The Caterwaul – used when looking for a mate.
• The Purr – a sign of contentment and relaxation, but also used to comfort itself if in pain.
• The Scream – used when in pain or distressed, don’t tread on that tail again!
• The Chirrup – this is a friendly sound, often used to greet other cats or their owners.

My cat won’t stop meowing, why?

The first step is to ignore their cries. They are used to getting what they want when they meow, so only give them their food etc when they are quiet. Follow this up with lots of attention when they are quiet and none when they are noisy.

Do not shout or scold your pet when cat meowing because they are trying to get you to do something and they see this as attention, which is GOOD.

If this cat behavoir persists then you may have to resort to squirting a little water at them when they are noisy. This does not hurt them and they soon learn that being noisy equals a water shower and stop the excessive cat meowing. This can be particularly useful for cats that meow throughout the night for attention. Remember to still give them lots of cuddles and play, perhaps just before bedtime.

When we first brought Mo home, she wouldn't stop meowing and stuck to us like glue which was ok except that we kept falling over her. We were at our wits end when we discovered a clever little trick. If we blew in her face, just the once, she would stop her meowing at once and go and sit on her cushion. It was like magic. It still works when she is being a little annoying. Why not give it a try with your cat the next time they are misbehaving?

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